MIKE KELLIE sessions

This is the list of the sessions I know Mike Kellie appears... I've classified them into several categories:
SESSIONS WITH FORMER/CURRENT BANDMATES

Gary Wright This was his first solo album, after having left Spooky Tooth. Recorded with Mick Abrahams (guitar), Hugh McCracken (guitar), Trevor Burton (bass), Klaus Voormann (bass), Mike Kellie (drums), Alan White (drums), Madeline Bell & Doris Troy (backing vocals). [When Gary thought of promoting this album, that's when he formed Wonderwheel, a superb band with Jerry Donahue (guitar - soon to be replaced by Mick Jones), Archie Legget (bass), Bryson Graham (drums). Wright, Jones and Graham turned Wonderwheel into Spooky Tooth one year later] 
Luther Grosvenor

This was the album Luther recorded after the (first) separation of Spooky Tooth. A very good album, recorded with some of his friends: Mike Kellie (drums), John Hawken (keyboards), Jim Capaldi (vocals), Mick Ralphs (vocals), Mike Giles (drums), Trevor Burton (bass), Trevor Lucas (vocals), Paul Bennett (vocals). 

Steve Gibbons This album was recorded in the summer of 1970, and soon later, Mike and Steve Gibbons played together in Balls. Steve Gibbons was the leader in The Uglys, and after Balls, he assembled his own Steve Gibbons Band. This was his first solo album, featuring Albert Lee (guitar), Trevor Burton (bass, ex-The Move, also in Balls), Pat Donaldson (bass), Gary Wright (keyboards), Ian Whiteman (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums), Gerry Conway (drums), Alan White (drums, also in Balls). 
Peter Frampton

Mike Kellie played the sessions for this album, and soon later he was asked to join Frampton's band. In this album: Frank Carillo (guitar), Mick Jones (guitar), Mark Goldenberg (guitar, keyboards), Klaus Voormann (bass), Andy Bown (keyboards), Jim Price (horns), Mike Kellie (drums), Chris Karan (percussion), Frank Ricotti (percussion).

Paul Kossoff This great guitarist from Free and Back Street Crawler sadly died on March 19, 1976. After his death, this double album was released with outtakes and unreleased tracks, also covering Paul contributions to albums by other artists, such as Amazing Blondel, etc. The list of musicians includes the lineups for Free (Paul Rodgers, Andy Fraser, Tetsu Yamauchi, Simon Kirke, John 'Rabbit' Bundrick), Back Street Crawler (Terry Wilson, Terry Wilson-Slesser, Mike Montgomery, Tony Braunagel), Amazing Blondel (Eddie Baird and Terry Wincott), as well as Jim Capaldi (vocals), Pete Carr (guitar), John Martyn (guitar), Eddie Quansah (horns), as well as the sessions from the ill-fated Paul Kossoff Band with Mike Kellie and Micky Feat. 
Nick Kent & The Subterraneans Nick Kent was a famed rock journalist. Around 1978, he was joined by most of The Only Ones (Peter Perrett, John Perry and Mike Kellie), plus Tony James (from Generation X), and they recorded some tracks that remain unreleased up to now.
Johnny Thunders As we've read in the bio page, Mike Kellie played with Johnny Thunders for some concerts in 1978. That same year, he recorded this album, with relevant people from the emergent punk scene, such as Steve Jones & Paul Cook (from The Sex Pistols), Walter Lure & Billy Rath (from The Heartbreakers), Chrissie Hynde (from The Pretenders), John Earle (sax, from Graham Parker Band), Peter Perrett & Mike Kellie (from The Only Ones), plus Phil Lynott (bass, from Thin Lizzy) and Steve Marriott (guitar, from Humble Pie) and Johnny's fiancee, singer Patti Paladin.

I must say that punk and assorted are not my favourite style, but Johnny Thunders was really talented. I saw some concerts on TV, and I liked that he always included some covers by all-girls soul bands, such as The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes or The Supremes. A shame he died, he lived too dangerously...

Foreigner No, no, Mike Kellie never played with Foreigner. It's only that this 2CD compilation also has solo tracks from both Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, and it also includes some Spooky Tooth tracks, featuring Mike. Just for completion, some other musicians appearing in the album that will be covered someday in my Olympus: Ian Hunter (keyboards, vocals), Nils Lofgren (guitar), Gary Wright (keyboards, vocals), Richard Cottle (keyboards), Schuyler Deale (bass), Felix Krish (bass), Dave Lebolt (keyboards), Eddie Martinez (guitar), Bob Mayo (keyboards), Ian MacDonald (sax, flute), Mike Patto (vocals), Mark Rivera (sax), Chrissie Stewart (bass), Terry Thomas (guitar, keyboards), Bruce Turgon (bass), Bryson Graham (drums), etc. 
OTHER SESSIONS

Heavy Jelly This band was led by superb guitarist John Moorshead (from Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation). After some singles with different musicians, such as the mythical drummer Carlo Little, he also recorded a promo album in 1969, with Jackie Lomax (vocals, guitar), Alex Dmochowski (bass, also from Aynsley Dunbar band), Bobby Keys (sax), Jim Price (trumpet), Mike Kellie (drums), Barry Jenkins (drums), plus Pete Ham & Tom Evans (from Badfinger, backing vocals). The album was never released until 1984. 

