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.
Radio Ass Kiss
The Wonder Stuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Radio Ass Kiss on the air
Say what you like now no one cares
Radio Ass Kiss on the air
Say what you like now no one's scared
I caught the DJ pulling up his trousers
I'm staying tight lipped he's doing me a favour
Switch the station try another flavour
It's not seen, it's not heard
It's not mentioned by the spoken word
So bugger the plugger 'cause there'll be another
It's easy for the blind to see
And gives the company a policy
[CHORUS]
God bless the D.J jeepers yowsers
Who's got the problem?
Just look at my behavior
God bless the DJ jeepers yowsers
Peel me off the corss
We don't need another saviour
It's not seen, it's not heard
It's not mentioned by the spoken word
So bugger the plugger 'cause there'll be another
I'm not making an apology
Or calling it my apology
Or calling it my policy
[CHORUS]
Thrills kids we've got another caller, a lady pickpocket from over the water.
Jeez, I'm swell for doing her a favor, another dance beat for her sickly little daughter.
The Wonder Stuff's song "Radio Ass Kiss" is a satirical take on the music industry, particularly on radio stations and DJs who prioritize pleasing record companies and advertisers over their listeners. The chorus emphasizes this idea with the repeated line "Radio Ass Kiss on the air/Say what you like now no one cares," suggesting that DJs can get away with saying anything as long as they keep playing the songs that will bring in revenue. The verses describe catching a DJ in a compromising position and staying quiet to maintain their favor, as well as the absurdity of the industry's practices, illustrated through lines like "It's easy for the blind to see/And gives the company a policy."
The bridge of the song expresses sarcastic gratitude toward DJs, thanking God for their existence even while criticizing their behavior. The final verse introduces a new character, a "lady pickpocket from over the water," adding another layer to the song's commentary on the music industry's willingness to exploit people for profit, even as it pretends to be providing entertainment.
Overall, "Radio Ass Kiss" is a scathing critique of the music industry that still feels relevant today, calling out the way that corporations can dictate what gets played on the radio and how musicians and listeners can be taken advantage of in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Radio Ass Kiss on the air
The radio station is playing songs that pander to the interests of the music industry rather than to the listeners.
Say what you like now no one cares
The music industry doesn't care about the opinion of the listeners, as long as they keep listening to the same old formulaic pop songs.
Say what you like now no one's scared
Listeners should stop being afraid of expressing their opinion as the industry isn't listening anyway.
I caught the DJ pulling up his trousers
The DJ plays along with the industry's intentions even though they don't like it.
Switch the station try another flavour
Find a different radio station that plays music genres that cater to your taste.
It's not seen, it's not heard
Not all musicians who play good music can be popular or famous. There are a lot of talented artists who wouldn't get airborne through the mainstream music channels.
So bugger the plugger 'cause there'll be another
The record label's plugger attempts to influence the songs a band plays, but the band should keep playing the music they want despite the plugger's attempts.
God bless the D.J jeepers yowsers
The DJ is praised for playing songs that are unconventional or for taking risks playing something that isn't as formulaic.
Peel me off the cross
People need to stop seeing themselves as victims of the music industry and take control of what music they listen.
We don't need another saviour
Music won't solve all the world's problems; people should stop acting like they are.
Thrills kids we've got another caller, a lady pickpocket from over the water.
The radio station is using sensationalist programs to attract more listeners.
Jeez, I'm swell for doing her a favor, another dance beat for her sickly little daughter.
The DJ is being sarcastic as he is just trying to give the listener what they want but doesn't agree with it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM ROY TREECE, MARTIN RICHARD GILKS, MILES STEPHEN HUNT, ROBERT JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
teofeo333
Saw these guys open for Siouxsie & The Banshees believe it or not. Great show, The Wonderstuff kind of out did Siouxsie performance wise. All around a fantastic show...loved them both.
el sh'booms
I saw them at the mighty Bronco Bowl in Dallas on the same tour. I knew it was probably going to be one of the few times they'd ever come to (north) Texas so I made sure to see them and meet them and they didn't disappoint. That was shortly after the first Lollapalooza and Siouxsie was riding a bit of a resurgence off of that and "Kiss Them For Me". She wasn't, like, super-transgressive or anything but I thought the Banshees put on a good show.
marzipanthequeen
+teofeo333 Opened for Siouxsie at the Ritz in NY - yes, it was an amazing show!
Cwtch Cabin
Immense! This is such a nostalgia trip. Brilliant track from a brilliant album by a brilliant band. Thanks for posting.
casperld
One of the great albums of all time!
Martin Barratt
such a great band :)
alastair fraser
one of their best songs
mark burns
I'm only 19 and I now most of there songs can't believe they aint still as popular there great
craigiewicked1
pure class
PVCVIDEOLA
I like the 16 different flavors drum loop break.