Doctor and the Medics

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Doctor and the Medics are a London based psychedelic rock band, famous in the 1980s. The band currently performs, with a different line-up, as a tribute act to various artists.

Contents 1 Career 2 Personnel 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles/EPs 4 Trivia 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Career

The Doctor (Clive Jackson , 7 July 1961, Knotty Ash, Liverpool), a former London-based DJ, formed the group with guitarist Steve McGuire, drummer Vom (aka Rob Morris), and bassist Gareth Thomas and female dancers and singers The Anadin Brothers in 1981.^[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" c/w "The Goats are Trying to Kill Me" which was released on Whaam Records in 1982.^[2]

They released no further records until 1985, although 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 unique female backing singers were known collectively as The Anadin Brothers.^[2] Originally there were 3 Anadin Brothers but this was soon whittled down to Wendi West and Colette Appleby. Their unique performances were extremely well synchronised and featured highly characteristic moves, these were influenced by the fact that the duo had previously competed together as synchronised swimmers.

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.^[3]

This was followed by "The Miracle of the Age" c/w "I Don't Want to be Alone with you Tonight", produced by Andy Partridge of XTC.^{[citation needed]}

Around this time the band performed a concert in a television studio in Limehouse, London which 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.

They scored a massive international hit in 1986 with their next single, a cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky". The single reached number one in thirty-two countries. They fared less well with subsequent singles. Also in 1986, "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 No 29 in the UK Singles Chart and Waterloo No 45.^[2]

In addition to their musical career, the group were closely associated with the Alice in Wonderland nightclub, and Planet Alice, a fashion shop on Portobello Road, London that was an offshoot of the club. The club, which was based at the Gossips in Soho won City Limit's "Night5club of the year award" in 1985.^{[citation needed]}

The club ran the "Mystery trips" taking unsuspecting clubbers to gigs and venues across the country on coach trips.^{[citation needed]} One such venue was Lowestoft Pier in 1986 featuring performances by: Zodiac Mindwarp: Another Green World: Daisy Chainsaw and The Cult. These trips are now widely regarded, as quoted by Rave magazine, to be the precursor of the beginning of the rave scene in the UK. Which mirrored the use of secret locations, out of town venues and famous DJ's.^{[citation needed]}

Alice in Wonderland are also credited with being the first club to give The Jesus and Mary Chain a gig in London, and to this date the Doctor remains friends with Bobby Gillespie because of their mutual interest in pre-war phonic poetry.^{[citation needed]}

The band released their final studio album Instant Heaven, in 1996 on their own 'Madman' record label.^[1]

in 1995 the Doctor was refused a license to box in the UK by the British Board of Boxing control under health grounds, thereby ending his life long dream of becoming a heavyweight boxer^[4]

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 2003 the Doctor left Britain to live in Mexico, after having been invited over there to take part in a world music project which never saw the light of day, as a severe storm destroyed the desert studio and all the recordings.

He frequently returned to Britain and in June 2006, they appeared on Channel 4's Bring Back One Hit Wonders' and released a new EP called "Timewarped."

In 2008 The Doctor permanently moved back to the UK to begin work on a new studio album.

[edit] Personnel

1986 line-up

• The Doctor (vocals),
• Steve McGuire (guitar),
• Gareth Thomas (bass),
• Adrian Hill (drums),
• Wendi Anadin (vocals),
• Colette Anadin (vocals).

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

• Laughing at the Pieces (1986) (UK #25)^[2]
• I Keep Thinking It's Tuesday (1987)
• The Adventures of Boadacea and the Beetle (1992)
• Instant Heaven (1996)

[edit] Singles/EPs

• "The Druids Are Here" (1982) Whaam
• Happy But Twisted EP (1985) Illegal (UK Indie #2)
• "The Miracle of The Age" (1985) IRS
• "Spirit In The Sky" (1986) IRS (UK #1)
• "Burn" (1986) IRS (UK #29)
• "Waterloo" (1986) IRS (UK #45)
• "Two Pieces of Cloth Carefully Stitched Together EP (1987) Illegal (UK Indie #34)
• "More" (1987) IRS
• "Drive, He Said" (1988) IRS
• Timewarped (6-track covers Ep) (2006)

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The Anadin Brothers appeared in The Cult's video for the single "Rain" off of their 1985 album Love.

• In the UK, Doctor and the Medics' version of "Spirit in the Sky" was the first song to reach #1 as the debut hit of two different artists, as well as the first #1 song from the 1970s to reach #1 again in the 1980s.

• After leaving Doctor and the Medics, Richard Searle went on to form Acid Jazz band Corduroy with former members of Sire Records act Boys Wonder.

• Since leaving the Medics, drummer Vom has played with Crazyhead, Last Of The Teenage Idols, Stiv Bators, B-Bang Cider, The Boys, and Die Toten Hosen.

• "Spirit In The Sky" was certified silver in the UK.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Doctor and the Medics Official Website