I know I look ridiculous in that photograph...but look who's standing next to me! This was years ago, and I still get excited about it.

I had the good fortune to spend some time with the Cocteau Twins during my first trip to London in early 1996. They knew who I was because I'd been building their Web site along with Jack Huynh and Ted Grudowski, so we'd been in contact before via e-mail.

After arriving in London, I phoned September Sound and Nina Jackson, their wonderful office manager, answered, and asked my friend Kim and me to pop over—the band was rehearsing! So we took the train down to Richmond, a posh suburb south of London on the Thames, and walked over to the studio. September Sound is situated in a converted boat house on the Twickenham side of the river (in Pete Townsend's old "Eel Pie" studios). Barely a trace of the 60s and 70s remains on the inside; the place is gorgeous.

As we sat in Nina's office, which doubles as the Cocteau Twins' tape library (imagine, staring at the master tapes for a record like Treasure—just sitting there, on a shelf!), we could hear the strains of "Theft, and Wandering Around Lost" wafting, live, from downstairs in the rehearsal studio. We had a cup of coffee while the band played "I Wear Your Ring," and then finally were greeted by obviously tired but smiling and incredibly friendly Robin Guthrie.

Following some initial conversation, Robin invited us downstairs to watch them while they finished their rehearsal session. So there I was, trying to act casual as I was escorted into the presence of the rest of the band, about to enjoy my own private concert (more or less). I was introduced to everyone—Simon, Liz, Mitsuo (on guitar) and Vinnie (on drums). Everyone was very polite and welcoming, but they soon got back to it. We sat quietly on the floor while they performed "Serpentskirt," "Tishbite," "Golden-Vein," "Half-Gifts" and probably one or two other songs. Imagine sitting there while your favorite band just plays to an audience of nobody else but you and your friend...incredible. Since they were rehearsing for their 1996 tour in support of Milk & Kisses, this was an excellent preview of what would turn out to be a stunning series of performances later that summer.

(I'll note that Liz carried slips of white paper, onto which were typed the lyrics to the songs [I never got close enough to really see anything.] She referred to these casually as she rehearsed, then put them away in a little case that she took with her when she left. I noticed, months later, during their Boston concert, that she had all the lyrics printed and placed in a three-ring binder, which she carried on and off the stage with her. Very organized!)

Finally, they were finished for the day. It just so happens at that moment a courier arrived from the record company with the first 25 copies of their new album, Milk & Kisses. Right away, Robin tossed a copy to me and, of course, they signed it for me. We all inspected the sleeve artwork carefully, and Liz made a particular point of checking to make sure the dedications were there and in the right place. I noticed that there were lyrics printed in the sleeve artwork, and couldn't help but ask her about them—particularly "Violaine," which looked like some foreign language (the song definitely sounds that way). I asked her about it, and she laughed—having me on—and said something like, "Well, perhaps in some small town in Poland they might understand it, but otherwise..." She didn't bother to tell me that it was mostly English printed backwards...I figured that out for myself later, and realized why she found my question so amusing. I'm sure I deserved it.

Anyway, it was loads of fun, and the three of them couldn't have been more sweet and accommodating. I realize how lucky I am to have been able to spend time with them like that, and how rare that is. I did meet with Robin again in Boston during the Milk & Kisses tour later in 1996. I returned to September Sound in February of 1997 and spent some more time with Robin as well as with Lincoln Fong, and briefly saw Simon, who was busy recording and producing while we were there.

Though the Cocteau Twins, as a proper band, are over, there's still, thankfully, Simon at the helm of Bella Union, and Robin Guthrie's ongoing brilliant career with Violet Indiana and as a solo musician. Please buy their records so they can continue to make and support beautiful music!