Doctor and the Medics is a British glam rock band formed in London in 1981.[1] The group was most successful during the 1980s and is best known for their cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] The band currently performs with a newer and established line-up. As well as previously being classed a tribute act to various artists, they include many of their original songs in their live set. The group's musical style includes neo-psychedelia, glam rock, new wave and pop rock.[1][3][4][5]
The Doctor and the Medics lead singer – Clive Jackson, born 7 July 1961 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool[6]– a former London-based DJ, formed the group in 1981 with guitarist Steve McGuire, drummer Vom, also known as Steve Ritchie, bassist Richard Searle and female dancers and singers the Anadin Brothers.[1] The group adopted a look inspired by both 1960s psychedelia and kabuki make-up similar to that of Kiss.
Their first single was "The Druids Are Here" which was released on Whaam Records in 1982.[7] They released no further records until 1985, but a four-track EP recorded live at Alice in Wonderland, a Sohonightclub where the Doctor was house DJ, was available direct from the band. The band's female backing singers, known as the Anadin Brothers, were originally three in number, but reduced to two members - Wendi West and Colette Appleby.[7]
Melissa Weekes and the Doctor performing in June 2014
In 1985, they signed to IRS Records and released "Happy but Twisted", a five track 12" EP including a cover of Hawkwind's "Silver Machine". This reached number 2 on the indie charts.[8] It was followed by "The Miracle of the Age", produced by Andy Partridge of XTC. Around this time the band performed a concert in a television studio in Limehouse, London was recorded for television broadcast, although it was not shown at the time. At this concert the line-up was augmented by Roman Jugg of the Damned on keyboards and second guitar.
In 1986 the band had an international hit with their next single, a cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky". The single reached number one in the UK.[9] Their subsequent singles were less successful; "Burn" and "Waterloo" (the latter of which was a cover of the ABBA hit, with Roy Wood on saxophone, backing vocals and in the video). "Burn" reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart and "Waterloo" reached number 45.[7] The band released their final studio album Instant Heaven, in 1996 on their own 'Madman' record label.[1]
In the early 2000s, the band's current line-up appeared on retro-themed British TV shows such as ITV1's Hit Me Baby One More Time, and a Top of the Pops Christmas special celebrating 50 years of the UK Singles Chart. In June 2006, the band appeared, with a new line-up, on Channel 4'sBring Back One Hit Wonders.[10] Around this time they released an EP called Timewarped.[11] They continue to perform live.[6]
Richard Searle left in 1990 shortly after Vom Ritchie departed. Gareth Thomas replaced Searle in 1990. Searle went on to form the acid jazz band Corduroy, with former members of Sire Records act Boys Wonder. Since leaving the Medics, drummer Ritchie has played with Last of the Teenage Idols, Stiv Bators, B-Bang Cider, the Boys, Wet Dog and now plays with Die Toten Hosen.
2003 reunion line-up
The Doctor (vocals)
Adrian Hill (drums)
Carl Axon (The Big Bopper) (lead guitar, backing vocals)
James Hartley (guitar)
Jon Randle (bass)
Melissa Weekes (backing vocals)
Colette Anadin (backing vocals)
Paul Nevin (performance artist)
Carl Axon left to pursue business interests.
