Music > Interviews

The Wonder Stuff

26/04/16

The Wonder Stuff, Black Country indie rockers, best known for their hit singles Size Of A Cow and Dizzy back in the early 90’s are back with a brand new studio album and they’re coming to play at the Down By The River indie alldayer at the Waterfront this month. We spoke to um..charismatically challenging lead singer and original member Miles Hunt about his life in music.

Thirty years in, would you ever have believed that it could last this long when you started out?

Without wishing to sound arrogant, yes I did expect it to last this long, that was kinda the point. I wanted a life in music, not a couple of months.

What keeps you going? Is there any one thing in particular that has helped you get to this point?

I enjoy it all, writing, recording, performing, even rehearsing. They have all been truly great things to have been involved in all these years. And aside from the pure enjoyment of it all, I feel like I have constantly been learning.

What has been the career highlights so far?

I've not had a 'career', I've had a life. And as I am not a child I don't have to pick highlights.

What are you most proud of from the past thirty years?

The music, of course.

Are there any songs that get requested at gigs that you will definitely never sing again?

Only one.

What tracks do you still really get a kick from playing? Is there a period or album in the past thirty years that you particularly enjoy flashing back to?

I enjoy all of the songs that we perform live, that's why we perform them. I have never experienced 'flashbacks'.

Going back to the earlier recordings of the original band between 1986 and 1994, the band had such a defining high energy sound both in the studio and on the live circuit. How difficult is it to put that same input into your performances these days both on and off stage?

It's easy, it's what I do, that's what I do with my life. I play songs that I wrote years ago for the enjoyment of the audiences that come to our shows. I also write new songs to do much the same. None of it is at all 'difficult'.

How do you feel when listening back now to the back catalogue and your younger self?

I don't listen to our back catalogue or to my younger self.

The Wonder Stuff Diaries 86-89 are a compelling read to any fan. Will there soon be another Wonder Stuff diaries part 2? If so when can we expect it to be available?

Yes there will. I hope The Wonder Stuff Diaries '90 - '94 will be published by the end of this year.

It looks like you are enjoying having The Lottery Winners on tour with you. Do you keep in touch with the current music scene?

I can't answer this without you defining 'current music scene'.

How much are you enjoying being back on the road with the band?

I'm never off the road. How much do I enjoy it? How would you like me to answer, by picking a number between 1 and 10, would that help?

How did it feel to be back in the studio recording your new studio album, 30 Goes Around The Sun? Is the process enjoyable after all of this time?

Of course it's enjoyable, why else would we do it?

It looks to have received some good review so far from your avid followers. What does it mean to still have people still buying your music and coming to watch you play live after thirty years?

It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

What is the track Misunderstanding Burton Heel about?

I am writing a book of fiction, and Burton Heel is my protagonist. I thought it interesting to kick around some of my character development of him in a song.

We look forward to seeing you back in Norwich this month. Do you have any particular memories of playing in Norwich before? I seem to remember seeing you support Big Country back in the eighties.

I remember that Big Country gig well, it was the first date we did with them on that tour, in late 1987. They treated us like little princes, were so kind, encouraging and welcoming to us. They taught us how the relationship between the headline band and other bands on the bill should work, a lesson I have never forgotten.

The Wonder Stuff play the Down By The River indie all dayer along with The House of Love, Primitives, The Frank & Walters, The Woodentops, Section 25, Stare and Distant Sun on 29th May at the Waterfront. Tickets available from ueaticketbookings.co.uk