Dr. Feelgood are one of the most popular and exciting live rhythm and blues acts in the world and they're heading for Ayr Gaiety on Thursday, March 13.

Formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970s, the raw and uncompromising style of their performance resulted in their third album Stupidity rocketing to the number one slot in the UK Charts.

Further album success followed with Sneakin' Suspicion and Private Practice.

Dr. Feelgood have also enjoyed global success with a string of hit singles including 'Roxette', 'Milk and Alcohol', 'Back in the Night', 'Down at the Doctors', 'She Does it Right', 'Going Back Home' and 'See You Later Alligator' - which gave the group their first gold record.

The current line up features the rhythm section Kevin Morris on drums and Phil Mitchell on bass, both 29 years in the band and Steve Walwyn on guitar who has been with the band for 23 years. Vocalist Robert Kane is the most recent addition - replacing Gage in 1999.

The band are in the midst of a multi-date European tour including gigs in France, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Spain and Norway where they still enjoy a huge and loyal following.

The group's original distinctively British R&B sound was centred on Wilko Johnson's choppy guitar style. Along with Johnson, the original band line-up included singer Lee Brilleaux with John B. Sparks on bass guitar and John "The Big Figure" Martin on drums.

But after the follow-up album Sneakin' Suspicion, Johnson left the group because of conflicts with Lee Brilleaux. He was replaced by John 'Gypie' Mayo and they enjoyed a hit in 1979 with cult single "Milk and Alcohol".

Despite Mayo's departure in 1981, and various subsequent line-up changes which left Brilleaux the only remaining original member, Dr Feelgood continued touring and recording but the band then suffered an almost career-finishing blow, when Brilleaux died of cancer in 1994.

As Brilleaux had insisted prior to his demise, Dr Feelgood reunited in May 1995, initially with vocalist Pete Gage, and recommenced touring in 1996. Though the band contained no original members at this point, the musicians backing Gage had all previously played as members of Dr. Feelgood for at least five years, and in some cases for over a decade. In 1999 Gage was replaced by Robert Kane, formerly of The Animals.

Every year since Brilleaux's death, a special concert, known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial, is held on Canvey Island, where ex and current Feelgoods celebrate the music of Dr Feelgood.

Now Ayrshire fans get the chance to enjoy the Feelgood factor on March 13!

Dr Feelgood, Ayr Gaiety Main Theatre, Thursday 13 March at 7.30pm

Tickets: £19.50 / £18.50 (conc)

Online bookings are subject to a £2 booking fee per transaction