The Unsung Heroes of British Rock: Dr. Feelgood & Wilko Johnson

[@benw-king3380]

Thanks Jim, interesting take on the subject. I met Wilko in the late 70s. He'd had a certain degree of success with the original Solid Senders - who were a knockout band, with keyboards adding a new dimension to Wilk's sound. He produced a single for The Untouchables, a band I wrote and played guitar for. So all in all around that time, my relationship with him was very good. In fact, his reputation as 'the prince of darkness' which preceeded him, was always a mystery to me. Myself and my brother - who played harp for Wilko often over the years - would turn up to gigs sometimes, be promptly warned off seeking him out, only to be greeted with a hearty handshake and a pretty cordial chat....maybe it was because we'd forged a different relationship from others, I can't say. We'd played a lot of the London gigs The Feelgoods had played, including the Kensington, which was a bizarre experience, Wilk turned up....that's another story. Around the time Irene died, who as you say was a lovely lady, thing's did change a bit. I started to see the kind of things you mention. I found it all a little baffling, largely because of the past experiences I've described. I put it down to Irene passing away...I don't know. Anyway, I saw less and less of him over time. Having gone through much trial and tribulation, he did eventually garner a degree of success which had eluded him since he left The Feelgoods. Success which I feel was wholly deserved regardless. I thought Wilko was unique. Seeing him with Feelgoods in '76 changed my life in hindsight. Music has been my life, and he played a really significant part in it...on personal level anyway. Interestingly, I went on to know Gypie Mayo, who moved to my home town in his later years. Gyp was a real gent and a fantastic guitar player. His tenure with The Feelgoods was, I believe, the most enduring one way or another. Not worth comparing with the original line - up - as folk so often attempt to do. Won't get into the debate on the latest Feelgood line - up. Not my cup of tea I have to say. Thanks again Jim. I enjoy your posts looking back at 'pub rock'...there, I said it! (Marc Clements)

[@JimDriver]

Thanks, Marc: I appreciate the comment! I think you're right about Wilko. Part of his mystery was that he was like a diamond, showing different sides of himself to different people, often simultaneously. I can remember having a minor row with him at Rhythm Festival one year (about something trivial, I expect: it usually was), and he was blowing a gasket; a millisecond later, he was as helpful and charming to my young son, who'd come in to ask about his guitar style, as he possibly could be. On top of which, I have never spoken to anyone with a greater intellect than Wilko. May the old bastard rest in peace… 😃

[@benw-king3380]

@@JimDriver Absolutely, Jim. Only guitar player I ever met who could speak in medieval English!

[@letstalk3265]

As an Aussie, we missed the Wilko era Feelgood but when they finally made it to Oz with Gypie, they were ON. The band were exceptional and first time I saw a great bass player having more fun than anyone else in the place. Every time they toured up until the late 1980's, we all went. The concerts at the great Cloudland Ballroom in Brisbane with it's sprung floor are legendary. As It Happens ( ''please don't push'') is in my top 5 live albums and that includes Band of Gypsies, Get Your Ya Ya's, Bring It Back Alive by The Outlaws and David Live. Says it all. Love The Doctor.

[@JimDriver]

Yes, Dr Feelgood were totally unique and we were so lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Thanks for commenting and being part of the community. I hear the Aussie Pub Rock scene was just as exciting and vibrant…

[@letstalk3265]

@@JimDriver Yep, if you didn't or couldn't pass the Pub Test you were GONE. Aussies out from Thursday night to Sunday night expected to be entertained and any crowd, like in the UK, on the piss were ruthless in this. That's why bands like ACDC, Rose Tattoo, The Angels, INXS, The Saints, Radio Birdman, Cold Chisel, The Radiators to name a few were that good. Passed the pub test. Once you won ''them'' over they'd turn up in droves as word would spread. Crowd, piss, joints, rage, let's gooooooo.

[@JosephCymrank]

Joe meek was great. I loved his records, the u. K. Phil spector. I knew several of Joe's artists, the honeycombs, and female didn't make it.. Was watching pub rock in 70s and played in an awful pub rock band myself. It was all happening. First Dr. Feelgood album blew my brains out and many more who got nowhere but I followed ultravox, doctors of madness and more. It was all happening and started punk explosion from the damned first single changed my life. God bless them all.

[@JimDriver]

It's incredible how music can shape our lives and connect us to different eras. Thanks for sharing your memories - please keep watching!

[@solidairs]

Hi Jim, long way from Strawbs in Stansfield and the epic Rhythm festival. Hope you are well. Still snapping. Best, CT.

[@JimDriver]

Hello, Colin! Glad you're still snapping and hope you're well. I'm now down in sunny Ramsgate… 😀

[@brianhaining7195]

I was lucky enough to see the original lineup. Absolutely brilliant. Original Wilko songs and Lee being the best frontman ever

[@JimDriver]

Ah, the original lineup... a magical time when music was raw and full of energy. It's like catching lightning in a bottle. Glad we were both there to witness it!

[@RATCLIFFE-LISTENS]

I worked for United Artists and we prob released 3 Albums I started in 72. People liked em I know they we’re great live but never saw them In the US.

[@JimDriver]

To my mind, the original Dr Feelgood were at their best in sweaty pubs but both Lee and Wilko were hungry for success (despite the "official history"), so as soon as they could get onto bigger stages (with more money), they leapt at the chance. From what Wilko told me, they didn't really thing American audiences truly "got it"…

[@flash8854]

Did you go to Wilko' funeral?

[@JimDriver]

No, I didn't really expect to be invited. From the pictures I've seen, it looks like he was buried next to Irene in the Essex woods. I was at Irene's funeral in 2004.

[@125fluff]

Boring mate to be honest

[@JimDriver]

I always thought Dr Feelgood were very exciting and not at all boring, but everyone has the right to an opinion. Thanks for sharing yours!

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

If Wilko had stayed with this line-up they have been massive.

[@JimDriver]

Very possibly but I don't think it would have worked out too well in the end. Lee or Wilko would have killed each other…

[@tankhalffull]

I would argue that Dr. Feelgood is the greatest R&R band of all time....

[@JimDriver]

Maybe they were! I know Wilko would have argued the case at one time!

[@jackhargreaves1911]

I discovered them at school in 1975. They saved me and my classmates from glam rock, prog-rock, and drum solos, and I have loved them ever since. When I then saw the Sex Pistols on their first U.K. tour, it all made sense - because of Dr Feelgood (in fact, it felt like watching a Feelgood tribute band, at times).

[@JimDriver]

Great memories: thanks for sharing them. I quite agree: without Dr Feelgood (and indeed Eddie and the Hot Rods) Punk could never have taken off in the UK. Thanks!

[@baronvonzach6109]

I saw them first in (West) Berlin in what must have been 1978. They just stood out from anything else back then. I have remained a fan ever since.

[@JimDriver]

Back then, Dr Feelgood were an amazing force of nature. Even now, the spirits of Lee and Wilko, Sparko and Figure shine through…

[@shaunigothictv1003]

I understand what you are saying mate - but when you say that Wilko (r.i.p) was difficult to work with do you mean Wilko when he was on drugs or Wilko when he was off drugs? It makes a difference mate. I never met him personally but im sure his constant use of hard drugs was a factor in his moody and difficult personality. There must be more to the story because certain people abuse drugs to cope with other things. Sorry to be nit picky mate, but there's definitely more to the story than your telling us. I think your deliberately leaving alot of stuff out purely out of respect for his wife who you already stated was a lovely person. As for Wilko, I don't want to speak badly about the dead so I will simply say that he was probably still using drugs intermittently throughout his career but he was an amazing performer. Finally mate, I understand that its a difficult subject for you to talk about. So why not just admit it? There's no shame in wanting to preserve the honour of the dead. l know you did a lot for Wilko when he was alive and that waa great of you. I just think it's better for you to admit that there are a lot of things that are just too difficult and painful for you to discuss regarding your time managing Wilko. Are Ok now mate?

[@JimDriver]

Wilko was difficult to work with whether he was on drugs or off them (as he was for most of the last few years of his life, I understand).. For the record, I never "managed him", he wouldn't like to hear anyone say that: I just got him gigs and helped him with various things he was doing. Thanks!

