When did Chelsea effectively cease to exist (date)?
A. Chelsea died the night LIPS was born. It was August 1970. The Yellow Front Saloon in Fort Lee, NJ. Shepley and Brand were habitually late. But this particular night there was a large audience – packed – and getting a bit restless and quite boisterous. After missing the first set I suggested doing the second set as a trio. I think it was meant to be. We thought a second – I said Blue Suede Shoes – and that was it. Everything that didn’t work in Chelsea made LIPS great. The strong rhythm that Peter complimented freed Mike to fly. It fell together so naturally. Peter would roll off his toms into a crash and I’d solo, somewhere in the heavens, and I’d open my eyes just as Pete would come around to reel me in for the next verse. It was a magical group – and things like that just don’t last long. Unfortunately!! Q.
