Dr Feelgood Done Great
- 21 Sep 07, 09:56 AM
It΅―s been 30 years since I saw my first proper gig. It was the Ulster Hall, and the band that took my cherry was a rude little rhythm and blues combo from Canvey Island called Dr Feelgood.
In their time, they were an important act. They were playing intense, three chord songs in an era when Rick Wakeman and progressive rock ruled. Their first album, ΅®Down By The Jetty΅― was even recorded in mono as a defiant statement. Many people have argued that the Feelgoods and their rivals, Eddie And The Hot Rods, opened the door for punk rock and for opportunists like Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats. They might be correct.
I remember the expectation of having that concert ticket at home, weeks ahead of the date. Myself and my mates learnt as many of the words as possible, and even planned out what we΅―d be wearing. There were a couple of veterans in our gang, who΅―d seen them before and who promised an amazing ritual.
Sure enough, it was a joy. In the queues outside, I saw my first punk rockers. In the venue itself, we were actually seated behind the band. But this was no terrible thing as we could witness the singer Lee Brilleaux working that crowd, more primal than anything we΅―d seen. Presently we were standing up, lost in the fever of it all, as John B Sparks hammered the bass and The Big Figure manhandled the drums. Sadly, their premier guitarist, Wilko Johnson had quit by this stage, but John Mayo was a decent replacement. Hey, what did we know, we weren΅―t feeling critical.
I wouldn΅―t try to calculate how many live bands I΅―ve seen since then, but The Feelgoods were my first, and for that I will always be grateful. So on tonight΅―s radio show, I will play one of their majestic old songs for memory΅―s sake and for the dear, departed Lee Brilleaux.
Stu Bailie presents The Late show on Radio Ulster, every Friday from 10pm until midnight. See his playlist here.
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Stuart,I saw Dr Feelgood in the Whitla hall around 1976. I think they had just release Stupidity. I didn't have a ticket for the show, but managed to climb in one of the windows at the side of the Whitla Hall. They were just starting Riot in Cell Block No.9, Wilko was machine gunning the crowd with his telecaster, and the place was jumping. They brought the house down. Some years later (1981) when I was playing in a R&B/Soul Band called the First Class Tickets, we supported them on a mini Irish tour in Dublin, Dundalk and Drogheda. I think they also played Belfast but we didn't get that gig. Wilko and Gypie Mayo had been and gone, the new guitarist was called Johnny Guitar. The rest of the line up was Big Figure on Drums, John B Sparks on Bass and Lee Brilleaux on Vocals and Harmonica. They were still as tight as ever, but I have always thought they lost something when Wilko left.
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Don't forget, Wilko plays the Spring & Airbrake, Belfast, Feb 1. There's also a version of the Feelgoods at the same venue later this year, but not sure if any original members are left.
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I never saw them live but I do treasure one of their singles - I think it might be Down At The Doctors.
During it Lee shouts 'eight bars of piano' which then signally fails to materialise...
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for anyone who likes dr feelgood I would recommend mickey jupps band legend in particular "red boot" and "moonshine" both available on double cd
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