The Wildhearts

The Wildhearts are a rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, formed in 1989 and active since then in a series of line-up changes, break-ups and reunions. Their music combines hard rock, power pop, punk rock and rock, with melodic pop influences and references to artists such as the Beatles and 1980s Metallica.

Formation and line-up

The band forms after Ginger is dismissed from the Quireboys. Ginger is the founder, singer and guitarist, and the only constant member. Early line-ups include singers Snake and Dunken F. Mullett before the group settles around Ginger on guitar and vocals, CJ Wildheart on guitar and vocals, Danny McCormack on bass and vocals, and drummer Bam. Bam is later replaced by Andrew Stidolph, known as Stidi, who is then replaced by Ritch Battersby. Other musicians who pass through the group include Mark Keds, Jef Streatfield, Scott Sorry, Ben Marsden, Pontus Snibb, Jon Poole, Willie Dowling, Devin Townsend, Charles Evans and CJ Wildheart’s full name, Christopher Jagdhar.

Recorded work and chart success

The Wildhearts release the EPs Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go and Don’t Be Happy...Just Worry in 1992. Their early demos appear as Earth vs the Wildhearts, which includes the singles “Greetings From Shitsville” and “TV Tan”. “Caffeine Bomb” reaches the UK charts in 1994. Their second studio album, P.H.U.Q., reaches number 6 on the UK Albums Chart in 1995. The band records material vetoed as a double album by East West Records, later issued on the fan-club mini-album Fishing for Luckies, which includes “Geordie In Wonderland”. Other releases include Fishing for More Luckies, the rarities collection Landmines and Pantomimes, the B-sides compilation Coupled With, and the covers album Stop Us If You’ve Heard This One Before, Vol 1.

Breaks, reunions and later albums

The band signs to Mushroom Records in 1997 and records Endless, Nameless before temporarily splitting up. A 2001 reunion of the Earth vs the Wildhearts line-up leads to touring, although Danny McCormack’s addiction affects performances. The mini-album Riff After Riff After Motherfucking Riff is issued in Japan, and “Vanilla Radio” reaches the UK top 30. The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed follows in 2003, with Riff After Riff later issued in the United States. After another short split and a one-off show at Scarborough Castle, the group reunites with Scott Sorry on bass.

The self-titled The Wildhearts appears in 2007, preceded by “The Sweetest Song”, and later singles include “The New Flesh” and “Destroy All Monsters”. The band then releases Stop Us If You’ve Heard This One Before, Vol 1. and the three-CD set The Works, followed by ¡Chutzpah! and ¡Chutzpah! Jnr. In 2009, they receive the Spirit of Independence award at the Kerrang! Awards and perform at the first UK Sonisphere Festival.

Recent activity

In the 2010s, Ginger works on other projects, including performances with Michael Monroe and solo tours, and the band spends periods on hiatus. The Wildhearts return for anniversary shows and tours celebrating Earth vs the Wildhearts and P.H.U.Q., with live recordings issued as Rock City vs the Wildhearts. Later albums include Renaissance Men in 2019, 21st Century Love Songs in 2021 and Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts in 2025. A further hiatus follows in 2022, and a later line-up featuring Jon Poole, Ben Marsden and Pontus Snibb tours internationally.

Discography

The band’s studio albums are Earth vs the Wildhearts, P.H.U.Q., Fishing for Luckies, Endless, Nameless, The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed, The Wildhearts, Stop Us If You’ve Heard This One Before, Vol 1., ¡Chutzpah!, Renaissance Men, 21st Century Love Songs and Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts.