Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock (UK)|pub rock musical band|band formed in 1971. The band's name derives from a slang term for heroin or for a doctor who is willing to overprescribe drugs. It is also a reference to a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer Piano Red|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 cover version|covered by several British beat groups in the 1960s, including Johnny Kidd & The Pirates .
Career
Early years
Hailing from Canvey Island , Essex, England|Essex , they are best known for early singles like " Back in the Night " and " Roxette (Dr. Feelgood song)|Roxette ". Although their most commercially productive years were the early to mid 1970s, they continue to tour and record to this day.
The group's original distinctively British Rhythm and blues|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 and John Martin, known as "The Big Figure", on drums.
Like many pub rock acts, Dr. Feelgood were known primarily for their high energy live performances, although studio albums like Down by the Jetty (1974) and Malpractice (Dr. Feelgood album)|Malpractice (1975) were also popular. Their breakthrough 1976 live album, Stupidity (Dr. Feelgood album)|Stupidity , reached List of number-one albums (UK)|number one in the UK Albums Chart (their only chart-topper ). But after the follow-up '' Sneakin' Suspicion '', Johnson left the group because of perceived 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 40|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, Dr. Feelgood continued touring and recording, although the band then suffered an almost career-finishing blow, when their frontman , Brilleaux, died of cancer on 7 April 1994.
Every year since Brilleaux's death, a special concert, known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial, is held on Canvey Island, where ex 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. Although still based in the UK, Dr. Feelgood continue to play across the world, with concerts in 2010 including, Austria , Bahrain, Belgium , Finland, France, the Netherlands , Italy, Spain and Switzerland
A film by Julien Temple about the very early days of the band, Oil City Confidential , premiered at the London Film Festival on 22 October 2009, and received a standing ovation.cite web|url= http://www.drfeelgood.org/ |title=OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL RELEASE |publisher=Drfeelgood.org |date= |accessdate=2011-11-05 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.cite web|url= http://www.facebook.com/OilCityConfidential |title=Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story |publisher=Facebook |date= |accessdate=2011-11-05 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". http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-dr-feelgood-factor-1607929.html The Dr Feelgood factor On general release from 1 February 2010, the film has been critically well received, with Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian describing it as “ ..a vivid study of period, music and place”. cite news|author=Peter Bradshaw |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/feb/04/oil-city-confidential-review |title=Oil City Confidential |publisher=Guardian |date= 4 February 2010|accessdate=2011-11-05 |location=London The film was broadcast on BBC Four in April 2010 and re-broadcast in September 2010.
Personnel
Original line-up
Lee Brilleaux (born Lee Collinson, 10 May 1952, Durban, South Africa , died 7 April 1994)cite book
| first= David | last= Roberts | year= 1998 | title= Guinness Rockopedia | edition= 1st | publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd. | location= London | page= 128 | isbn= 0-85112-072-5 – lead vocals and harmonica – January 1971 to 1994. Also played slide guitar (as on the 1975 single " Back in the Night ").
Wilko Johnson (born John Wilkinson, 12 July 1947, Canvey Island) – lead guitar – January 1971 to March 1977
John B Sparks (born 22 February 1953) – bass guitar – January 1971 to April 1982cite book
| first= John | last= Tobler | year= 1992 | title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years | edition= 1st | publisher=Reed International Books Ltd | location= London | page= 368 | id= CN 5585
The Big Figure (born John Martin, 8 November 1946) – drums – January 1971 to April 1982
Intervening band members
Henry McCullough – lead guitar (temporary) – March 1977 to April 1977
Gypie Mayo – lead guitar – April 1977 to March 1981 and March 1989 to April 1989 when Gordon Russell unavailable
Johnny Guitar – lead guitar – March 1981 to December 1982
Gordon Russell – lead guitar – March 1983 to May 1989 (born 4 June 1958, Hammersmith, West London)
Barry Martin – lead guitar (temporary) – May 1989 to June 1989 when Gordon Russell unavailable
Buzz Barwell – drums – April 1982 to December 1982
Pat McMullen – bass – April 1982 to December 1982
Dave Bronze – bass – March 1991 to September 1991 and May 1992 to April 1994
Craig Rhind – bass – September 1991 to May 1992
Pete Gage – vocals – May 1995 to September 1999 (born Peter Gage, 2 December 1946, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London)cite web|last=Warburg|first=John|title=Early Days – Dr Feelgood|url= http://www.slimsblues.com/early_days_dr_feelgood.htm|publisher=Slimsblues|accessdate=4 September 2010
Current line-up
Kevin Morris (b. Kevin John Morris, London, 15 May 1955) http://www.drfeelgood.de/qkevin.htm Kevin Morris Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010 – drums – March 1983 to date
P H (Phil) Mitchell (b. Philip Henry Mitchell, London, 19 March 1953) http://www.drfeelgood.de/qphil.htm Phil Mitchell Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010 – bass – March 1983 to March 1991 and May 1995 to date
Steve Walwyn (b. Stephen Martin Walwyn, Southam, Warks. 8 June 1956) http://www.drfeelgood.de/qsteve.htm Steve Walwyn Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010 – lead guitar – June 1989 to date
Robert Kane (b. 6 December 1954) http://www.drfeelgood.de/qrobert.htm Robert Kane Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010 – vocals – 1999 to date
cite book | first= Martin C. | last= Strong | year= 2000 | title= The Great Rock Discography | edition= 5th | publisher=Mojo Books | location= Edinburgh | pages= 290–292 | isbn= 1-84195-017-3
Singles
Date of issue
A-side
B-side
Label and catalogue number
Album
UK Singles Chart placing 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
#47
September 1977
" She's A Wind Up "
"Hi-Rise"
United Artists UP 36304
Be Seeing You
#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
#48
January 1979
" Milk and Alcohol "
"Every Kind of Vice"
United Artists UP 36468
Private Practice
#9
April 1979
" As Long As The Price is Right " (live)
" Down at the Doctors " (live)
United Artists UP 36506
As It Happens
#40
August 1979
" Put Him Out of Your Mind "
"Bend Your Ear"
United Artists BP 306
Let It Roll
#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
-
-
cite book | first= Tony| last= Moon| year= 2002| title= Down By The Jetty – The Dr Feelgood Story | edition= 2nd| publisher=Northdown Publishing Ltd.| location= Borden, Hants| pages= 122–123| isbn= 1-900711-15-X
Quotations
cquote|You don't have to be a musician to play rock 'n' roll. You've just got to love it and want to play it. Lee Brilleaux cite book | first= Paul | last= Du Noyer | year= 2003 | title= Music; From Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues and Hip Hop to Classical, Folk and World | edition= 1st | publisher=Flame Tree Publishing | location= Fulham, London | page= 86 | isbn= 1-904041-96-5
cquote|People don't talk about an orchestra and say, 'Oh. Are ya still playing that fucking old Beethoven stuff? ' Why should they say the same to us? Lee Brilleaux (1976) Brilleaux, Lee " http://www.drfeelgood.de/index.html Dr Feelgood – The Archive" Retrieved 3 November 2008
References
Reflist
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
http://www.drfeelgood.org Official website
http://www.wilkojohnson.org www.wilkojohnson.org Official site
http://www.drfeelgood.de Archive of former official website
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4127|pure_url=yes Dr. Feelgood biography at the Allmusic.com website
http://www.bluesinlondon.com/feat_wilko.html 2006 interview with Wilko Johnson
http://www.oilcityconfidential.co.uk/ Official site of the Julien Temple film on the early years
http://www.strangled.co.uk/features.htm Review of Oil City Confidential movie
Dr. Feelgood DEFAULTSORT:Dr. Feelgood Category:English rock music groups Category:Protopunk groups Category:English blues musicians Category:Pub rock musical groups Category:Canvey Island Category:Music in Southend-on-Sea Category:English rhythm and blues musical groups Category:British New Wave musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1971
