Dr. Feelgood (band)

Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
	Dr. Feelgood performing in 2009
Background information
Origin	Canvey Island, Essex, England
Genres	Pub rock; R&B; blues rock; rock and roll;
Years active	1971–present
Labels	United Artists
Associated acts	Eddie and the Hot Rods; The Kursaal Flyers; The Count Bishops;
Website	drfeelgood.org
Members	Kevin Morris; P H Mitchell; Steve Walwyn; Robert Kane;
Past members	Lee Brilleaux; The Big Figure; John B Sparks; Wilko Johnson; John 'Gypie' Mayo; Johnny Guitar; Buzz Barwell; Pat McMullan; Gordon Russell; Dave Bronze; Craig Rhind; Pete Gage;

Dr. Feelgood are an English pub rock band formed in 1971. Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, the group are best known for early singles such as "She Does It Right", "Roxette", "Back in the Night" and "Milk and Alcohol". 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]

Dr. Feelgood’s mascot as used by the band in the 1970s and early 1980s.

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 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.

Guitarist Steve Walwyn in Barcelona, 18 March 2009

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.

Current vocalist Robert Kane performing in Barcelona, 18 March 2009

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 have celebrated the music of Dr. Feelgood, and raised money for The Fair Havens Hospice in Westcliff-on-Sea. Fans attended from all over the globe, and the 20th and final event was held on 9 May 2014. 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]

Members

Current members

Phil H. Mitchell – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals (1983–1991, 1995–present)
Kevin Morris – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1983–1994, 1995–present)
Steve Walwyn – lead and slide guitars, backing vocals (1989–1994, 1995–present)
Robert Kane – lead vocals, harmonica (1999–present)

Gallery

Robert Kane
Steve Walwyn
Phil Mitchell
Kevin Morris

UK discography

Albums

(Including compilations and retrospectives)

Date of issue	Title	Label & catalogue number	UK Albums Chart placing[10] 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
April 2013	All Through The City (With Wilko 1974-1977)	Parlophone	3 CD Compilation album and DVD
June 2013	Taking No Prisoners (With Gypie 1977–1981)[11]	EMI	Compilation album and DVD

[12]

Singles

Date of issue	A-side	B-side	Label and catalogue number	Album	UK Singles Chart placing[10] 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	-	-

[12][13]

References

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 2 October 2015.
"News | Review: Dr Feelgood Exhibition/Lee Brilleaux Memorial Walk". The Quietus. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
"Oil City Confidential release". Drfeelgood.org. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
"Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story". Facebook. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
"The Dr. Feelgood factor - Features - Music". The Independent. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
Peter Bradshaw (4 February 2010). "Oil City Confidential". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
"New Dr. Feelgood Exhibition Hits Canvey Island « Every record tells a story". Everyrecordtellsastory.com. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 162. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (25 June 2013). "Taking No Prisoners (With Gypie 1977–1981) - Dr. Feelgood | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
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

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[sparks-1] The spelling is Sparks on all the album credits, but is spelt Sparkes in a few references, and he is also known as "Sparko".

[2] "Doctor Feelgood". Segen's Medical Dictionary. 2012.

[allmusic-3] Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dr. Feelgood | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2015.

[4] "News | Review: Dr Feelgood Exhibition/Lee Brilleaux Memorial Walk". The Quietus. Retrieved 30 June 2013.

[5] "Oil City Confidential release". Drfeelgood.org. Retrieved 5 November 2011.

[6] "Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story". Facebook. Retrieved 5 November 2011.

[7] "The Dr. Feelgood factor - Features - Music". The Independent. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2013.

[8] Peter Bradshaw (4 February 2010). "Oil City Confidential". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 November 2011.

[9] "New Dr. Feelgood Exhibition Hits Canvey Island « Every record tells a story". Everyrecordtellsastory.com. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-10] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 162. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[11] Stephen Thomas Erlewine (25 June 2013). "Taking No Prisoners (With Gypie 1977–1981) - Dr. Feelgood | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2013.

[The_Great_Rock_Discography-12] Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 290–292. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.

[DBTJ-13] 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.

Dr. Feelgood
Kevin Morris P H Mitchell Steve Walwyn Robert Kane Lee Brilleaux Wilko Johnson John 'Gypie' Mayo Dave Bronze Pete Gage
Studio albums	Down by the Jetty Malpractice Sneakin' Suspicion Be Seeing You Private Practice
Live albums	Stupidity
Compilation albums	Twenty Five Years of Dr. Feelgood
Singles	"Roxette" "She Does It Right" "Back in the Night" "Roxette" (live) "Sneakin' Suspicion" "She's a Windup" "Baby Jane" "Down at the Doctors" "Milk and Alcohol" "As Long as the Price Is Right" (live) "Put Him Out of Your Mind"