Doctors of Madness
February 27th 1976 Newcastle Mayfair (with Bop Deluxe)
The Doctors of Madness were a weird band. Hyped up as the next big thing, and fronted by super-ego Kid Strange, they played some pretty strong proto-punk music which drew heavily from The Velvet Underground and Bowie. Although misunderstood and much maligned at the time, they are now recognised as being influential in the birth of punk rock, and sowed the seeds for The Pistols, and a lot of what was to follow. I first saw them supporting Be Bop Deluxe at Newcastle Mayfair in 1976, and still have a programme from the gig which includes a silver flexi (see scans). The flexi Tracks are: Waiting; Afterglow; Billy Watch Out; Noises of the Evening. My recollection of the band are of Kid Strange being exactly that: strange on stage, but also compelling and charismatic. I also remember Urban Blitz as a manic violinist. 
I saw the band a few times at the Mayfair and other local gigs, and really regret not going to see them at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt in 1976, where they were supported by none other than the Sex Pistols in their first foray “up north”. That pairing also played Northallerton Sayers club at the same time. From the programme: “The music of the Doctors of Madness is extremely different, played with great honesty and without the “Rock Rule Book”. Members: Kid Strange: singer; guitarist and composer. He rates only Dylan and Lennon alongside himself as the most talented living songwriters. Its an accident that Kid Strange is a star. Stoner: Bass. The mercury man, slow and deliberate. He carries a haunted look and few know him well. Urban Blitz: Electric violin, baritone vialectra, guitar and mandolin. Began illustrious carreer at Kindergarten age as in the wont of such viruosi. “There is no musician I respect”. Peter di Lemma: drums. The silver surfer.” Pretty awesome stuff; eh?
25 Aug
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Tony Poolan on November 21, 2014 at 9:56 am
I was at the Mayfair. They were weird but also very interesting. Waiting, Afterglow, B Movie Bedtimes and Mainlines from their record – played that night – were the most commercial songs. I have the album and it grew on you over time.
Posted by vintagerock on November 21, 2014 at 9:59 am
Richard Strange was a weird guy 🙂 Peter
Posted by Dave on September 10, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Saw them on a wet November night in1976 supporting Supertramp at Guildford Civic Hall if my memory serves me right (long long time ago etc…). They were very different from other stuff around at the time and had a unique sound. Standing near to the lighting desk I remember being asked by the roadie to flick a couple of switches and push a few buttons as his assistant had disappeared to get beers but not returned! I always got laughed at when I mentioned them to mates as few had heard of them. I think Kid Strange is still making music…heard a recent track of theirs (different line up now I guess) which actually sounded rather good.
Posted by vintagerock on September 10, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Hi Dave Yes they were way ahead of their time. My one regret is not going to see them at Middlesbrough Town Hall in early 1976 when Sex Pistols were support! They also played Northallerton Sayers nightclub and Scarborough Penthouse on the same tour as Pauline from Penetration went to all three dates and told me how fantastic the Pistols were