Dr. Feelgood (band) 2i136

Dr. Feelgood (band) For other uses of the term, see Dr. Feelgood (disam- band was never as popular as with Johnson, but still enbiguation). joyed their only Top Ten hit single in 1979, with "Milk and Alcohol". Johnson never achieved any great success Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in outside of the band, apart from a brief spell with Ian Dury and The Blockheads from 1980. Fans always speculated 1971. Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, they are best known for early singles like "Back in the Night" and about a return by Johnson that never occurred. "Roxette". 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 ) continues to tour and record to this day.

1 1.1

Career Early years

The band was formed in Canvey Island in 1971 by Johnson, Brilleaux and Sparks, who had all been 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.

Guitarist Steve Walwyn in Barcelona, 18 March 2009

1.2 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 tourTheir breakthrough 1976 live album, Stupidity, reached ing and recording through the 1980s. However, the band number one in the UK Albums Chart (their only chart- then suffered an almost career-finishing blow when Briltopper). But after the follow-up Sneakin' Suspicion, John- leaux died of cancer on 7 April 1994. son left the group because of conflicts with Lee Brilleaux. As Brilleaux had insisted prior to his death, Dr Feelgood He was replaced by John 'Gypie' Mayo. With Mayo, the reunited in May 1995, initially with vocalist Pete Gage 1

2 (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 at this point, the musicians backing Gage had all previously played as 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.

2

PERSONNEL

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 Monaco 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 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 ed 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]

2 Personnel 2.1 Current • 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 Current vocalist Robert Kane performing in Barcelona, 18 March 2009

1989 – present)

• Robert Kane (b. 6 December 1954) [13] – vocals (1999–

present) 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 2.2 Former for The Fair Havens Hospice in Westcliff-on-Sea. Fans • Lee Brilleaux (b. Lee Collinson, 10 May 1952, Durban, attend from all over the globe, and the 17th event was South Africa, died 7 April 1994) [14] – vocals, harmonheld on 7 May 2010. Still based in the UK, Dr Feelgood ica, occasional slide guitar (January 1971-April 1994) continue to play across the world, with concerts in 2010 in Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Finland, , the Nether• John B Sparks[1] (b. 22 February 1953) [14] – bass guilands, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. tar (January 1971 to April 1982)[15] Band manager Chris Fenwick organises an annual walk • The Big Figure (b. John Martin, 8 November 1946) [14] around Canvey to commemorate Brilleaux’s life, as well – drums (January 1971-April 1982) [15] as additional walking tours during which he points out

3 • Wilko Johnson (b. John Wilkinson, 12 July 1947, Canvey Island) [14] – lead guitar (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 1995September 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)

2.3

3

Timeline

Gallery • Robert Kane • Steve Walwyn • Phil Mitchell • Kevin Morris

4

UK discography

4.1

Albums

(Including compilations and retrospectives)

[19][20]

[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. [3] Stephen Thomas Erlewine. “Dr. Feelgood | Biography & History”. AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-02. [4] “News | Review: Dr Feelgood Exhibition/Lee Brilleaux Memorial Walk”. The Quietus. Retrieved 2013-06-30. [5] “Oil City Confidential release”. Drfeelgood.org. Retrieved 2011-11-05. [6] “Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story”. Facebook. Retrieved 2011-11-05. [7] “The Dr Feelgood factor - Features - Music”. The Independent. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2013-06-30. [8] Peter Bradshaw (4 February 2010). “Oil City Confidential”. The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2011-11-05. [9] “New Dr Feelgood Exhibition Hits Canvey Island « Every record tells a story”. Everyrecordtellsastory.com. 201306-07. Retrieved 2013-06-30. [10] “DR FEELGOOD - Kevin Morris Questionaire”. Drfeelgood.de. 1955-05-15. Retrieved 2015-10-02. [11] “DR FEELGOOD - Phil Mitchell Questionaire”. Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 2015-10-02. [12] “DR FEELGOOD - Steve Walwyn Questionaire”. Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 2015-10-02. [13] “DR FEELGOOD - Robert Kane Questionaire”. Drfeelgood.de. Retrieved 2015-10-02. [14] Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 128. ISBN 085112-072-5. [15] Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 368. CN 5585. [16] Warburg, John. “Early Days – Dr Feelgood”. Slimsblues. Retrieved 4 September 2010. [17] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 162. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. [18] Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2013-06-25). “Taking No Prisoners (With Gypie 1977-1981) - Dr. Feelgood | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards”. AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-06. [19] Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 290–292. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.

[19]

4.2

5 References

Singles

[20] 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.

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6

7

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

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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

EXTERNAL LINKS

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Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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