"I lived in St Kilda for several years in the late 80’s till mid 1990’s. 

I have many, many fond memories of gigs in St Kilda; The old elevator in the PBS building getting stuck halfway up to PBS so the drummer Doug Kelly played the whole live to air show in the elevator.

Being onstage with Fred Negro with the Fuck Fucks hoping like hell Fred didn’t decide to include me in part of his 'Chicken' or 'Fruit' performances."

• Kerri Simpson Website

Kerri Simpson promo shot 1992 - Photo by Torie Nimmervoll -  Source: Australian Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne

"Backstage at the Palais supporting Dr John, there was one rather keen DR J crew member who was being rather sleazy. I was sitting with Chris Wilson watching DR J from the side of the stage and I was a bit concerned about this particular guy who was coming on strong, so I said to Chris "I'm going to the toilet if I am not back in five minutes come and get me.”

When I walked out of the toilet there was Chris, a giant of a man standing arms crossed, feet spread and the meanest look on his face ready, looking like the scariest bouncer in the world making sure I was safe.  The dressing rooms back then looked like old prison cells, ours was cold and stark, we were not given any rider, not even water backstage so half way through Dr J’s set Chris and Dean Addison raided Dr J’s dressing room and ate all their food and helped themselves to their drinks."

Shelley Scown, Tanya Lee Davies,  Rebecca Barnard, Tess McKenna, Kerri Simpson - P.R.I.C.S (Performers Releasing Information about Clean Syringes/Careful Sex), Backstage at The Espy, c.1993 - Source: Kerri Simpson Facebook

"I have so many memories of watching other female performers but I do recall walking into the Espy front bar and Barb Waters was playing with her band. She had just come back from the USA. She was playing a slide instrumental which blew my mind. I went home and practiced for weeks.

I have always loved Penny Ikinger’s playing; I admire her work greatly. Phaedra Press, she takes playing cello to a whole other level. Rosie Westbrook is a fabulous bass player.  The late great Ruby Carter, she took all of us younger female musicians under her wing and nurtured us, sharing her knowledge and insights, I loved Ruby."

Kerri Simpson, MEMO Music Hall, 2024. Photo credit - Wicked Rock Photography by Mark Moray