Dr. Feelgood (band)
| Dr. Feelgood | |
|---|---|
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Dr. Feelgood performing in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Canvey Island, Essex, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels | United Artists |
| Associated acts | |
| Website |
drfeelgood |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in 1971. Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, they are best known for early singles like "She Does It Right", "Roxette", and "Back in the Night". The group's original distinctively British R&B sound was centred on Wilko Johnson's choppy guitar style. Along with Johnson, the original band line-up included singer Lee Brilleaux and the rhythm section of John B. Sparks, known as "Sparko", on bass guitar[1] and John Martin, known as "The Big Figure", on drums. Although their most commercially productive years were the early to mid-1970s, and in spite of Brilleaux's death in 1994 of lymphoma, a version of the band (featuring none of the original members) continues to tour and record to this day.
Career
Early years
The band was formed in Canvey Island in 1971 by Johnson, Brilleaux and Sparks, who had all been members of existing R&B bands, and soon added drummer John Martin. They took their name from a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer Willie Perryman (also known as "Piano Red") called "Dr. Feel-Good", which Perryman recorded under the name of Dr. Feelgood & The Interns. The song was covered by several British beat groups in the 1960s, including Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. The term is also a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who is willing to overprescribe drugs.[2]
By late 1973, the band's driving R&B had made them one of the most popular bands on the growing London pub rock circuit, and they recorded their debut album, Down by the Jetty, for United Artists in 1974.[3] Like many pub rock acts, Dr Feelgood were known primarily for their high energy live performances honed through constant touring and regular performances, although their studio albums like Down by the Jetty and Malpractice (1975) were also popular.
Their breakthrough 1976 live album, Stupidity, reached number one in the UK Albums Chart (their only chart-topper). But after the 1977 follow-up Sneakin' Suspicion, Johnson left the group because of conflicts with Lee Brilleaux. He was replaced by John 'Gypie' Mayo. With Mayo, the band was never as popular as with Johnson, but still enjoyed their only Top Ten hit single in 1979, with "Milk and Alcohol". Johnson never achieved any great success outside of the band, apart from a brief spell with Ian Dury and The Blockheads from 1980. Fans always speculated about a return by Johnson that never occurred.
Later years
Despite Mayo's departure in 1981, and various subsequent line-up changes which left Brilleaux the only remaining original member, Dr Feelgood continued touring and recording through the 1980s. However, the band then suffered an almost career-finishing blow when Brilleaux died of cancer on 7 April 1994.
As Brilleaux had insisted prior to his death, Dr Feelgood reunited in May 1995, initially with vocalist Pete Gage (not to be confused with guitarist Pete Gage of Geno Washington and Vinegar Joe), and recommenced touring in 1996. Though the band contained no original members at this point, the musicians backing Gage had all previously played as members of Dr. Feelgood for at least five years, and in some cases for over a decade. In 1999 Gage was replaced by Robert Kane, formerly of The Animals II and The Alligators, who celebrated his 1,000th gig as the frontman of Dr. Feelgood in April 2007.
Every year since Brilleaux's death, a special concert known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial has been held on Canvey Island, where former and current Feelgoods celebrate the music of Dr Feelgood, and raise money for The Fair Havens Hospice in Westcliff-on-Sea. Fans attend from all over the globe, and the 17th event was held on 7 May 2010. Still based in the UK, Dr Feelgood continue to play across the world, with concerts in 2010 in Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
Band manager Chris Fenwick organises an annual walk around Canvey to commemorate Brilleaux's life, as well as additional walking tours during which he points out landmarks from the band's career. These include the jetty featured in the photograph on the band's first album cover, and venues where they played early in their career, such as The Lobster Smack inn, The Monico Nightclub and The Canvey Club (disguised as 'The Alibi Club' on the sleeve of the album Sneakin' Suspicion).[4]
A film by Julien Temple about the early days of the band, Oil City Confidential, premiered at the London Film Festival on 22 October 2009, and received a standing ovation.[5] Guest of honour was Lee Brilleaux's mother Joan Collinson, along with his widow Shirley and children Kelly and Nick. All the surviving members of the original band were present along with manager Chris Fenwick, former tour manager and Stiff Records boss Jake Riviera and other friends and colleagues of the band. The film has its own Facebook page.[6] Reviewing the film for The Independent, Nick Hasted concluded: "Feelgood are remembered in rock history, if at all, as John the Baptists to punk's messiahs".[7] On general release from 1 February 2010, the film was critically well received, with Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian describing it as "...a vivid study of period, music and place".[8] The film was first broadcast on BBC Four in April 2010.
A major exhibition of memorabilia celebrating the band's career ran at The Canvey Club between May and July 2013, having been extended several times.[9]
Personnel
Current members
- Kevin Morris (b. Kevin John Morris, London, 15 May 1955) [10] – drums (March 1983 – present)
- P H (Phil) Mitchell (b. Philip Henry Mitchell, London, 19 March 1953) [11] – bass (March 1983-March 1991, May 1995-present)
- Steve Walwyn (b. Stephen Martin Walwyn, Southam, Warkwickshire, 8 June 1956) [12] – lead guitar (June 1989 – present)
- Robert Kane (b. 6 December 1954) [13] – vocals (1999–present)
Former members
- Lee Brilleaux (b. Lee Collinson, 10 May 1952, Durban, South Africa, died 7 April 1994) [14] – lead vocals, harmonica, occasional slide guitar (January 1971-April 1994)
- John B Sparks[1] (b. 22 February 1953) [14] – bass guitar (January 1971 to April 1982)[15]
- The Big Figure (b. John Martin, 8 November 1946) [14] – drums, percussion (January 1971-April 1982) [15]
- Wilko Johnson (b. John Wilkinson, 12 July 1947, Canvey Island) [14] – lead guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals, piano (January 1971-March 1977)
- Gypie Mayo – (b. John Phillip Cawthra, 24 July 1951, Hammersmith, died 23 October 2013) lead guitar (April 1977-March 1981; substitute for Gordon Russell March 1989-April 1989)
- Johnny Guitar – lead guitar (March 1981-December 1982)
- Buzz Barwell – drums (April 1982-December 1982)
- Pat McMullen – bass (April 1982-December 1982)
- Gordon Russell (born 4 June 1958, Hammersmith, West London) – lead guitar (March 1983-May 1989)
- Dave Bronze – bass (March 1991-September 1991, May 1992-April 1994)
- Craig Rhind – bass (September 1991-May 1992)
- Pete Gage (b. Peter Gage, 2 December 1946, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London) [16] – vocals (May 1995-September 1999)
- Substitute musicians
- Henry McCullough – lead guitar (March 1977-April 1977; following Wilko Johnson’s departure)
- Barry Martin – lead guitar (May 1989-June 1989; following Gordon Russell’s departure)
Timeline
Gallery
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Robert Kane
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Steve Walwyn
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Phil Mitchell
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Kevin Morris
UK discography
Albums
(Including compilations and retrospectives)
| Date of issue | Title | Label & catalogue number | UK Albums Chart placing[17] and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1975 | Down by the Jetty | United Artists UAS 29727 Edsel ED160 (1987) GRAND 05 (1990) | - |
| October 1975 | Malpractice | United Artists UAS 29880 GRAND 09 (1990) | No. 17 |
| September 1976 | Stupidity | United Artists UAS 29990 GRAND 21 (1997) | No. 1 Live album |
| May 1977 | Sneakin' Suspicion | United Artists UAS 30075 GRAND 13 (1991) | No. 10 |
| September 1977 | Be Seeing You | United Artists UAS 30123 Edsel ED238 (1987) GRAND 14 (1991) | No. 55 First album with Gypie Mayo on guitar |
| September 1978 | Private Practice | United Artists UAS 30184 GRAND 01 (1988) | No. 41 |
| June 1979 | As It Happens | United Artists UAK 30239 GRAND 15 (1995) | No. 42 Live album |
| September 1979 | Let It Roll | United Artists UAG 30269 GRAND 07 (1989) | Guest appearances by Steve Gregory on tenor and alto sax; 'Shotgun' Roy Davies on organ plus Mike Deacon and Geraint Watkins on piano |
| September 1980 | A Case of the Shakes | United Artists UAG 30311 Edsel ED189 (1987) GRAND 10 (1990) | - |
| August 1981 | On the Job | Liberty LBG 30328 GRAND 16 (1995) | Live album |
| November 1981 | Casebook | Liberty LBG 30341 | Compilation |
| October 1982 | Fast Women and Slow Horses | Chiswick TOSS 4 GRAND 03 (1989) | Only album release with Johnny Guitar |
| October 1984 | Doctor's Orders | Demon FIEND 29 GRAND 06 (1990) | First album with Gordon Russell, P H Mitchell and Kevin Morris |
| October 1985 | Mad Man Blues | Lolita 5042 GRAND 02 (1988) | Originally only available as a French Import. Six tracks issued on a 12" EP NOSE 5 |
| August 1986 | Brilleaux | Stiff SEEZ 65 GRAND 04 (1989) | - |
| April 1987 | Case History: The Best of Dr Feelgood | EMI CDP 7467112 | Compilation |
| September 1987 | Classic | Stiff SEEZ 67 GRAND 11 (1990) | - |
| May 1989 | Singles – The UA Years | Liberty EM 1332 | The early singles |
| May 1990 | Live in London | GRAND 08 | Live album; First album with Steve Walwyn |
| March 1991 | Stupidity Plus (Live 1976–1990) | Liberty EM 1388 | Compilation of live recordings |
| June 1991 | Primo | GRAND 12 | First album with Dave Bronze |
| July 1993 | The Feelgood Factor | GRAND 17 | - |
| April 1994 | Down at the Doctors | GRAND 18 | Lee Brilleaux's final live concert. |
| October 1995 | Looking Back | Liberty ACDFEEL 195 | Five CD box set in tribute to Brilleaux. |
| August 1996 | On the Road Again | GRAND 19 | First album with Pete Gage, P H Mitchell returns. Guest appearance by Alan Glen on harmonica |
| April 1997 | Twenty Five Years of Dr Feelgood | GRAND 20 | Compilation |
| September 1997 | Centenary Collection: (The Best Of Dr Feelgood) | EMI 7243 8 59633 2 2 | Compilation |
| June 1999 | Live at the BBC 1974–75 | GRAND 22 | - |
| May 2000 | Chess Masters | GRAND 23 | First album with Robert Kane A celebration of the output of the Chess Records label |
| September 2001 | BBC Sessions 1973–1978 | GRAND 24 | - |
| September 2001 | Singled Out: UA/Liberty As, Bs & Rarities | EMI 534 242 2 | Triple album CD box set |
| October 2002 | Finely Tuned | GRAND 25 | Retrospective |
| November 2002 | Down at the BBC: In Concert 1977–78 | GRAND 26 | - |
| June 2003 | Speeding Thru Europe | GRAND 27 | - |
| November 2005 | The Complete Stiff Recordings | GRAND 29 | Double album |
| September 2006 | Repeat Prescription | GRAND 30 | Studio album with new renditions of old favourites |
| June 2013 | Taking No Prisoners (With Gypie 1977-1981)[18] | EMI | Compilation album and DVD |
Singles
| Date of issue | A-side | B-side | Label and catalogue number | Album | UK Singles Chart placing[17] and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1974 | "Roxette" | "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" | United Artists UP 35760 |
Down by the Jetty | - |
| March 1975 | "She Does It Right" | "I Don't Mind" | United Artists UP 35815 |
Down by the Jetty | - |
| July 1975 | "Back in the Night" | "I'm a Man" (live) | United Artists UP 35857 |
Malpractice | - |
| September 1976 | "Riot in Cell Block No. 9" | "Johnny B. Goode" | United Artists FEEL 1 |
Stupidity | Free inside first 20,000 copies of Stupidity album. Never released separately. |
| September 1976 | "Roxette" (live) | "Keep It Out of Sight" (live) | United Artists UP 36171 |
Stupidity | - |
| March 1977 | "Sneakin' Suspicion" | "Lights Out" | United Artists UP 36255 |
Sneakin' Suspicion | No. 47 |
| September 1977 | "She's a Windup" | "Hi-Rise" | United Artists UP 36304 |
Be Seeing You | No. 34 |
| November 1977 | "Baby Jane" | "Looking Back" | United Artists UP 36332 |
Be Seeing You | - |
| September 1978 | "Down at the Doctors" | "Take A Tip" | United Artists UP 36444 |
Private Practice | No. 48 |
| January 1979 | "Milk and Alcohol" | "Every Kind of Vice" | United Artists UP 36468 |
Private Practice | No. 9 |
| April 1979 | "As Long as the Price Is Right" (live) | "Down at the Doctors" (live) | United Artists UP 36506 |
As It Happens | No. 40 |
| August 1979 | "Put Him Out of Your Mind" | "Bend Your Ear" | United Artists BP 306 |
Let It Roll | No. 73 |
| January 1980 | "Hong Kong Money" | "Keeka Smeeka" | United Artists BP 338 |
Let It Roll | - |
| August 1980 | "No Mo Do Yakamo" | "Best in the World" | United Artists BP 366 |
A Case of the Shakes | - |
| November 1980 | "Jumping from Love to Love" | "Love Hound" | United Artists BP 374 |