Current line-up
The Doctor (vocals)
Adrian Hill (drums)
Dan Angelow (guitar)
Jon Randle (bass)
Melissa Weekes (vocals)
Matthew Angelow (guitar/performance artist)
Maria Verhelst-Hopkins (vocals/performance artist)
(features the song "Grimly Fiendish", co-written with the Doctor)
Live at the Alice & Wonderland: A Pretty Smart Way to Catch a Lobster (1986), Flicknife Records (re-issued by Madman for CD)
(features the band as 'Gwyllym & the Raspberry Flavoured Cat' performing "These Boots Are Made for Walking" (Live) and "Gloria" (Live) and some DJ links by the Doctor)
"Let It Be" / "Let It Be (The Gospel Jam Mix)" - Ferry Aid (1987), The Sun
(12" version: "Let It Be" / "Let It Be (Mega Message Mix)", contains a message from the Doctor and the Anadin Brothers)
doctor, medics, british, glam, rock, band, formed, london, 1981, group, most, successful, during, 1980s, best, known, their, cover, norman, greenbaum, spirit, which, reached, singles, chart, band, currently, performs, with, newer, established, line, well, prev. Doctor and the Medics is a British glam rock band formed in London in 1981 1 The group was most successful during the 1980s and is best known for their cover of Norman Greenbaum s Spirit in the Sky which reached No 1 in the UK Singles Chart 2 The band currently performs with a newer and established line up As well as previously being classed a tribute act to various artists they include many of their original songs in their live set The group s musical style includes neo psychedelia glam rock new wave and pop rock 1 3 4 5 Doctor and the MedicsDoctor and the Medics in 1986Background informationOriginLondon EnglandGenresNeo psychedelia glam rock new wave pop rockYears active1981 presentLabelsWhaam Illegal I R S Plastic SurgeryMembersThe DoctorMelissa WeekesAdrian HillDan AngelowMatthew AngelowJon RandleMaria Verhelst HopkinsPast membersSteve McGuireRichard SearleAndrew McLachlanSteve Vom RitchieWendi Anadin Wendi West Colette Anadin Colette Appleby Carl AxonJames HartleyWebsitewww wbr doctorandthemedics wbr com Contents 1 Career 2 Personnel 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 3 3 EPs 3 4 Music videos 3 5 Other appearances 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCareer editThe Doctor and the Medics lead singer Clive Jackson born 7 July 1961 in Knotty Ash Liverpool 6 a former London based DJ formed the group in 1981 with guitarist Steve McGuire drummer Vom also known as Steve Ritchie bassist Richard Searle and female dancers and singers the Anadin Brothers 1 The group adopted a look inspired by both 1960s psychedelia and kabuki make up similar to that of Kiss Their first single was The Druids Are Here which was released on Whaam Records in 1982 7 They released no further records until 1985 but a four track EP recorded live at Alice in Wonderland a Soho nightclub where the Doctor was house DJ was available direct from the band The band s female backing singers known as the Anadin Brothers were originally three in number but reduced to two members Wendi West and Colette Appleby 7 nbsp Melissa Weekes and the Doctor performing in June 2014In 1985 they signed to IRS Records and released Happy but Twisted a five track 12 EP including a cover of Hawkwind s Silver Machine This reached number 2 on the indie charts 8 It was followed by The Miracle of the Age produced by Andy Partridge of XTC Around this time the band performed a concert in a television studio in Limehouse London was recorded for television broadcast although it was not shown at the time At this concert the line up was augmented by Roman Jugg of the Damned on keyboards and second guitar In 1986 the band had an international hit with their next single a cover of Norman Greenbaum s Spirit in the Sky The single reached number one in the UK 9 Their subsequent singles were less successful Burn and Waterloo the latter of which was a cover of the ABBA hit with Roy Wood on saxophone backing vocals and in the video Burn reached number 29 in the UK Singles Chart and Waterloo reached number 45 7 The band released their final studio album Instant Heaven in 1996 on their own Madman record label 1 In the early 2000s the band s current line up appeared on retro themed British TV shows such as ITV1 s Hit Me Baby One More Time and a Top of the Pops Christmas special celebrating 50 years of the UK Singles Chart In June 2006 the band appeared with a new line up on Channel 4 s Bring Back One Hit Wonders 10 Around this time they released an EP called Timewarped 11 They continue to perform live 6 Personnel edit1981 line up The Doctor Clive Jackson vocals Steve McGuire guitar Richard Searle bass Andrew McLachlan drums 1986 line up The Doctor vocals Steve McGuire guitar Richard Searle bass Steve Vom Ritchie drums Wendi Anadin vocals Colette Anadin vocals Richard Searle left in 1990 shortly after Vom Ritchie departed Gareth Thomas replaced Searle in 1990 Searle went on to form the acid jazz band Corduroy with former members of Sire Records act Boys Wonder Since leaving the Medics drummer Ritchie has played with Last of the Teenage Idols Stiv Bators B Bang Cider the Boys Wet Dog and now plays with Die Toten Hosen 2003 reunion line up The Doctor vocals Adrian Hill drums Carl Axon The Big Bopper lead guitar backing vocals James Hartley guitar Jon Randle bass Melissa Weekes backing vocals Colette Anadin backing vocals Paul Nevin performance artist Carl Axon left to pursue business interests Current line up The Doctor vocals Adrian Hill drums Dan Angelow guitar Jon Randle bass Melissa Weekes vocals Matthew Angelow guitar performance artist Maria Verhelst Hopkins vocals performance artist Discography editAlbums edit Year Album Label Peak chart positionsUK 9 CAN 12 1986 Laughing at the Pieces I R S Records 25 551987 I Keep Thinking It s Tuesday 1992 The Adventures of Boadacea and the Beetle Dojo Limited 1996 Instant Heaven Mad Man Records denotes releases that did not chart Singles edit Year Title A side B side Peak chart positions CertificationsUS Pop 13 UK 9 14 CAN 15 1982 The Druids Are Here The Goats Are Trying to Kill Me 1985 The Miracle of the Age I Don t Want to Be Alone with You Tonight 117 16 1986 Spirit in the Sky Laughing at the Pieces 69 1 1 BPI Silver 17 Burn Captain Frazer 29 Waterloo Damaged Brains featuring Roy Wood 45 1987 More Bad Men s Pennies Burning Love Waterloo 1988 Drive He Said Ride the Beetle 1990 Hi Ho Silver Lining Black amp Blue 1991 Black amp Blue 2015 You Spin Me Round Like a Record denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory EPs edit Happy But Twisted EP 1985 Illegal UK Indie No 2 UK Singles Chart No 151 18 Happy Side Happy But Twisted Round and Round Auntie Evil s Dormitory Twisted Side Mole Catcher Silver Machine Two Pieces of Cloth Carefully Stitched Together 1987 Illegal UK Indie No 34 Before Side Sound of Chains Perfect World After Side Silver King Age of Gold Timewarped 2006 6 track covers EPMusic videos edit Spirit in the Sky 1986 Burn 1986 Waterloo 1986 More 1987 Burning Love 1987 Other appearances edit Phantasmagoria album The Damned 1985 MCA Records features the song Grimly Fiendish co written with the Doctor Live at the Alice amp Wonderland A Pretty Smart Way to Catch a Lobster 1986 Flicknife Records re issued by Madman for CD features the band as Gwyllym amp the Raspberry Flavoured Cat performing These Boots Are Made for Walking Live and Gloria Live and some DJ links by the Doctor Let It Be Let It Be The Gospel Jam Mix Ferry Aid 1987 The Sun 12 version Let It Be Let It Be Mega Message Mix contains a message from the Doctor and the Anadin Brothers See also editReading and Leeds Festivals line upsReferences edit a b c d Sutton Michael Doctor amp the Medics Biography AllMusic Retrieved 26 March 2008 All The Number 1 Singles Official Charts Company 30 January 2015 Romanowski Patricia 1995 The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock amp Roll Fireside p xix 19 ISBN 978 0684810447 Abrahams Ian 2004 Hawkwind Sonic Assassins SAF Publishing Ltd p 168 ISBN 978 0946719693 Colin Larkin 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music Virgin p 156 ISBN 978 0 7535 0159 7 a b How the lead singer of Doctor and the Medics became a pillar of a small Welsh community Walesonline 8 December 2011 Retrieved 16 May 2016 a b c Strong Martin C 1999 The Great Alternative amp Indie Discography Canongate ISBN 0 86241 913 1 Lazell Barry 1997 Indie Hits 1980 1999 Cherry Red Books ISBN 0 9517206 9 4 a b c Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 162 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Doctor And The Medics Spirit In The Sky Stagedoorentertainments co uk Retrieved 16 May 2016 Timewarped Doctor and the Medics Doctorandthemedics com Retrieved 16 May 2016 RPM 100 Albums December 20 1986 PDF Doctor and the Medics Top Songs Chart Singles Discography Music VF Retrieved 23 July 2022 DOCTOR amp THE MEDICS full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 23 July 2022 RPM Top 100 Singles October 18 1986 PDF UK Singles Charts 1985 Including chart panel sales Doctor amp the Medics Spirit in the Sky bpi co uk Retrieved 27 August 2022 UK Singles Charts 1985 Including chart panel sales External links editOfficial website Doctor and the Medics discography at Discogs nbsp Doctor and the Medics at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Doctor and the Medics amp oldid 1160445360, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
