'Blessed' Wonder Stuff announce anniversary tour

3 hours ago

Caroline GallWest Midlands

News image — The band kick off the tour on 1 October at Newcastle's O2 City Hall

PA Media The band pose outside with a wall and greenery behind them. Three have sunglasses on and two are wearing checked shirts with another in a black jacket and a fourth member in a green jacket. Two others are obscured in the photo. — The band kick off the tour on 1 October at Newcastle's O2 City Hall

Indie band The Wonder Stuff say they are "grateful" for their fans as they announce a return to performing to mark their 40th anniversary.

The group, which formed in Stourbridge in the West Midlands in the 1980s, is going on tour later this year with dates at London's O2 Academy Brixton and Glasgow's Barrowlands, along with The Halls in Wolverhampton.

The group is made up of singer Miles Hunt, guitarist Malcolm Treece, violinist Erica Nockalls, guitarist Mark Thwaite, bass player Tim Sewell, and drummer Pete Howard.

Hunt said they were blessed to tour again, adding it would be an "absolute honour" to play "as many of the old faves as we can".

"When the original line-up of The Wonder Stuff first rehearsed together on 19 March 1986 - exactly 40 years ago [on Thursday] - I wonder what our thoughts might have been if Malc Treece and I knew that we would be fortunate enough to still be playing gigs together now?" said Hunt, 59.

Miles is stood near a white building with his band's name painted on it in pink paint. He is wearing a black top and sunglasses and is posing with his arms folded. — In November, Miles Hunt visited several large murals celebrating Stourbridge's musical history

Hunt added: "Whatever those scruffy young fellas would have thought I can tell you now, all these years later, both of us are incredibly grateful to all of the audiences that have stuck with us these past four decades.

"And it shall be our absolute honour to get up on stage this year and play as many of the old faves as we can to those wonderful people. We are blessed."

The band's hits include Unbearable, A Wish Away, Caught In My Shadow, Size Of A Cow, and Don't Let Me Down, Gently.

They reached number one in the charts when they teamed up with comedian Vic Reeves for Dizzy, with backing vocals from Bob Mortimer, and achieved three further top 10 singles, as well as four top 10 albums.

The group disbanded following their headline set at the Phoenix Festival in 1994 but reformed in 2000 to play five sold-out nights at London's Forum Theatre.

The Wonder Stuff will be supported by Manchester indie band Inspiral Carpets on the tour which starts in October and tickets will go on sale from 10:00 GMT on 27 March on the band's website.

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