Miles Hunt of Wonder Stuff
Huntingdon Hall, Worcester | 4th April 2026
On the night, the ever-popular Huntingdon Hall had sold out – completely! According to the indomitably confident Miles Hunt, he too had sold out, as the twenty year old, singer-songwriter would have despised the version of Milo sat on the stool serenading his audience. One has a great sense that Hunt has undergone a great deal of introspection over the years…”but tonight Mathew I am going to be Mr. Reasonable.”
Billed as a solo evening of songs and stories, the former Wonder Stuff frontman was disarmingly modest, open and affable – as the curator for the evening. And as we know this was not always the case.
The anecdotes ranged from inspirational epiphanies which inspired songs; such as the late night song writing session in the Radisson Hotel in New York, ably complemented with alcohol. The tales of touring America in the back of a van with the equipment, merch and Wayne Hussey made for great word pictures. “Graham from the Bay Area” was a caricature we all warmed to, even if he was driving around with an axe in his pick-up truck and the moniker he applied to Hussey, as he fixed their puncture, provided much mirth on the night. As Hunt declared…”You can’t call Wayne Hussey a cupcake, he’s a rock god!”
The “icing on the cake” was the back-catalogue of songs that Hunt has in his guitar case. “Gone, Gone, Gone,” went down like a rocket being pulled back successfully into the earth’s gravity. Lesser known flops (sic) such as Vent 414’s “Fixer” were greeted like old mates by a knowing audience. “Sweetest Bitter Ending,” a song written about break-ups – inadvertently mimicked real life – “as my then girlfriend Erica “f*cked off, ten months later.” The back-stories didn’t always compliment Miles Hunt. How sobering?
If the “Age of Reason” reflected the late 17th & 18th Century, then this truly must be the “Age of the Unreasonable,” in light of recent atrocities. By contrast, Miles Hunt appeared relaxed, grounded and with his self-esteem intact, the very embodiment of reason.
Following a European gig Miles Hunt and friend found themselves alone in a hotel bar with Bob Dylan. After much hand-wringing and internal deliberating the decision was taken to approach the musical icon. The five spectral bodyguards appeared from thin-air and advised them of their error. This anecdote was articulated with the fevered- verve of a teenager telling the story for the first time.
Accompanied by Miles Hunt’s own robust guitar strumming – with new strings chiming like early morning birdsong – the latter half of the evening became a showcase of the songwriter’s more popular hits. Eschewing “Dizzy” and “Size of a Cow,” thus proving his discerning nature, the night ended with the audience metaphorically dropping coins into the Wonder stuff jukebox. The contented singalong and spontaneous clapping rose collectively underlining the full-house capacity. The reality of the five family members in row J, singing in unison, confirmed the band’s appeal.
Offering a cheery wave and a convivial invitation to “meet me in the foyer,” Hunt exited stage right. Now, if Miles Hunt Esquire can present a magnanimous invitation, perhaps our world leaders could get round the table?
By: The Swilgate Scuttler
Photos: Mel – To Have & To Hold Records