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PHIL
MITCHELL
answers the DR FEELGOOD questionaire
- - - PART 1 - - -
A. FULL NAME:
Philip Henry Mitchell
B. DATE &
PLACE OF BIRTH:
19/3/1953, Park Royal Hospital, Wembley, England
C. WHAT ARE
YOUR HOBBIES?
Football, Golf
D. FAVOURITE
COLOUR:
- - -
E. FAVOURITE
FOOD & DRINK(S):
Indian Food, Tea, English Bitter.
F. WHAT IS
YOUR WORST FEAR OR PHOBIA?
Heights
G. WHAT MAKES
YOU HAPPY?
Seeing my family happy.
H. WHAT MAKES
YOU LAUGH?
Usually drinking too much.
I. WHAT MAKES
YOU SAD OR ANGRY?
All the nutters in the world.
- - - PART 2 - - -
1. WHAT HAVE
YOU DONE (JOB/MUSIC) BEFORE BECOMING A "FEELGOOD"?
Whilst at school I played in my first band "Daily Male". When
I left school I worked first for a London Stockbroker, then moved to a
music shop repairing and selling instruments. Then I moved to my first
professional band "The Red River Band" (Soul band) backing soul
artists such as Rufus Thomas, Limmie & Family Cookon', Tammi Lynn.
Later I joined "Legend" which then became the Mickey Jupp Band,
a 12 piece band. Also I played in an earlier version of "Kursaal Flyers",
a rock band called "English Assassin", "Lew Lewis Reformer"
and "The Bottles".
2. WHEN DID
YOU JOIN DR FEELGOOD?
March 1983
3a. WHY DID
YOU JOIN DR FEELGOOD AND NOT ANOTHER BAND?
Because Lee offered me the gig and I was keen to do it.
Lee, Kevin and me went to the same school. When I was about 15 years old
I played the first school gig with the first band I was in ("Daily
Male") but were so nervous that we'd played too fast. So the set ended
earlier as planned when the band ran out of songs. Lee came backstage and
offered us to do a set with a blues band knocked up with mates in the audience!
- Many years later the Feelgoods had disbanded and when I met Lee in the
Zero Six Club at a musicians workshop I told him, he shall let me know
if he ever need a bass player to help to make up a band. The following
day he gave me a call, offering to play the gig in Monte Carlo (see no.4).
This was in March 1983. The following rehearsals with Lee, Buzz Barwell,
Gordon Russell and me went to Feelgood!
(Note by Gabi: Buzz became replaced by Kevin Morris two
months later.)
3b. IF YOU
COULD TURN TIME BACKWARDS WOULD YOU DO THE SAME?
Yes.
4. ANY SPECIAL
EXPERIENCE OR MEMORIES FROM THOSE DAYS WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH
US?
The first gig, in Monte Carlo, we had Big Figure drumming which was
good as he is such a nice bloke. It was and still is exciting to be in
a band with such a good live reputation.
5. WHAT DO
YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING PART OF DR FEELGOOD?
I like to play live and it's good to work in a well organized small
set-up like ours; and I enjoy seeing an audience have a good time, which
we always try to provide.
7. WHAT HAVE
YOU DONE SINCE LEAVING DR FEELGOOD THE FIRST TIME (when Dave Bronze joined
in)?
Worked with Larry Wallis for a while in "The Redbirds" and
set up a rehearsal/recording studio which I have since had to leave due
to rejoining Feelgood.
8. IN WHICH
OTHER BAND(S) HAVE YOU PLAYED, OR ARE YOU PLAYING NOW?
See no.1.
9. ON WHICH
OTHER RECORDS OR TAPES HAVE YOU PLAYED? (excluding Dr Feelgood ones)
Lots of demos and sessions with unknown bands and also Radio sessions,
The Redbirds in 1991, but nothing bigger than Feelgood.
10. WHAT INSPIRED
YOU TO BECOME A MUSICIAN, AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE INSTRUMENT YOU PLAY?
We formed a school band and nobody else wanted to play bass so I said
"If I get a bass can I be in the band". I did my first gig the
day after I actually bought my first bass. It was called a "Top Twenty".
Influences: Jack Bruce, Larry Taylor, Herbie Flowers.
11. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT(S) YOU ARE REASONABLY ABLE AT PLAYING?
I played trumpet at school and also play six string guitars as well.
12a. WHICH
KIND(S) OF MUSIC/BANDS DO YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO? (Favourite bands/musicians,
favourite albums)
Nothing in particular, I'm not a big music listener.
12b. WHICH
ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DR FEELGOOD TRACKS AND WHY?
I like all the favourites that the fans like, as I'm basically a fan
myself, which is why I asked Lee if I could join the band in the first
place.
You know - Milk And Alcohol, Down At The Doctors, Back In The Night, etc.
etc. etc. - all the stuff we play.
13a. WHICH
KIND(S) OF MUSIC DON'T YOU LIKE?
Rap, Techno, modern electronic stuff. I like guitars and real instruments.
14. WHAT ARE
YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
To carry on with Feelgood as long as they and the fans want me to.
15. WHAT ARE
YOUR WISHES FOR THE FUTURE MUSIC WISE?
See no.14.
16. WHAT ARE
YOUR PERSONAL WISHES?
To win the lottery.
17. IF YOU
COULD SETTLE DOWN SOMEWHERE ELSE, WHICH COUNTRY OR TOWN WOULD YOU LIKE
TO LIVE AND WHY?
I'm very happy where I am for now but liked it very much when we've
been in Australia and New Zealand.
18. WHAT IS
YOUR FAVOURITE COUNTRY FOR TOURING/GIGGING AND WHY?
First tour of Australia we did was great fun and we were treated very
well. I'd like to go back again. Also great weather - good for my golf!
19. WHAT IS
YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE COUNTRY FOR TOURING/GIGGING AND WHY?
- - - No such thing.
20. WHAT MAKES
SOME GIGS MORE ENJOYABLE THAN OTHERS?
A good crowd having a good time.
21. HAVE YOU
EVER BEEN BORED FROM BEING ASKED TO PLAY A SONG AGAIN AND AGAIN? WHICH
SONG(S)?
No. If people want to hear it they must enjoying it.
22. WHAT SPECIAL
QUALITY DOES DR FEELGOOD HAVE WHICH OTHER BANDS LACK?
I think we are tight, well organized and get to the point without too
much messing about.
23. WHAT WOULD
Y O U LIKE TO BE MOST REMEMBERED FOR?
For being an O.K. normal bloke.
24. LIST YOUR
STAGE EQUIPMENT (INSTRUMENT(S)/AMPS ETC):
Ampeg SVT Pro II; 4x12" speaker cab (just started using that one);
Fender Precision, black (had it since 1971), my first real guitar - I've
had plenty of others but always go back to that one. I use Rotosound Swing
Bass 66 strings (always have done!).
(Note by Gabi: When I was touring with the Feelgood in
October/November 1998 Phil played through a cabinet which he had built
on his own. It had the REAL Feelgood sound which we all remember well from
the Sparko days! For which reason ever, at the german tour in January 1999
Phil played through the cabinet he used before that "Made by Mitchell"
box.)
25. HAVE YOU
ANYTHING TO SAY TO YOUR FANS?
Thanks! Without you we wouldn't exist.
READ THE
REPLIES OF
[Dave Bronze][Pete Gage][Robert
Kane][Gypie Mayo]
[Kevin Morris][Phil Mitchell][Gordon
Russell][Steve Walwyn]
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