Presented by Melvyn Bragg - LWT Television - Live + comment by Lee Brilleaux and The Big Figure - Also Nine Below Zero and The Blues Band were featured
I had the good fortune to watch a TV show circa 1977, Radio with Pictures, that had Dr Feelgood playing Riot in Cell Block No 9. Wilko played his guitar like an automatic rifle. I was hooked.
The ultimate live act - aged 18, 6 of us piling into someone's car/van to motor off round the country to intercept the Feelgoods various low profile gig venues - sweaty town halls, dingy pubs. I always remember being at the front row at Oxford Pub gig 1981 with Lee consuming a bottle+1/2 of white wine through the performance and afterwards appearing next to us in his dirty suit wanting a night on the town. We gate crashed some student party and my memory then is rather blurred LONG LIVE LEE !!
Lee was a dude. S.A.H.B. Dr Feelgood, Then Punk. The first two bands had a couple of years at the top of the ladder. Thanks to my Ma for chucking out the Harmonica he gave me.
I love the bass embellishments Sparko puts into Down at the Doctors in this video! Really nice runs and he's got a great bright tone going on too. Top marks, Sparks.
This takes me back - Feelgood performed with "anger" long before the Pistols. Blues with attitude - "you don't treat me right baby - so I'm gonna smack you in the mouth". One of the really really real bands of the UK 70's - excellent
I know plenty of semi-literate teachers, particularly junior school teachers. Tony Blair sticking everyone through university is the cause. Wilco was an English teacher. He was a loss to the profession. He's very well read and highly intelligent.
@@colinpumpernickel2605. It seems as though "they" don't cover the basics like they used too. When I was at school (& those generations before, were very well schooled in reading, writing, arithmatic, english, etc. So even, if someone like my husband, who left school at 15 years old, didn't take any exams ( "O" Levels, matric, etc) was excellent in the basics. I told him that he could have easily passed his exams if he had wanted to take them, but he said, it was not really offered to working class kids. Besides, back then you could get a good job & work your way up, by learning on the job. Some years ago, while working for a vet sciences firm, we advertised a job vacancy. We received, hundreds of applications, most had degrees from university, but the thing that shocked me, was how poorly they had filled out the application. There were loads of spelling mistakes (of quite simple words), terrible hand writing, bad grammar, etc, etc. I was shocked to see these graduates didn't get to grips with the basics! What happened ? Who didn't teach them this stuff, while at junior school ? It is really odd & rather shocking?
Great great documentary. Great playing. And good to hear Lee, and the other band menbers, telling about their reasons, to sing and play the rock-blues gigs, the way they did. 👍😊
One of the things I love about this program is the proper Cockney/ Essex accents of Lee and Figure. Listen to young Cockneys/ Home Counties people nowadays and they sound slightly Jamaican/ Australian......WTF. I love old school Cockney accents and I am from Newcastle. Great band.
Matthew Hopkins Thanks for the reply. Interesting stuff about the old Essex accent having a more ‘rural’ sound. You are right about the accents up here. A proper Mackem accent( and it is‘nt nice I can tell you!) is completely different from a Newcastle accent. I suppose Micky Flanagan is the nearest you hear to a genuine Cockney accent on TV nowadays.
I'm a Cockney and love the Geordie accent. Regional accents fascinate and these fellas from deepest South East of Essex have that distinctive regional accent. Most of my family were originally from Essex. My younger brother still lives there. He does drive a Ford too. Essex folks used to make 'em. Have seen the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and several others LIVE back in the day. Lee Brilleaux has to be the most dynamic Front Man of any band. Much missed.
What a guy, no crap 2018 identity politics just a true and perfect alignment of values with the beauty and meaning of this wonderful African American genre. Musicians do not judge, only the talentless indulge in such twaddle. Thank You Lee.
A great band , unpretensious , rockin' and kick ass . l loved 'em even though my favourite music was Prog Rock . Could you imagine two more different bands than E.L.P. and the Feelgoods ?
I played washboard with Lee and John when we all lived on Canvey, Lee played fantastic banjo and John was amazing with the 12 string, If you only play in one band in your whole life the Coney Island Jug Band ain't a bad start/ finish
Andy Roberts - Hello, I have a few CDs by Andy Roberts, one is Home Grown, which I used to have on vinyl... Coney Island... Did you mean Canvey Island? Went there (Canvey) many years ago, tried Rossi's Ice Cream and visited The Feelgood Bar... Great times! And thanks for the comment!
