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.
Unbearable
The Wonder Stuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put your money where your mouth is
Come and join us on holiday
I won't lose you round the mountain
I didn't like you very much when I met you
I didn't like you very much when I met you
I didn't like you very much when I met you
And now I like you even less
I don't know what to do
For the best
You spend your money so frivolously
Why don't you save it for the children?
You spend your money but it's not on me
Or a man of lesser income
I didn't like you very much when I met you
I didn't like you very much when I met you
I didn't like you very much when I met you
I didn't like you very much when I met you
And now I like you even less
I don't know what to do
For the best
In "Unbearable," The Wonder Stuff's lead singer Miles Hunt sings about someone who spends their money carelessly while not considering the consequences of their actions. Hunt encourages this person to "put their money where their mouth is," and join him on holiday, promising not to lose them around the mountain. The line "Put paid to what you say" suggests that it's time for this person to back up their words with actions.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "I didn't like you very much when I met you" four times, highlighting the singer's initial dislike for this person. However, as the verses progress, the singer's feelings towards the person grow even colder, as they spend money frivolously and fail to prioritize important things like children and those on a lower income.
Overall, "Unbearable" is a critique on materialism and superficiality, with lyrics that reflect the singer's increasing disdain for someone who puts their wealth above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
Put paid to what you say
Stop talking and start doing
Put your money where your mouth is
Put your money into action instead of just talking about it
Come and join us on holiday
Come spend time with us to see our different perspectives
I won't lose you round the mountain
I will stick with you through any challenges and hardships we may face
I didn't like you very much when I met you
My initial impression of you was not favorable
And now I like you even less
My opinion of you has only worsened
I don't know what to do
I am unsure of how to handle this situation
For the best
In a way that is most beneficial for all parties involved
You spend your money so frivolously
You waste your money on unnecessary and extravagant things
Why don't you save it for the children?
Why not invest in the future instead of indulging in present pleasures?
You spend your money but it's not on me
You prioritize something else over me or us
Or a man of lesser income
Or someone who is less fortunate than you financially
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM ROY TREECE, MARTIN RICHARD GILKS, MILES STEPHEN HUNT, ROBERT JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind