Nothing to do with Al Gore – Oil City was what Essex’s Canvey Island was renamed to make it seem a bit more American, more rock ‘n roll, and there’s little more rock ‘n roll than Dr Feelgood, the R&B “punk before punk” band who hit number 1 in the album charts but imploded just before the Sex Pistols went massive.
Julien Temple’s documentary covers a band now mostly lost to music history, but who left such an impact that there’s still a Dr Feelgood band touring today with none of the original members. Wilko Johnson – the charismatic guitarist whose departure in 1977 arguably led to the band’s demise – is interviewed alongside members of The Clash, Blondie and the Sex Pistols to paint a picture of 70s England and the greatest British band that nearly was.
Oil City Confidential is out on 2 February.