Doctors of Madness
Encyclopedia
Doctors of Madness were a British protopunk
art rock
band formed in 1974 in a cellar in Brixton
, south London by the composer and lead singer/guitarist Richard Strange
, known as ‘Kid’ Strange. Active as a recording and touring band until late 1978, they found mainly cult level success and recognition that was not enough to sustain them, but they were later cited as a pivotal influence on the early British punk rock
movement and the reappraisal prompted their albums to be re-released in 2002 on CD. Indeed their support acts during their heyday included The Sex Pistols (Middlesbrough 1976), The Jam
(London Marquee on several occasions 1976), Joy Division
(as "Warsaw" Manchester 1976) and Simple Minds
(as "Johnny and the Self Abuser"s (Falkirk 1976). Furthermore Richard 'Kid' Strange was best man at Dave Vanian's (of the Damned
) wedding. Julian Cope
of Teardrop Explodes, Spiritualized
, the comedian Vic Reeves
and Richard Jobson
of The Skids
, now a film maker, have all acknowledged their appreciation of the Doctors of Madness music.
There is further recognition of Doctors of Madness influence on the emergence of British punk rock
documented in the book “An Unauthorized Guide to Punk Rock: The Early English Scene, Including the Deviants, the Doctors of Madness, David Bowie
, the Sex Pistols
, the Clash
” http://www.amazon.co.jp/Unauthorized-Guide-Punk-Rock-Including/dp/images/1241476063 published in 2011.
and systems of control, Strange joined forces with Urban Blitz
(electric violin
, baritone violectra
and lead guitar) Stoner
(vocals, bass guitar) and Peter DiLemma (vocals, drums) to provide the link between the early 70s progressive rock
and glam rock
of David Bowie
and Roxy Music
, and the later 70s punk rock
of the Sex Pistols
and The Clash
. Doctors of Madness cited The Velvet Underground
and writer William S. Burroughs
as major influences on their music.
The band toured extensively in Great Britain and in continental Europe; gigging in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden. Their stage shows incorporated costumes, props, make-up, projected backdrop images, smoke, strobe lights and theatrical spot-lighting and also taped sound effects.
Between 1975 and 1977, Doctors of Madness recorded three albums for Polydor records - Late Night Movies, All Night Brainstormshttp://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/dom.htm produced by John Punter, Figments of Emancipationhttp://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/dom-eman.htm recorded at Abbey Road studios
with producer John Leckie
, and Sons of Survivalhttp://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/dom-surv.htm. A posthumous compilation, Revisionism, was released in 1981, the band having split in late 1978. The first three albums were re-released on CD by Ozit Records.http://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/index.htm A single, 'Bulletin'http://www.btinternet.com/~thisispunkrock/ps/uk/1/doctors.htm backed by 'Waiting' was released in 1977.
Early in 1978 Urban Blitz
was ousted from the band after musical and personal differences, and was briefly replaced by singer Dave Vanian of punk rock
band The Damned, who had recently split, albeit temporarily.
Richard Strange, Stoner and Peter DiLemma continued as a trio until October 1978 before disbanding due to withdrawal of record company support.
Richard Strange has promoted Doctors of Madness music in recent years with performances in Japan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJTF6KYzHW8&feature=PlayList&p=EFC623247549A0D8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1 backed by ex-Pogues multi-instrumentalist David Coulter and local band Sister Paul http://www.ilike.com/artist/Sister+Paul/ in 2003, and also performances in Leeds and Doncaster UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFpldX8aR3Q with bassist Stoner in 2006.
Protopunk
Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...
art rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
band formed in 1974 in a cellar in Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, south London by the composer and lead singer/guitarist Richard Strange
Richard Strange
For the Jesuit, see Richard Strange Richard "Kid" Strange is an English writer, actor, musician, curator, teacher, adventurer, and the founder and front man of seminal mid-seventies protopunk art rock band Doctors of Madness.-Music:Strange's first band was Doctors of Madness, formed in 1975,...
, known as ‘Kid’ Strange. Active as a recording and touring band until late 1978, they found mainly cult level success and recognition that was not enough to sustain them, but they were later cited as a pivotal influence on the early British punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
movement and the reappraisal prompted their albums to be re-released in 2002 on CD. Indeed their support acts during their heyday included The Sex Pistols (Middlesbrough 1976), The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
(London Marquee on several occasions 1976), Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
(as "Warsaw" Manchester 1976) and Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
(as "Johnny and the Self Abuser"s (Falkirk 1976). Furthermore Richard 'Kid' Strange was best man at Dave Vanian's (of the Damned
The Damned
The Damned are an English gothic punk band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single , an album , to have a record on the UK music charts, and to tour the United States...
) wedding. Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
of Teardrop Explodes, Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
, the comedian Vic Reeves
Vic Reeves
James Roderick Moir , better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
and Richard Jobson
Richard Jobson
Richard Jobson is the name of:*Richard Jobson , 17th-century English explorer*Richard Jobson , English former footballer...
of The Skids
The Skids
Skids were an art-punk/punk rock and new wave band from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, founded in 1977 by Stuart Adamson , William Simpson , Thomas Kellichan and Richard Jobson...
, now a film maker, have all acknowledged their appreciation of the Doctors of Madness music.
There is further recognition of Doctors of Madness influence on the emergence of British punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
documented in the book “An Unauthorized Guide to Punk Rock: The Early English Scene, Including the Deviants, the Doctors of Madness, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
” http://www.amazon.co.jp/Unauthorized-Guide-Punk-Rock-Including/dp/images/1241476063 published in 2011.
Band history
To provide a platform for his musical ideas and compositions analysing urban culture neurosisNeurosis
Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, and thus those suffering from it are said to be neurotic...
and systems of control, Strange joined forces with Urban Blitz
Urban Blitz
Urban Blitz is best known for his electric violin, baritone violectra and lead guitar work with the 1970s London protopunk art rock band Doctors of Madness....
(electric violin
Electric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
, baritone violectra
Violectra
Violectra is the trade name of an electric violin produced by Barcus-Berry with the pitch equivalent of an acoustic tenor violin, sometimes called baritone violin. It is tuned an octave below normal violin; i.e. between viola and cello. It was developed in USA by Barcus-Berry in the early 1960s but...
and lead guitar) Stoner
Stoner (bass guitarist)
Stoner is best known as mercurial bass guitar player and vocalist with influential protopunk art rock band Doctors of Madness and later with post-punk rock band which he formed with singer/composer/guitarist T.V...
(vocals, bass guitar) and Peter DiLemma (vocals, drums) to provide the link between the early 70s progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, and the later 70s punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
of the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. Doctors of Madness cited The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
and writer William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
as major influences on their music.
The band toured extensively in Great Britain and in continental Europe; gigging in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden. Their stage shows incorporated costumes, props, make-up, projected backdrop images, smoke, strobe lights and theatrical spot-lighting and also taped sound effects.
Between 1975 and 1977, Doctors of Madness recorded three albums for Polydor records - Late Night Movies, All Night Brainstormshttp://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/dom.htm produced by John Punter, Figments of Emancipationhttp://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/dom-eman.htm recorded at Abbey Road studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
with producer John Leckie
John Leckie
John Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
, and Sons of Survivalhttp://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/dom-surv.htm. A posthumous compilation, Revisionism, was released in 1981, the band having split in late 1978. The first three albums were re-released on CD by Ozit Records.http://www.spaceritual.net/tractor/index.htm A single, 'Bulletin'http://www.btinternet.com/~thisispunkrock/ps/uk/1/doctors.htm backed by 'Waiting' was released in 1977.
Early in 1978 Urban Blitz
Urban Blitz
Urban Blitz is best known for his electric violin, baritone violectra and lead guitar work with the 1970s London protopunk art rock band Doctors of Madness....
was ousted from the band after musical and personal differences, and was briefly replaced by singer Dave Vanian of punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Damned, who had recently split, albeit temporarily.
Richard Strange, Stoner and Peter DiLemma continued as a trio until October 1978 before disbanding due to withdrawal of record company support.
Richard Strange has promoted Doctors of Madness music in recent years with performances in Japan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJTF6KYzHW8&feature=PlayList&p=EFC623247549A0D8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1 backed by ex-Pogues multi-instrumentalist David Coulter and local band Sister Paul http://www.ilike.com/artist/Sister+Paul/ in 2003, and also performances in Leeds and Doncaster UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFpldX8aR3Q with bassist Stoner in 2006.
DISCOGRAPHY
- "Late Night Movies All Night Brainstorms" 1976- Album, Polydor Records
- "Figments of Emancipation" 1976- Album, Polydor Records
- "Sons Of Survival" 1978- Album, Polydor Records
- "Into the Strange" The Doctors of Madness last live Concert- 2000 Captain Trip Records, Japan
- "Dirty Water 2- More Birth Of Punk Attitude" features the Doctors of Madness song "Waiting" 2011- Year Zero Records