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.
Caught In My Shadow
The Wonder Stuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, I'm Caught in My Shadow
These streets used to look pretty
This town used to look like a city
These people used to talk to me
Oh, Yeah, I'm Caught in My Shadow
Offer me the bait and I'd take it
Offer me the cake and I'd bake it
Usually I'd try to fake it
But these days I'd rather face it
Caught in My Shadow
Oh, Yeah, I'm Caught in My Shadow
If it's not enough I gave my blood
My sweat, my tears, and all I said I would
Oh
Oh, Yeah, I'm Caught in My Shadow
Yeah, I'm Caught in My Shadow
I'm Caught in My Shadow
Just leaves me behind
I'm Caught in My Shadow
Just leading the blind
The Wonder Stuff's song Caught In My Shadow speaks about feeling stuck in a rut and being unable to move on from a situation or a place. The song starts off by painting a picture of the town the singer is in, which was once beautiful and vibrant, but now feels suffocating and empty. The people who used to interact with the singer no longer talk to him, and he's stuck in his own shadow, unable to break free from the negativity that's surrounding him. The repetition of the phrase "Caught in My Shadow" creates a sense of entrapment and claustrophobia, emphasizing the feeling of being trapped in a negative space.
The second verse of the song speaks about how the singer used to just go along with things, but now he wants to face his problems head-on. He used to fake it and pretend everything was okay, but now he wants to be honest with himself and others. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the fact that the singer is caught in his own shadow, which is preventing him from moving on in life. The bridge of the song speaks about the sacrifices the singer has made for the situation he's in, but it seems that it was all for nothing. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the fact that the singer is being left behind and is leading the blind.
Overall, Caught In My Shadow is a powerful song about feeling trapped and powerless in a negative situation. The repetition of the chorus, simple yet effective guitar riff, and the singer's raw vocals make the song feel authentic and relatable to anyone who has felt stuck in a rut.
Line by Line Meaning
These streets used to look pretty
I used to find joy and beauty in the simple things, like the streets around me
This town used to look like a city
This town used to be a bustling place, but it now seems empty and dull
These people used to talk to me
I used to have meaningful connections with people in my community, but now I feel disconnected
Offer me the bait and I'd take it
I used to be easily tempted by offers and would eagerly accept them
Offer me the cake and I'd bake it
I was willing to work hard for the things I wanted, like baking a cake to enjoy its rewards
Usually I'd try to fake it
I would pretend to be someone I'm not in order to fit in or to impress others
But these days I'd rather face it
Now, I want to confront my problems head-on, without any pretense
If it's not enough I gave my blood
I have given a lot of myself to something, be it a cause or a person
My sweat, my tears, and all I said I would
I have worked hard and made promises, and have followed through with them
Just leaves me behind
Despite my efforts, I find myself left out or ignored
Just leading the blind
I feel like I am leading people who are unaware or uninterested in where they are going
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
Di Coke
Hadn't realised this video finally made it to YouTube! That's me in the red Mega City 4 t-shirt, along with half of Camp Hill sixth form! Had some of the best nights out of my life in Brum (and Dudley, Walsall, Halesowen, Wolverhampton and Coventry...) between 89 - 92. Happy days!
Marcelli
Loved you 🤗 from San Francisco 😚 when this was released 😄
william northcote
I saw MC4 in Inverness. Was a good night for a band I hardly heard of. Glad you seen yourself there. Looked like a fun time and the police not cracking skulls like they used to lol
John Hathway
....at 51 seconds, you look like you're having the time of your life! I still have my Wonderstuff 'Stourbridge' t-shirt I bought from their concert at Brixton Academy and it still fits because I bought an over-sized one so I could wear it baggy (that's what you did back then). I was so proud of it because I am originally from Stourbridge. :) :) :)
Glenn Kelly
@Michael Rush I think her name was Vicky Watts, that's Joy Shipley she is standing next too - Edgbaston High School. I think the taller long-haired guy behind them is Matt Bloor - future member of Menswear
lillies
I miss those days! Brum was amazing growing up in the 90s. Que Club, Steering Wheel...
Dave Withers
So fantastic to see so many young people having the time of their lives, no phones, no iPads just totally engrossed in the music I was probably the same age as most of the people in this video, I remember being blown away aged 16 being so jealous of these dudes.
rfarevalo
You get to watch it now because someone else was holding the camera :-)
My Little Underground
SAME it’s the best film clip everyone’s just loving the music, punk, indie, hippy kids from all genres getting into it
Tones 1968
86-91 was one of the best periods of my life on a personal level especially 91. I recall dancing feeling so free when this came out. Such an incredible uplifting and upbeat song. You can never not dance to this. :)