Likewise, at the age of 45 I found a common love for the music of dr.Feelgood with my 5 year old son, we always want to hear and see Lee. better late than never!
Really good, solid group, great stage presence, superb material, my era was (and still is) the Sixties but it doesn't get much better than The Feelgoods.
Back in the day's when you could say the word black, excellent band and tragic that Lee died so young and Wilko too recently, thanks both for all the energy you put into your music 🎶.
I was just watching a documnetary about them on BBC4, very good it was, funny and sad all at once......the version of 'Take A Tip' on the Southbank show sounds pretty damn fine
I remember this, it's great you've uploaded it.. Out of all 3 bands - Nine Below Zero the young upstarts, Dr. Feelgood the seasoned professionals and The Blues Band the veterans, Dr Feelgood absolutely blew the other two out of the studio. Lee Brilleaux was a dynamic frontman, one of the very best. If you miss his voice put Ian Fawkes in the search box. You'll find a band called Route 66, close your eyes and Lee is nearly there. We're playing before them at Colne Blues Festival this year!
Don't know if I can go along with that. The Yardbirds when I use to go and watch them were more orthodox R&B just like most of their contemporaries who felt it was their mission to ape their heroes and promote authentic black music whereas Dr. Feelgood were more of a progression to the next stage with a fusion of heavy beating rock built on a foundation of R&B.
Thanks mate, I meant Coney Island not Canvey. We all lived on Canvey and the band was called The Coney Island Jug Band. Lee on banjo, John playing 12 string , self on washboard and various others playing the stomp boot, shears and kazoo. Lee was also good with the gob iron. We had a fairly regular slot at the Canvey Club on Smallgains corner.
I was in the sixth from when Feelgood were first making waves. I have to admit much to one or two of my peers consternation, I did not get what all the fuss was all about at the time, as I stuck to my prog rock bands like Camel, and other great acts like Skynyrd. However all that changed when I saw them perform in Nottingham at one of the free Heineken festivals that were happening in the mid to late 80's. My god they were good, and Lee Brilleaux bless his little cotton socks and harmonica was simply outstanding. Sadly missed and I do now certainly appreciate what it was that they had. Nine below zero were pretty tasty too.
I thought that too. He refers to 60-year-old Howling Wolf as an 'old man.' Unfortunately Brilleaux only made it to 41, so perhaps we are relatively old😆
Wilko was good but Brilleaux was the driving force would give the same performance in a pub as he would in an arena.People like you Lee are badly missed you were taken away way too young an honest musician and artist.
I like all incarnations of the band. The Wilco years...because you've got to realise the state of music mid seventies. When I saw them for the first time on "Granada Reports" introduced by a young Tony Wilson - I thought "thank God, I've seen the future for Rock 'n' Roll" Second incarnation (the Gypie years) were still good and more commerciall and successful. The final incarnation....their last album "The Feelgood Factor" in my opinion had the same spine tingling feeling as "Malpractise"
If your drummer is named ‘The Big Figure’, you know your band is in a different league of cool.
We need more bands like The Feelgoods. No mucking about, just straight ahead.
Sleaford Mods?
Lee was an absolutely Brilliant singer, he really nailed it, never failed..
Lee was just awesome
Dr Feelgood. The Motors. The Blockheads.
Them was the days.
Great live band, one of the best live bands of all time.
Black man rhythm with a white boy beat - you can't buy the charisma that Lee had. The man could dress in a shell suit and still look authentic.
Great & amazin' band
I was lucky enough to see this band a few times, always in a small venue that cooked so hard sweat would be dripping off the walls. ✌️
That is wonderful british R&B. And honest and true. They mean it.
Dr Feelgood are masters of genuine no bloody frills good times rock & rock they never sold out and never gave in, will love em till the day I die.
GENIUS!!!!!! this is a BAND....a GREAT BAND!!!!!! Salutes from San Justo ARGENTINA.
Incredible
I'm 60 and my record of 1977 was The Stranglers. It's taken a while, but 2021 I've caught the Dr Feelgood disease. WHAT A BAND WHAT A VOCAL!
I had the good fortune to watch a TV show circa 1977, Radio with Pictures, that had Dr Feelgood playing Riot in Cell Block No 9. Wilko played his guitar like an automatic rifle. I was hooked.
