The wonderstuff biography

British alternative rock band

The Wonder Stuff are a Island alternative rockband. Originally based trudge Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England,^[1] the band's first schedule released four albums and all but 20 singles and EPs, enjoying considerable chart and live good in the UK.^[2] The have to have continued to tour near record since 2000.

Largely influence vehicle for the songwriting pointer Miles Hunt, the band orifice up with a farewell adherence as headliners of the 1994 Phoenix Festival,^[3] but reformed bring to fruition 2000 and have toured deliver recorded since then, with Access the anchor member of accomplish line-ups.

Known for their attention-getting songs and Hunt's sharp angry exchange, the band's sound evolved running away guitar pop to include trial and elements of folk skull country.

The band - become calm Hunt in particular — were favourites of the UK masterpiece press,^[4] and were often reciprocal with fellow Black Country learning Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Burst Will Eat Itself, with whom they have toured throughout their careers.

The band scored single UK number 1 single, their release of "Dizzy" with wag Vic Reeves, 17 top-20 individual hits, and three top-10 albums in the UK.^[5] The troop also toured internationally, and attained some success in the In partnership States, where they had provoke songs on the Billboard Variant Songs Chart.^[6]

History

Origins and The Gremlin Legged Groove Machine (1986–1989)

The basic line-up of Miles Hunt (whose uncle Bill Hunt was closing player with ELO and Wizzard) on vocals and guitar; Malcolm Treece on guitar and vocals; bassist Rob "The Bass Thing" Jones (died July 1993); fairy story Martin Gilks (died April 2006) on drums grew from Follow and Treece's collaboration with forward-looking members of Pop Will Rout Itself in a band baptized From Eden that featured Stalk on drums.

The Wonder Behave were formed on 19 Tread 1986 (their name reportedly came from a remark made turn a very young Hunt shy John Lennon^[7]) and in Sept that year recorded a self-financed debut EP, A Wonderful Day. After finding management with City promoter Les Johnson^[8] and sign with Polydor Records for £80,000 in 1987, the group unconfined a series of singles together with "Unbearable", "Give Give Give, Uncooperative More More More", "A Yearn Away" and "It's Yer Resources I'm After Baby" (their pull it off Top 40 entry) that featured on their debut albumThe Octet Legged Groove Machine, which was released in August 1988 (UK No. 18).^[9] This preceded a control headlining nineteen-date national tour, 'Groovers on Manoeuvres'.

A non-album solitary, "Who Wants to Be excellence Disco King?" was released well-heeled March 1989 and was followed by UK, European, and Allied States tours and appearances destiny the Reading and Glastonburyfestivals.

Melody Maker made The Eight Leglike Groove Machine one of their albums of the year friendship 1988, judging it, "A frisky debut from the only cast with enough wit, energy, attraction and acumen to cross direct from loutish grebo into dapper pop."^[10]

Hup (1989–1990)

In September 1989, "Don't Let Me Down, Gently", co-worker its slick, American-shot video, became the Wonder Stuff's first Top-20 hit, heralding the release break into second album, Hup, in Oct (UK No. 5).^[9] The album apophthegm the introduction of new pin member, Martin Bell, a multi-instrumentalist who contributed violin and banjo,^[9] most notably on "Golden Green" (the second single from position album), "Unfaithful" and "Cartoon Boyfriend".

Several shows during the band's 1989 tour featured fellow Sooty Country acts Ned's Atomic Ashbin and The Sandkings as air acts.

Jones left the unit in December 1989, moving unite the United States.^[9]

A single, "Circlesquare", was released shortly afterwards, change around before Paul Clifford replaced Engineer on the bass in class Spring of 1990.^[9] This untie to a string of material outings for the renewed company in mid-1990.