[@shaunigothictv1003]

@@JimDriverWell, i thought you was his manager so that was my mistake. But my other points still stand. Like i said, i never met him but its obvious that you left alot out purely out of respect for his wife and kids. Just admit that its a very difficult topic for you to discuss mate. I understand that you are hurt by other peoples behaviour and its OK for you to admit that without feelling embarrassed. Ok mate?

[@Self2self.]

Wow, 3:47 The Kursaal Flyers with Mickey Jupp. Mickey worked at Chris Stevens music shop in Southend. Probably where Wilco got his guitar from. Spent many hours at Chris Stevens just hanging out. Southend had some great musicians back in the day. Good times.

[@JimDriver]

Of course, Micky is still going (pretty damn) strong today. One of the most influential figures in British rock 'n' roll and sadly underrated…

[@rotate.]

@@JimDriver Ian Gibbons is another Southend musician who went on to a great career though sadly deceased now. Also guitarist Neil Heywood who went on to play and engineer for Fleetwood Mack. And lets not forget Ray Caruana who sang in the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest.

[@richardfinlayson1524]

I love Mickey Jupp, I scored a copy of the Red boot album, for three bucks Australian,lol,about fifteen to twenty years ago,still play it a fair bit, and I just bought a copy of the first Kursaal flyers album ,which is pretty great too, and has a cool version of Jupps Cross country, I love Juppanese too particularly the first side with Rockpile backing him, some really great stuff. Good on you mate ,g'day from Melbourne ☮️☯️

[@GedTheRed]

Feelgood died the day Lee passed away

[@JimDriver]

That’s one point of view. Other points of view are available…

[@PeteFGuitar]

Wow, bombshell anecdote about Heinz and Joe Meek! I thought I knew that story.

[@JimDriver]

I wish Dave Sutch was still around to tell us more, Pete. He was full of great stories about Joe Meek and his contemporaries…

[@PeteFGuitar]

@@JimDriver I'm kicking myself right now, because like almost all London roots musicians I backed up Dave several times and chatted with him, but never about this!

[@electricwarrior1832]

My first ever concert. September 19th 1976, Edinburgh Usher Hall. The memory lives on.

[@JimDriver]

I saw them on that tour. The Feelgoods were on fire!

[@sapereaude391]

Your Trigger's broom view of Dr Feelgood can only be based upon you being agent of the current lineup. And I'd disagree with your assertion (which actually contradicts this view) that Dr Feelgood's image was essentially Lee and Wilko; whenever I see old videos of them, I get as much of a kick out of seeing Sparko in his bell bottom suit and 70s haircut and tache looking like the bassist of a wedding band as I do from Wilko's manic strutting and Lee's dirty white suit. I never saw Dr Feelgood live but I did see Wilko at Verdi's in Weymouth in the early 80s. It's a small venue with a low level stage which his performance required him to vacate. At one point he pointed his Telecaster right at me, stared me in the eyes and strutted right at me. One of my live music highlights.

[@JimDriver]

You make some excellent points about the various members of Dr Feelgood and how they contributed to the band's image. It's fascinating how each performer brought their unique flair to the stage! By the way, I was Wilko's agent for a while, but I was never agent for any version of the Dr Feelgood line-ups. Cheers!

[@sapereaude391]

@@JimDriver Forgive my misunderstanding, I picked up at the end that you were putting them on; e.g. Margate and took it that you were representing them in some way. I don't think that the comparison with Manchester United is valid. I get that musicians come and go but a band's identity is far more about the members than a football team (as a kid, I was disappointed to learn that the Harlem Globetrotters who were touring the UK did not include Meadowlark Lemon or Curly but was too young to realise that they themselves were not OG!). I suppose it is subjective and dependent on how one sees a band but a lot of bands with only one or two members from an established line up for whatever reason (legal or otherwise) modify the name somehow (say, from Broom to Trigger's Broom 😉).

[@skatedd2451]

Only just discovered this band couple years ago. English Blues with is own flavour.. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JimDriver]

Dr Feelgood were ground-breaking. They stripped back the Blues and returned it to its edgy roots…

[@admiralbillom7559]

used to see them at the kensington (arms)- great nights.

[@JimDriver]

Yes, indeed. There's a good chance I was standing next to you: I always tried to catch the Feelgoods at the Kensington!

[@tim.timothy.brennan]

Wilko never had a dog?

[@JimDriver]

Yes, he did. He once left it tied up outside his local corner shop in Westcliff. It wasn’t long after Irene died, as I recall: it may have been her’s…

[@RomayPM]

I saw Dr Feelgood in a Kentish Town pub in '76. They blew me away. The new lineup may be great but to me Dr Feelgood isn't Dr Feelgood without Lee and Wilko. The energy and sounds they produced was class

[@JimDriver]

Different rhymes for different times…

[@RomayPM]

@@JimDriver True Jim

[@8888barb]

Saw them about 20 times back in the day. Such a shame Lee died so young. Loved his filthy white suit.

[@JimDriver]

Lee's white suit was almost as iconic, as he was! Cheers!

[@bucko321]

I see Dr Feelgood a couple of times in the 90s at the Town and Country club.. The line up was Mr Collinson Steve Walwyn Kevin Morris and Dave Bronze. There was a lot of new younger Feelgood fans in the audience.

[@JimDriver]

I must admit, I missed out on middle period Feelgood because I was firmly in the Wilko camp and back then you had to take your sides. Pathetic really, but there you are…

[@ricardolorrio8228]

proto punk

[@JimDriver]

Embracing the raw energy of proto punk, excellent choice!

[@user-cd5lm4wv3u]

We had tickets to see the original Feelgoods for Southampton Gaumont on the Tuesday, Hammersmith Odeon on the Friday, Southend Kursaal on the Saturday and Lewisham on the Sunday sleeping over in my mate's dad's Vauxhall Victor in Southend somewhere ! We were too knackered to see the Lewisham gig and so I still have my £1 ticket !!

[@JimDriver]

Great story and thanks for sharing it! I was at the Lewisham gig! I suppose I should tell you it wasn't as good as the others but the truth it, it was great!

[@russcottee]

Nice comment and observation regarding the current line-up: the 'football team' analogy is very apposite - and that's coming from someone who first saw the band emerge from Canvey at The Top Alex and The Esplanade at Southend.

[@JimDriver]

Thanks! In my view, a band's development is usually an ongoing process…

[@Bettys_Eldest]

I saw Dr Feelgood the first time in 1976 at Sheffield Poly and a couple more times before Wilko left. The solid Senders came to the Poly on their first tour. Moving to London in 1979 I was lucky enough to see the next two iterations of the Feelgoods. I never saw Wilko with the Blockheads, but did see his band several times live until just before COVID, all memorable gigs. I've seen Dr Feelgood twice in the last ten years, on both occasions because they were touring with the excellent Nine Below Zero. Steve Walwyn was pretty good on guitar, but for me it was not Dr Feelgood. The band survived the loss of Wilko, but without Lee it's not the same. If they are doing a joint headliner tour with NBZ I would go to see them, but not on their own.

[@JimDriver]

It sounds like you've been watching Dr. Feelgood for longer than some of the current band members have been alive! My point is that the current line-up doesn't pretend to be Lee and Wilko's version: it keeps reinventing itself and reinterpreting the classic songs for today's audience. Thanks for watching and for joining in. Much appreciated!

[@borderlands6606]

Not really into Trigger's broom bands. Even ones billed as somebody-or-other's "Thingimajig" because the surviving original member ended up with the rights to the name. I saw Dr Feelgood in their pomp quite a few times, and they were an excellent live act but were of their time and place, which has now passed. The biggest change in UK rock has been the way audiences have failed to evolve, and are stuck in whatever their favoured period was. It all feels a bit Tin Pan Alley, and against the original spirit of those bands. Just an opinion, like.

[@JimDriver]

Each to his or her own as regards continuity bands, but I totally agree about audiences. Very hard to persuade most older gig-goers to try anything new. When I looked I saw,over half of my email list only went to see the same handful of acts (sometimes just one) over and over again…

[@joefaraci8575]

Great band, when I heard them in late 1976, I didn't know what to make of them (being 17 and living in America). Then the following spring all new things coming at me from different angles -- all great. What a time to be me! Loved the album Wilko did with Daltrey. Hoped that we would get a tour but no such luck. Daltrey still plays a few of those tunes on tour. Appreciate all your great videos. Thank you.

[@JimDriver]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate your support and love sharing these musical journeys with you. It sounds like you have some incredible memories of your own! Cheers!

[@brianperry]

My friend employed them to play at his Wedding reception in a village hall near Southend…in about 1972/3….l saw them later, playing at the Kursal on Southend Seafront….high energy band

[@JimDriver]

Thanks for sharing. It's always great to hear about unforgettable gigs from the past. High-energy bands seem to few and far between these days, mores the pity. WE were lucky! Cheers!

[@jimbennett3782]

They had a residency in the Kensington every wednesday night. Great live band

[@JimDriver]

Indeed: they changed many lives, including mine! Please keep watching…

[@michaelmarifern9541]

Feelgoods & Hotrods for this yank..thanx for this Jimmy.

[@JimDriver]

You're very welcome, Michael: and thanks for watching and commenting!

[@AlexMc9395]

My bandmates and i saw the Feels with Gypie on lead at the glasgow Apollo. We had seen umpteen bands with rows of Marshall stacks behind them by that stage in our lives, so when we saw a virtually empty stage, we thought Dr Feelgood hadn't turned up. They were the first band we'd ever seen whose small combi amps were mic'd to a house PA. The sound was perfect, and the Feels taught us a lesson in tight, beautifully rehearsed delivery.

[@JimDriver]

Great story, thanks. When I was working with Wilko Johnson, he only ever used a single Fender Twin Reverb amp and he joked that Marshall Amps were for people who couldn't;t hear properly. (Actually he used the expression "D*•f C**ts"_, but you didn't hear it from me…) 😎

[@piano40s]

Pub Bands in the 70s were great shame you don't get that today, a few went on to bigger things but most died out mainly due to in fighting in the band, the stuff you get to day has no comparison, though there are still a few still about.

[@JimDriver]

Times change I’m just glad I was around for the glory days of pub Rock! Thanks for taking the time to comment and I hope you subscribed so we can keep going on this musical journey. Cheers!

[@simonevans343]

Yet another reason to miss my youth Excellent band many happy memories

[@JimDriver]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. It's incredible how Dr. Feelgood had such a positive impact on so many lives…

[@JARGrecords]

Thanks very much Jim

[@JimDriver]

You're very welcome. Thanks for your support!

[@peterread2245]

This is all fascinating, Jim. I haven't heard that football team analogy before, the idea that a band's identity and repertoire can legitimately be passed to a new generation. Your touring in the dodgy van with Wilko and the others shows you were never in it just for the money: however important that was, you were also committed to the music, the musicians, the venues. Thanks.

[@JimDriver]

I certainly wasn't in it for the money and indeed those Wilko tours of Ireland were far from lucrative ventures. Still, we had some fun and exciting times amidst the tedium and exhaustion of small-scale touring…

[@theoceandwellers4036]

The current Dr Feelgood lineup is fantastic! Steve Walwyn is one of the finest guitarists out there and Robert Kane is a superb charismatic front man. I would go and see this band even if they weren't called Dr Feelgood! 👍

[@JimDriver]

AS I say in the video, they're good but the best thing is they don't try and copy the original line-up in any way.

[@timpascoe5595]

I've seen Dr Feelgood in most permutations, always great and the current (longstanding) lineup is also brilliant. I am concerned to hear that Steve Walwyn is having to take a break from touring though. Great bloke and wonderful guitarist.

[@michaelmarifern9541]

I'd see em too.

[@marcbolan1818]

There is no band when there are no original members in the band. Just go out as a tribute act.

[@paulrous1670]

@@marcbolan1818 I understand what your saying but the band are still managed by the original manger they never quit just evolved, like a football team !! They are still a great band but they are not wilko and lee ..

[@russellholliday3875]

I saw Dr.feelgood Sheffield city hall 75 then again about the time stupidity was recorded at Sheffield I was there then Wilko left I never new why he left but I saw the feelgood with mayo thought they was crap so I dropped them but I saw the solid sender's at Sheffield university with fisher Z on support I bought the worker but shortly later he joined the blockheads I lost touch but I did see Ian duty at Sheffield brilliant gig but before Wilko it's nice to no why he left

[@JimDriver]

People have so many opinions when it comes to Dr Feelgood and Wilko. Basically, I'm not sure there is just one single truth!

[@stephenbrown4211]

The biggest surprise for me was finding out that they were playing small venues here but in the US they were playing arenas.

