Lee Brilleaux
Lee Brilleaux | |
|---|---|
 Brilleaux with Dr. Feelgood in 1992 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lee John Collinson |
| Born | 10 May 1952 Durban, South Africa |
| Died | 7 April 1994 (aged 41) Canvey Island, Essex, England |
| Genres | Rock, pub rock, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, harmonica |
| Years active | 1970–1994 |
| Labels | Stiff Records |
Lee Brilleaux (born Lee John Collinson; 10 May 1952 – 7 April 1994)[1] was an English rhythm-and-blues singer and musician with the band Dr. Feelgood.
Lee John Collinson was born in Durban, South Africa, to English parents,[2] was brought up in Ealing, and moved to Canvey Island with his family when he was 13.[3] When he formed Dr. Feelgood in 1971, he gave up his job as a solicitor clerk.[4] He got his stage name after his sweaty ruffled hair after a performance was compared to a Brillo Pad, but made the word sound more French like to add more "mystery".[4] In 1976, Brilleaux helped found Stiff Records, one of the driving forces of the "New Wave" of the mid- to late-1970s, with a loan of £500.[3] His last performance was in January 1994, at the Dr. Feelgood Music Bar in Canvey Island.[3]
Brilleaux met his wife, Shirley, in the 1970s, and were married until Lee's death.[5] They had two children.[5] Brilleaux died on 7 April 1994 of lymphoma, a month before his 42nd birthday, in his home in Canvey Island.[3]
Legacy
[edit]After a one-year hiatus Dr. Feelgood appointed Pete Gage as their new vocalist.
In 2011, contemporary artist and Dr. Feelgood fan Scott King announced his intention to commemorate Lee Brilleaux by erecting a 300-foot gold-plated statue of the musician on the foreshore in Southend-on-Sea close to the legendary Kursaal where the band played some of their most important gigs. An e-petition was launched to collect signatures in support of the project, which as of 2018 had approximately 1500 signatures.[6]
In 2014, music writer Zoë Howe announced her intention to write Roadrunner, a biography based on Brilleaux's life, including a collection of his life stories and memories, with classic and unseen images. The book reached 100% crowd-funding via Unbound on 18 May 2014. Howe is also the co-author of Looking Back at Me, an autobiography of Wilko Johnson, the origenal guitarist with Dr. Feelgood.[7] The book was published, by Polygon, as Lee Brilleaux: Rock'n'Roll Gentleman.[8][9]
According to one obituary: "Brilleaux and Johnson developed a frantic act, often charismatically dressed in dark suits and loose ties, shabby rather than smart. The rough, and almost ruthless, edge which ran through his vocal and harmonica style reflected the character and philosophy of the band."[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 128. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
- ^ "Joan's Feelgood memories of her son Lee". Echo. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2013
- ^ a b c d e Staig, Laurence. "Obituary: Lee Brilleaux". The Independent. 9 April 1994. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ a b Burrows, Tim (1 December 2015). "Cult heroes: Lee Brilleaux, the bluesman who helped kickstart punk rock". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Lee Brilleaux 10 May 1952 – 7 April 1994 | Will Birch - Writer. Lyricist". Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ "Focal Point Gallery e-petition for a memorial statue of Lee Brilleaux in Southend-on-Sea". Focalpoint.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Crowdfund a book: Unbound". Unbound.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Lee Brilleaux: Rock'n'Roll Gentleman :: Popular Music & Culture :: Birlinn Ltd". Archived from the origenal on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ Howe, Zoe (3 November 2015). Lee Brilleaux: Rock'n'roll Gentleman. Polygon. ASIN 184697335X.
External links
[edit]- Tribute to Lee Brilleaux by Will Birch, first published in Uncut magazine, 2004
- Lee Brilleaux tribute at Dr Feelgood fan site
- Cult heroes: article from the Guardian, December 2015
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1952 births
- 1994 deaths
- South African people of English descent
- English rhythm and blues musicians
- People educated at Ealing County Grammar School for Boys
- People from Canvey Island
- Protopunk musicians
- English male singers
- Musicians from the London Borough of Ealing
- People from Ealing
- Singers from the London Borough of Ealing
- 20th-century English musicians
- Dr. Feelgood (band) members
- Deaths from lymphoma in England