Dr. Feelgood

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Dr. Feelgood (disambiguation).

Dr. Feelgood
Origin	Canvey Island, Essex
Genres	Pub rock, blues rock, new wave
Years active	1971–present
Labels	United Artists
Associated acts	Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Kursaal Flyers
Website	drfeelgood.org
Members
Robert Kane Steve Walwyn Kevin Morris P H Mitchell
Past members
Lee Brilleaux Wilko Johnson John B Sparks[1] The Big Figure John 'Gypie' Mayo Johnny Guitar Buzz Barwell Pat McMullen Gordon Russell Pete Gage Dave Bronze

Dr. Feelgood (2009)

Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock 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 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.

Career

Early years

Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, they are best known for early singles like "Back in the Night" and "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 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.

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 (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 follow-up Sneakin' Suspicion, Johnson left the group due to 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 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.

Guitarist Steve Walwyn
in Barcelona, 18 March 2009

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.

As Brilleaux had insisted prior to his demise, Dr. Feelgood reunited in May 1995, initially with vocalist Pete Gage, (not to be confused with Elkie Brooks' ex-husband, the guitarist Pete Gage of Geno Washington and Vinegar Joe) and recommenced touring in 1996. in 1999 Gage was replaced by Robert Kane, formerly of The Animals II and The Alligators, who celebrated his 1000th gig as the frontman of Dr. Feelgood in April 2007.

Current vocalist Robert Kane
Live in Barcelona 18 March 2009

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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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".^[4] 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”. ^[5] 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)^[6] – 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)^[6] – lead guitar – January 1971 to March 1977
• John B Sparks^[1] (born 22 February 1953)^[6] – bass guitar – January 1971 to April 1982^[7]
• The Big Figure (born John Martin, 8 November 1946)^[6] – drums – January 1971 to April 1982^[7]

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)^[8]

Current line-up

• Kevin Morris (b. Kevin John Morris, London, 15 May 1955)^[9] – drums – March 1983 to date
• P H (Phil) Mitchell (b. Philip Henry Mitchell, the Park Royal Hospital, Harlesden, North West London, 19 March 1953)^[10] – bass – March 1983 to March 1991 and May 1995 to date
• Steve Walwyn (b. Stephen Martin Walwyn, Southam, Warks. 8 June 1956)^[11] – lead guitar – June 1989 to date
• Robert Kane (b. 6 December 1954)^[12] – vocals – 1999 to date

Band member timeline

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[13] 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)	#17
September 1976	Stupidity	United Artists UAS 29990 GRAND 21 (1997)	#1 Live album
May 1977	Sneakin' Suspicion	United Artists UAS 30075 GRAND 13 (1991)	#10
September 1977	Be Seeing You	United Artists UAS 30123 Edsel ED238 (1987) GRAND 14 (1991)	#55 First album with Gypie Mayo on guitar
September 1978	Private Practice	United Artists UA 30184 GRAND 01 (1988)	#41
June 1979	As It Happens	United Artists UAK 30239 GRAND 15 (1995)	#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	-
2005	The Complete Stiff Recordings		Double album
September 2006	Repeat Prescription	GRAND 30	Studio album with new renditions of old favourites

^[14]

Singles

Date of issue	A-side	B-side	Label and catalogue number	Album	UK Singles Chart placing[13] 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	-	-

^{[14] [15]}

Quotations

“

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 ^[16]

“

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)^[17]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} 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. ^ "OIL CITY CONFIDENTIAL RELEASE". Drfeelgood.org. http://www.drfeelgood.org/. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
3. ^ "Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story". Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/OilCityConfidential. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
4. ^ The Dr Feelgood factor
5. ^ Peter Bradshaw. "Oil City Confidential". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/feb/04/oil-city-confidential-review. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd.. p. 128. ISBN 0-85112-072-5. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 368. CN 5585. 
8. ^ Warburg, John. "Early Days – Dr Feelgood". Slimsblues. http://www.slimsblues.com/early_days_dr_feelgood.htm. Retrieved 4 September 2010. 
9. ^ Kevin Morris Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010
10. ^ Phil Mitchell Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010
11. ^ Steve Walwyn Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010
12. ^ Robert Kane Biography on Dr Feelgood – The Archive retrieved 18 May 2010
13. ^ ^{a b} Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 162. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 290–292. ISBN 1-84195-017-3. 
15. ^ 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. 
16. ^ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). Music; From Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues and Hip Hop to Classical, Folk and World (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 1-904041-96-5. 
17. ^ Brilleaux, Lee "Dr Feelgood – The Archive" Retrieved 3 November 2008

• 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 1-90071-115-X

External links

• Official website
• www.wilkojohnson.org 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