Dr. Feelgood (band)

Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood performing in 2009
Background information
Origin	Canvey Island, Essex, England
Genres	Pub rock R&B blues rock
Years active	1971 (1971)–present
Labels	United Artists
Associated acts	Eddie and the Hot Rods The Kursaal Flyers The Count Bishops
Website	drfeelgood.org
Members	Kevin Morris P H Mitchell Steve Walwyn Robert Kane
Past members	Lee Brilleaux The Big Figure John B Sparks Wilko Johnson John 'Gypie' Mayo Johnny Guitar Buzz Barwell Pat McMullan Gordon Russell Dave Bronze Craig Rhind Pete Gage

Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in 1971. Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, they are best known for early singles like "She Does It Right", "Roxette", and "Back in the Night". The group's original distinctively British R&B sound was centred on Wilko Johnson's choppy guitar style. Along with Johnson, the original 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 early to mid-1970s, and in spite of Brilleaux's death in 1994 of lymphoma, a version of the band (featuring none of the original members) continues to tour and record to this day.

The band was formed in Canvey Island in 1971 by Johnson, Brilleaux and Sparks, who had all been members of existing R&B bands, and soon added drummer John Martin. They took their name from a 1962 record by the American blues pianist and singer 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 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 doctor who is willing to overprescribe drugs.

By late 1973, the band's driving R&B had made them one of the most popular bands on the growing London pub rock circuit, and they recorded their debut album, Down by the Jetty, for United Artists in 1974. Like many pub rock acts, Dr Feelgood were known primarily for their high energy live performances honed through constant touring and regular performances, although their studio albums like Down by the Jetty and Malpractice (1975) were also popular.