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Gerry Levene & The Avengers. "Dr Feelgood". (1964)
Last edited Tue Dec 16, 2025, 12:20 PM - Edit history (1)
I really didn't know who they were until the single dropped yesterday on my favorite internet station, https://live.gamut.fm/listen/ . It turns out this song was the debut recording for both drummer Graham Edge (Moody Blues) and Roy Wood (Electric Light Orchestra) on lead guitar. For a short time, John Bonham also drummed for the band.
The pre-invasion British band had such an incredible but short lived stint that I suggest anyone to follow their arc at the link below:
Mike Gibbs had been a useful amateur boxer when, in 1959, he realized that he would have more luck with the ladies by becoming a rock n’ roll singer and keeping his film-star looks rather than risking a broken nose and cauliflower ears on the boxing circuit.
With two pals Mike ‘Sprike’ Hopkins and John Watson,both accomplished guitar players, they enlisted the drumming talents of Alan Bennett. Spending long periods honing their act, they eventually approached Ken Smith who ran the Say Mama club at Maney Hall, Sutton Coldfield, begging for the chance to get their first engagement. After some persuasion, this was granted and, without a proper band name, Ken out of the blue announced them to the audience as Cliff Angel & The Virtues!
Fearing they would be nicknamed the ‘Virgins’, another name was needed! Keen runner Mike (whose nickname was a concatenation of sprint & Mike) had long admired guitarist Duane Eddy and felt his track The Avenger would be a good name for the band to which Ken christened lead singer Gerry Levene. For some time, friction had stared to build as Alan’s dad’s managerial aspirations didn’t quite fit with the rest of the band’s plans but, as he was charged with driving them to & from gigs, they tried to make do.
Continued here:
http://themoodyblues.co.uk/avengers.htm
With two pals Mike ‘Sprike’ Hopkins and John Watson,both accomplished guitar players, they enlisted the drumming talents of Alan Bennett. Spending long periods honing their act, they eventually approached Ken Smith who ran the Say Mama club at Maney Hall, Sutton Coldfield, begging for the chance to get their first engagement. After some persuasion, this was granted and, without a proper band name, Ken out of the blue announced them to the audience as Cliff Angel & The Virtues!
Fearing they would be nicknamed the ‘Virgins’, another name was needed! Keen runner Mike (whose nickname was a concatenation of sprint & Mike) had long admired guitarist Duane Eddy and felt his track The Avenger would be a good name for the band to which Ken christened lead singer Gerry Levene. For some time, friction had stared to build as Alan’s dad’s managerial aspirations didn’t quite fit with the rest of the band’s plans but, as he was charged with driving them to & from gigs, they tried to make do.
Continued here:
http://themoodyblues.co.uk/avengers.htm
Dr Feelgood: