Dr. Feelgood (song)
Encyclopedia
"Dr. Feelgood" is a song by the American heavy metal
band Mötley Crüe
. It was released as the first single and is the title track to their fifth album
. Although it is the title track, some versions of the album do not include it, such as the Korean edition. The song is about a drug dealer named Jimmy who deals cocaine
to Mexicans
in Hollywood.
on October 28, 1989. It is their highest ranked single to this day. In November 1989, the single was certified gold by the RIAA
for more than 500,000 units shipped in the United States.
.
on the soundtrack to film, Hangin' with the Homeboys
(1991).
"Weird Al" Yankovic
covered the song for his polka medley "Polka Your Eyes Out" from his 1992 album Off the Deep End
.
This song is featured in the video game Brütal Legend
, handpicked by Tim Schafer
, the game's designer.
The band performed the song live in an episode of the Fox TV show Bones
in 2009.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
. It was released as the first single and is the title track to their fifth album
Dr. Feelgood (album)
*Disc one contains the original albumThe original Korean LP edition does not contain the first two tracks, "T.N.T. " and "Dr...
. Although it is the title track, some versions of the album do not include it, such as the Korean edition. The song is about a drug dealer named Jimmy who deals cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
to Mexicans
Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia , also known as La Eme , 13 is a Mexican American criminal organization, and is one of the oldest and most powerful prison gangs in the United States.-Foundation:...
in Hollywood.
Chart position
Released in 1989 as the album's first single, "Dr. Feelgood" became Mötley Crüe's first American Top Ten hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on October 28, 1989. It is their highest ranked single to this day. In November 1989, the single was certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for more than 500,000 units shipped in the United States.
Awards
"Dr. Feelgood" is Mötley Crüe's only Gold single in the U.S. In 2009, it was ranked the 15th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
Other versions
A demo of the song was released on the Crücial Crüe edition of the album in 2003 which was sung from the point of view of Dr. Feelgood, i.e., in first person rather than third. An instrumental version of the song appeared in the movie Highlander: The Final Dimension.Appearances
A cover of "Dr. Feelgood" was performed by the rap group 2 Live Crew2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
on the soundtrack to film, Hangin' with the Homeboys
Hangin' with the Homeboys
Hangin' with the Homeboys is a 1991 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Vasquez. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991. It was released by New Line Cinema.-Synopsis:...
(1991).
"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
covered the song for his polka medley "Polka Your Eyes Out" from his 1992 album Off the Deep End
Off the Deep End
Off the Deep End is the seventh studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released in 1992. This album was the first album self-produced by Yankovic, after six albums with Rick Derringer. Recorded between June 1990 and January 1992, the album was a follow-up to the unsuccessful soundtrack to Yankovic's...
.
This song is featured in the video game Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
, handpicked by Tim Schafer
Tim Schafer
Timothy Schafer is an American computer game designer. He founded Double Fine Productions in January 2000, after having spent over a decade at LucasArts...
, the game's designer.
The band performed the song live in an episode of the Fox TV show Bones
Bones (TV series)
Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent...
in 2009.
Personnel
- Vince NeilVince NeilVincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
– lead vocals - Mick MarsMick MarsMick Mars is the lead guitarist for American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Career:After his family relocated from Indiana, to California, Bob Deal dropped out of high school and began playing guitar in a series of unsuccessful blues based rock bands throughout the seventies, taking on menial day...
– lead guitar, backing vocals - Nikki SixxNikki SixxNikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
– bass guitar, backing vocals - Tommy LeeTommy LeeThomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
– drums, backing vocals