With nonpareil one single release in 1990 and no album yet severe, the band put out Eleven Appalling Promos, a collection hint video promos, with home tv footage showing Hunt, Treece abide Gilks giving their (usually critical) commentary between each song. Hill December the group celebrated their Brit Award nomination by unsettled down an invitation to authority awards show at Wembley Podium, to play at Minsthorpe Giant School in South Elmsall descent response to a fan's letter: a cover version of Lavatory Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth", verifiable at the show, was contained on the "Caught in Forlorn Shadow" single.

Never Loved Elvis and chart success (1990–1992)

Recording vindicate a third album was in operation in late 1990 and primed early the following year. Blue blood the gentry first single from the newfound album was "The Size be defeated a Cow". Released in Stride 1991 it became the band's first Top-10 hit, reaching No. 5, (and being nominated for splendid Brit Award for its video).

It was swiftly followed toddler "Caught in My Shadow" (UK No. 18) in May, before magnanimity release of the album Never Loved Elvis in May 1991 (UK No. 3).^[9]

After the album emancipation, the band performed a head headlining stadium show at Walsall's Bescot Stadium, attracting 18,000 fans, before embarking on a sphere tour taking in the UK, Europe and the US.

Let in the tour, the band was augmented by keyboardist Peter Whittaker.

Just after the third lone from the album, "Sleep Alone" in September, the group scored a commercial success when they covered Tommy Roe's "Dizzy" engage Vic Reeves in 1991, achievement the top of the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in November.^[9] The band go on touring into 1992.

They released the single "Welcome nick the Cheap Seats" (UK No. 8) in February, which was besides the title of their tv rockumentary released that Spring aft eighteen months of filming take a look at the road with the bandeau.

Touring continued through the dash part of the year, best more dates in the Allied States (both as headliners dominant supporting Siouxsie and the Banshees) backed by an appearance kick Late Night with David Letterman, performing "Welcome to the Inexpensive Seats".

A further UK progress was complemented with a chief slot at the 1992 Thoroughfare Festival.^[11]

Construction for the Modern Idiot (1993–1994)

After previewing their new subject at a few European summertime festivals, a new single "On the Ropes" (UK No. 10) was released in September 1993 followed by the album Construction endorse the Modern Idiot in Oct 1993 (UK No. 4).^[9] Another unmarried "Full of Life (Happy Now)" came out just before Christmastime.

The band toured Europe heretofore going to the United States in February 1994. A ordinal single "Hot Love Now" (UK No. 19) was released in at the double for the UK tour sight March and, by the pause the tour - called 'Idiot Manoeuvres' - came to proposal end, it was the top in the band's history live seventy eight dates since integrity album's release.

Band split endure solo projects (1994–2000)

A planned excursion of the Far East final Australia in May was postponed. The band made no defeat announcement at that time nevertheless a split was announced discredit June in a fanclub newspaper.

The Wonder Stuff performed representation final contracted show on 15 July 1994 as headliners hit out at the Phoenix Festival near Stratford-on-Avon in front of an assignation of 30,000.

In September, spruce 18-song compilation If The Beatles Had Read Hunter...The Singles (UK No. 8), a re-issue of birth "Unbearable" single (UK No. 16), stomach a video of their parting performance from July were unfastened. The Live in Manchester tome (recorded in December 1991) was released in July 1995.^[9]

During authority hiatus between 1994 and 2000, Hunt was involved in indefinite projects.

He hosted MTV Europe's 120 Minutes show. He misuse put together another band, Aperture 414, with ex-Senseless Things bassist Morgan Nicholls and later Battle, Eat and Wonder Stuff tycoon Peter Howard. They released precise self-titled debut album in Oct 1996, but were soon derelict by Polydor prior to honesty release of the second album.^[12] Hunt started to tour gorilla a solo artist, travelling wide the US with Malc Treece, and releasing two albums: Miles Across America, an album be advantageous to new material, Wonder Stuff depart and Vent 414 material cunning reworked for the acoustic bass, and a live acoustic autograph album By the Time I Got to Jersey (1998).

A brim-full studio album, Hairy on rank Inside (again featuring Treece person in charge another fellow Wonder Stuff colleague Martin Bell) was released neat April 1999, followed by The Miles Hunt Club in Apr 2002.^[13]

Meanwhile, Treece, Clifford and Gilks formed We Know Where Bolster Live (originally titled WeKnowWhereYouLive), right Ange Dolittle from Eat.^[9] They gigged extensively throughout 1995 pivotal 1996 and released two EPs before splitting.

Reformation and Escape from Rubbish Island (2000–2005)

Hunt, Treece, Gilks, Bell and Whittaker, hash up with new bassist Stuart Quinell, reformed for a one-off interrupt at London's Forum in Dec 2000. This soon became fin sold-out nights, preceded by combine nights of shows at JB's in Dudley (the site personal their debut gig).

The group's previous four studio albums were reissued with bonus tracks, contemporary a compilation of b-sides, demos and live tracks, Love Bites & Bruises was released arbitrate November.

More live performances extended into 2001 with the liberation of a live album Cursed with Insincerity in June, skull more concerts came in 2002.

A DVD release, Construction go allout for the Modern Vidiot, in Can 2003 featured highlights from interpretation 2000 to 2002 shows, favour then a further tour was announced in December 2003.

In early 2004, Hunt was cognizant that Gilks and Bell would no longer work with him, and thus The Wonder Wedge (in the eyes of Gilks and Bell) were defunct.

Since a result, Quinell and Whittaker were informed the band difficult to understand split, and Hunt began office on a new record proficient Mark McCarthy (ex-Radical Dance Faction) and Luke Johnson (ex-Amen become calm son of one-time Wonder Tool manager, Les Johnson). Sessions misunderstand this new solo record were later joined by Malc Treece.

The result of this was The Wonder Stuff's first pristine album for over a declination, Escape from Rubbish Island, which was released in September 2004 with "Better Get Ready tutor a Fist Fight" and greatness title track becoming singles. Andres Karu (who had previously sham with Miles as part regard The Miles Hunt Club) replaced Luke Johnson on drums.

Ethics band toured the UK allow US in 2004 and 2005, and were joined by violin player Erica Nockalls in March 2005.

Suspended by Stars enthralled anniversary tours (2006–2011)

This line-up extended into 2006 for the expulsion of their new album Suspended by Stars in March added the single "Blah Blah Socket Di Dah" available as skilful download. The band toured instruct in March 2006 to support integrity record and in conjunction exchange of ideas their twentieth anniversary.

In Apr 2006, original Wonder Stuff huckster Martin Gilks was killed difficulty a motorcycle accident in London.^[14] An album of We Put in the picture Where You Live's demo recordings and live tracks was loose in December 2006, with border profits being donated to uncomplicated charitable concern at the requisition of Gilk's parents.^[15] In 2006, Miles Hunt's acoustic shows were recorded for a live recording, titled Interloper and released bear October 2006.

The Wonder Item also began mixing a living record documenting the 2006 concerts and played several UK extreme shows. The band finished representation year by touring the UK again, performing their final high up of the year on 8 December at the Shepherd's Bush-league Empire.

Following this, the faction went on hiatus due hug Treece starting a family.^[16] Go along released the solo album Not an Exit in 2007, which featured Nockalls and Karu; Result toured the UK twice, opinion the US later in distinction year.^[17][18][19] Before recording the sticker album, he expected the band pick up be working on their shut down album at some point around the year.^[20]

In 2008, the Phenomenon Stuff entered into a agreement with the Carling Academy Administration where the band would overlook their first two studio albums, The Eight Legged Groove Machine and Hup, in full fold up the course of several shows.

Hunt and Treece were get hold of about the prospect, while loftiness other members of the could do with who didn't play on either album, had a large workload ahead of them.^[21] Hunt came up with the idea systematic having the band re-recording both albums, which were later unrestricted as The Eight Legged Vent niche Machine: 20th Anniversary Edition (2008) and Hup: 21st Anniversary Edition (2010).^[21][22][23] In between the combine releases, Hunt and Nockalls movable the album Catching More Amaze We Miss in early 2009.^[21]

Karu left the band in entire 2010 to focus on core a cameraman; he was strained to turn down several opportunities in the US while excursion the UK with the crowd.

As Hunt lived in Southmost Shropshire, he would often note Fuzz Townshend of Pop Volition declaration Eat Itself at local pubs. Hunt asked him if prohibited would drum for the Stupefaction Stuff, which he agreed come together. In 2011, the band toured the UK to celebrate magnanimity 20th anniversary of their gear studio album Never Loved Elvis (1991).

Prior to the shows taking place, Treece left nobleness band after an argument mid himself and Hunt. Hunt's prime concern with Treece was utterly to him making zero thought to write potential new tune ideas; Jerry DeBorg of The almighty Jones filled in his position.^[21]

Oh No It's... The Wonder Stuff to Better Being Lucky (2012–present)

Hunt and Townshend both had residence studios, the former's centred go ahead programming and rock instruments, measure the latter's was focussed slit recording drums.

The pair arranged to record drums at Townshend, and record other instruments esoteric vocals at Hunt's. With skilful lack of new material crash into their disposal, the pair opted to do a covers notebook of artists from the Midlands, dubbed From the Midlands set about Love.^[21][24] The cover recordings were released in three instalments 'tween April and November 2012.^[25][26][27] Magnanimity project gave Hunt and Townshend a lot of experience what because it came to recording dress warmly home; Hunt was adamant travel producing the band's next album.^[21]Oh No It's...

The Wonder Stuff was recorded at The Writer House and The Beeches row South Shropshire, with Hunt characterization as producer.^[24] The band extremely toured the UK in Apr 2013, summer shows, and great Sleigh the UK set flawless shows in December 2013.

In December 2013 the band's target "A Wish Away" was euphemistic preowned in a TV commercial friendship the holiday company Hoseasons.^[28]

Following copperplate successful Australian tour in awkward 2014, drummer Fuzz Townshend omitted the group to concentrate truth his work with The Beat.^[29] In May 2014 the crowd announced a new line-up extra Hunt, Nockalls and McCarthy train joined by Dan Donnelly witness guitar and Tony Arthy snitch drums, with Arthy having put asunder company with Jesus Jones.^[30] Arthy had previously worked with Track flounce in an earlier, but unreleased incarnation of The Miles Origination Club in 2001.

In Parade 2016, a PledgeMusic-funded album, 30 Goes Around the Sun, was released to celebrate 30 maturity since the band's very labour rehearsal in the heart try to be like The Black Country. This coincided with a UK tour by March and April. This book became their first studio undo to enter the Top 40 since 1994.

In 2019, distinction band announced a new arrangement, with founder member Malc Treece returning on guitar replacing Donnelly, Pete Howard of The Row replacing Arthy on drums, become more intense former The Mission guitarist Top Thwaite replacing McCarthy on bass.^[31] After a short tour efficient the start of the day, the group announced they would be releasing a new tome Better Being Lucky towards picture end of 2019, featuring indefinite songs co-written by Thwaite pleasurable guitar, which would be followed by a tour where distinction group would play The Stack Legged Groove Machine and Hup albums in full alongside extra tracks from their back coordinate and the new album.

Thwaite moved to guitar on say publicly live shows promoting the fresh album with Tim Sewell fascinating over bass duties.

Timeline

Discography

Main article: The Wonder Stuff discography

Videos obscure DVDs

• Eleven Appalling Promos (1990)
• Welcome alongside the Cheap Seats (1992)
• Greatest Hits: Finally Live (1994)
• Construction for significance Modern Vidiot (2003)
• Hup Live (2010)
• Never Loved Elvis Live (2012)
• Oh Yea, It's the Wonder Stuff (2014)

References

External links