Biografia
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Componenti
- Richard Eric Searle
- Steven Peter McGuire
- Vom Ritchie
- Wendy West
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 Steve Ritchie, not to be confused with Crazyhead drummer Rob "Vom" Morris), and bassist Gareth Thomas and female dancers and singers The Anadin Brothers in 1981. 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 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. 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.
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) "Burn" reached No 29 in the UK Singles Chart and Waterloo No 45.
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.
The club ran the "Mystery trips" taking unsuspecting clubbers to gigs and venues across the country on coach trips. 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.
The band released their final studio album Instant Heaven, in 1996 on their own 'Madman' record label.
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
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.
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