A Case of the Shakes | - |
| January 1981 | "Violent Love" | "A Case of the Shakes" | United Artists BP 386 |
A Case of the Shakes | - |
| October 1981 | "Waiting for Saturday Night" | "Eileen" | Liberty BP 404 |
- | - |
| September 1982 | "Trying to Live My Life Without You" | "Murder In the First Degree" | Chiswick DICE 16 |
Fast Women and Slow Horses | - |
| March 1983 | "Crazy About Girls" | "Something Out of Nothing" | Chiswick DICE 18 |
- | - |
| September 1984 | "Dangerous" | "Can't Find the Lady" | Demon D 1030 |
Doctor's Orders | - |
| December 1984 | "My Way" | "She's in the Middle" | Demon D 1032 |
Doctor's Orders | - |
| August 1986 | "Don't Wait Up" | "Something Good" | Stiff BUY 253 |
Brilleaux | - |
| November 1986 | "See You Later Alligator" | "I Love You So You're Mine" | Stiff BUY 255 |
Classic | - |
| June 1987 | "Hunting Shooting Fishing" | "Big Enough" | Stiff BUY 259 |
Classic | - |
| April 1989 | "Milk and Alcohol (New Recipe)" | "She's Got Her Eyes on You" | EMI EM 89 |
- | - |
References
- 1 2 The spelling is Sparks on all the album credits, but is spelt Sparkes in a few references, and he is also known as "Sparko".
- ↑ "Doctor Feelgood". Segen's Medical Dictionary. 2012.
- ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dr. Feelgood | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ↑ "News | Review: Dr Feelgood Exhibition/Lee Brilleaux Memorial Walk". The Quietus. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
- ↑ "Oil City Confidential release". Drfeelgood.org. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
- ↑ "Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story". Facebook. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
- ↑ "The Dr Feelgood factor - Features - Music". The Independent. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
- ↑ Peter Bradshaw (4 February 2010). "Oil City Confidential". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2011-11-05.
- ↑ "New Dr Feelgood Exhibition Hits Canvey Island « Every record tells a story". Everyrecordtellsastory.com. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
- ↑ "DR FEELGOOD - Kevin Morris Questionaire". Drfeelgood.de. 1955-05-15. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ↑ "DR FEELGOOD - Phil Mitchell Questionaire". Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ↑ "DR FEELGOOD - Steve Walwyn Questionaire". Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ↑ "DR FEELGOOD - Robert Kane Questionaire". Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- 1 2 3 4 Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 128. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
- 1 2 Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 368. CN 5585.
- ↑ Warburg, John. "Early Days – Dr Feelgood". Slimsblues. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 162. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2013-06-25). "Taking No Prisoners (With Gypie 1977-1981) - Dr. Feelgood | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- 1 2 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 290–292. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ↑ Moon, Tony (2002). Down By The Jetty – The Dr Feelgood Story (2nd ed.). Borden, Hants: Northdown Publishing Ltd. pp. 122–123. ISBN 1-900711-15-X.
Bibliography
- Jost, Roland; Nättilä, Teppo, Mäkinen, Rauno – From Roxette To Ramona, Dr Feelgood And Wilko Johnson On Record – ISBN 3-033-00460-1
- Down By The Jetty – The Dr Feelgood Story by Tony Moon – Northdown Publishing 1997 (Rev 2002) – ISBN 1-900711-15-X
External links
- Official website
- Wilko Johnson official site
- Archive of former official website
- Hometown website
- Dr. Feelgood biography at the Allmusic.com website
- 2006 interview with Wilko Johnson
- Official site of the Julien Temple film on the early years
- Review of Oil City Confidential movie
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