The Feelgoods are still all time favourites and Lee is still a great inspiration and a true R ‘n’ B hero.
Wilko Johnson was the man for the guitar in this band - unbeatable style and presence.
Perhaps.. but Gypie was just superb too.
RIP Wilko zigzag Johnson 💔
Quite agree.
Shit hair though.
RIP Wilco
Ace band ! Gypie Mayo a true original guitarist. Superb !
Legend.
The ultimate live act - aged 18, 6 of us piling into someone's car/van to motor off round the country to intercept the Feelgoods various low profile gig venues - sweaty town halls, dingy pubs. I always remember being at the front row at Oxford Pub gig 1981 with Lee consuming a bottle+1/2 of white wine through the performance and afterwards appearing next to us in his dirty suit wanting a night on the town. We gate crashed some student party and my memory then is rather blurred LONG LIVE LEE !!
me too!
Fab line by Lee Brilleaux: 'He was like a bear more than a wolf'
Lee was a dude. S.A.H.B. Dr Feelgood, Then Punk. The first two bands had a couple of years at the top of the ladder. Thanks to my Ma for chucking out the Harmonica he gave me.
He was a monster from the deepest pit of hell.But I forgive him.
One of the great bands ever
Energy clean 👍😁
KILLA Band !!! Sould, Blues and Rock !
I love the bass embellishments Sparko puts into Down at the Doctors in this video! Really nice runs and he's got a great bright tone going on too. Top marks, Sparks.
Great voice back in the day
Saw them at Sheffield City Hall in the 70s when Wilko was with the band, they were just amazing !!! what a memory.
i was there that night simply fantastic
Were they the support band ? If so who was main band,I maybe have been there 🤔
@@johnlander3164 they were the headliners,one side of Stupidity was recorded at Sheffield.
This takes me back - Feelgood performed with "anger" long before the Pistols. Blues with attitude - "you don't treat me right baby - so I'm gonna smack you in the mouth". One of the really really real bands of the UK 70's - excellent
“Smack you in the mouth “? C’mon….. have not heard anything so violent in the lyrics !
fantastic band no gimmicks
wow, people were so eloquent back in those days...not talking about accent, just polite fluidity of speech without swearing etc and no Insta talk
We didn't know our luck.people can still be eloquent.They just need a flippin' chance.
Yes the days of real conversation
I know plenty of semi-literate teachers, particularly junior school teachers. Tony Blair sticking everyone through university is the cause. Wilco was an English teacher. He was a loss to the profession. He's very well read and highly intelligent.
@@colinpumpernickel2605. It seems as though "they" don't cover the basics like they used too. When I was at school (& those generations before, were very well schooled in reading, writing, arithmatic, english, etc. So even, if someone like my husband, who left school at 15 years old, didn't take any exams ( "O" Levels, matric, etc) was excellent in the basics. I told him that he could have easily passed his exams if he had wanted to take them, but he said, it was not really offered to working class kids. Besides, back then you could get a good job & work your way up, by learning on the job. Some years ago, while working for a vet sciences firm, we advertised a job vacancy. We received, hundreds of applications, most had degrees from university, but the thing that shocked me, was how poorly they had filled out the application. There were loads of spelling mistakes (of quite simple words), terrible hand writing, bad grammar, etc, etc. I was shocked to see these graduates didn't get to grips with the basics! What happened ? Who didn't teach them this stuff, while at junior school ? It is really odd & rather shocking?
@@mossygreen2790 I'm afraid it's par for the course. These graduates become teachers and it's a vicious circle.
Wow, there was a South Bank show about Dr Feelgood, wicked, that is cool
Great great documentary. Great playing. And good to hear Lee, and the other band menbers, telling about their reasons, to sing and play the rock-blues gigs, the way they did. 👍😊
The raw power of this band has to be seen & felt, to be believed, at least once in your life !!
Completely agree , none of the studio LP's capture the sound they achieved live ,apparently effortlessly
@@peterallen3610 Indeed !!
Big Figure & Sparko were one of the best ever rhythm sections -- like a well-tuned Bentley
These guys are the real thing! Not performing someone else. They got it.
What a great band they were live. Am I the only one who would have loved to see Wilco and Gypie in the same lineup!?!!?
yes
Absolutely!
Gypie was a better guitarist. Wilko suited , but he was a one trick pony.
One of the things I love about this program is the proper Cockney/ Essex accents of Lee and Figure. Listen to young Cockneys/ Home Counties people nowadays and they sound slightly Jamaican/ Australian......WTF. I love old school Cockney accents and I am from Newcastle. Great band.
Matthew Hopkins Thanks for the reply. Interesting stuff about the old Essex accent having a more ‘rural’ sound. You are right about the accents up here. A proper Mackem accent( and it is‘nt nice I can tell you!) is completely different from a Newcastle accent. I suppose Micky Flanagan is the nearest you hear to a genuine Cockney accent on TV nowadays.
I'm a Cockney and love the Geordie accent. Regional accents fascinate and these fellas from deepest South East of Essex have that distinctive regional accent. Most of my family were originally from Essex. My younger brother still lives there. He does drive a Ford too. Essex folks used to make 'em.
Have seen the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and several others LIVE back in the day.
Lee Brilleaux has to be the most dynamic Front Man of any band. Much missed.
There are no cockney accents. They are from Essex
The Cockley twang will be long gone inside 20 years, we should thank good old multiculturalism for that
I have that sort of accent 🤣
It's amazing how you can hear Howling Wolf throughout once mentioned.I love Gypie's guitar playing too.
One of my all time favourite bands, I saw them in 81. Awesome, - second best live show I after AC/DC at Wembley in 09.
What a band.
love you lee
What a guy, no crap 2018 identity politics just a true and perfect alignment of values with the beauty and meaning of this wonderful African American genre. Musicians do not judge, only the talentless indulge in such twaddle. Thank You Lee.
A great band , unpretensious , rockin' and kick ass . l loved 'em even though my favourite music was Prog Rock . Could you imagine two more different bands than E.L.P. and the Feelgoods ?
Everytime Lee opens up the Mike, I get shivers!
WTF - who wants to "dislike" seriously...
Dr Feelgood is the best band from UK.
Even us little fellas in the enerald isle loved you guys! x
I played washboard with Lee and John when we all lived on Canvey, Lee played fantastic banjo and John was amazing with the 12 string, If you only play in one band in your whole life the Coney Island Jug Band ain't a bad start/ finish
Andy Roberts - Hello, I have a few CDs by Andy Roberts, one is Home Grown, which I used to have on vinyl... Coney Island... Did you mean Canvey Island? Went there (Canvey) many years ago, tried Rossi's Ice Cream and visited The Feelgood Bar... Great times! And thanks for the comment!
Extracts from their "Welcome Back" concert at Southends magnificent Kursaal are on here ...go for it ... I'm a Hog for them Baby!!!
Sadly, I came here by accident. This singer is FEROCIOUS! how I missed this band growing up, I will never know. Mick Jagger, eat your heart out.
Likewise, at the age of 45 I found a common love for the music of dr.Feelgood with my 5 year old son, we always want to hear and see Lee. better late than never!
I saw the Feelgoods at the Hamersmith Odeon at their prime.I had been smoking Thai stick before hand.Wilko mesmerized me with his guitar playing.
Really good, solid group, great stage presence, superb material, my era was (and still is) the Sixties but it doesn't get much better than The Feelgoods.
in yer face,thank you Lee
A whole chunk of solid rhythm. Like that.
Back in the day's when you could say the word black, excellent band and tragic that Lee died so young and Wilko too recently, thanks both for all the energy you put into your music 🎶.
Rumour has it he is still buzzing , rip mate .
Gypie's tone with that Strat in this video is pulverizing.
A whole chunk of solid rhythm.
fucking awesome, always loved DR FEELGOOD , thanks for the upload
Great stuff.
I loved this band
this band in Portugal is a legend just like Stranglers.
Out of the Essex Delta - pure class...
Love feel good here the camera the lights the performance all slick high quality and the top drawer music production of the songs
Dr Feelgood F’king Brilliant.Lee you were the greatest fella and greatly missed BUT you left us with such gems and we will never forget you.💙
these guys do have THE beat : unbeatable !
🤣 I've just now learned about how they named themselves...
Dr.Feelgood boosts my feelings and spirit.
I was just watching a documnetary about them on BBC4, very good it was, funny and sad all at once......the version of 'Take A Tip' on the Southbank show sounds pretty damn fine
Super Band👍👍👍
RIP Gypie Mayo
Amazing, new/old band for me to get into, cheers!
I remember this, it's great you've uploaded it.. Out of all 3 bands - Nine Below Zero the young upstarts, Dr. Feelgood the seasoned professionals and The Blues Band the veterans, Dr Feelgood absolutely blew the other two out of the studio. Lee Brilleaux was a dynamic frontman, one of the very best.
If you miss his voice put Ian Fawkes in the search box. You'll find a band called Route 66, close your eyes and Lee is nearly there. We're playing before them at Colne Blues Festival this year!
Goddamn this takes me back 40 years!!!
These guys are so much like what the Yardbirds would have been like if they'd carried on. This band was a time capsule.
Don't know if I can go along with that. The Yardbirds when I use to go and watch them were more orthodox R&B just like most of their contemporaries who felt it was their mission to ape their heroes and promote authentic black music whereas Dr. Feelgood were more of a progression to the next stage with a fusion of heavy beating rock built on a foundation of R&B.
The irony is that Gypie joined the Yardbirds later in life, his solos on I'm not Talking from the 2003 album are amazing.
Can't believe I've never really taken notice of these guys, it's way before my time but loving it!
Bei mir war es so , dass Sweet und AC/DC alles überstrahlt haben . Und dann kam , Milk and Alkohol ‚ . Das hat alles geändert
@@andreashering875 Sehr Gut
Fantastic footage, thanks for posting !
love Gypie's solo @9:43
superb
i saw him live last time in germany.lübeck.(riders cafe) weh ad a bourbon with coke together. i' ll nrever forget him.
Наикрутейшие рокеры суперская группа
God I can remember watching this!
Genial, de lo mejor que he oído, este tipo es genial
something about Dr. Feelgood, no image, no character but plenty of neatness rawness unpretence and BLUES.
Never yet heard Lee speak. Brilliant!
Howlin' Wolf ...
かっこよすぎます！！！！
'After Dark' Club in Reading, UK .... with a good friend Alan P from school days. Great shows and times :-)
geniales, únicos, forever Dr Feelgood...
saunuoliai fainuoliai luv this band
First band I saw live sept 75 St George's Hall Bradford! I was 14.
Like a British BACK IN THE USA era MC5! Proper rock n rollers.
Kick out the jams mfer!
Loved them sadly did, nt get to meet Lee 😥🏴
Thanks mate, I meant Coney Island not Canvey. We all lived on Canvey and the band was called The Coney Island Jug Band. Lee on banjo, John playing 12 string , self on washboard and various others playing the stomp boot, shears and kazoo. Lee was also good with the gob iron. We had a fairly regular slot at the Canvey Club on Smallgains corner.
Andy Roberts - Thanks Andy! I will read again that section on Zoe Howe's book... Best regards from Italy!
These guys are great...my lord....??????
I was in the sixth from when Feelgood were first making waves. I have to admit much to one or two of my peers consternation, I did not get what all the fuss was all about at the time, as I stuck to my prog rock bands like Camel, and other great acts like Skynyrd. However all that changed when I saw them perform in Nottingham at one of the free Heineken festivals that were happening in the mid to late 80's. My god they were good, and Lee Brilleaux bless his little cotton socks and harmonica was simply outstanding. Sadly missed and I do now certainly appreciate what it was that they had. Nine below zero were pretty tasty too.
@krad91y : I agree. Seen them about thirty times; unforgettable.
I live in Oz.,. there reputation traveled..a lot of assie bands were influenced by feelgood!! Good pub rock 👍🇦🇺
Nothing wrong with being 60 years old!
I thought that too. He refers to 60-year-old Howling Wolf as an 'old man.'
Unfortunately Brilleaux only made it to 41, so perhaps we are relatively old😆
Wilko was good but Brilleaux was the driving force would give the same performance in a pub as he would in an arena.People like you Lee are badly missed you were taken away way too young an honest musician and artist.
nailed!
Reminds me of the Texas band - The Fabulous Thunderbirds!
@3031491 Excellent choice you made :)
I like all incarnations of the band. The Wilco years...because you've got to realise the state of music mid seventies. When I saw them for the first time on "Granada Reports" introduced by a young Tony Wilson - I thought "thank God, I've seen the future for Rock 'n' Roll"
Second incarnation (the Gypie years) were still good and more commerciall and successful.
The final incarnation....their last album "The Feelgood Factor" in my opinion had the same spine tingling feeling as "Malpractise"