Doctor and the Medics
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Doctor and the Medics were a London based psychedelic rock band.
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[edit] Career
The Doctor (born Clive Jackson on 7 July 1961 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool), a former London DJ, formed the group with guitarist Steve McGuire and Bass Player Richard Searle (A childhood acquaintance of Jackson) in the early 1980s. 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.
They released no further records until 1985, although a four track ep recorded live at Alice In wonderland, a Soho club where The Doctor was house DJ, was available direct from the band.
During this period the band expanded to include female backing singers known collectively as The Anadin Brothers. There were between two and three Anadin Brothers at various times.
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 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.
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) were only minor hits.
The group's unique appearance arguably lead to their downfall, as they were not necessarily regarded as a serious band.
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.
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, they also appeared on Channel 4's Bring Back One Hit Wonders.
[edit] Personnel
1986 line-up
- The Doctor (vocals),
- Steve McGuire (guitar),
- Richard Searle (bass),
- Vom (drums),
- Wendi Anadin (vocals),
- Colette Anadin (vocals).
[edit] Discography
Albums
- Laughing at the Pieces (1986)
- I Keep Thinking It's Tuesday (1987)
- The Adventures of Boadacea and the Beetle (1992)
- Instant Heaven (1996)
- Timewarped (6-track covers Ep) (2006) (Coming Soon)
[edit] Trivia
- 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 Courduroy with former members of Sire Records act Boys Wonder.
- Since leaving the Medics, drummer Vom has played with Last Of The Teenage Idols, Stiv Bators, B-Bang Cider, the Boys and Die Toten Hosen.
