The Wildhearts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Origin | Newcastle Upon Tyne |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Years active | 1989 - present |
| Genres | Hard rock Punk rock |
| Labels | East West Round Records Mushroom Records Snapper Records Gut Records |
| Members | Ginger C.J.(Chris Jaghdar) Scott Sorry Ritch Battersby |
| Website(s) | Official Site |
The Wildhearts are a rock group from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica. The Wildhearts were hugely influential in the mid-1990s, although they themselves never achieved huge success, owing in part to the indifference of radio stations and the mainstream music press, and also many "in camp" problems. In the band's turbulent and unpredictable history, many members have come and gone, but they have always been based around founding member Ginger (real name David Walls), the singer, guitarist and predominant songwriter. Despite many of their singles being refused air play on the radio in their early days they still managed to enter the British charts in the top 20, and the band has remained at the forefront of the British Rock Scene since 1993.
The band has had a fairly chaotic history, splitting up several times, adding and subtracting various members, and their career has been blighted by drug and alcohol related problems throughout. Much of the band's career was affected by sometimes bitter feuds with their record company, East West.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early years
The Wildhearts formed in late 1989, after Ginger was sacked from the Quireboys.
The following myth is often told about Ginger's decision to form the band. The bottom had fallen out of his world, and all that he had left, all that he cared about was the bottle of Jack Daniel's he was swigging from. Walking down some steps to the London Underground, he fell. As he lay on the floor, he decided that if the bottle was smashed, he would kill himself. If the bottle remained intact, he would start a band. The bottle was intact.
Ginger wanted to form a band where he could apply himself as a songwriter, rather than merely a guitarist as in his previous bands, inspired by the likes of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, and throughout the band's early career he wrote nearly all the songs himself. Initially called The Wild Hearts (two words), Snake (Ex - Tobruk) was the frontman of the band followed by a brief stint from Duncan F. Mullet (Ex - Mourneblade). Snake returned briefly to the band for a few months following the departure of Duncan. 9 demos were recorded in 1989 and 1990 with Snake singing on 4 and Duncan on 5. These demos remain unreleased and find the band sounding more like Guns N Roses than the later sound that would evolve. Some of the demos were produced by famed producer Ric Browde and intended for an EP release that never materialized. These demos can be found from time to time. In March 1991, Ginger reluctantly took over on lead vocals despite his reservations. He has never thought himself a good singer.
[edit] The first album
In 1993, to follow up The Wildhearts' first two EPs, 'Mondo Akimbo a-go-go' & 'Don't Be Happy, Just Worry,' the band recorded demos for its first full-length album. These were deemed so good that they were released as Earth Vs The Wildhearts without re-recording. 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, guitarist and backing vocalist, CJ'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, and 'Suckerpunch' was another 'almost' hit.
[edit] The follow up
The Wildhearts had grand plans for a double album, but East West vetoed this plan during the recording sessions, forcing the band to release a collection of 6 of the more eclectic tracks on a fan club only release entitled Fishing For Luckies in early 1995. An instant classic, "Fishing For Luckies" included "Geordie in Wonderland" (offered to Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United FC as their anthem, but graciously turned down, and played on Top of the Pops with Wolfsbane's Jeff Hateley, painted in Toon Army colours, on Mandolin), "If Life Is Like A Lovebank (I Want An Overdraft)" and the legendary tracks "Schitzophonic" and "Sky Babies", an 11.24 minute epic that fans screamed for at every subsequent gig, but was rarely played, reputedly because of Danny McCormack's inability to remember his bass parts throughout the whole song (the band did eventually play the song on every night of a post-reformation tour).
The second album proper was to be known as 'P.H.U.Q.'. After the departure of CJ, midway through the recording sessions, the album was completed without a second guitarist. P.H.U.Q. was released in May 1995 and reached number 6 in the British charts, making it the band's most successful record. Shortly after the album's release, Mark Keds of Senseless Things was drafted in on guitars, but lasted just one recording session for four songs, one of which was called 'Friend For 5 Minutes' which turned out to be ironic as 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 for a few months, and even performed a few gigs like this. This arrangement was not perfect, however, and the band felt that a second guitarist was required. After requesting demos and holding auditions, the job went to 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.
[edit] Round Records era
In early 1996 the Wildhearts were in an upbeat mood, claiming to have recorded two new studio albums, which would be released via East West on the band's own record label, Round Records. Only one of these records saw the light of day, a revamped version of the previously fan club only 'Fishing For Luckies' with eight new tracks bringing it up to full album length. The other album was never quite finished, although leaked copies were distributed as the Shitty Fuckin' Stupid Tracks bootleg, and finally received an official release in 1998 as part of the Landmines and Pantomimes rarities compilation, although the band urged fans to boycott this record which they had not approved. The tracks from this album 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.
[edit] Endless Nameless era
In 1997 the band signed to Mushroom Records, and set about making another album. This album, recorded during a traumatic time for the band, abandoned the band's former pop rock leanings in favour of a more distorted and less commercial, "everything louder than everything else" 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 totally divided, some calling it a masterpiece, others an aberration. All was not harmonious inside the band either and drug problems, particularly affecting bassist Danny McCormack, were putting a strain on the band in late 1997. Things came to a head in November of that year when Ginger decided to split the band, shortly before the release of Endless Nameless, and before a scheduled British tour, which was then cancelled.
[edit] Hiatus 1997-2001
For several years the band members concentrated on their respective side projects, although the lineup of Ginger, Danny, Ritch and Jef reformed a few times for one off gigs and tours of Japan, where the band had always had a strong following.
[edit] Reformation
In early 2001 Ginger shocked and delighted fans of the band by announcing that he was reforming the 'Earth Vs The Wildhearts'- era lineup of the band for a tour later that year. This lineup of the band ran into difficulties at first due to Danny's battle against heroin addiction, and on several dates of the comeback tour Toshi from support band AntiProduct stood in as bassist. By 2002 Danny 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 late 2002 across three formats of the Vanilla Radio single in the UK, and as the mini-album Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff in Japan. The Vanilla Radio single reached the Top 30 in the UK, and in early 2003 work began on a full-length album. However, during recording, Danny checked himself into a rehabilitation centre to deal with an alcohol problem, leaving Ginger himself to play the bass parts on the album. Danny'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' had a very commercial sound, full of short simple pop songs with little of the heavier rock style which often featured on previous albums. It seemed that things were finally looking up for the band when they managed to get a US record deal with Gearhead Records, and arranged to tour the US and release 'Riff After Riff', a compilation of songs from the UK post-reformation singles.
This 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 and briefly joined The Brides of Destruction (featuring Tracii Guns on guitar) before setting out on his own as a full-time solo artist. In typically unpredictable Wildhearts style Ginger then reformed The Wildhearts again for a one-off gig at Scarborough Castle on 17th September 2005. The 1994-1995 line-up of Ginger, Danny McCormack, CJ and Ritch Battersby played at this gig. According to CJ, The Wildhearts have begun recording again recently, with new addition Scott Sorry on Bass. The first show since Scarborough takes place before Christmas in Wolverhampton and 3 shows in Japan are planned for Febuary, with a new album planned for release before summer 2007 and the video for a new single being shot at the Christmas show.
In December 2005 / January 2006, Ginger released the Valor Del Corazon double album on Cargo / Round records to the great acclaim of critics and fans alike. His next solo effort, "Yoni", will be out early 2007, while the first single for Valor Del Corazon, "Yeah Yeah Yeah", Is released in November. Danny McCormack reformed his band The Yo-Yos, although they split up mid-way through a tour shortly after releasing a new E.P on Undergroove. He recently finished recording 4 songs for a new solo E.P. C.J also just finished recording the album for his own solo project, C.J and The Satellites. It is due out summer 2007.
[edit] Members
Most recent members:
- Ginger - vocals and guitar (1990-present)
- Scott Sorry - Bass and vocals (2006-).
- C.J. (Chris Jaghdar) - guitar and vocals (1990-1994, 2001-present)
- Ritch Battersby - drums (1994-1998, 2005-present)
Former members:
- Danny McCormack - Bass and vocals (1991-2003, 2005-2006).
- Stidi (Andrew Stidolph) - drums (1992-1993, 2001-2004)
- "Random" Jon Poole - Bass (2003-2004)
- Toshi - Bass (2001)
- Jef Streatfield - guitar and vocals (1995-1998)
- Mark Keds - guitar and vocals (1995)
- Devin Townsend - guitar and vocals (1994).
- Willie Dowling - keyboards and piano (1994)
- Snake - vocals (1990)
- Duncan F. Mullet - vocals (1990)
- Bam - drums (1991)
- Jools - Bass (1990-1991)
- Pat Walters - Drums (1990-1992)
[edit] Discography
All are UK/ European releases unless otherwise stated.
[edit] Singles / E.P.s
- Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go (1992)
- Don’t Be Happy…Just Worry (1992)
- Greetings From Shitsville (1993)
- TV Tan E.P. (1993)
- Caffeine Bomb (1994)
- Suckerpunch (1994)
- If Life Is Like A Lovebank I Want An Overdraft / Geordie in Wonderland (double a-side) (1995)
- I Wanna Go Where The People Go (1995)
- Just in Lust (1995)
- Sick of Drugs (1996)
- Red Light - Green Light E.P. (1996)
- Anthem (1997)
- Urge (1997)
- Vanilla Radio (2002)
- Stormy In The North, Karma In The South (2003)
- So Into You (2003)
- Top of the World (2003)
[edit] Studio albums
- Earth Vs The Wildhearts (1993)
- Earth Vs The Wildhearts (Re-release with Caffeine Bomb) (1994)
- Fishing For Luckies (Fan club only release, 1995)
- P.H.U.Q. (1995)
- Fishing For More Luckies (Re-release of FFL with two extra tracks, 1995)
- Fishing For Luckies (re-release with 8 extra tracks (and 2 removed), 1996)
- Endless Nameless (1997)
- Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff (Japan, 2002)
- The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed (2003)
[edit] Live albums
- Anarchic Airwaves (1998)
- Tokyo Suits Me (Japan only, 2000)
- The Wildhearts Strike Back (2004)
- Geordie In Wonderland (2006)
[edit] Compilations
- The Best Of The Wildhearts (1996)
- The Best Of The Wildhearts (Japan only, 2CD version, 1997)
- Landmines and Pantomimes (1998)
- Anthem: The Singles Tracks (Japan only, 1998)
- Moodswings and Roundabouts (Japan Only, Limited Edition 4CD Box Set, 1998)
- Riff After Riff (US, 2003)
- Coupled With (2004)
[edit] Bootlegs
The band have always had a permissive attitude to fans making bootleg recordings of their live shows, as long as nobody tries to profit financially from them. There are therefore many unofficial live recordings which are traded amongst fans.
There are also a number of bootlegs of various studio recordings.
- Angel Biscuits is a series of bootleg CD-R's containing MP3 files of rare material from The Wildhearts. These unofficial bootlegs were sold at cost price by a fan of the band, with the blessing of Ginger and the band.
- Shitty Fuckin' Stupid Tracks was a bootleg recording mainly distributed in cassette format containing a collection of unreleased, unfinished studio tracks recorded in 1996. This material was later included on the album Landmines & Pantomimes, against the wishes of the band.
[edit] Other releases
In 2002 the Jason Ringenberg album 'All Over Creation' featured a song co-written by Ginger and Jason called ' One Less Heartache'. This was recorded in 2001 with the Wildhearts lineup of Ginger, CJ, Danny and Stidi acting as Jason's backing band.
The band of the same lineup has also recorded a version of "Wild Zero" by Japanese band Guitar Wolf which appears on "i Love Guitar Wolf Very Much" - a tribute to Guitar Wolf.
[edit] Related bands/side projects
The band members have all been in other bands and projects,
- Ginger was in The Quireboys and formed the bands Ginger and the sonic circus, Silver Ginger 5, Clam Abuse, and Supershit 666 whilst on breaks from The Wildhearts, as well as releasing material and touring as a solo artist, often accompanied by Hot Steve, the Wildhearts' guitar tech, and "Random" Jon Poole.
- Danny McCormack formed The Yo-Yos 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.
- CJ and Stidi were both members of The Jellys
- CJ and Willie Dowling were members of Honeycrack in the late '90s. CJ was a member of the Tattooed Love Boys before joining the Wildhearts, he recently formed his first solo project, C.J and The Satellites.
- Willie Dowling was the founder member of The Grip, 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 Ure from Ultravox and has written numerous TV themes and incidental music used in commercials and television programmes.
- Jef Streatfield is a member of Plan A and Sack Trick
- Ritch Battersby was in Grand Theft Audio, and briefly joined Ginger in Silver Ginger 5 plus joined Ginger, Random Jon Poole and Willie Dowling for Ginger's 40th Birthday Party (17/12/04)
- Random Jon Poole was a former member of Cardiacs and is now in a band called The God Damn Whores.
- Devin Townsend is a successful recording artist, being in two main projects currently, The Devin Townsend Band, and Strapping Young Lad.
- Pat and Jools became members of Guns n' Wankers.
[edit] Trivia
- The only Wildhearts song not to feature Ginger was an early version of The Song Formerly known As, featuring Ritch on lead vocals, which was recorded in Ginger's absence. The song was later re-recorded by the full band and released as a b-side to the Anthem single.
- Random Jon Poole is also a member of the Cardiacs.
- The Wildhearts also spent some time rehearsing with Devin Townsend at Arcadeia Rehearsal Studios, Birmingham, England.
- The controversial video of If Life Is Like A Lovebank, I Want An Overdraft was of a highly suggestive sexual nature that contained nudity and concerned supposed sex phone line ads such as two twins covorting next the tag line 'Keep It In The Family'. It was edited by the BBFC as it was deemed too pornographic. The orignals were ordered to be destroyed and two versions were released to the public - a censored 'adult' version and a 'children's' version (the latter removing the nudity and replacing the suggestive tag lines with things like 'pretty shoes' and 'I love lollypops').
- This song led to another odd piece of trivia. The Wildhearts are the only band in the history of the now defunct BBC staple chart show Top Of The Pops to play the B-Side instead of the A-side of a single. It is somewhat of a mystery as to why If Life Is Like A Lovebank, I Want An Overdraft was not played as although the video for the song was notoriously controversial, there was nothing at all controversial in the actual song or its lyrics. The song that was performed instead was the B-side, the Pogues-esque singalong Geordie In Wonderland.
- The album Landmines and Pantomimes actually consists of several half-finished recordings from a session which ultimately led nowhere. The album was released without the band's knowledge, causing much tension with East West Records. Ginger has encouraged fans to copy the music (including on his Grievous Acoustic Behaviour live double album), rather than pay for an unofficial, poor quality release.
[edit] Cover versions
- Pump It Up by Elvis Costello. This song was performed live many times in the Earth Vs era. Two recorded versions exist: The first recordng 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 unlabelled 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 Ministry! The song was available on a free CD with Q 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 Beatles' Day Tripper. 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 Cheers - Where Everybody Knows Your Name features as a b-side to the single Top Of The World. This was played repeatedly by Chris Moyles on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
- White Lies by Jason and The Scorchers - 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-Yos on their tour of Japan in 1998. Danny sang lead vocals.
- Time to Let You Go originally by Enuff Z'Nuff appeared as a b-side to the Anthem single.
- Lost Highway originally by Hank Williams appeared as a b-side to the Anthem single.
- So Good To Be Back Home originally by The Tourists appeared as a b-side to the Anthem single.
- He's A Whore originally by Cheap Trick appeared as a b-side to the Urge single - the Wildhearts version sounding more similar to that recorded by Big Black than to the original.
- Heroin on Endless Nameless is a cover of the Dogs D'Amour track Heroine with slightly altered lyrics.
- In 2001 the band recorded a version of Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel with Jason Ringenberg. This has not yet been released.
[edit] Meanings behind songs
- ..And The Bullshit Goes On ( a b-side to Caffeine Bomb) was originally about one night stands, and was called 'Just Stay'. After an argument with a record company executive, Ginger rewrote the lyrics entirely to complain about the record company's attitude towards the band. Apparently no-one at East West records realised the meaning behind the new lyrics, despite Ginger cheekily including the line 'it's just different words, in the same old fucking song'! The original version appeared on an Angel Biscuits bootleg CD-R.
- Arguably the fans' favourite Wildhearts song is 29 x The Pain (derived from Hüsker Dü's song 59 Times the Pain), which is about the uplifting effect music has on a fan and is an homage to Ginger's influences, namechecking The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Stars, Big Black, the Queen album Sheer Heart Attack, Cheap Trick, The Clash album London Calling, Jason And The Scorchers, Stiff Little Fingers, Blue Öyster Cult, Kiss, Heart, The Damned, Stiff Little Fingers, Kurt Cobain, ....amongst others... The song was re-recorded in 1996 with the line about Kurt Cobain replaced with a reference to Richey James Edwards. The relevance of the number "29" has caused a great deal of speculation- the most likely explanations being that Ginger was 29 when he wrote it and that when the Wildhearts songs are listed in order of their release and track listing, the song is indeed the 29th Wildhearts song.
- Jonesing For Jones (on P.H.U.Q.) is about the similarities between coming off drugs and splitting up with a girlfriend.
- Turning American is about people, particularly successful musicians who do not stick to their roots. It was not written as an Anti-American statement as some listeners incorrectly assumed.
- Nita Nitro (on P.H.U.Q.), Ginger uses the line Locos Tambien..He spotted it in an early 90's comic book called 'Love and Rockets', which apparently is a Spanish phrase meaning "crazy also".
- V-day (on P.H.U.Q.). is all about the day that all of the shit makes sense. V could stand for 'vagrant' when you're down, or 'Viagra' when you're up.
- Everlone is about people pretending to be miserable in order to seem 'deep', or fit into a current musical trend of cultivating misery for profit, while some people have legitimate mental health problems, that they would gladly exchange for a normal, happy life.
- Cold Patootie Tango (on P.H.U.Q.) is when sex goes bad.
- Nexus Icon is about musical icons. Icons seem to follow a pattern, a mother complex, massive insecurity problems and the belief that their audience loves them as much as they themselves do. It is a comment on the 'conveyor belt' attitude and mentality of the music business, and its unfortunate victims.
[edit] Rock N Roll Behaviour
- Ginger once claimed that during a recording session he stole a tractor and drove it into an outside swimming pool.
- Danny's audition to the band involved taking LSD for the first time and going to a Cardiacs gig.
- The band vandalised the offices of Kerrang! magazine following a story which claimed Ginger had locked the rest of the band out of the studio. Eastwest ended up footing a £2000 bill.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Wildhearts Official Site
- The Wildhearts Mailing List
- Official Myspace Page
- Fivemiles Wildhearts Section
- Fivemiles Ginger Section
- Longhair's Wildhearts Pages
- Sonicshake.net
- Wildhearts Lyrics
- Plan A Official Site
- Ginger and the Sonic Circus Official Site
- USA fan page for Ginger
