Dr. Feelgood

Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in mid 1971. The name of the band, Dr. Feelgood, is slang for heroin, or for doctors who are prepared to overprescribe drugs. In 1962 the name was originally adopted by the American blues pianist and singer Willie Perryman (also known as "Piano Red") who recorded his song "Dr Feel-Good" under the name "Dr Feelgood & The Interns". The song was covered by several British beat groups including Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, who used it as the B-side to their 1964 single "Always and Ever". It was this recording that influenced the band to adopt it as their name.

Career

Best known for early singles like "Back in the Night" and "Roxette", they hailed from Canvey Island, Essex, England. They arose from the ashes of R&B bands The Fix and The Roamers. Although their most commercially productive years were the early to mid 1970s, they continue to tour and record to this day. Throughout their entire career, Dr. Feelgood never left simple, hard-driving rock and roll behind, and their devotion to the blues and R&B earned them a devoted fan base.

The group's original distinctively British R&B sound was centered on Wilko Johnson's choppy guitar style. Along with Johnson, the original band line-up comprised John B. Sparks (bass guitar), John Martin aka The Big Figure (drummer) and Lee Brilleaux (vocals).

Like many pub rock acts, Dr. Feelgood were known primarily for their high energy live performances, although studio albums such as 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 Brilleaux. Despite its thriving British success, Dr. Feelgood was unable to find an audience in the United States. One other American album, Sneakin' Suspicion, followed before the band gave up on the States; they never released another record in the U.S.

Guitarist Steve Walwyn

In Barcelona 18 March 2009

(Photo by Alterna2)

Johnson was temporarily replaced by Henry McCullough, whilst the band searched for a full-time replacement, eventually choosing 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". The tune was written by Gypie Mayo, with lyrics by band comrade Nick Lowe after witnessing bluesman John Lee Hooker in concert. Two albums, As It Happens and Let It Roll, followed in 1979, with A Case of the Shakes in 1980 and On the Job in 1981, the year Mayo left the band. He was replaced by "Johnny Guitar" (real name John Crippen), who debuted on Fast Women and Slow Horses.

The music press and many listeners turned their attention to punk in the latter half of the 1970s and the pub rock bands were unable to compete. Most faded into obscurity or disbanded, the notable exception being Dr. Feelgood.

Despite Mayo's departure, and various subsequent line-up changes, Dr. Feelgood continued touring and recording. Throughout the 1980s, Brilleaux continued to lead various incarnations of Dr. Feelgood, settling on the rhythm section of bassist Phil Mitchell and drummer Kevin Morris in the mid 1980s. The band occasionally made records ? including Brilleaux, one of the last albums on Stiff Records, in 1986 ? but concentrated primarily on live performances. Although the band then suffered an almost career-finishing blow, when their frontman, Brilleaux, died of lymphoma on 7 April 1994.

Current vocalist Robert Kane

Live in Barcelona 18 March 2009

(Photo by Alterna2)

As Brilleaux had insisted prior to his demise, Dr. Feelgood reunited initially with vocalist Pete Gage, and then Robert Kane, and recommenced touring in 1996. 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 Fairhaven hospice. Fans attend from all over the globe, and the sixteenth event was held on 8 May 2009.

Former Feelgoods Gypie Mayo, John Sparks and John Martin formed the Practice in the mid 1980s, and they occasionally performed under the name Dr. Feelgood's Practice. In April 2007, Robert Kane celebrated his 1000th gig as the frontman of Dr. Feelgood.

Dr. Feelgood continue to play across the world, with concerts in 2008 including the UK, Austria, Greece, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain.

Film director, Julien Temple, is finishing a documentary feature about Dr. Feelgood called Oil City Confidential which will cover their early years and is due for a theatrical release in 2009. According to BBC Radio Suffolk the disc looks set to feature archive performances and video clips, and will include the memories of founder members The Big Figure, Wilko Johnson and John B Sparks.

Personnel

Original line-up
Lee Brilleaux - born Lee Collinson, 10 May 1952, Durban, South Africa ? died 7 April 1994 - Lead vocalist 1971 to 1994. Brilleaux also played slide guitar (as on the 1975 single, "Back in the Night") and regularly played harmonica for both albums and gigs.
Wilko Johnson - born John Wilkinson, 12 July 1947, Canvey Island - Lead guitarist 1971 to 1977.
John B Sparks - born 22 February 1953 - Bass guitarist 1971 to 1982.
The Big Figure - born John Martin, 8 November 1946 - Drummer 1971 to 1982.
Intervening band members
Gypie Mayo - Lead guitarist - 1977 to 1981.
Johnny Guitar - Lead guitarist - 1981 to 1983.
Gordon Russell - Lead guitarist - 1983 to 1989.
Buzz Barwell - Drummer - 1982 to 1983.
Pat McMullen - Bassist - 1982 to 1983.
Dave Bronze - Bassist - 1991 to 1995.
Pete Gage - Vocalist - 1995 to 1999.
Current line-up
Kevin Morris - Drummer - 1983 to date.
P H (Phil) Mitchell - Bassist - 1983 to 1990 and 1995 to date.
Steve Walwyn - Lead guitarist - 1990 to date.
Robert Kane - Vocalist - 1999 to date.
Other musicians

Several other musicians have played and toured with the band, without becoming full members. These include:

Henry McCullough - Lead guitarist - 1977.
Barry Martin - Lead guitarist - 1989.

UK discography

Albums

(Including compilations and retrospectives)

Date of issue
Title
Label and catalogue number
UK Albums Chart placing 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" mini-album / 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 and 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

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
-
-

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

?
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)

Influence

The Swedish pop duo, Roxette, were named after Dr. Feelgood's song and debut single release - "Roxette".

Career

Personnel

UK discography

Quotations

Influence

See also