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.
Mother And I
The Wonder Stuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Excuse me mother while I scream and shout,
Pass me the key, I'd like to let myself out and go....
Excuse me, mother, I am only bleeding,
Is that a family manual you are reading,
Don't you think that it's a little bit too late?
'cause I'm already the consequence of somebody else's fate
It's a mundane experience living with Mother and I,
Don't you know that it's making me see red
And I doubt if she's heard a silge word that I've said.
The lyrics to The Wonder Stuff's song "Mother And I" reflect the singer's frustration with his living situation with his mother. He wants to break free and be a part of the "fuss" that he sees happening elsewhere. He feels trapped and desperate for change, screaming and shouting for attention. He feels like he's bleeding emotionally and his mother is too focused on a family manual to notice his pain. The singer feels like his existence is the result of someone else's choices and he's tired of living in the mundane routine of life with his mother.
The singer's disdain for his mother is evident as he wishes for her to catch something controversial and die. He does not feel understood or heard, feeling like she hasn't heard a single word he's said. Overall, the lyrics reflect the desire for freedom and independence, and the frustration that comes with feeling stuck in a less-than-ideal situation.
Interestingly, the song was released in 1989 on The Wonder Stuff's album "Hup" and was one of their biggest hits in the UK, charting at #18. The band was formed in the 1980s in England and gained a following within the indie rock scene. They are known for their energetic live performances and catchy hooks.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to be what some of the fuss is all about,
I want to be a part of the excitement and interest that others are experiencing.
Excuse me mother while I scream and shout,
Please pardon me, mother, for raising my voice in anger or frustration.
Pass me the key, I'd like to let myself out and go....
Give me the means to leave and be independent.
Excuse me, mother, I am only bleeding,
Please excuse me, mother, for showing the emotional pain I am experiencing.
Is that a family manual you are reading,
Are you consulting some sort of guidebook for raising a family?
Don't you think that it's a little bit too late?
Isn't it too late for such a strategy or approach?
'cause I'm already the consequence of somebody else's fate
I am already dealing with the consequences of someone else's decisions or actions.
It's a mundane experience living with Mother and I,
It's a dull and uninteresting existence when just living with my mother and me.
You'd rather catch something contraversial and die.
You would prefer to experience something controversial or out-of-the-ordinary, even if it were deadly.
Don't you know that it's making me see red
Don't you realize that your actions are making me incredibly angry and frustrated?
And I doubt if she's heard a single word that I've said.
I don't think she has paid any attention to what I've been telling her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM ROY TREECE, MARTIN RICHARD GILKS, MILES STEPHEN HUNT, ROBERT JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind