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The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are an English rock band, formed in 1989 in Newcastle upon Tyne. 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. The Wildhearts achieved several top 20 singles and two top 10 albums in Britain, though they also faced difficulties with record companies and many internal problems often relating to drugs and depression. Much of the band's early career was affected by bitter feuds with their record company, East West.
Throughout the band's history, members have regularly been replaced, with the only constant member being the band's founder, singer and guitarist Ginger. 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. In the 2010s, the band convened occasionally for various anniversary tours. A 2018 anniversary tour by the band's 1995 lineup led to a return to the studio. They released a new album in 2019 after a ten-year hiatus. Their most recent album, Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts, was released in March 2025.
The Wildhearts formed in late 1989, after Ginger was fired from the Quireboys. Throughout the band's career, Ginger has written almost all the songs himself. Initially called the Wild Hearts, the band originally included singers Snake (ex-Tobruk) and Dunken F. Mullett (ex-Mournblade), who both joined for short periods. After many early personnel changes, the line-up solidified around Ginger on guitar and vocals, CJ (Christopher Jagdhar) on guitar and vocals, Danny McCormack on bass and vocals, and Dogs D'Amour drummer Bam.
The Ginger/CJ/McCormack/Bam line-up released two EPs in 1992, Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go and Don't Be Happy...Just Worry, after which 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 Wildhearts 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 CJ's face. The band appeared on Top of the Pops with Ginger wearing green welding goggles.
The Wildhearts next planned a double album, but East West vetoed this plan during the recording sessions. The band stockpiled existing tracks and continued writing and recording for a proposed single album. Midway through the recording sessions, Ginger fired guitarist CJ, and some of the album's tracks were recorded without a second guitarist. For the 1994 European tours, the band were joined by Devin Townsend as second guitarist/harmony singer, having met him during a previous tour supporting the Steve Vai band. Earth vs. The Wildhearts was reissued in late 1994 with "Caffeine Bomb" tacked on as an extra track.
In December 1994, the Wildhearts issued six of the more eclectic tracks from the incomplete double album sessions with CJ on a fan club-only release entitled Fishing for Luckies. The mini-album included "Geordie In Wonderland", a song which Ginger had offered to Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United F.C. as a potential team anthem, although he had been graciously turned down. The track was performed on Top of the Pops with Wolfsbane's Jeff Hateley, painted in Toon Army colours, on mandolin.
The second Wildhearts album proper, P.H.U.Q., was released in May 1995 and reached number 6 in the UK Albums Chart, 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". Keds rejoined Senseless Things, and the band hired Jef Streatfield as a replacement.
In early 1996, the Wildhearts recorded more material. Only some of the songs saw the light of day on the Fishing for More Luckies album, a revamped version of Fishing for Luckies with eight new tracks. 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 Pantomimes rarities compilation.
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The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are an English rock band, formed in 1989 in Newcastle upon Tyne. 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. The Wildhearts achieved several top 20 singles and two top 10 albums in Britain, though they also faced difficulties with record companies and many internal problems often relating to drugs and depression. Much of the band's early career was affected by bitter feuds with their record company, East West.
Throughout the band's history, members have regularly been replaced, with the only constant member being the band's founder, singer and guitarist Ginger. 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. In the 2010s, the band convened occasionally for various anniversary tours. A 2018 anniversary tour by the band's 1995 lineup led to a return to the studio. They released a new album in 2019 after a ten-year hiatus. Their most recent album, Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts, was released in March 2025.
The Wildhearts formed in late 1989, after Ginger was fired from the Quireboys. Throughout the band's career, Ginger has written almost all the songs himself. Initially called the Wild Hearts, the band originally included singers Snake (ex-Tobruk) and Dunken F. Mullett (ex-Mournblade), who both joined for short periods. After many early personnel changes, the line-up solidified around Ginger on guitar and vocals, CJ (Christopher Jagdhar) on guitar and vocals, Danny McCormack on bass and vocals, and Dogs D'Amour drummer Bam.
The Ginger/CJ/McCormack/Bam line-up released two EPs in 1992, Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go and Don't Be Happy...Just Worry, after which 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 Wildhearts 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 CJ's face. The band appeared on Top of the Pops with Ginger wearing green welding goggles.
The Wildhearts next planned a double album, but East West vetoed this plan during the recording sessions. The band stockpiled existing tracks and continued writing and recording for a proposed single album. Midway through the recording sessions, Ginger fired guitarist CJ, and some of the album's tracks were recorded without a second guitarist. For the 1994 European tours, the band were joined by Devin Townsend as second guitarist/harmony singer, having met him during a previous tour supporting the Steve Vai band. Earth vs. The Wildhearts was reissued in late 1994 with "Caffeine Bomb" tacked on as an extra track.
In December 1994, the Wildhearts issued six of the more eclectic tracks from the incomplete double album sessions with CJ on a fan club-only release entitled Fishing for Luckies. The mini-album included "Geordie In Wonderland", a song which Ginger had offered to Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United F.C. as a potential team anthem, although he had been graciously turned down. The track was performed on Top of the Pops with Wolfsbane's Jeff Hateley, painted in Toon Army colours, on mandolin.
The second Wildhearts album proper, P.H.U.Q., was released in May 1995 and reached number 6 in the UK Albums Chart, 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". Keds rejoined Senseless Things, and the band hired Jef Streatfield as a replacement.
In early 1996, the Wildhearts recorded more material. Only some of the songs saw the light of day on the Fishing for More Luckies album, a revamped version of Fishing for Luckies with eight new tracks. 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 Pantomimes rarities compilation.