The Wildhearts
Encyclopedia
The Wildhearts are a British
rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock
and melodic pop music
, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles
and 1980s-era Metallica
. However, this characterization is denied by the band, who see their influences as being far broader, as shown in the song "29 X The Pain", which lists many of group leader Ginger's influences. Despite several top 20 singles and one top 10 album in Britain, the Wildhearts have not achieved major commercial success, owing in part to difficulties with record companies and many internal problems often relating to recreational drugs
and depression
. Much of the band's early career was affected by bitter feuds with their record company, East West.
In the band's turbulent and unpredictable history, band members have regularly been replaced, with the only constant member being the band's founder Ginger
(real name David Walls), the singer, guitarist and predominant songwriter. Several band members have appeared in the line-up more than once. The band has also been split up or placed on hiatus by Ginger multiple times. The most recent line-up convened in 2006 but went on hiatus in late 2010.
was sacked from the Quireboys. An often-told story from this time period is that Ginger decided to start his own band after falling down a flight of stairs with a bottle of Jack Daniel's
but emerging with the bottle intact. Had the bottle smashed, he would have slit his wrists
with the shards, but instead he resolved to form a band in which he could exercise his songwriting skills, rather than just playing guitar as in his previous bands. Throughout the band's career, Ginger has written almost all the songs himself.
Initially called the Wild Hearts (two words), the band originally included singers Snake (ex-Tobruk) and Dunken F. Mullett (ex-Mournblade), who both joined for short periods. Nine demos were recorded in 1989 and 1990 with Snake singing on four and Dunken on five. These demos remain unreleased and displayed a sound resembling Guns N' Roses
, with the Wildhearts sound still to be developed. Some of the demos were produced by Ric Browde and intended for an EP release that never materialized, though these demos are occasionally found on unofficial releases. In March 1991, Ginger reluctantly took over on lead vocals despite his reservations, as he has never thought himself a good singer.
After many early personnel changes, the line-up solidified around Ginger on guitar and vocals, C.J. (Christopher Jagdhar) on guitar and vocals, Danny McCormack
on bass and vocals, and Dogs D'Amour
drummer Bam. This line-up released two EPs in 1992, Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go and Don’t Be Happy…Just Worry.
without re-recording. The singles "Greetings From Shitsville" and "TV Tan
" were underground hits in 1993. Stidi left the band shortly afterwards to be replaced by Ritch Battersby, just in time for the recording of the single "Caffeine Bomb", a UK chart hit at the beginning of 1994, helped by a memorable video
in which Ginger appeared to vomit into C.J.'s face. The band appeared on Top of the Pops
wearing green welding goggles. The debut album was reissued in late 1994 with "Caffeine Bomb" tacked on as an extra track.
in early 1995. This EP, which would be re-released in 1996 with more studio outtakes as Fishing for More Luckies, included the notable track "Geordie In Wonderland
". Ginger offered this track to Kevin Keegan
and Newcastle United F.C.
as a potential team anthem, but was graciously turned down. The track was performed on Top of the Pops with Wolfsbane's Jeff Hateley, painted in Toon Army colours, on mandolin. Other noteworthy tracks included "If Life Is Like A Lovebank, I Want An Overdraft", also released as a single, and the 11:24 epic "Sky Babies." Despite frequent fan requests, this track was rarely performed live, reputedly because of Danny McCormack's inability to remember his bass parts throughout the entire song. In 2003-2004 the band began to play "Sky Babies" at nearly every show with new bassist Jon Poole
.
The second album proper was to be known as P.H.U.Q.
. Midway through the recording sessions, Ginger (in a move he later claimed to regret), fired guitarist C.J., and some of the album's tracks were recorded without a second guitarist. P.H.U.Q. was released in May 1995 and reached #6 in the British charts, making it the band's most successful album. Shortly after the album's release, Mark Keds of Senseless Things
was drafted as second guitarist, but lasted just one recording session, in which he appeared on the B-sides for the single "Just in Lust". Within a few weeks Keds was sacked after disappearing to Japan for a farewell tour with his old band. The Wildhearts were again down to a three-piece (Ginger, McCormack, and Battersby) for a few months, and even performed a few gigs in this incarnation. The band resolved to return to a two-guitar formation, and after requesting demos and holding auditions, hired the previously unknown Jef Streatfield.
By late 1995 the band were finally fed up with their record label and set out to tour Japan and the UK, determined that they would split up the band unless East West would release them from their contract. The tours were a resounding success and eventually the band managed to escape their record contract.
rarities compilation, although the band claimed that they had not approved this release and urged fans to boycott the record. These tracks were never officially acknowledged as part of the band's corpus of material, although one song, "Tom Take the Money", has since been performed a number of times by Ginger at his solo acoustic appearances.
In November 1997, shortly before the release of Endless, Nameless, Ginger decided to split the band due to musical differences and drug problems (affecting bassist Danny McCormack in particular). A scheduled British tour was canceled, though the band did manage to complete a short tour of Japan as a farewell to fans.
Starting in 1997 the Wildhearts began to release multiple formats of singles. Previously, the band had been strenuously against multi-formatting, regarding the practice as a rip-off to fans. However, during the Endless, Nameless period the band released the two singles from the album in multiple formats, including two CD singles with two B-sides on each, and a 7" single with one B-side, with all the songs from the "Anthem" single being cover versions. Many of the band's fans were angry about this practice, with some even handing out fliers against the practice outside Wildhearts shows. Ginger reacted with frustration, saying that they were simply trying to bring more music to the fans. A change in chart eligibility for singles was probably also responsible, as a four-track single (or EP) would no longer be allowed to qualify for the British singles charts, but multiple formats were allowed with a maximum of three tracks or unlimited remixes so long as the running time was under 20 minutes. The band's label may have insisted on these changes as the only way to compete in the singles market of that time.
The band have continued to multi-format since 1997, in particular with "Top Of The World
" in 2003, consisting of three CD singles, two with two B-sides and one with one B-side and the video for the song. However, the band have also continued to specifically re-enter the studio to record brand new songs for B-sides. During the band's reformation in the 2001-2004 period, they amassed enough B-sides for Gut Records
to release a full-length album consisting only of B-sides, Coupled With
.
, where the band had always had a strong following.
) stood in as bassist. By 2002 McCormack was once again clean and the band started recording a new mini-album and also toured the UK. The tracks intended for the album were released in the UK in late 2002 across three formats of the "Vanilla Radio
" single, and as the mini-album Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff
in Japan. "Vanilla Radio" reached the top 30 in the UK singles chart, and in early 2003 work began on a full-length album. However, during recording, McCormack checked himself into a rehabilitation center to deal with an alcohol problem, leaving Ginger to play the bass parts on the songs that were newly recorded for the album. McCormack's place in the live band was filled by "Random" Jon Poole
, who had already worked with Ginger on his Silver Ginger 5
side project.
The album The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed
, released in 2003, had a very commercial sound, full of short simple pop songs with little of the heavier rock style which often featured on previous albums. The band also managed to get a US record deal with Gearhead Records
, which released Riff After Riff in 2004, a compilation of songs from the UK post-reformation singles (all of the songs from this release are also found on the Gut Records compilation Coupled With
). Riff After Riff was the Wildhearts' first US release since Earth Vs The Wildhearts
in 1994. The release was also promoted by a tour, mostly as the support band for their ex-support band, The Darkness.
Then in early 2005, Ginger dissolved the Wildhearts again, citing a mixture of his own personal problems and a lack of commitment within the band. He briefly joined the Brides of Destruction
before setting out on his own as a full-time solo artist. In typically unpredictable Wildhearts style, Ginger then reformed the Wildhearts once again for a one-off gig at Scarborough Castle
in September 2005. The 1994-1995 line-up of Ginger, C.J., McCormack, and Ritch Battersby played at this gig.
Once again, the Wildhearts reformed in December 2006 and played a single live show at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton. This line-up saw Ginger joined again by C.J., Ritch Battersby and a new bassist, Scott Sorry
(ex-Amen). This line-up soon became official, with plans made for a new album in 2007.
. The album was released on April 23, preceded two weeks earlier by the download-only single "The Sweetest Song". The album received favorable reviews in the British rock press, with the Sun newspaper giving it 5 out of 5 ("probably the rock album of the year") and Rocksound magazine also giving it full marks (10 out of 10).
The band were to play a handful of shows across America, but due to delays in their Visa application they were forced to cancel the US tour. The band ended up playing multiple sold-out dates in New York, one of which was aboard a ferry. The band made up to their American fans for postponed gigs by playing very long sets of approximately two hours each night. An extensive UK tour followed in April and May.
"The New Flesh" was released as a single on October 1, 2007 and became the first proper release from the self-titled album. The video for the song was shot in black and white and featured a number of children, including Ginger's own son Jake. The band released "Destroy All Monsters" as their next single. The video had a heavy theme of violence and horror.
On May 19, 2008 the Wildhearts released the all-covers album Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1.
. Artists covered include Icicle Works
, Fugazi, Helmet
, Lee Harvey Oswald Band, The Distillers
, The Descendents, and The Georgia Satellites. The first version of the album was a download-only collection of 12 tracks, followed by a full release with 15 tracks. In mid-2008, Rhino Records also released the three-CD compilation The Works
. Described by the band as "licensed but unofficial," the compilation consists of album tracks and B-sides from the 1992-1996 era at East West Records.
The band travelled to Denmark to record their ninth studio album, ¡Chutzpah!, which was released on August 31, 2009, followed by a tour of the United Kingdom in September and October. At these shows, the band played the new record in its entirety, followed by an encore of older songs.
Around the same time as the release of Chutzpah!, they won the award for Spirit of Independence at the 2009 Kerrang! Awards, as well as playing on the Bohemia stage during the very first UK Sonisphere Festival
; a four day music festival designed by those formerly behind Download Festival.
On 25 November 2009 The Wildhearts announced the release of ¡Chutzpah! Jnr.
, a mini album composed of tracks recorded during the Chutzpah sessions but either released as free tracks on their website, bonus tracks from the Japanese physical release or unreleased tracks from the sessions. The eight-track CD was publicized as only being available at concerts during the coming "Merry Xmess 2009" tour. However, this news caused something of a backlash from some fans, and resulted in band leader Ginger advocating the distribution of tracks via file sharing technology, as well as vowing that the album would be made available at future shows beyond the Xmess tour. The mini-album is now also available via the Wildhearts online store.
frontman Michael Monroe
, who played the Download Festival
on 12 June 2010. Ginger also performed as a solo act at the festival, arriving with large band of acoustic guitar players dubbed 'Guitarmageddon'. Only Wildhearts songs were performed, which is also the case for the current tour of the UK. The Michael Monroe album Sensory Overdrive
, featuring Ginger, was released in 2011.
In December 2010, Ginger stated that he is unsure if The Wildhearts will ever reform. It would appear that the departure of Scott Sorry and retirement of Ritch Battersby led to the hiatus.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and melodic pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and 1980s-era Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. However, this characterization is denied by the band, who see their influences as being far broader, as shown in the song "29 X The Pain", which lists many of group leader Ginger's influences. Despite several top 20 singles and one top 10 album in Britain, the Wildhearts have not achieved major commercial success, owing in part to difficulties with record companies and many internal problems often relating to recreational drugs
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. Much of the band's early career was affected by bitter feuds with their record company, East West.
In the band's turbulent and unpredictable history, band members have regularly been replaced, with the only constant member being the band's founder Ginger
Ginger (singer)
Ginger is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his band The Wildhearts.-Early career:...
(real name David Walls), the singer, guitarist and predominant songwriter. Several band members have appeared in the line-up more than once. The band has also been split up or placed on hiatus by Ginger multiple times. The most recent line-up convened in 2006 but went on hiatus in late 2010.
Early years
The Wildhearts formed in late 1989, after GingerGinger (singer)
Ginger is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his band The Wildhearts.-Early career:...
was sacked from the Quireboys. An often-told story from this time period is that Ginger decided to start his own band after falling down a flight of stairs with a bottle of Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is among the world's best-selling liquors. It is known for its square bottles and black label. As of November, 2007, one blogger was claiming that it was the best-selling whiskey in the world. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by...
but emerging with the bottle intact. Had the bottle smashed, he would have slit his wrists
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
with the shards, but instead he resolved to form a band in which he could exercise his songwriting skills, rather than just playing guitar as in his previous bands. Throughout the band's career, Ginger has written almost all the songs himself.
Initially called the Wild Hearts (two words), the band originally included singers Snake (ex-Tobruk) and Dunken F. Mullett (ex-Mournblade), who both joined for short periods. Nine demos were recorded in 1989 and 1990 with Snake singing on four and Dunken on five. These demos remain unreleased and displayed a sound resembling Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, with the Wildhearts sound still to be developed. Some of the demos were produced by Ric Browde and intended for an EP release that never materialized, though these demos are occasionally found on unofficial releases. In March 1991, Ginger reluctantly took over on lead vocals despite his reservations, as he has never thought himself a good singer.
After many early personnel changes, the line-up solidified around Ginger on guitar and vocals, C.J. (Christopher Jagdhar) on guitar and vocals, Danny McCormack
Danny McCormack
Danny McCormack is a British singer and bassist.-Biography:He became the bass player in The Wildhearts in 1991 and soon relocated to London with the band, enjoying success during their commercial peak, before splitting up in 1998...
on bass and vocals, and Dogs D'Amour
Dogs D'Amour
The Dogs D'Amour were a rock and roll band formed in 1983 in London, England. Over the years the band has had various line-ups, the only constant being vocalist Tyla....
drummer Bam. This line-up released two EPs in 1992, Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go and Don’t Be Happy…Just Worry.
The first album
In 1992, drummer Bam returned to Dogs D'Amour and was replaced by Stidi (Andrew Stidolph). To follow up their first two EPs, the Wildhearts recorded demos for their first full-length album, which were released as Earth Vs The WildheartsEarth Vs The Wildhearts
-Track listing:All Songs Written By Ginger.-Japanese Bonus Tracks:Released: August 1993 · Label: East West · UK Chart: No. 46Formats: CD , LP , Cassette ....
without re-recording. The singles "Greetings From Shitsville" and "TV Tan
TV Tan E.P.
TV Tan E.P. is a single by The Wildhearts released in 1993 .-Trivia:The sticker that came attached to the E.P. in both it's CD and Vinyl formats contained the words "Contains 3 previously unreleased songs and no artificial additives"....
" were underground hits in 1993. Stidi left the band shortly afterwards to be replaced by Ritch Battersby, just in time for the recording of the single "Caffeine Bomb", a UK chart hit at the beginning of 1994, helped by a memorable video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
in which Ginger appeared to vomit into C.J.'s face. The band appeared on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
wearing green welding goggles. The debut album was reissued in late 1994 with "Caffeine Bomb" tacked on as an extra track.
The follow-up
The Wildhearts next planned a double album, but East West vetoed this plan during the recording sessions. Instead the band released a collection of six of the more eclectic tracks on a fan club-only release entitled Fishing For LuckiesFishing For Luckies
Fishing for Luckies is an album by The Wildhearts that originated as a fan club-only release of newly recorded material, but has since been expanded and re-released with extra tracks.-Original release:...
in early 1995. This EP, which would be re-released in 1996 with more studio outtakes as Fishing for More Luckies, included the notable track "Geordie In Wonderland
Geordie In Wonderland
Geordie In Wonderland is a song by U.K punk/ rock band The Wildhearts, it is from their 1995 'Fishing for Luckies' album. The bands frontman and songwriter Ginger offered the song to football manager Kevin Keegan and his team Newcastle United as their Christmas anthem, but the offer was graciously...
". Ginger offered this track to Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
and Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
as a potential team anthem, but was graciously turned down. The track was performed on Top of the Pops with Wolfsbane's Jeff Hateley, painted in Toon Army colours, on mandolin. Other noteworthy tracks included "If Life Is Like A Lovebank, I Want An Overdraft", also released as a single, and the 11:24 epic "Sky Babies." Despite frequent fan requests, this track was rarely performed live, reputedly because of Danny McCormack's inability to remember his bass parts throughout the entire song. In 2003-2004 the band began to play "Sky Babies" at nearly every show with new bassist Jon Poole
Jon Poole
Jon Poole is a British multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for The Wildhearts .Poole is the frontman and main performer of God Damn Whores, and has also worked with the...
.
The second album proper was to be known as P.H.U.Q.
P.H.U.Q.
P.H.U.Q. is an album by British Rock band The Wildhearts. It was released in May 1995 on East West Records and reached #6 in the UK Albums Chart. Ginger has said the title of the album is pronounced "fuck" in the 'Ask Ginger' section of the band's official website...
. Midway through the recording sessions, Ginger (in a move he later claimed to regret), fired guitarist C.J., and some of the album's tracks were recorded without a second guitarist. P.H.U.Q. was released in May 1995 and reached #6 in the British charts, making it the band's most successful album. Shortly after the album's release, Mark Keds of Senseless Things
Senseless Things
Senseless Things were a British indie punk band, who were active on the UK festival circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Career:Senseless Things formed around the musical partnership of songwriter Mark Keds and Morgan Nicholls , who as eleven year old schoolboys in Twickenham, Middlesex put...
was drafted as second guitarist, but lasted just one recording session, in which he appeared on the B-sides for the single "Just in Lust". Within a few weeks Keds was sacked after disappearing to Japan for a farewell tour with his old band. The Wildhearts were again down to a three-piece (Ginger, McCormack, and Battersby) for a few months, and even performed a few gigs in this incarnation. The band resolved to return to a two-guitar formation, and after requesting demos and holding auditions, hired the previously unknown Jef Streatfield.
By late 1995 the band were finally fed up with their record label and set out to tour Japan and the UK, determined that they would split up the band unless East West would release them from their contract. The tours were a resounding success and eventually the band managed to escape their record contract.
Round Records era
In early 1996 the Wildhearts claimed to have recorded two new studio albums, which would be released via East West on the band's own record label, Round Records. Only some of the songs saw the light of day, in a revamped version of the previously fan club-only EP Fishing for Luckies with eight new tracks bringing it to full album length. An additional album of new material was never quite finished, although leaked copies were distributed as the Shitty Fuckin' Stupid Tracks bootleg. These rare tracks were officially released by East West in 1998 as part of the Landmines and PantomimesLandmines and Pantomimes
Landmines And Pantomimes is a compilation by The Wildhearts including unreleased demo tracks and the B-sides to the canceled "In Lilly's Garden" single...
rarities compilation, although the band claimed that they had not approved this release and urged fans to boycott the record. These tracks were never officially acknowledged as part of the band's corpus of material, although one song, "Tom Take the Money", has since been performed a number of times by Ginger at his solo acoustic appearances.
Endless, Nameless era
In 1997 the band signed to Mushroom Records, and set about making another album. This album abandoned the band's former pop rock leanings in favor of a more distorted and less commercial sound. Fans were initially confused by the first single, "Anthem", released in July 1997, and by the time the album itself, Endless, Nameless, was released, the opinion of fans was divided, with some calling it a masterpiece and others calling it an aberration.In November 1997, shortly before the release of Endless, Nameless, Ginger decided to split the band due to musical differences and drug problems (affecting bassist Danny McCormack in particular). A scheduled British tour was canceled, though the band did manage to complete a short tour of Japan as a farewell to fans.
Multi-formatting and singles
Due to their large output of songs, but shortage of album opportunities due to conflicts with East West Records, the Wildhearts have long been known for a large number of extra tracks released as B-sides on CD singles. Prior to 1997 the band would release one version of a single which would contain two or three B-sides, and the B-sides were never album outtakes but would be recorded specifically for the single. Some of the A-sides, such as "Caffeine Bomb" were also recorded specifically as singles and did not originally appear on an album.Starting in 1997 the Wildhearts began to release multiple formats of singles. Previously, the band had been strenuously against multi-formatting, regarding the practice as a rip-off to fans. However, during the Endless, Nameless period the band released the two singles from the album in multiple formats, including two CD singles with two B-sides on each, and a 7" single with one B-side, with all the songs from the "Anthem" single being cover versions. Many of the band's fans were angry about this practice, with some even handing out fliers against the practice outside Wildhearts shows. Ginger reacted with frustration, saying that they were simply trying to bring more music to the fans. A change in chart eligibility for singles was probably also responsible, as a four-track single (or EP) would no longer be allowed to qualify for the British singles charts, but multiple formats were allowed with a maximum of three tracks or unlimited remixes so long as the running time was under 20 minutes. The band's label may have insisted on these changes as the only way to compete in the singles market of that time.
The band have continued to multi-format since 1997, in particular with "Top Of The World
Top of the World (The Wildhearts song)
-Track listings:CD1:#"Top Of The World"#"6:30 Onwards"#"Eager To Leave 'Er"CD2:#"Top Of The World"#"Hit It On The Head"#"Top Of The World" CD3:#"Top Of The World"#"Cheers"...
" in 2003, consisting of three CD singles, two with two B-sides and one with one B-side and the video for the song. However, the band have also continued to specifically re-enter the studio to record brand new songs for B-sides. During the band's reformation in the 2001-2004 period, they amassed enough B-sides for Gut Records
Gut Records
The Gut Group was an independent record label, based in Maida Vale in London, in the United Kingdom.Formally introduced in 1991, Gut Recordings was founded by Guy Holmes, who had been Head of Promotions at Island Records...
to release a full-length album consisting only of B-sides, Coupled With
Coupled With
Coupled With is a compilation album by The Wildhearts, released on Gut Records in March 2004. The album collects almost all the B-sides recorded by the band and released on various CD and vinyl singles during their reformation and comeback in the 2001-2003 period. The A-sides of most of these...
.
Hiatus 1997-2001
For several years the band members concentrated on their respective side projects, although the most recent line-up of Ginger, McCormack, Ritch Battersby, and Jef Streatfield reformed a few times for one-off gigs and tours of JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where the band had always had a strong following.
Reformation
In early 2001 Ginger announced that he was reforming the Earth Vs The Wildhearts lineup of the band for a tour later that year. This lineup (consisting of Ginger and C.J. on guitars and vocals, Danny McCormack on bass and vocals, and Stidi on drums) soon ran into difficulty due to McCormack's battle against heroin addiction, and on several dates of the comeback tour Toshi (from support band AntiProductAntiProduct
AntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
) stood in as bassist. By 2002 McCormack was once again clean and the band started recording a new mini-album and also toured the UK. The tracks intended for the album were released in the UK in late 2002 across three formats of the "Vanilla Radio
Vanilla Radio
The first single from the reformed Wildhearts, it reached 26 in the Uk singles chart.CD1:#Vanilla Radio#Putting It On#Looking For The OneCD2:#Vanilla Radio#O.C.D.#Let's Go7":#Vanilla Radio#Better Than Cable...
" single, and as the mini-album Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff
Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff
Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff is a 2002 compilation of the B-sides from various versions of The Wildhearts' 2002 single "Vanilla Radio" plus the song "Stormy In The North, Karma In The South"...
in Japan. "Vanilla Radio" reached the top 30 in the UK singles chart, and in early 2003 work began on a full-length album. However, during recording, McCormack checked himself into a rehabilitation center to deal with an alcohol problem, leaving Ginger to play the bass parts on the songs that were newly recorded for the album. McCormack's place in the live band was filled by "Random" Jon Poole
Jon Poole
Jon Poole is a British multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for The Wildhearts .Poole is the frontman and main performer of God Damn Whores, and has also worked with the...
, who had already worked with Ginger on his Silver Ginger 5
Silver Ginger 5
Silver Ginger 5 was originally formed in 1999 as a solo project for Ginger, lead singer/songwriter of The Wildhearts.The band was not formed until after the recording of the album Black Leather Mojo, and despite the name only ever had 4 members...
side project.
The album The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed
The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed
The Wildhearts Must be Destroyed is a 2003 album by The Wildhearts. The album's title makes reference to 1969 horror film Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed....
, released in 2003, had a very commercial sound, full of short simple pop songs with little of the heavier rock style which often featured on previous albums. The band also managed to get a US record deal with Gearhead Records
Gearhead Records
Gearhead Records is an independent record label that started in San Francisco, California. It was later co-run out of Davis, California and is now totally run out of Woodland, California . The label was formed in April 2000 by Michelle Haunold and Mike LaVella. In 2006, the company was split in...
, which released Riff After Riff in 2004, a compilation of songs from the UK post-reformation singles (all of the songs from this release are also found on the Gut Records compilation Coupled With
Coupled With
Coupled With is a compilation album by The Wildhearts, released on Gut Records in March 2004. The album collects almost all the B-sides recorded by the band and released on various CD and vinyl singles during their reformation and comeback in the 2001-2003 period. The A-sides of most of these...
). Riff After Riff was the Wildhearts' first US release since Earth Vs The Wildhearts
Earth Vs The Wildhearts
-Track listing:All Songs Written By Ginger.-Japanese Bonus Tracks:Released: August 1993 · Label: East West · UK Chart: No. 46Formats: CD , LP , Cassette ....
in 1994. The release was also promoted by a tour, mostly as the support band for their ex-support band, The Darkness.
Then in early 2005, Ginger dissolved the Wildhearts again, citing a mixture of his own personal problems and a lack of commitment within the band. He briefly joined the Brides of Destruction
Brides of Destruction
Brides of Destruction were an American hard rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band's last lineup consisted of singer London LeGrand , Tracii Guns and Scot Coogan...
before setting out on his own as a full-time solo artist. In typically unpredictable Wildhearts style, Ginger then reformed the Wildhearts once again for a one-off gig at Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle is a former medieval Royal fortress situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea and Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England...
in September 2005. The 1994-1995 line-up of Ginger, C.J., McCormack, and Ritch Battersby played at this gig.
Once again, the Wildhearts reformed in December 2006 and played a single live show at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton. This line-up saw Ginger joined again by C.J., Ritch Battersby and a new bassist, Scott Sorry
Scott Sorry
Scott Sorry is an American musician best known as the bass player for The Wildhearts. As well as playing with The Wildhearts, Sorry has his own group, Sorry and the Sinatras, and has played with Amen and Brides of Destruction.-Amen :After playing in a variety of punk bands in hiladelphia, Scott...
(ex-Amen). This line-up soon became official, with plans made for a new album in 2007.
2007-present
In January 2007, the band spent a week in Tutbury Castle recording vocals and finishing their new self-titled album The WildheartsThe Wildhearts (album)
The Wildhearts is the sixth album by the eponymous band. The first single was "The Sweetest Song" released two weeks before the album...
. The album was released on April 23, preceded two weeks earlier by the download-only single "The Sweetest Song". The album received favorable reviews in the British rock press, with the Sun newspaper giving it 5 out of 5 ("probably the rock album of the year") and Rocksound magazine also giving it full marks (10 out of 10).
The band were to play a handful of shows across America, but due to delays in their Visa application they were forced to cancel the US tour. The band ended up playing multiple sold-out dates in New York, one of which was aboard a ferry. The band made up to their American fans for postponed gigs by playing very long sets of approximately two hours each night. An extensive UK tour followed in April and May.
"The New Flesh" was released as a single on October 1, 2007 and became the first proper release from the self-titled album. The video for the song was shot in black and white and featured a number of children, including Ginger's own son Jake. The band released "Destroy All Monsters" as their next single. The video had a heavy theme of violence and horror.
On May 19, 2008 the Wildhearts released the all-covers album Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1.
Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1.
----Note: The tracks "AC Rocket," "Everyday Formula," and "The Judge" are not included in the legal download-only version of the album, or on the audio streaming service Spotify...
. Artists covered include Icicle Works
Icicle Works
The Icicle Works were an English alternative rock band of the 1980s. Named after the 1960 short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl, The Icicle Works joined Liverpool's early 1980s 'neo-psychedelia' wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The...
, Fugazi, Helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
, Lee Harvey Oswald Band, The Distillers
The Distillers
The Distillers were an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1998. They released their first two albums on Hellcat Records/Epitaph Records before moving to Sire, part of the Warner Music Group. The Distillers were originally formed by Australian-born Brody Armstrong , a woman with a...
, The Descendents, and The Georgia Satellites. The first version of the album was a download-only collection of 12 tracks, followed by a full release with 15 tracks. In mid-2008, Rhino Records also released the three-CD compilation The Works
The Works (Wildhearts album)
The Works is a compilation album by The Wildhearts, released on Rhino Records in March 2008. It is a comprehensive selection of the band's work from 1992–1996, including album tracks and EP tracks, as well as several B-sides that had been unavailable for over a decade...
. Described by the band as "licensed but unofficial," the compilation consists of album tracks and B-sides from the 1992-1996 era at East West Records.
The band travelled to Denmark to record their ninth studio album, ¡Chutzpah!, which was released on August 31, 2009, followed by a tour of the United Kingdom in September and October. At these shows, the band played the new record in its entirety, followed by an encore of older songs.
Around the same time as the release of Chutzpah!, they won the award for Spirit of Independence at the 2009 Kerrang! Awards, as well as playing on the Bohemia stage during the very first UK Sonisphere Festival
Sonisphere Festival
The Sonisphere Festival is a touring music festival which takes place across Europe between June and August. The festival is owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It is jointly-promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live...
; a four day music festival designed by those formerly behind Download Festival.
On 25 November 2009 The Wildhearts announced the release of ¡Chutzpah! Jnr.
¡Chutzpah! Jnr.
¡Chutzpah! Jnr. is an album by the British rock band The Wildhearts. It was initially only available exclusively to attendees of the band's December 2009 tour as a bonus supplement to their previous studio album, ¡Chutzpah!, before becoming available on their webstore...
, a mini album composed of tracks recorded during the Chutzpah sessions but either released as free tracks on their website, bonus tracks from the Japanese physical release or unreleased tracks from the sessions. The eight-track CD was publicized as only being available at concerts during the coming "Merry Xmess 2009" tour. However, this news caused something of a backlash from some fans, and resulted in band leader Ginger advocating the distribution of tracks via file sharing technology, as well as vowing that the album would be made available at future shows beyond the Xmess tour. The mini-album is now also available via the Wildhearts online store.
2010 to present
Most recently, Ginger joined as the guitarist for former Hanoi RocksHanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
frontman Michael Monroe
Michael Monroe
Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
, who played the Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
on 12 June 2010. Ginger also performed as a solo act at the festival, arriving with large band of acoustic guitar players dubbed 'Guitarmageddon'. Only Wildhearts songs were performed, which is also the case for the current tour of the UK. The Michael Monroe album Sensory Overdrive
Sensory Overdrive
Sensory Overdrive is the sixth studio album by Finnish glam rock singer Michael Monroe, released on March 14, 2011, through Spinefarm Records...
, featuring Ginger, was released in 2011.
In December 2010, Ginger stated that he is unsure if The Wildhearts will ever reform. It would appear that the departure of Scott Sorry and retirement of Ritch Battersby led to the hiatus.
Current members
- GingerGinger (singer)Ginger is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his band The Wildhearts.-Early career:...
- vocals, guitar (1990–present) - C.J - guitar, vocals (1990–1994, 2001–present)
- Ritch Battersby - Drums (1992-1998, 2005-present)
- Scott SorryScott SorryScott Sorry is an American musician best known as the bass player for The Wildhearts. As well as playing with The Wildhearts, Sorry has his own group, Sorry and the Sinatras, and has played with Amen and Brides of Destruction.-Amen :After playing in a variety of punk bands in hiladelphia, Scott...
- bass, vocals (2004 - Present)
Former members
- Jools - bass (1990–1991)
- Pat Walters - drums (1990)
- Dunken F. Mullett - vocals (1990)
- Snake - vocals (1990)
- Bam - drums (1990-1992)
- Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph - drums (1992-1993, 2001–2004)
- Willie Dowling - keyboards, piano (1993-1994)
- Mark Keds - guitar, vocals (1995)
- Jef Streatfield - guitar, vocals (1995–1998)
- ToshiAntiProductAntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
- bass (2001) - Simon Gonk - drums (2001)
- "Random" Jon PooleJon PooleJon Poole is a British multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for The Wildhearts .Poole is the frontman and main performer of God Damn Whores, and has also worked with the...
- bass (2003–2005) - "Scott Sorry - bass, vocals (2004-2010)
- Danny McCormackDanny McCormackDanny McCormack is a British singer and bassist.-Biography:He became the bass player in The Wildhearts in 1991 and soon relocated to London with the band, enjoying success during their commercial peak, before splitting up in 1998...
- bass, vocals (1990-2003)
Formations (since 1990)
| 1990 |
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|---|---|
| 1990 |
|
| 1990 |
|
| 1990–1992 |
Danny McCormack Danny McCormack is a British singer and bassist.-Biography:He became the bass player in The Wildhearts in 1991 and soon relocated to London with the band, enjoying success during their commercial peak, before splitting up in 1998... - Bass |
| 1992–1993 |
|
| 1993–1994 |
|
| 1994 |
Devin Townsend Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist.... - Guitar |
| 1995 |
|
| 1995–1998 |
|
| 1998–2001 |
On Hiatus |
| 2001–2003 |
|
| 2003–2004 |
Jon Poole Jon Poole is a British multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for The Wildhearts .Poole is the frontman and main performer of God Damn Whores, and has also worked with the... - Bass |
| 2004–2005 |
|
| 2005–2006 |
|
| 2006–Present |
Scott Sorry Scott Sorry is an American musician best known as the bass player for The Wildhearts. As well as playing with The Wildhearts, Sorry has his own group, Sorry and the Sinatras, and has played with Amen and Brides of Destruction.-Amen :After playing in a variety of punk bands in hiladelphia, Scott... - Bass |
Related bands/side projects
The band members have all been in other bands and projects,- Prior to the Wildhearts, GingerGinger (singer)Ginger is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his band The Wildhearts.-Early career:...
was in the backing band for UK punk singer Beki BondageBeki BondageBeki Bondage is a musician in the punk band, Vice Squad and was one of its founder members in 1978.She featured on the front cover of a number of influential music tabloids such as Melody Maker, NME, Smash Hits and Sounds.In 1983, she left Vice Squad to form the band Ligotage with Steve Roberts of...
, UK band The QuireboysThe QuireboysThe Quireboys are an English hard rock band formed in 1984 in London, England, with strong ties to Newcastle. When the band formed they were originally known as The Queerboys and later as the London Quireboys in the United States....
and the US band The ThrobsThe ThrobsNot to be confused with the Canadian band or the British band of the same name.The Throbs were a sleaze rock band from New York City formed in 1988. They featured singer Ronnie Sweetheart, bassist Danny Nordahl, drummer Ronnie Magri and guitarist Roger Ericson...
. - During his time in the Wildhearts, GingerGinger (singer)Ginger is a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known for his band The Wildhearts.-Early career:...
formed the bands Ginger And The Sonic Circus, Silver Ginger 5Silver Ginger 5Silver Ginger 5 was originally formed in 1999 as a solo project for Ginger, lead singer/songwriter of The Wildhearts.The band was not formed until after the recording of the album Black Leather Mojo, and despite the name only ever had 4 members...
with Conny BloomConny BloomConny Bloom is the stage name for Ulf Conny Blomqvist, who is a Swedish guitarist and songwriter. He was originally the frontman for the late-1980s/1990s funk metal band, Electric Boys. Currently Bloom is best known as a guitarist of the Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks...
, Clam AbuseClam AbuseClam Abuse was the title of a collaborative side project of Ginger, of Wildhearts, and Alex Kane, of Life, Sex & Death. The band also featured Prodigy live-drummer Kieron Pepper....
with Alex Kane from AntiProductAntiProductAntiProduct are a UK-based glam punk band, fronted by Alex Kane, formerly of Clam Abuse, Enuff Z'nuff, Holland, and Life, Sex & Death.The band formed in 2000, and have played alongside acts such as Rachel Stamp, The Wildhearts, Ginger, The Quireboys, Enuff Z'Nuff, Electric Eel Shock, Tyla from...
, and Supershit 666Supershit 666Supershit 666 or Super$hit 666 were a European rock supergroup consisting of Ginger from The Wildhearts on vocals and guitar, Nicke Andersson from the Hellacopters on vocals and drums, Dregen from the Backyard Babies on vocals and guitar, and Swedish producer Thomas Skogsberg on bass.The only...
with DregenDregenAndreas Tyrone Svensson , is best known as the former guitarist The Hellacopters and current guitarist of Backyard Babies and the newest member of Michael Monroe's band, replacing Ginger as guitarist....
(Backyard BabiesBackyard BabiesBackyard Babies are a rock band, from Nässjö, Sweden. The band was formed in 1987 and over the years they have released five studio albums and won a Swedish Grammy. The band is now located in Stockholm, Sweden....
) and Nicke RoyaleNicke AnderssonNicke Andersson , born 1 August 1972 is a singer, guitarist, drummer, songwriter and composer most known for his work as the singer and guitarist of the successful Grammy award winning rock band The Hellacopters as well as the former drummer for Swedish death metal band Entombed...
(Hellacopters), as well as releasing material and touring as a solo artist, often accompanied by Hot Steve, the Wildhearts' guitar tech, and "Random" Jon PooleJon PooleJon Poole is a British multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for The Wildhearts .Poole is the frontman and main performer of God Damn Whores, and has also worked with the...
(often billed a Ginger and Friends). - Danny McCormack formed The Yo-YosThe Yo-YosThe Yo-Yos were a rock n'roll band, formed in 1998 by ex- The Wildhearts bassist, Danny McCormack and singer / guitarist Tom Spencer after the two met at a Toy Dolls recording session...
and The Chasers. Confusingly an early (1998) form of the Yo-Yos was also known as The Chasers. The Yo-Yos were briefly resurrected in 2005. Prior to his Wildhearts days, he was a member of thrash-punk outfit Energetic Krusher. - Bam was the drummer for the Dogs D'AmourDogs D'AmourThe Dogs D'Amour were a rock and roll band formed in 1983 in London, England. Over the years the band has had various line-ups, the only constant being vocalist Tyla....
before joining the Wildhearts, and after leaving the Wildhearts (reputedly after having come to blows with Ginger) he returned to the Dogs. - CJ and Stidi were both members of The JellysThe JellysThe Jellys were a three piece English punk / pop band, featuring ex-members of The Wildhearts.-Biography:The Jellys were formed by C.J and featured ex-Wildhearts drummer Stidi and Jeff Hateley on bass guitar...
- CJ and Willie Dowling were members of HoneycrackHoneycrackHoneycrack were a short-lived British rock band, formed and fronted by former Wildhearts members Willie Dowling and Chris "CJ" Jagdhar.Having originally come to notice with the band Tattooed Love Boys, CJ had subsequently been a founder member of The Wildhearts...
in the late 1990s. CJ was a member of the Tattooed Love Boys before joining the Wildhearts. He recently recorded the debut album for his solo project, C.J & The Satellites. - Willie Dowling was the founding member of The GripThe Grip-Track listing:# "The Grip" - 7:15# "Spirits in the Field" - 8:36# "Sunrise Service" - 7:54# "Lower Nile" - 4:02# "As of Yet" - 12:37# "My Son Ra" - 3:22*Recorded at the Brook in New York City on February 26, 1977.-Personnel:...
, and is now recording and touring with Jackdaw4, previously known as The Celebrity Squares. He also founded the Sugar Plum Fairies, and released one album under this moniker. As well as these bands, he works frequently with Midge UreMidge UreJames "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
from UltravoxUltravoxUltravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
and has written numerous TV themes and incidental music used in commercials and television programs, including BBC comedy Vexed. - Jef Streatfield is a member of Plan A and Sack Trick
- Ritch Battersby was in Grand Theft Audio (alongside Danny McCormack's brother Chris of 3 Colours Red3 Colours Red3 Colours Red were a rock band from the United Kingdom. They achieved their biggest chart success at the end of the 1990s, along with other Britrock bands such as Ash and Feeder. The band was named by sticking a pin in a London listings magazine, Time Out...
), and briefly joined Ginger in Silver Ginger 5Silver Ginger 5Silver Ginger 5 was originally formed in 1999 as a solo project for Ginger, lead singer/songwriter of The Wildhearts.The band was not formed until after the recording of the album Black Leather Mojo, and despite the name only ever had 4 members...
, plus he joined Ginger, Random Jon Poole and Willie Dowling for Ginger's 40th Birthday Party (12/17/04). He also was in New Disease who released an EP through in 2001. - "Random" Jon PooleJon PooleJon Poole is a British multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for The Wildhearts .Poole is the frontman and main performer of God Damn Whores, and has also worked with the...
was a former member of CardiacsCardiacsCardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...
and is now in a band called God Damn Whores. Live line ups of the God Damn Whores have included members of the Wildhearts, including Ginger on bass. In 2007 Poole recorded a solo album (release date pending) of his own material, co-featuring vocalist Givvi Flynn (who also appears on Ginger's live acoustic album Potatoes & You performing "Unlucky In Love" from the Clam Abuse album Stop Thinking [co-written by Ginger & Alex Kane]). - Devin TownsendDevin TownsendDevin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
is a successful recording artist known for his extensive solo works, as well as his now defunct extreme metal band Strapping Young LadStrapping Young LadStrapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing...
. - Pat and Jools became members of Guns n' WankersGuns n' WankersGuns 'N' Wankers were a punk rock band, formed by ex-members of British punk band Snuff, and British rock band The Wildhearts in the early 1990s. The band consisted of Duncan Redmonds , Patrice Walters and Joolz Dean...
, and pre-Wildhearts they were both members of London glam-punk act Soho Roses. - Stidi was a member of Whatever and now plays with Finnish punk rockers No Direction.
- Ginger has performed as stand in lead singer/guitarist for The ScorchersJason & the ScorchersJason & the Scorchers, originally Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, are a Cowpunk / Country rock band formed in 1981 and led by singer/songwriter Jason Ringenberg....
in place of Jason RingenbergJason RingenbergJason Ringenberg is an American musician, and lead singer of Jason & the Scorchers. He is also a songwriter and guitarist....
in mid-2007. No studio material is expected. - Ginger toured as a guitarist for Michael MonroeMichael MonroeMatti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
in 2011.
Cover versions
- "Pump It UpPump It UpPump It Up, commonly abbreviated as PIU or shortened to just Pump, is a music video game series currently developed by Nexcade and published by Andamiro, a Korean arcade game producer. The game is typically played on a dance pad with five arrow panels: up-left, up-right, bottom-left, bottom-right,...
" by Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
. This song was performed live many times in the Earth VsEarth Vs The Wildhearts-Track listing:All Songs Written By Ginger.-Japanese Bonus Tracks:Released: August 1993 · Label: East West · UK Chart: No. 46Formats: CD , LP , Cassette ....
era. Two recorded versions exist: The first recording is from BBC Radio 1 Session, and can be found on the Anarchic Airwaves compilation. This recording is a "pumped up" version of Costello original. The second recorded version of the song was first released to radio stations as an unlabeled CD, and DJs were left to guess the identity of the band. Since the style of the recording was heavily distorted, very much like the album Endless Nameless recorded at the same sessions, few guessed the true identity of the band, with one DJ believing it to be MinistryMinistry (band)Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
The song was available on a free CD with Melody Maker magazine in 1997, and on the Japanese version of Endless Nameless. - The recorded version of the song "My Baby Is A Headfuck" on the Earth Vs album features an interlude with the guitar riff from The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Day TripperDay Tripper"Day Tripper" is a song by The Beatles, released as a double A-side single with "We Can Work It Out". Both songs were recorded during the sessions for the Rubber Soul album...
". When performing this song live the band often replace this interlude with a short excerpt from another cover versions, which have included... - The theme from the 1980s sit-com CheersCheersCheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
- "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" features as a b-side to the single "Top Of The World". This was played repeatedly by Chris MoylesChris MoylesChristopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
on the BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Breakfast Show. - "White LiesWhite Lies (Jason & the Scorchers song)"White Lies" is a single by Jason & the Scorchers. Produced by Terry Manning, it was the second track on their 1985 album, Lost and Found. "White Lies" was released by EMI America, on 12-inch vinyl.-Track listing:A1. "White Lies"...
" by Jason & the ScorchersJason & the ScorchersJason & the Scorchers, originally Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, are a Cowpunk / Country rock band formed in 1981 and led by singer/songwriter Jason Ringenberg....
- played live at most gigs in 1997 and a studio version appeared as a b-side to the "Anthem" single. - The Wildhearts played "1000 Miles From Me" by Danny McCormack's other band The Yo-YosThe Yo-YosThe Yo-Yos were a rock n'roll band, formed in 1998 by ex- The Wildhearts bassist, Danny McCormack and singer / guitarist Tom Spencer after the two met at a Toy Dolls recording session...
on their tour of Japan in 1998. Danny sang lead vocals. - "Time to Let You Go" originally by Enuff Z'NuffEnuff Z'nuffEnuff Z'Nuff, pronounced "enough's enough," is an American glam rock band from Blue Island, Illinois. Founded by singer Donnie Vie and bassist Chip Z'Nuff, this Chicago area band is best known for their charting singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing." Enuff Z'Nuff has continually recorded and...
appeared as a b-side to the "Anthem" single. - "Lost Highway" originally by Hank Williams appeared as a b-side to the "Urge" single.
- "So Good To Be Back Home" originally by The TouristsThe TouristsThe Tourists were a British rock and pop band, but are better known for two of their members who went on to achieve great success as Eurythmics...
appeared as a b-side to the "Anthem" single. - "He's A Whore" originally by Cheap TrickCheap TrickCheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
appeared as a b-side to the "Anthem" single - the Wildhearts version sounding more similar to that recorded by Big BlackBig BlackBig Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
than to the original. - "Heroin" on Endless Nameless is a cover of the Dogs D'AmourDogs D'AmourThe Dogs D'Amour were a rock and roll band formed in 1983 in London, England. Over the years the band has had various line-ups, the only constant being vocalist Tyla....
track "Heroine" with slightly altered lyrics. - In 2001 the band recorded a version of Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers (country singer)James Charles Rodgers , known as Jimmie Rodgers, was an American country singer in the early 20th century known most widely for his rhythmic yodeling...
' "Last Blue Yodel" with Jason RingenbergJason RingenbergJason Ringenberg is an American musician, and lead singer of Jason & the Scorchers. He is also a songwriter and guitarist....
.
External links
- The Wildhearts Official Site
- The Wildhearts Mailing List
- Official Myspace Page
- FiveMilesHigh Rock n' Roll Resource Wildhearts Section
- FiveMilesHigh Rock n' Roll Resource Ginger Section
- Longhair's Wildhearts Pages
- Wildhearts Lyrics
- Ginger and the Sonic Circus Official Site
- USA fan page for Ginger
- OneMetal.com Interview with CJ Wildheart
- Interview with Ginger of The Wildhearts by FREE! Magazine