The Wonder Stuff

The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band from Stourbridge, in the Black Country, formed in 1986. Their music is associated with alternative rock, grebo, indie rock and rock.

Formation and early line-up

The original line-up features Miles Hunt, Malcolm Treece, Rob “The Bass Thing” Jones and Martin Gilks. Hunt is the nephew of Bill Hunt of ELO and Wizzard. The group grows out of an earlier project called From Eden, which involves members of Pop Will Eat Itself and has Miles Hunt on drums.

Changes in membership

In 1990, Martin Bell joins on fiddle and banjo, while Paul Clifford replaces Rob Jones on bass after Jones leaves the band. The band later includes Andres Karu, Mark McCarthy, Erica Nockalls, Fuzz Townshend, Tony Arthy and Dan Donnelly among its members.

Split, side projects and return

The Wonder Stuff initially split in 1994 after a performance at the Phoenix Festival near Stratford-on-Avon. After the split, Miles Hunt forms Vent 414. Malcolm Treece, Martin Gilks and Paul Clifford then work with former Eat frontman Ange Dolittle in We Know Where You Live. Hunt also tours as a solo acoustic act and releases material under The Miles Hunt Club, with Stuart Quinnel, Andres Karu and Michael Ferentino involved.

Reformation and later activity

The band reforms for live tours from 2000 onwards, including a five-night residency at The Forum in London. Stuart Quinnel takes over on bass from Paul Clifford for this period. Their first new album in more than a decade, Escape From Rubbish Island, follows, with Hunt, Treece, Andres Karu and Mark McCarthy in the line-up. Erica Nockalls joins on violin for Suspended By Stars, released in 2006.