Doctor Doctor

The Zoo Crew is spinning the funky vibes of Doctor Doctor by The Radiators, a standout track from their 1987 album Law of the Fish, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving to its swamp-rock energy. This song, with its infectious rhythm and soulful edge, climbed to #20 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, showcasing the band’s knack for blending New Orleans musical traditions with rock and R&B. One piece of trivia about Doctor Doctor is its lyrical nod to heartache and resilience, with lines like “Talk about the heartache, Talk about the pain,” which frontman Ed Volker has said in interviews reflect the universal struggle of love and loss, filtered through a distinctly New Orleans lens. The song’s recording at Southlake Studios in Louisiana was a high-energy affair, with drummer Frank Bua Jr. recalling in a 2004 interview for OffBeat magazine that the band fed off the city’s vibrant atmosphere, infusing the track with a live-performance feel. Fans on the Radiators Fish Head Fan Club Facebook group often share stories of hearing Doctor Doctor at the band’s legendary Mardi Gras shows, where its driving beat would get crowds dancing in the streets.

Another tidbit comes from a 2011 post on the Radiators’ X account, where they shared that Doctor Doctor was one of the first songs they polished for their major-label debut with Epic Records, aiming to capture their “fishhead music” ethos—a term they coined for their eclectic, genre-defying sound. The track’s guitar riffs, led by Dave Malone and Camile Baudoin, were inspired by the band’s late-night jam sessions, as Malone mentioned in a 1998 radio interview, noting that the song’s groove came from “just letting the music flow like the Mississippi River.” The Law of the Fish album, including Doctor Doctor, marked a pivotal moment, reaching #139 on the Billboard 200 and introducing their swampy sound to a broader audience. Fans on the Fishhead Music fan site often cite Doctor Doctor as a gateway to discovering the band’s deeper catalog, with its mix of soulful lyrics and gritty instrumentation.

The Radiators got their start in New Orleans in 1978, born from the city’s rich musical melting pot. Ed Volker, a keyboardist and vocalist with a background in the local band the Rhapsodizers, joined forces with guitarists Dave Malone and Camile Baudoin, bassist Reggie Scanlan, and drummer Frank Bua Jr. to form the group. According to their bio on their official Facebook page, the band came together in Malone’s garage, jamming on blues, funk, and R&B covers before crafting their own songs. Their early gigs at dives like the Dream Palace and Tipitina’s built a loyal following, with their high-energy shows earning them a reputation as a must-see live act. Winning a battle of the bands sponsored by Epic Records in the mid-1980s led to their signing and the release of Law of the Fish, cementing their place in the swamp-rock scene. The band’s commitment to their craft and their fans, whom they affectionately call “fish heads,” has kept them a beloved fixture, with annual reunion shows at Tipitina’s even after their 2011 breakup.

For more on The Radiators, check out their official website for tour updates and merch. Connect with them on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and X for behind-the-scenes posts and fan interactions. Fans can dive deeper into the fishhead community through the Radiators Fish Head Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can share stories and concert memories, or visit the Fishhead Music fan site for discographies and rare live recordings. Whether you’re a longtime fish head or a new Zoo Freak, Doctor Doctor and The Radiators’ legacy are sure to keep the good vibes flowing.