Dr. Feelgood are an English pub rock band from Canvey Island, Essex. Formed in January 1971, the group originally consisted of lead vocalist, harmonicist and slide guitarist Lee Brilleaux (real name Lee Collinson), lead guitarist and second vocalist Wilko Johnson (real name John Wilkinson), bassist John B. "Sparko" Sparks, pianist John Potter and drummer Terry "Bandsman" Howarth. The group's current line-up feature drummer Kevin Morris (since 1983), bassist and guitarist Phil H. Mitchell (from 1983 to 1991, and since 1995), lead vocalist and harmonicist Robert Kane (since 1999) and lead guitarist Gordon Russell (from 1983 to 1989 and since 2021),
Brilleaux, Johnson, Sparks, Potter and Howarth formed Dr. Feelgood in January 1971, although by April both Potter and Howarth had left, with John "The Big Figure" Martin taking over on drums. [1] [2] This line-up released three studio albums and one live collection, before Johnson left on 2 April 1977 due to tensions with other members of the band. [3] [4] Before a full-time replacement was found, the group performed a handful of shows with substitute guitarist Henry McCullough and keyboardist Tim Hinkley. [5] By the end of the month, Johnson had been replaced on a permanent basis by John Mayo, [6] who was later nicknamed "Gypie" by Brilleaux after he told the guitarist that he "always had the gyp". [7] Sneakin' Suspicion , the last album to feature Johnson, was released after the change in personnel. [6]
After spending nearly four years in the band, Mayo left Dr. Feelgood in early 1981 and was replaced by Johnny "Guitar" Crippen of the Count Bishops in June. [8] Just one release followed, Fast Women and Slow Horses, after which the group suffered a major setback when the long-standing rhythm section of Sparks and Martin left in April 1982. [9] Brilleaux and Crippen completed a pre-booked European tour with stand-in bassist Pat McMullen and drummer Buzz Barwell, before disbanding the group at the end of the year. [10] Just three months later, however, Brilleaux – persuaded by band manager Chris Fenwick [9] – relaunched Dr. Feelgood with new lead guitarist Gordon Russell (who had auditioned for Mayo's vacated role two years earlier), [8] bassist Phil H. Mitchell and, later, drummer Kevin Morris. [11] [12]
The line-up of Brilleaux, Russell, Mitchell and Morris released four studio albums between 1984 and 1987. [9] However, after touring for the first three months of 1989, Russell took a temporary leave of absence from the band when his infant daughter died of cot death syndrome. [13] Former guitarist Gypie Mayo returned for a string of dates as the band continued their European tour, before Russell left permanently after a short French run in May and Steve Walwyn joined in his place. [13] In 1991, during the recording of the band's first album in four years, Primo, Mitchell left Dr. Feelgood; the recordings were completed by temporary fill-in Ben Connelly and later Dave Bronze. [14] Craig Rhind took over for the subsequent touring cycle when Bronze was unavailable due to commitments with Procol Harum. [15]
During the recording of The Feelgood Factor in 1993, front-man Brilleaux was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. [16] The band ceased touring as a result, but performed a final pair of shows on 24 and 25 January 1994 at their own Dr. Feelgood Music Bar in Canvey Island, which was recorded for the live album Down at the Doctors. [17] Ian Gibbons performed on keyboards at the shows. [18] Just over two months later, on 7 April 1994, Brilleaux died of his illness at the age of 41. [19] Following the death of Brilleaux, Dr. Feelgood disbanded, before returning in June 1995 with new singer Pete Gage joining returning members Walwyn, Mitchell and Morris. [20] A live album On the Road Again was issued in 1996, [9] Gage left in August 1999 and former Animals II singer Robert Kane took his place. [21]
On 16 June 2021, it was announced that Walwyn was "unavailable to play live shows for the foreseeable future". [22] Later concerts were played by former guitarist Gordon Russell, [23] whom Walwyn had replaced 32 years before.
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
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Phil H. Mitchell |
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Gordon Russell |
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Kevin Morris |
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Robert Kane | 1999–present |
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Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
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Lee Brilleaux (Lee Collinson) |
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John B. "Sparko" Sparks | 1971–1982 |
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Wilko Johnson (John Wilkinson) | 1971–1977 (died 2022) |
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John Potter | 1971 | piano | none | |
Terry "Bandsman" Howarth | drums | |||
John "The Big Figure" Martin | 1971–1982 |
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Gypie Mayo (John Cawthra) | 1977–1981 (substitute 1989)(died 2013) |
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Johnny "Guitar" Crippen | 1981–1982 |
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Buzz Barwell |
| drums | none | |
Pat McMullen | 1982 | bass | ||
Dave Bronze |
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Craig Rhind | 1991–1992 | bass | none | |
Pete Gage | 1995–1999 |
| On the Road Again (1996) | |
Steve Walwyn | 1989–1994 1995–2021 |
| all Dr. Feelgood releases from Live in London (1990) to On the Road Again (1996) Chess Masters (2000) Speeding Thru Europe (2003) Live in London (2005) Repeat Prescription (2006) Live 1990 (2013) |
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Details |
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Tim Hinkley | 1977 | keyboards | McCullough and Hinkley performed a handful of dates with Dr. Feelgood following Wilko Johnson's departure. [5] | |
Henry McCullough | 1977 (died 2016) | lead guitar | ||
Barry Martin | 1988 | The Hamsters guitarist Martin performed at several Dr. Feelgood shows in 1988 in place of Gordon Russell. [24] | ||
Ian Gibbons | 1994 (died 2019) | keyboards | Gibbons performed at Lee Brilleaux's last two shows in January 1994, [18] as well as on several studio albums. [25] |
Period | Members | Releases |
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January – April 1971 |
| none |
April 1971 – April 1977 |
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April 1977 – March 1981 |
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June 1981 – April 1982 |
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April – December 1982 |
| none |
Band inactive December 1982 – March 1983 | ||
March – May 1983 |
| none |
May 1983 – May 1989 |
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June 1989 – March 1991 |
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March – September 1991 |
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September 1991 – May 1992 |
| none |
May 1992 – April 1994 |
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Band inactive April 1994 – June 1995 | ||
June 1995 – August 1999 |
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August 1999 – June 2021 |
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June 2021 – present |
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Dr. Feelgood are an English pub rock band formed in 1971. Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, they are best known for early singles such as "She Does It Right", "Roxette", "Back in the Night" and "Milk and Alcohol". Their original and distinctively British R&B sound was centred on Wilko Johnson's choppy guitar style. Along with Johnson, the initial 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. Although their most commercially productive years were the mid to late-1970s, and in spite of Brilleaux's death in 1994 of lymphoma, a version of the band continue to tour and record.
John Andrew Wilkinson, better known by the stage name Wilko Johnson, was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter and occasional actor. He was a member of the pub rock/rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s. Johnson was known for his distinctive guitar playing style, which he achieved by not using a plectrum but playing fingerstyle. This enabled him to play rhythm guitar and riffs or solos at the same time creating a highly percussive guitar sound.
Larry Wallis was a British rock guitarist, songwriter and producer. He was best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.
Birdland is a studio album by the reconstituted English rock group the Yardbirds, which was released in 2003, and the band's fifth studio album overall. Original drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja reformed the group in 1994 and, for the album, the Yardbirds lineup included lead singer and bassist John Idan, lead guitarist Gypie Mayo, and harmonica player Alan Glen. The album features contributions by several guests, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, and original group guitarist Jeff Beck.
Down by the Jetty is the debut album by English rock band Dr. Feelgood, released in January 1975.
Gypie Mayo was an English guitarist and songwriter, playing in Dr. Feelgood from 1977 to 1981, and from 1996 to 2004 in the reborn Yardbirds with Alan Glen.
Stupidity is a live album by English rock band Dr. Feelgood. It was released in September 1976 and is the band's third overall album. Their mushrooming popularity was confirmed when Stupidity (1976) topped the UK Albums Chart.
Sneakin' Suspicion is the fourth album by the English band Dr. Feelgood, released in 1977. During recording of Sneakin' Suspicion, the band nearly disbanded following the departure of guitarist, songwriter and focal point, Wilko Johnson. The album reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart in June 1977, and remained in that chart for six weeks. It also spawned their first single to enter the corresponding UK Singles Chart - "Sneakin' Suspicion".
"Milk and Alcohol" is a song by the band Dr. Feelgood that reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart in 1979. Written by Nick Lowe and Gypie Mayo, and produced by Richard Gottehrer, the song was Dr. Feelgood's biggest hit and continues to be played by the band.
Be Seeing You was the fifth album by Dr. Feelgood, and was released in October 1977. After the departure of Wilko Johnson, this was Dr. Feelgood's first album with guitarist Gypie Mayo.
Private Practice was the sixth album by Dr. Feelgood, and was released in October 1978.
"Sneakin' Suspicion" is a song by the band Dr. Feelgood. It was recorded in 1977 and was the first track on their album, Sneakin' Suspicion, which was released in May that year. It was recorded at the Rockfield Studios and mixed at the Media Sounds Studios in New York.
"Put Him Out of Your Mind" is a song by the band Dr. Feelgood. The track was recorded in 1979, and appeared on Let It Roll, an album by Dr. Feelgood that was released in September that year.
Twenty Five Years of Dr. Feelgood is a double compilation album by Dr. Feelgood, and was released in February 1997.
Malpractice is the second album by English rock band Dr. Feelgood, released in October 1975.
Lee Brilleaux was an English rhythm-and-blues singer and musician with the band Dr. Feelgood.
Keith "Lew" Lewis was an English harmonica player and vocalist, who was a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods before forming his own bands. Influenced in style by Little Walter, he also guested on albums by The Stranglers, The Clash and others.
Peter Gage is a British blues musician. A vocalist, harmonica player and pianist, Gage is best known for fronting the Jet Harris Band and Dr. Feelgood, although he has also led his own band and has issued solo albums featuring artists such as Gypie Mayo.
Stephen Martin Walwyn is an English rhythm and blues guitarist, best known for his playing with Dr. Feelgood, but who has also played with Eddie and the Hot Rods, Steve Marriott and the DTs, the Roger Chapman Band, the Big Town Playboys and his own band Steve Walwyn and Friends.