The original line-up was Miles Hunt (whose uncle Bill Hunt was keyboard player with Wizzard), Malcolm Treece, Rob "The Bass Thing" Jones (d. 1993) and Martin Gilks (d. 2006). The group originated from an earlier collaboration with group members of Pop Will Eat Itself (aka PWEI), called From Eden, which had Miles Hunt on the drums.
In 1990, Martin Bell (aka, Fiddlie), an accomplished fiddle and banjo instrumentalist, joined the band and Paul Clifford replaced Rob Jones on the bass after Jones left the band.
The band initially split on July 14, 1994 at the Phoenix Festival near Stratford-on-Avon, with Miles Hunt forming Vent 414 and Malc Treece, Martin Gilks and Paul Clifford teaming up with ex-Eat frontman, Ange Dolittle, to form We Know Where You Live.
Following the split of Vent 414, Miles Hunt took to touring an acoustic solo show performing old favourites and new material. During this period, he toured and released an album under banner of The Miles Hunt Club, featuring Stuart Quinnel and Andres Karu (who would later featuring in subsequent line-ups of The Wonder Stuff) as well as Michael Ferentino fom the Amazing Meet Project.
The band later reformed for a few live tours from 2000 onwards including a sell out 5 night residency at The Forum, London. For this incarnation, Stuart Quinnel took over on bass from Paul Clifford.
Their first new album for over a decade, Escape From Rubbish Island, was released in September 2004. The line-up for this album was Hunt and Treece plus Andres Karu and Mark McCarthy (formally of Radical Dance Faction).
This line-up (plus Erica Nockalls on violin) continued into 2006 with the release of their new album Suspended By Stars.
Scheduled for 2011 is a tour supporting The Levellers for which the line up has changed again, with Andres Karu being replaced on drums by ex-Pop Will Eat Itself member Fuzz Townshend.
38 Line Poem
The Wonder Stuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you know I feel alright,
and there's a reason why.
And my reasons why,
I feel so high,
I've got the flying five.
And no I wouldn't sing,
just to gather hoards,
My reasons why
I'm with the flying five,
they're worth so much more.
And no they didn't come,
just to sing you pop,
or to join the rot.
You know they didn't come
to hear the words
"Forget Me Not",
'cos they're just like everybody else.
In these lyrics to The Wonder Stuff's song 38 Line Poem, the singer professes that he feels good at night for a reason- and that reason is his band, the "flying five." He clarifies that his band is not interested in just gathering a large audience or singing bland pop music, but rather values the integrity and artistry of their music. They did not come to hear the typical cliches in music, and are not like everyone else.
Overall, this song seems to be a statement of authenticity and individuality in the music industry. The singer and his band are not interested in being like everyone else, but rather in creating something unique and meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
When I lay night,
When I lay in bed at night,
you know I feel alright,
I feel content and happy,
and there's a reason why.
There is a specific reason for my contentment.
And my reasons why,
The reason for my contentment,
I feel so high,
Makes me feel elated,
I've got the flying five.
I am with my bandmates who are known as the Flying Five.
And no I wouldn't sing,
I wouldn't sing solely for the purpose of,
just to gather hoards,
Gathering a large crowd,
that would only bore.
Because that would be dull and unfulfilling.
My reasons why
The reason why,
I'm with the flying five,
I am playing music with the Flying Five,
they're worth so much more.
Is because they are valued much more than just having a large audience.
And no they didn't come,
My bandmates did not come,
just to sing you pop,
Just to sing pop songs for you,
or to join the rot.
Or to participate in a culture of mediocrity.
You know they didn't come
They did not come for the purpose of,
to hear the words
Listening to the song called,
"Forget Me Not",
"Forget Me Not",
'cos they're just like everybody else.
Because they do not conform to what is expected of them like everyone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM ROY TREECE, MARTIN BELL, MARTIN RICHARD GILKS, MILES STEPHEN HUNT, PAUL CLIFFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind