Editing Dr. Feelgood (band) (section)

==Career==
===Early years===
[[File:Dr-Feelgood mascot stencil FoP-de.jpg|thumb|upright|Dr. Feelgood's mascot, as used by the band in the 1970s and early 1980s]]
The band were formed on Canvey Island in 1971 by Johnson, Brilleaux and Sparks, who had all been members of existing R&B bands, and soon{{when|date=November 2024}} added drummer John Martin. They took their name from a 1962 record by the American [[blues]] pianist and singer [[Piano Red|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 [[cover version|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 physician who is willing to over-prescribe drugs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Doctor+Feelgood|title=Doctor Feelgood|journal=Segen's Medical Dictionary|date=2012}}</ref>

By late 1973, the band's driving R&B influence had made them one of the most popular bands on the growing London pub rock circuit, which included regular appearances at the Lord Nelson music pub venue.<ref>{{Cite web|website=Flickr.com |title=London Lost Music Venues: Rock Music 15 - Lord Nelson |date=18 January 2011 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/5539022127/ |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lord Nelson, 100 Holloway Road, Islington N7 |url=https://pubshistory.com/LondonPubs/Islington/LordNelson.shtml |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=Pubshistory.com}}</ref> They recorded their debut album, ''[[Down by the Jetty]]'', for [[United Artists Records|United Artists]] in 1974.<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dr-feelgood-mn0000204708/biography |title=Dr. Feelgood &#124; Biography & History |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Like many pub rock acts, Dr. Feelgood built up a dedicated following and were known primarily for their high energy and intense live performances constantly honed through their touring and regular performances. Their studio albums such as ''Down by the Jetty'' and ''[[Malpractice (Dr. Feelgood album)|Malpractice]]'' (1975) added significantly to their rising popularity. 

Their breakthrough 1976 live album, ''[[Stupidity (Dr. Feelgood album)|Stupidity]]'', reached [[List of number-one albums (UK)|number one]] in the [[UK Albums Chart]] (their only [[chart-topper]]). The [[Ramones]] were the opening act for the group's May 1976 shows at [[The Bottom Line (venue)|the Bottom Line]] in New York.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robins |first=Wayne |date=May 12, 1976 |title=The apex of punk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-the-ramones-at/161998430/ |work=Newsday |pages=9A}}</ref> 

After the 1977 follow-up ''[[Sneakin' Suspicion]]'', Johnson left the group because of conflicts with Lee Brilleaux. He was replaced by [[Gypie Mayo]]. The band with Mayo were never as popular as when Johnson was in the line-up, yet they went on to enjoy their only top ten hit single in 1979 with "[[Milk and Alcohol]]". Johnson, who died in 2022,<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 November 2022 |title=Wilko Johnson obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/23/wilko-johnson-obituary |first=Adam|last=Sweeting|access-date=23 November 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> went on to form the group Solid Senders before joining [[Ian Dury]] and [[the Blockheads]] in 1980. 
[[File:S Walwyn.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Guitarist Steve Walwyn in [[Barcelona]], 18 March 2009]]

===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 touring and recording through the 1980s. The band then suffered an almost career-finishing blow when Brilleaux died of  [[lymphoma]] on 7 April 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lee Brilleaux died 25 years ago today* |url=https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/lee-brilleaux-died-25-years-ago-today.828220/ |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=Steve Hoffman Music Forums |language=en-US}}</ref>

As Brilleaux had insisted prior to his death, Dr. Feelgood reunited in May 1995, initially with vocalist [[Pete Gage (singer)|Pete Gage]] (not to be confused with guitarist [[Pete Gage (guitarist)|Pete Gage]] of [[Geno Washington]] and [[Vinegar Joe (band)|Vinegar Joe]]), and recommenced touring in 1996. Though the band contained no original members at this point, the musicians backing Gage had all previously played as members 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.

Every year after Brilleaux's death, a special concert known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial was held on Canvey Island, where former and current Feelgoods celebrated the music of Dr. Feelgood, and raised money for The Fair Havens Hospice in [[Westcliff-on-Sea]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=DR FEELGOOD - Lee Brilleaux Memorials|url=http://www.drfeelgood.de/memorial.htm|access-date=17 January 2022|website=Drfeelgood.de}}</ref> Fans attended from all over the globe, and the 20th and final event was held on 9 May 2014. Still based in the UK, Dr. Feelgood continue to play across the world, with concerts in 2010 in Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

[[File:R Kane.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Current vocalist Robert Kane performing in Barcelona, 18 March 2009]]
Band manager Chris Fenwick organises an annual walk around Canvey to commemorate Brilleaux's life, as well as additional walking tours during which he points out 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 Monico Nightclub and The Canvey Club (disguised as 'The Alibi Club' on the sleeve of the album ''Sneakin' Suspicion'').<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/12339-dr-feelgood-exhibition-lee-brilleaux-memorial-walk |title=News &#124; Review: Dr Feelgood Exhibition/Lee Brilleaux Memorial Walk |magazine=The Quietus |access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drfeelgood.org/ |title=Oil City Confidential release |website=Drfeelgood.org |access-date=5 November 2011}}</ref> Guest of honour was Lee Brilleaux's mother Joan Collinson, along with his widow Shirley and children Kelly and Nick. All the surviving members 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/OilCityConfidential |title=Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story |website=Facebook.com |access-date=5 November 2011}}</ref>
Reviewing the film for ''[[The Independent]]'', Nick Hasted concluded: "Feelgood are remembered in rock history, if at all, as John the Baptists to punk's messiahs".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-dr-feelgood-factor-1607929.html |title=The Dr. Feelgood factor - Features - Music |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Bradshaw |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/feb/04/oil-city-confidential-review |title=Oil City Confidential |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date= 4 February 2010|access-date=5 November 2011 |location=London}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://everyrecordtellsastory.com/2013/06/07/new-dr-feelgood-exhibition-hits-canvey-island/ |title=New Dr. Feelgood Exhibition Hits Canvey Island « Every record tells a story |website=Everyrecordtellsastory.com |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref>

On 16 June 2021, it was announced that Walwyn was "unavailable to play live shows for the foreseeable future", due to family holiday commitments and the fact that his son has a possible compromised immune system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve |url=http://www.drfeelgood.org/news/2021-06-16-steve/ |website=Drfeelgood.org |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> Later concerts were played by former guitarist Gordon Russell,<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr Feelgood With Special Guests Dave Thomas Band |url=https://ipswichtheatres.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173616916/events/428413044?_ga=2.87213400.1365158031.1637271566-1607984761.1637271566 |website=Ipswichtheatres.ticketsolve.com |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref> whom Walwyn had replaced 32 years before.

In April 2024 the band's van was stolen, leaving them without any instruments and equipment, a week before a forthcoming tour of Germany. The theft took place outside the home of bassist Phil Mitchell in [[Hockley]], [[Essex]], between the night of 15 April and the morning of 16 April.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnl414715xro|title=Dr Feelgood lose instruments and gear in Hockley van theft|date=17 April 2024|website=BBC News}}</ref>