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.

History

1989–1991: Early history

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.

1991–1997: Initial success

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). 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, 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. Around the same time as the release of Chutzpah!, they won the award for Spirit of Independence at the 2009 Kerrang! Awards, as well as playing on the Bohemia stage during the very first UK Sonisphere Festival; a four-day music festival designed by those formerly behind the Download Festival.

On 25 November 2009 the Wildhearts announced the release of ¡Chutzpah! Jnr., a mini-album composed of tracks recorded during the Chutzpah sessions that were either unreleased or only appeared as bonus tracks on the Japanese version of ¡Chutzpah!. The eight-track CD was publicized as only being available at concerts during the coming "Merry Xmess 2009" tour.

2010–2016: Hiatus

In 2010, Ginger joined as the guitarist for former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe, who played the Download Festival on 12 June 2010. Ginger also performed as a solo act at the festival. Only Wildhearts songs were performed, as was the case for the Ginger & Friends December 2010 tour of the UK. The Michael Monroe album Sensory Overdrive, featuring Ginger, was released in 2011.

In December 2010, Ginger stated that he was unsure if the Wildhearts would ever reform. It would appear that the departure of Scott Sorry and retirement of Ritch Battersby led to the hiatus. Following this particularly with his renewed solo career, Ginger publicly stated a number of times on Formspring that he had absolutely no desire to revisit the Wildhearts and considered that period of his life over. Despite this, Ginger announced in August 2012 that the most recent Wildhearts line-up will reform for a one-off appearance in December. The Wildhearts' songs "Geordie in Wonderland" and "Dreaming in A" appeared in the 2012 UK feature film Life Just Is.

On 10 December 2012, it was announced that Scott Sorry had left the Wildhearts due to family commitments. He was replaced by former bassist Jon Poole for the December 2012 reunion show. The band went on to play a number of shows in early 2013 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Earth vs the Wildhearts. Such was the anniversary tour's success that a second leg took place in June of the same year. The Nottingham Rock City performance would subsequently be released as the 2014 live album Rock City vs the Wildhearts. Another UK tour took place in April 2014, this time with Scott Sorry back on bass. 2015 saw the 20th Anniversary of the release of P.H.U.Q. and another tour, this time with Jon Poole on bass duties.

2016–2022: Third reformation

Prior to their Christmas tour in 2016, Ginger stated in an interview that the band would be recording a new album in 2017. Proceeds from the album went towards assisting McCormack's recuperation after the amputation of his lower right leg.

In August 2018, the band announced it would be touring to celebrate 25 years of the Earth vs the Wildhearts album, in which the album would be played in full at each shows. The lineup for this tour included Ginger, CJ, Danny McCormack, and Ritch Battersby. In early January 2019, the band announced the recording of a new album had been completed with mixing to follow. The album Renaissance Men was released on 3 May 2019. The album 21st Century Love Songs was released on 3 September 2021. Six months after the album's release on 11 March 2022, the Wildhearts announced via social media that they were taking another hiatus, with the latest lineup splitting acrimoniously.

In May 2023 bassist Danny McCormack released his autobiography I Danny McCormack, Once a Wildheart, Always a Wildheart. Written with journalist Guy Shankland, the book was self-published and printed by B&B Press. The book's release was delayed due to the threat of legal action from one of McCormack's former bandmates.

2024–present: New lineup

In early 2024, Ginger announced another new line up of the Wildhearts with returning bassist Jon Poole, guitarist Ben Marsden, and drummer Pontus Snibb; with a world tour completed that year. The album Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts was released on March 7, 2025, with a short tour of the United Kingdom by this line up to follow.

Ginger announced in March 2026 he had been diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer, but was continuing to write the next album for the band. CJ confirmed in a social media post in March 2026 that Ginger and himself were back in contact after a three year break following Ginger's diagnosis.

Members

Current members

  • Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar (1989–1997, 1998, 1999, 2001–2022, 2024–present)
  • "Random" Jon Poole – bass, backing vocals (2003–2005, 2012–2013, 2015–2018, 2024–present)
  • Ben Marsden – guitar, backing vocals (2024–present)
  • Charles Evans – drums (2024–present)
  • Carol Hodge – keyboards, occasional lead vocals (2024–present)

Former members

  • CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals (1989–1994, 2001–2022)
  • Julien "Joolz" Dean – bass (1989–1991)
  • Stuart "Snake" Neale – lead vocals (1989–1990, 1990–1991)
  • Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drums (1989–1990, 1992–1993, 2001–2005)
  • Pat "Panache" Walters – drums (1990–1991)
  • Dunken Francis Mullett – lead vocals (1990)
  • Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals (1991–1997, 1998, 1999, 2001–2003, 2005, 2018–2022)
  • Bam Ross – drums (1991–1992)
  • Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocals (1993–1997, 1998, 1999, 2005–2022)
  • Jef Streatfield – guitar, backing vocals (1995–1997, 1998, 1999)
  • Scott Sorry – bass, backing vocals (2006–2012, 2013–2015)

Discography

  • Earth vs the Wildhearts (1993)
  • P.H.U.Q. (1995)
  • Fishing for Luckies (1996)
  • Endless, Nameless (1997)
  • The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed (2003)
  • The Wildhearts (2007)
  • Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. (2008)
  • ¡Chutzpah! (2009)
  • Renaissance Men (2019)
  • 21st Century Love Songs (2021)
  • Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts (2025)

References

  • Official website
  • [ The Wildhearts: Biography] on AllMusic
  • FiveMilesHigh Rock n' Roll Resource Wildhearts Section
  • Interview with Ginger of the Wildhearts by FREE! Magazine
  • The Wildhearts discography on Discogs