THE CLASSIC Rock INTERVIEW GINGER WILDHEART
He’s the guy whose band The Wildhearts took off like a rocket in the early 90s – and he hasn’t returned to earth yet.
He’s the guy who got fired from the Quireboys in the late 80s because he had the best haircut; well, that and his early adoption of speed and coke and thrash and pop and booze – lots of booze – and distorted guitars and… Well, you get the picture.
He’s the guy who has released dozens of brilliantly inspired singles and albums by dozens of variously titled projects not including the juddering, monumental Wildhearts releases. The guy whose breathtaking range as a songwriter encompasses rock, punk, thrash, country, folk, psychedelia, heartrending ballads, infectious super-pop, teeth-grinding metal, future-shock lyrics and every colour of the rainbow if rainbows included black.
He’s the guy from Newcastle who grew up the tormented child of a vicious, violent stepfather. Whose mother was beaten bloody until one night she fought back by sticking a ten-inch blade into her aggressor’s stomach.
A lifetime fighting depression and anxiety ensued. Along the way there were suicide attempts.
He is Ginger Wildheart (real name David Leslie Walls) and his band are about to release the latest in high-end, ultra-rock Wildhearts albums, 21st Century Love Songs. And they’re out there on tour again smashing the world to tiny pieces.
Today he talks to Classic Rock via Zoom from his home in York.
We first met when you were in the Quireboys, in the eighties.
You’re the one who’s responsible for all of this.
That’s kind, but you got where you are today with your own talent and courage.
Well, I stuck with it because of your positive words. You don’t get thirty years in this business unless you had some good support. I was living with Ray Zell [creator of the Pandora Peroxide comic strip in Kerrang!]. It was a good time, but you were the one that said people will care if you do something solo. I went, maybe he’s mad or maybe he’s got a point. But I never really looked back.
“I was meant to do this, to be a pain in people’s ass and release far too much music and make a lot of noise.”
What are your memories of getting fired from the Quireboys?
I don’t have a lot of memories, because I was actually as drunk as, then found out later they were all more into alcohol.
