by Mott the Dog
5 Hearts
Destroy The Wildhearts? Never. Nobody could anyway; the
Wildhearts and Keith Richards represent the true spirit of Rock ‘n’
Roll and are indestructible, although they have tried pretty hard to
self-destruct themselves. In twenty years time they will still be out
there somewhere rocking their little wild hearts out, on the brink of
stardom, but, like Strange Fruit from the Movie ‘Still Crazy’, they
will still find some way of messing it up.
The
Wildhearts have had top ten hit singles. ‘I Wanna Go Where the People
Go’ reached number 6 in the U.K. and the album ‘Fishing for Luckies’
actually reached number one. They somehow managed to get pulled off the
support slot for AC/DC’s Stateside trip due to lack of finances from the
management. Always on the verge of Superstardom, but always managing to
snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
They succeeded splitting up in 1999, but here we are in
2004 with a newly released album and a lineup that would make Spinal Tap
look like a regular gig. They have managed to patch up the relationships
and returned to the (almost) lineup that recorded their first album in
1993, ‘Earth vs. the Wildhearts’. After years of bickering, CJ has
overcome his differences and came back into the fold (perhaps helped by
the fact that CJ now lives in Japan, whilst the rest of the band live in
England, only getting together for recording and touring).
The
mighty Stidi is back on the thundering Wildhearts’ drums. This man sure
hits the bins hard.
Unfortunately, Danny McCormack (the only one with a
straight forward name - “Stidi” indeed), the original bass player and
firm fan favorite, is presently not in the correct physical health to
re-join the band. However, the door is apparently always open if he can
get himself into a fit condition. On the other hand, his bass-playing
shoes are well filled on the road by Jon ‘the Loon’ Poole.
Then out front on lead guitar and lead vocals is chief
songwriter and the world’s most loveable nutter, Ginger, the only
constant factor in the lineup. In fact, it could be said he is ‘The
Wildhearts’. Ginger’s favorite vacation spot is also Pattaya, which
certifies him as a good bloke, doesn’t it?
Has the passage of time slowed down the Wildhearts? No,
not a bit. It’s still pure straight down the line Rock ‘n’ Roll with
the catchiest hook lines, crunching guitars, and that certain madness that
sends the blood pounding. It’s like a cross between Led Zeppelin, The
Beatles, Black Sabbath, Heavy Rock, Grunge, Pop, Metal ... It’s the
Wildhearts right; it rocks.
On ‘Must Be Destroyed’ you get eleven ditties to
bang your head to. Nine were written by Ginger, one co-written by
Ginger/Jagdhar (‘So Into You’), and one by C. Jagdhar (‘Out From The
Inside’ - funny how they can remember their real names when it comes to
songwriting royalties). They all have their little stories to tell.
Opening track ‘Nexus Icon’ is all about rock stars
who have become a little too big for their boots. ‘One Love, One Life,
One Girl’ is all about Ginger’s new found life in a stable
relationship, and so on. For once in Rock ‘n’ Roll the lyric sheets
that come with the CD are actually worth reading and not just a load of
words that happen to rhyme. The booklet with its illustrations makes the
C.D. worth buying alone, especially the one that goes with ‘Top of the
World’.
All sung in Ginger’s distinctive Geordie drawl. Mind
you, I’ve never heard a Geordie, or for that matter anyone, sing that
fast on the real belters such as ‘Get Your Groove’. Ginger and CJ
crank the guitar riffs up to eleven and just let go. Ginger lays down many
memorable solos that are gut wrenching in their power, whilst the rhythm
section drives them on faster and faster to ever greater heights.
You also get guest appearances from Andy Cairns and
some high pitched yodeling from the now very famous Justin Hawkins of
Darkness. The Wildhearts are at present (January 2004) out on the road in
Britain with The Darkness, a double bill that should raise the roof every
night. For tour dates look up the Wildhearts website at www.wildhearts
.com
Wildhearts Must be Destroyed? Rubbish. They should be
cherished as an institution.
Musicians credited on
this album
Ginger - Guitar and Vocals
CJ - Guitar and backing vocals
Stigi - Drums
Songs
Nexus Icon
Only Love
Someone That Won’t Let go
Vanilla Road
One Love, One Life, One Girl
Get Your Groove On
So Into You
There’s Only One Hell
It’s All Up To Me
Out From The Inside
Top Of The World
Rather
than a ‘who dunnit’ this week we have a ‘what izzit’ instead.
Tropical Orchids (ISBN 962-593-156-2, Periplus Editions [HK] 1999) is a
slim hardcover reference book for the orchid grower. Since I know (sorry,
‘knew’) nothing about orchids, this book looked like the ideal way to
at least look a little more knowledgeable.
Mott’s CD review: The Wildhearts - The Wildhearts Must be Destroyed!