[@JimDriver]

Dr Feelgood started in the small pubs but started playing fairly big concert halls quite early. They never really got to the arena level in the UK, mainly because they preferred to tour practically all the time… Thanks for commenting and for watching. Cheers!

[@mortalcritters]

I know Andy Mqueen when he was the Damned manager, in later life I ran my own label and promotions company . Small world.

[@JimDriver]

Indeed! If you come across Andy please give him my best - and thanks for contributing. Cheers!

[@doctorskull8197]

Excellent video. Well done!

[@JimDriver]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it…

[@paulturner5339]

Yet another excellent video from yourself. I grew ip listening to the very bands you where involved with and find your insight and personal views fascinating, keep up the good (nay, excellent) work. As for the 'controvesy', Dr. Feelgod are a bit like Triggers broom.

[@JimDriver]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for your support! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the video and that my insights resonate with you. I'll definitely try to keep up the good/excellent work… Not sure we agree on Trugger's Broom, but hey-ho!

[@paulbragget383]

No one disputes that the shotgun belonged to Heinz (see bbc Joe Meek doc), but I'm sure the police would have interviewed Heinz and established his alibi.

[@JimDriver]

Yes, and of course, the Metropolitan Police were well known for being fair and honest in the 1960s… 😉😀

[@anthonyshiach5049]

The best live band I’ve ever seen out of hundreds of concerts I’ve been too, I’m in my 70s, Lee Brilleaux and Wilco were unique!!

[@JimDriver]

Great band!

[@FitzroviaTV]

Jim - please do a video about the Lord Sutch conspiracy theory about Heinz shooting Joe Meek and Joe's landlady.

[@JimDriver]

I am toying with the idea of a video about the 10 Most Surprising Things I have heard or seen…

[@thelaird5033]

Please don't. It is nothing more than a piece of gossip handed down through feck knows how many people. It's easy now for someone who has zero personal knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the event to disseminate such tittle-tattle, secure in the knowledge that, now Heinz Burt is dead, there's absolutely no possibility of having his arse sued. Brave man.

[@danielpayne3336]

I am glad I found your channel. I have loved Dr Feelgood since Down by the jetty.Wilko was great on Vampires stole my lunch money and pretty much everything he did

[@JimDriver]

Very kind of you to say so! Please keep watching!!

[@biffabacon1203]

Seen them at a Newcastle gig in the early 80s i remember them playing floor level and i was standing not far from them at the side next to the bar..fkn great night 👍

[@JimDriver]

Sounds like a great gig. Thanks for sharing the memory with us. Cheers!

[@biffabacon1203]

@JimDriver not a problem jim ..to be honest I'm lucky to remember anything these days 🤣

[@loopwithers]

Your 'football team' analogy is brilliant. The current band are not in-comers but instead new talent carrying the game onwards

[@JimDriver]

Totally agree!

[@mickyates9154]

Interesting insights , that Irish tour sounds entertaining😅 , as for the covers band issue it comes down to does it light your candle lift your blouse etc not everybody likes ice-cream my preference is gypie mayo better chemistry , Wilko style is a very free rythm style but finger strum/lead is limited on drive style unless you move it on technically towards Lindsay Buckingham thing , gypie was more on the drive of Willie Johnson howlin wolf guitarist , originally, the Johnson/Wolf/ Sumlin story is fascinating , Johnson is mainly unknown for his contribution but he was the main man and his style has been a big influence on modern rock music , smokestack lightning is a moment of magic , even wolf couldn't pull it off live without Johnson , wolf was amazing slide player and didn't push it inorder to let Sumlin cart on , beautiful generosity of spirit of friendship for Sumlin , thanks for info 👍

[@JimDriver]

Thanks, Micky, I appreciate the good words. I agree that every member of the Feelgoods brought something of their own to the table and that's why I'm not stuck in the rut of saying one version was better than another. As I've said, I like the current version because it's "different" and the chemistry between the players is plain to see. Thanks for engaging with the community on here!

[@mickyates9154]

@@JimDriver thanks for the insights into good music 👍

[@mikeowen1192]

Love these stories jim there seems a lot of these band members can be difficult i have watched your steve marriott vids we had a lot of live music venues in Manchester really miss them

[@JimDriver]

Thanks, Mike: I appreciate the comment! In retrospect, think I got on so well with most of the people I worked with because I was able to factor in a certain amount of ego into our interactions. Quite a few of the Rock stars of the 1960s and beyond left school early and very few went to university (Wilko was the exception), and it takes quite a lot of self-belief to get up on stage in the first place. Behind the scenes, I realise most of them were battling with their own (often conflicting ) feelings of self-worth, anxiety, and egomania!

[@louistracy6964]

@@JimDriver good point.

[@nigelhaines7900]

Wilko was a great but could never sing (Bless him) saw him a couple of times

[@JimDriver]

I told Wilko that a couple of times but he didn't like it! I suppose he thought his voice was full of character. Having said that, I never liked the Roger Daltry versions of Wilko's songs, so maybe that says something…

[@nigelhaines7900]

Proberly because lee had a great way off putting things across(unique voice)@@JimDriver

[@JimDriver]

@@nigelhaines7900 Yes that's true, but I was really talking about Wilko's versions of those songs in reply to your comment about his voice. I saw Wilko sing them live literally hundreds of times!!

[@colincampbell4261]

Wilko was a great guitarist and stage act but an awful singer?

[@JimDriver]

Yes, I always thought so and yet he told me back in the 1980s that he was the only person who knew what the songs were about so only he could do them justice. "Authentic" was the word he used…

[@colincampbell4261]

@@JimDriver He should have hired a lead singer/harp player. Was he too stingey?

[@pit2ryan3]

@colincampbell - He was one of a kind, like Bob Dylan...

[@pit2ryan3]

@@JimDriver - Yes, In fact I'm still not sure that his songs sung by a certain Roger Daltrey got any better than the originals...

[@pit2ryan3]

@@colincampbell4261 - He should have hired Lee Brilleaux...

[@richardfinlayson1524]

Saw Dr Feelgood twice in Melbourne in the eighties, no Wilko of course but they were great live, they bloody rocked, excellent 👍

[@JimDriver]

Dr Feelgood were always a great band with or without Wilko…

[@juracalling2471]

Couple of glaring errors for someone so intimately close to the band. THrre of the members were born as 'John' , Lee Billeauc was born Lee Collinson( not John Lee..he's thinking of mister hooker). Lee Brilleaux hit the bottle too hard by his own admission - NOT speed.The other 3 were on speed.Quote from Lemmy : '' 3 speed freaks and an alcoholic- what could go wrong ! ''. Lord Sutch was foolish and Heinz couldn't sing to save his life.The police would have invesitigated that death as a murder by Heinz if they thought Sutch wasn't mental. There's some bitterness leaking through this rant, mainly aimmed at Wilko.Not nice. As for the current 'Dr Feelgood''. They are only still holding the baton due to Steve Walwyn- great guitarist. The singer loves to say how they're their own act and not a cover band but relies on standard Feelgood songs to beef the gigs up. PS- promising 'controversy' early to hold viewers is cheap .

[@JimDriver]

I'm not reporting "facts" from the authorised biographies, only what I observed and what people told me. And it was Wilko who was on speed, not Lee, who was mostly a boozer. You seem to have a rosy view of the 1960s Metropolitan Police if you think they went out of their way to look for crime and right wrongs. Dave Sutch knew them and was there: I"m just reporting what he told me. If you think you know more than me without being there, good luck to you. Stick to watching dodgy conspiracy theory videos and reading back issues of NME…

[@juracalling2471]

@@JimDriver I mocked the meanderings of a self - promoting 'novelty politician' Lord Sutch suggesting that Heinz - a below average 60s wannabe'- actually murdered Joe Meek. It's typical of him to try and shock.And i suggested the police would have investigated the murder or death of a high profile producer.But you call me a conspiracy theorist for not buying into a drugg addled tabloid headline chaser. His name was David and he changed it to 'Screaming Lord Sutch'.he started a 'political party' called 'the raving looney party'. But it's ME who's the conspiracy nut. I pointed out that Lee Brilleaux was a self confessed boozer not a speed freak. You ''correct'' me saying he was a drinker not a speed freak.

[@jamesbracken6885]

They were the absolute business ❤🍺👊

[@JimDriver]

Indeed they were!