The Wildhearts: 10 Tracks You Need To Call Yourself A Fan

1995’s p.h.u.q. was originally intended to be a double album, but the band’s record label EastWest were reluctant to support that kind of release. Instead, they decided to issue Fishing For Luckies as a fan club only album in 1994, featuring four of the band’s longest songs (Sky Babies clocks in at nearly 12 minutes) as well two more conventional length ones.

It would later be expanded to feature extra tracks and get an official release, but it was the original version that is arguably the band’s greatest achievement. It spawned the double A-side single Geordie In Wonderland and If Life Is Like A Lovebank I Want An Overdraft, with the former memorably performed on Top Of The Pops, complete with Jeff Hateley of Wolfsbane playing mandolin while dressed in a Newcastle United strip.

Meanwhile, Lovebank’s music video was deemed pornographic and had to be heavily edited before being broadcast. While both these songs were memorable - Geordie… in particular is a fan favourite - it was the longer ones that showcased the true genius of Ginger’s songwriting. They were sprawling and intense, but never boring.

Early reviews for the band had lazily described them as Metallica meets The Beatles but those comparisons really shine through on Inglorious, a near eight minute bruiser of a song which opens Fishing For Luckies in spectacular fashion.