The Wildhearts are a British rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne. Formed in 1989, the group originally consisted of vocalist Stuart "Snake" Neale, guitarists Ginger (born David Walls) and CJ Wildheart (real name Chris Jagdhar), bassist Julien "Joolz" Dean, and drummer Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph. After several early lineup changes, Ginger took over as lead vocalist and has remained in this role ever since. The current lineup of the Wildhearts also includes bassist "Random" Jon Poole (who first joined in 2003, and most recently rejoined in 2024), alongside 2024 additions Ben Marsden on guitar and Charles Evans on drums.

History 1989–1999 Ginger formed the Wild Hearts in August 1989. The original lineup featured vocalist Stuart "Snake" Neale, guitarist Chris "CJ" Wildheart, bassist Julien "Joolz" Dean and drummer Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph. The band went through a number of personnel changes during 1990 and 1991: first, Pat "Panache" Walters replaced Stidolph; in the summer of 1990, Neale briefly left and was replaced by Dunken Francis Mullett; in March 1991, Neale left permanently and the group became a four-piece with Ginger on vocals; and in mid-1991, Danny McCormack replaced Dean. By October 1991, Walters had been replaced by Bam Ross, with whom the group recorded Mondo Akimbo a-Go-Go and Don't Be Happy... Just Worry; around the time of the latter's November 1992 release, Ross was replaced by the returning Stidolph.

With Stidolph back in the band, the Wildhearts released Earth vs the Wildhearts in 1993, before Ritch Battersby took over on drums that October. His first recordings with the band were the 1994 single "Caffeine Bomb" and second album Fishing for Luckies. Early the same year, keyboardist Willie Dowling – who had previously performed on Earth vs the Wildhearts – joined the Wildhearts' touring lineup. In July, CJ was fired from the Wildhearts due to "personal reasons", with Ginger claiming: "We fell out on the last tour and haven't really got on for the last two years." In his place, former Vai guitarist Devin Townsend joined as touring guitarist. Dowling played his last show with the Wildhearts at Reading Festival in August 1994, while Townsend remained for a European tour supporting Suicidal Tendencies in September.

The Wildhearts returned in early 1995 with temporary touring guitarist Mark Keds, who remained until July when he was fired for failing to turn up for a show. After a short period performing as a trio for the first time, the band introduced Jef Streatfield as CJ's permanent replacement in October 1995, who debuted on Endless, Nameless. Upon the album's release in October 1997, Ginger decided to disband the group due to drug addiction problems amongst certain band members. After their breakup, the band reformed on two occasions – first in October 1998 for a short tour of Japan, and again in August 1999 for a one-off show in the country.

2001–2022 After Ginger teased a reunion a couple of months earlier, in April 2001 it was announced that the Wildhearts would return for a string of UK shows that June. The lineup was completed with the additions of guitarist CJ Wildheart, bassist Danny McCormack and drummer Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph, marking a reunion of the Earth vs the Wildhearts incarnation of the group. Early into the first tour, however, McCormack was forced to leave due to ongoing problems with heroin addiction, with Toshi Ogawa temporarily taking his place. By late August, McCormack had returned to the band. Due to the bassist's ongoing struggles, however, Ginger performed bass on the band's next album, 2003's The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed. During a tour in April 2003, prior to the album's release, McCormack left again to enter rehabilitation, with "Random" Jon Poole taking his place.

With new bassist Poole, the Wildhearts toured until the end of 2004. In early 2005, Ginger briefly joined Brides of Destruction, although assured that the Wildhearts were not breaking up. The band returned in July, with Ginger and CJ reuniting with McCormack and drummer Ritch Battersby for a one-off performance at In the Castle festival in September. A year-long unofficial hiatus followed, before the band were joined by bassist Scott Sorry in November 2006, with whom Ginger had briefly worked in Brides of Destruction. Sorry performed on 2007's The Wildhearts, 2008's Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before, Vol 1. and 2009's ¡Chutzpah!, before the band went on another hiatus when Ginger joined Michael Monroe's solo touring band. Ahead of a return gig in December 2012, Sorry was replaced by the returning Poole.

Sorry returned in November 2013. Ahead of a P.H.U.Q. anniversary tour in 2015, Poole returned again. After appearing as a guest during some of the band's encores, McCormack rejoined the band in early 2018 for the Britrock Must Be Destroyed tour. The band released Renaissance Men, their first album in ten years, in 2019. This was followed in 2021 by 21st Century Love Songs. By March 2022, the group had disbanded again due to "ongoing issues within the band".

Since 2024 In January 2024, the Wildhearts announced that they were returning for a show that June, unveiling a new lineup featuring returning bassist Jon Poole, new guitarist Ben Marsden and fill-in drummer Pontus Snibb, before Charles Evans joined full-time as drummer.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsGinger Wildheartall Wildhearts releases"Random" Jon PooleBen Marsden2024–presentSatanic Rites of the Wildhearts (2025)Charles Evans2024–presentdrumsnone to dateCarol Hodge2024–presentSatanic Rites of the Wildhearts (2025) (as guest)

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsCJ WildheartJulien "Joolz" Dean1989–1991The Wildhearts (2007) – guest appearance on backing vocalsStuart "Snake" Nealelead vocalsnoneAndrew "Stidi" StidolphdrumsPat "Panache" Walters1990–1991noneDunken Francis Mullett1990lead vocalsDanny McCormackBam Ross1991–1992drumsRitch BattersbyJef StreatfieldScott Sorry all Wildhearts releases from The Wildhearts (2007) to ¡Chutzpah! Jnr. (2009)

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsWillie Dowling1994Dowling joined the touring lineup of the Wildhearts in early 1994. He had previously performed on Earth vs the Wildhearts and later featured on Fishing for Luckies and P.H.U.Q.Devin TownsendAfter guitarist CJ Wildheart was fired in July 1994, Townsend joined the Wildhearts' touring lineup. He remained until the final tour dates of the year in September.Mark Keds1995 When the band returned to touring in early 1995, the role of second guitarist was taken by Keds. He was confirmed as a member of the band in the summer, but was fired in July for not turning up for a show.Toshi Ogawa2001Shortly after the Wildhearts embarked on their reunion tour in June 2001, Danny McCormack was forced to leave due to problems with heroin addiction. He was replaced by Ogawa until late-August.Pontus Snibb2024Snibb performed at a one off show in June 2024.

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersReleasesAugust 1989 – 1990Stuart "Snake" Neale – lead vocals Ginger Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Julien "Joolz" Dean – bass Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drumsrowspan="6" 1990Stuart "Snake" Neale – lead vocals Ginger Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Julien "Joolz" Dean – bass Pat "Panache" Walters – drums1990Dunken Francis Mullett – lead vocals Ginger Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Julien "Joolz" Dean – bass Pat "Panache" Walters – drums1990 – March 1991Stuart "Snake" Neal – lead vocals Ginger Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Julien "Joolz" Dean – bass Pat "Panache" Walters – drumsMarch – mid-1991Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Julien "Joolz" Dean – bass Pat "Panache" Walters – drumsMid – October 1991Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Pat "Panache" Walters – drumsOctober 1991 – November 1992Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Bam Ross – drumsMondo Akimbo a-Go-Go (1992) Don't Be Happy... Just Worry (1992)November 1992 – October 1993Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drumsEarth vs the Wildhearts (1993) Anarchic Airwaves: The Wildhearts atthe BBC (1998) October 1993 – March 1994Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocals"Caffeine Bomb" (1994) Fishing for Luckies (1994) Anarchic Airwaves: The Wildhearts atthe BBC (1998) March – July 1994Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocals Willie Dowling – keyboards Fishing for Luckies (1994) P.H.U.Q. (1995) July – August 1994Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Devin Townsend – guitar Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocals Willie Dowling – keyboards P.H.U.Q. (1995) Anarchic Airwaves: The Wildhearts atthe BBC (1998) August – September 1994Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Devin Townsend – guitar Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsrowspan="3" January – July 1995Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Mark Keds – guitar Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsJuly – September 1995Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsOctober 1995 – October 1997Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Jef Streatfield – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsEndless, Nameless (1997) Anarchic Airwaves: The Wildhearts atthe BBC (1998) Band inactive November 1997 – September 1998October 1998Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Jef Streatfield – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsTokyo Suits Me (1999)Band inactive November 1998 – July 1999August 1999Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar Jef Streatfield – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsBand inactive September 1999 – February 2001March – June 2001Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drumsrowspan="2" June – August 2001Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Toshi Ogawa – bass Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drumsAugust 2001 – April 2003Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drumsRiff After Riff (2002) The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed (2003)April 2003 – July 2005Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Jon Poole – bass, backing vocals Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph – drumsThe Wildhearts Strike Back (2004) Cuts So Deep (2021) Dÿnämizer (2022)July – September 2005Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Danny McCormack – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsGeordie in Wonderland (2006)November 2006 – December 2012Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals Scott Sorry – bass, backing vocals Ritch Battersby – drums, backing vocalsThe Wildhearts (2007) Stop Us If You've Heard This OneBefore, Vol. 1 (2008) "Borderline" (2008) ¡Chutzpah! (2009) ¡Chutzpah! Jnr. (2009)December 2012 – November 2013Ginger Wildheart – lead vocals, guitar CJ Wildheart – guitar, backing vocals