Dr. Strangely Strange

An experimental Irish folk group closely affiliated with the Incredible String Band, Dr. Strangely Strange was formed in Dublin in 1967 by vocalist/guitarist Tim Booth and bassist/keyboardist Ivan Pawle (vocals/bass/keyboards). Soon they teamed with multi-instrumentalist Tim Goulding, an aspiring painter, and began living and rehearsing in a house owned by Goulding's girlfriend, backing vocalist Orphan Annie (a.k.a. Annie Xmas), which its tenants nicknamed "The Orphanage." After signing with the Incredible String Band's producer and manager Joe Boyd, Dr. Strangely Strange debuted in 1969 with Kip of the Serenes. While on tour with Fotheringay, they enlisted drummer Neil Hopwood, and later in the year appeared on the String Band's Changing Horses LP. After 1970's Heavy Petting, Dr. Strangely Strange began falling apart: Goulding left to enter to a Buddhist monastery, while Pawle and Booth teamed with Gay and Terry Woods for a brief tour. The group soon disbanded, but they reunited in 1973 for an Irish tour, and briefly reconvened again in the early '80s, Eventually Booth established a second Orphanage which became a springboard for a new generation of Irish rock, helping launch the careers of Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott, Gary Moore and others. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide