Down to the Doctors again! It has been a long time since I have witnessed Dr. Feelgood in concert. I first saw that in the early to mid 1970s supporting Hawkwind. They emerged from the Canvey Island/London pub rock scene and had a unique blend of rhythm and blues with rock, fronted by the charismatic, seedy, haunting show man Lee Brilleaux on lead vocals and mouth harp, alongside the equally charismatic and energetic guitarist Wilko Johnson who strutted about the stage and played magnificent chubby, staccato guitar on his Fender telecaster. They were unique and the forerunners of what was to come in the form of punk rock.
I saw them several times after that at the City Hall, and the Reading Festival which they headlined on the Friday night one year. Wilko would soon depart, to be replaced by a succession of guitarists including Gypie Mayo. The last time I saw Dr. Feelgood was probably in the 1980s at Newcastle Mayfair with Lee as the only original member. Following the sad passing of Lee Brilleaux, the band continued with new singer Pete Gage and more recently Rob Kane, who hails from my own hometown, Sunderland.
From the current tour publicity: “Dr. Feelgood formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970’s and have enjoyed a string of hit singles in many countries including ‘Milk & Alcohol’, ‘Down at the Doctors’, ‘Roxette’, ‘She’s a Wind Up’ and ‘See You Later Alligator’.” “Some places are particularly important and highlights on the tour roster. Newcastle’s Cluny is one of those highlights. We have played the Cluny regularly for well over a decade, fantastic crowd, fantastic beer! The audience are right there in front of you, always up for it and so are we! Importantly it will be a fabulous gig and we can all sample some excellent real ales once again.” (Dr. Feelgood Facebook)
The current membership of Dr. Feelgood is: Phil H. Mitchell – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, Kevin Morris – drums, percussion, backing vocals, Gordon Russell – lead and slide guitars, backing vocals (all of whom have been with the band, on and off, since 1983) and Robert Kane – lead vocals, harmonica (who joined the band in 1999).
The Cluny was packed and as Jackie, Norm and I made our way into the venue. First led up was a cool blues singer and guitarist, who played a natty cigar box guitar and warmed the audience up for the main act. I warmed myself up with a cool pint of Guinness which set me well into the mood for the great rhythm and blues which was to follow on from the excellent support (pictured right).
Now I mentioned that singer Robert Kane comes from Sunderland and I have seen him in many local bands and venues over the years including an early performance upstairs in the Londonderry, as a member of the Showbiz Kids in Sunderland Locarno, Newcastle Mayfair and various workingmen’s clubs, and more latterly as front man of a later lineup of local heroes The Animals. He was always super energetic, charismatic and would take charge of the stage and captivate the audience with his presence and strong vocals.
The legacy and soul of the Feelgoods remains safe in the hands of the current line – up. They did justice to all the classics including their biggest hit “Milk and Alcohol”, “Roxette”, “Down at the Doctors” and my particular favourite “She Does It Right”. The Cluny crowd lapped it up. They played everything that I expected them to and more. Their set was over in the blink of a choppy guitar riff. Excellent. I had held reservations about going to see this lineup and whether they could live up to the legend that was, and is, Dr. Feelgood. I need not have worried. The original R&B merchants continue.
Many thanks to Jackie for taking the photos, Norm for coming along and helping out and Chris for helping put this on to WordPress.
Setlist: (something like this) Drives Me Wild; No Mo Do Yakamo; I Can Tell; Mary Ann; All Through the City; She Does It Right; You Don’t Love Me; Damn Right I Do; Milk and Alcohol; Shotgun Blues; Baby Jane; Riot in Cell Block #9; Keep it Undercover; Back in the Night; Roxette; If My Baby Quits Me; See You Later Alligator; Going Back Home; Down at the Doctors; Give Me One More Shot.
Encore: Last Call; Route 66.
The last time I saw Dr Feelgood in concert was at a gig at Newcastle Mayfair ballroom in 1987. By then Lee Brilleaux was the only original member remaining and the line-up was: Lee (vocals), Gordon Russell (guitar), Phil Mitchell (bass) and Kevin Morris (drums). My recollection of the gig was that it was ok, but not the best time that I saw the Feelgoods. That line up continued for a few more years, until they suffered an almost career-finishing blow, when Lee sadly died of cancer in 1994. However, the band reunited, recruited another singer, and continue to this day, with local Sunderland lad, Rob Kane, formerly of The Showbiz Kids, as the current (and now long-term) singer. I’ve read some recent reports of the band, and by all accounts they are still a hot live act. Another one to add to my list of bands to see again….
So Wilko was gone and Gypie Mayo was in. I had big doubts as to whether this could work. Wilko was a class act, and would be very hard to follow. The chemistry between Lee and Wilko was obvious, they worked together so well. It could never be the same again. So we went along to see; and it worked. All credit to Gypie Mayo for taking this on and making it work, but work it did. Apparently Gypie only had a week to learn the set before going out on this tour. He kept his own style, and didn’t try to imitate Wilko, but he and Lee worked together and the Feelgoods continued to rock, just as they had before. 
Support for the 1977 tour came from the very excellent Mink DeVille, who hit the charts around the same time with “Spanish Stroll”. We went along to the City Hall early to make sure we caught their set; this was one gig where we gave the bar a miss. Will DeVille was a cook guy and warmed the crowd up well for our session in the Dr’s surgery. 
Dr Feelgood often seemed to choose a strong support act to open for them. The support in 1978 was Squeeze, who are another class act. I think support in 1979 came from Red Beans and Rice. 
After 1979, the Feelgood’s North East gigs were in smaller venues than the City Hall, such as Durham University and Redcar Coatham Bowl. By 1981 there had been more change and Gypie Mayo had left then band, to be replaced by Johnny Guitar. I saw that line up at the Rock on the Tyne festival which took place over the 1981 August Bank Holiday weekend. This was the start of several more line up changes, which have gone on until this day. 
I saw Dr Feelgood once more, at Newcastle Mayfair in 1987. I’ll blog on that gig shortly. Its easy to forget just how great Dr Feelgood were in the 70s, particularly as a live act. Without the Feelgoods we may not have had punk, and things just wouldn’t have been the same. I spent some great nights with these guys. 
Dr Feelgood were just plain amazing in their early days. They grew out of pub rock and preceded punk, and were pretty untouchable as a live act. I first saw them as support for Hawkwind on their 1974 tour, and was blown away by them. I couldn’t take my eyes off the two front men Lee Brilleaux and Wilko Johnson. Wilko strutted backwards and forwards across the stage, playing his Fender Telecaster in his characteristic choppy style, while Lee stared menacingly at us all, dressed in a sharp white suit, wringing the mike and pumping his fist. Sparko and The Big Figure silently and relentlessly provided the rhythm. I loved those tunes: “Back In the Night”, “Roxette”, “She does it right”. There was no one like them and no-one to touch them. 
The Feelgoods visited the City Hall every year from 1976 to 1979 and I went each year. They were always a great live act, and I never saw them put on anything other than a great performance. They also had some pretty cool support acts: GT Moore and the Reggae Guitars on the 1975 tour, and the George Hatcher band in 1976 (although the ticket says Clover, I am pretty sure they were replaced on the tour by George Hatcher). I also saw them at the Reading Festival in 1975, where they were the favourites of the weekend. Went with a group of mates; I can remember all of us coming back from the local pub specially to catcg the Feelgood’s set. 
And then the unthinkable happened, and Wilko was gone. I was shocked, and couldn’t see how the band would survive the loss of such a charismatic figure. Wilko wrote many of the songs, and was so crucial and integral to their sound, and their live show. But survive they did. I’ll blog tomorrow on the post-Wilko gigs that I saw at the City Hall. The live album “Stupidity” gives an idea of a setlist from those days: Talking About You; 20 Yards Behind; Stupidity; All Through The City; I’m a Man; Walking The Dog; She Does It Right; Going Back Home; I Don’t Mind; Back in the Night; I’m a Hog for You Baby; Checking Up on My Baby; Roxette; Riot in Cell Block No. 9
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