Joe Cocker At that time, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band had this lineup:
Joe Cocker (vocals)
Henry McCullough (guitar)
Chris Stainton (bass)
Tommy Eyre (keyboards)
Kenny Slade (drums)

This was the lineup that recorded Joe Cocker's first album, the worldwide famous With a little help from my friends, although many other musicians were used in it. The complete lineup only appears in 1 song, a very beautiful rendition of 'Don't let me be misunderstood'. Some other great musicians in the album: Jimmy Page, Albert Lee, David Cohen (guitar), Carol Kaye (bass), Artie Butler, the great Matthew Fisher, Steve Winwood (keyboards), Paul Humpries, the much-missed B.J. Wilson, the fantastic Clem Cattini, Mike Kellie (drums on 3 songs: 'Change in Louise', 'Do I still figure in your life?' and 'I shall be released'), Merry Clayton, Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Madeline Bell, Sunny Weetman, Rosetta Hightower (backing vocals). A classical album. 

Liverpool Scene This band was formed around 1967 by guitarist Andy Roberts (later in Plainsong), vocalist Adrian Henri, and superb bassist Percy Jones, among others. In this album, not recorded by the original lineup, we can find Mike Kellie. Henri later formed Grimms, and Mike also played with them, as we're going to read.
Andy Leigh He was the bassist in Matthews' Southern Comfort. In this solo album, we can find Bryn Haworth (guitar), Gary Farr (guitar, harmonica), Brian Godding (guitar), Gordon Jackson (sitar, from Deep Feeling), Gary Wright (keyboards), Reg King (keyboards), Tony Priestland (sax), Mike Kellie (drums), Kevin Westlake (drums). 
Ritchie Francis He was bassist in the band Big Sleep (that also contained several later members of Man). In this album, he's accompanied by his bandmate Ray Williams (guitar), plus Big Jim Sullivan (guitar), John Rostill (bass, from The Shadows), Mike Kellie (drums), Will Malone (drums) and Barry Morgan (drums). 
Jim Capaldi This album is Jim's solo debut. It includes lots of friends. From Traffic: Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, Ric Grech, Rebop, Jim Gordon, Chris Wood. From Muscle Shoals: Roger Hawkins, David Hood, Barry Beckett (all three were to join Traffic sometime later), Jimmy Johnson (guitar). Plus some others, like Sue Glover & Sunny Leslie (vocals), the great Paul Kossoff (guitar), Trevor Burton (bass), Bob Griffin (keyboards), and Mike Kellie (drums). 
Neil Innes This album (that was also re-released under the name Neil Innes a-go-go) by the former member of funny band The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, features Ollie Halsall (guitar), Andy Roberts (guitar), Dave Richards (bass), Mike Kellie (drums), Gerry Conway (drums).
Jimmy Stevens I don't know who he is. In this album, produced by Maurice Gibb (from the Bee Gees), Peter Frampton appears with Mike Kellie.
Chris Jagger His last name can't be more famous... With brother Mick Jagger (vocals), and Stones-related people such as Bobby Keys (sax), Ian 'Stu' Stewart (keyboards), or P.P. Arnold (vocals). Also with David Pierce (guitar, keyboards), Brian Belshaw (bass), Michael Omartian (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums), Roger Earl (drums), Don Poncher (drums). 
Grimms As I've told before, Mike played in some sessions by Liverpool Scene. Grimms was formed by several ex-members of that band, as well as by members of Scaffold (Mike McGear and Roger McHough). This was their second album, with appearances by Ollie Halsall (guitar), Neil Innes (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Zoot Money (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums), Gerry Conway (drums).
Jerry Lee Lewis

At the beginning of the 70s, it was very common for r'n'roll and blues pioneers to visit London, in order to record albums with all their British alumni. It happened with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Jerry Lee Lewis. In this album, we can find 'The Killer' backed by great musicians: Rory Gallagher (guitar), Peter Frampton (guitar), Albert Lee (guitar), Delanie Bramlett (vocals, guitar), Klaus Voormann (bass), Gary Wright (keyboards), Tony Ashton (keyboards), Andy Bown (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums), Kenny Jones (drums). As a curiosity, my Spanish version is a butchered 1LP, instead of the original 2LP. :(

Andy Roberts This guitarist and singer has a very interesting career. He has belonged to Scaffold, Liverpool Scene, Plainsong and Grimms. This was his third solo album, and we can find here some of his former bandmates: Iain Matthews (vocals, from Plainsong), Neil Innes (guitar, from Grimms), Dave Richards (bass, from Plainsong and Grimms), Bob Ronga (bass, from Plainsong). Plus Paul Kent (vocals), Richard Thompson (guitar), Martin Carthy (banjo), B.J. Cole (pedal steel guitar), Zoot Money (keyboards), John Megginson (keyboards), Dick Parry (sax), Mike Kellie (drums), Gerry Conway (drums), Timi Donald (drums). 
Kenny Young He was later a member of Fox (with Pete Solley and Herbie Armstrong) and Yellow Dog, and he'll someday have his own pages in my Olympus. This must be his second solo album, recorded with Mark Warner (guitar), Dean Parks (guitar), David Cohen (guitar), Wayne Perkins (guitar), Louie Shelton (guitar), Leland Sklar (bass), John 'Rabbit' Bundrick (keyboards), Tom Canning (keyboards), Jim Horn (sax), Mike Kellie (drums), Russ Kunkel (drums), Bobbye Hall (percussion), and from The Crusaders: Joe Sample (keyboards) and Wilton Felder (bass). On vocals: Susan Traynor, who joined Kenny in Fox under the stage name Noosha Fox.
Splinter They were a duo of vocalist: Bill Elliott and Bob Purvis. They were signed to George Harrison label, Dark Horse. Harrison also acted here as producer, as well as playing under pseudonym. This was their first album, backed by: Alvin Lee (guitar), Klaus Voormann (bass), Willie Weeks (bass), Mel Collins (sax), Billy Preston (keyboards), Gary Wright (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums), Jim Keltner (drums).
Andy Fraser The talented bassist from Free. In this album, he plays with Frankie Miller (vocals), Henry McCullough (guitar), Nick Judd (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums), Kim Turner (drums). 
Pat Travers A great guitarist. This album featured his band:
Pat Travers (guitar, vocals)
Peter 'Mars' Cowling (bass)
Roy Dyke (drums)
But the album also has collaborations by Brian Chatton (keyboards), and Mike Kellie (drums on the track 'Boom boom (out go the lights)').
Roderick Falconer This artist, also known as Roderick Taylor, recorded this second album, produced by Matthew Fisher (also playing keyboards), with Mike Japp (guitar, from Marmalade), Ken Freeman (keyboards), Mike Kellie (drums) and backing vocals by Kay Garner, Irene Chanter and Doreen Chanter. 
Sean Tyla He was the leader in Ducks DeLuxe (the band included Brinsley Schwarz in 1975) and Tyla Gang. In this solo album, he appears alongside old bandmates, such as the whole lineup of Tyla Gang (Bruce Irvine, Mike Desmarais and Ken Whaley), Mick Groom & Nick Garvey & Tim Roper (from Ducks DeLuxe), as well as some members of other 'pub rock' bands: John Earle (sax, from Graham Parker band), Malcolm Morley (keyboards, from Bees Make Honey, Man, Help Yourself), Pete Thomas (drums, from The Attractions), Alam 'Bam' King (from Ace), as well as Joan Jett (vocals), Steve Jones (vocals, from Sex Pistols), Mike Kellie (drums).
COLLECTIVE ALBUMS AND SOUNDTRACKS

VV.AA.

This fantastic album pays tribute to Peter Green. It's a double album (29 songs), with lots of veterans from the blues-rock scene. It includes one of the latest appearances of the late Rory Gallagher. With Bobby Tench, Savoy Brown, and members from Foghat ('Lonesome' Dave Peverett & Rod Price), Spooky Tooth, Jethro Tull (Ian Anderson, and Mick Abrahams), Snowy White (from Thin Lizzy; he also played with Peter Green around 1977), Arthur Brown (the one who had a big hit with 'Fire' in the late 60s), John 'Rabbit' Bundrick, Luther Grosvenor, Dick Heckstall-Smith, the great Ken Hensley (from Uriah Heep), jazz-fussion player Ray Gomez, to name a few. From the new generations, great appearances by bass-master Billy Sheehan (from Talas, UFO, David Lee Roth band and Mr. Big), the late Bobby Chouinard (drums, from Billy Squier band and Gary Moore band), Stu Hamm (bass, from Joe Satriani and Steve Vai bands), Jonathan Mover (drums, from GTR, Joe Satriani band, now with his own band Einstein), and Roy Z (from his own band Tribe of Gypsies, also touring for a while with Iron Maiden vocalist, Bruce Dickinson).

Mike is featured in two songs:

'Crying won't bring you back' (Luther Grosvenor / Mike Kellie / Jess Roden)
'Merry go round' (Luther Grosvenor / Mike Kellie / Jess Roden)


Apart from that, I once read that he also played some sessions for Traffic, but I think he doesn't appear in any of their albums. I've also read he appeared in some album by Graeme Edge.

Note for me: Check this reference:  1973 - Lewis, Jerry Lee - Sometimes a Memory Ain't Enough. Also check if he plays in Tommy OST.


Musicians mentioned in this page that I have projected to cover in my site someday: And short tributes to:
RELATED LINKS

From the superb site Knights in Blue Denim: The British Blues Scene '68 - '70 (by Christer Fridhammar & Vanja), we have:


If you can contribute (with additions, corrections, opinions, etc.), please, send me an e-mail message at mterol@myrealbox.com

Press here to come back to Mike Kellie's biography page

Page created by Miguel Terol on: 29/September/1999. Last modified on: 08/April/2002.