Mick O’Dowd… Chilli Willi were a great underated band. Their only problem was which pigeon-hole to sit in musically. Their album Bongos Over Balham is a classic.
Geoff Peckham… Factory opened for Chilli Willi at Marlborough College’s end of year bash in their very impressive auditorium. When we’d set up, the Head the Music Dept. told the bands they could go to the pub in the village and get drinks on the teachers’ bar tab – big mistake! It was the Chilli’s bass player’s birthday and by the time we left them in the pub to go and play our set they were well gone! I don’t think the set they played after they’d staggered back was up to their usual standard!
