Four decades on from their small Stourbridge beginnings, The Wonder Stuff are still here playing live at one of their favourite venues. Tonight they are celebrating their 40th anniversary. But this isn’t just a nostalgia act: loss, line-up changes, hiatuses and everything else that you can throw at a band have taken their toll over the years, but their fans have remained loyal and they’re packing out Rock City tonight.
The Wonder Stuff start up with Red Berry Joy Town - a bouncy crowd favourite. “How are we doing Rock City?” shouts lead vocalist and guitarist Miles Hunt to clapping and cheering from an audience that is here to party. They’ve come to the right place because The Wonder Stuff are on form and ready to rock and roll, as they quickly move into On the Ropes before Hunt shouts “Giddy up kids this is the horsie song” and they tear through Ruby Horse.
It’s a cracking start, and all along Erica Nockalls has been providing violin lines and backing vocals to great effect.
“How the f**k are you then, alright? Thanks very much Nottingham, you always show up in good numbers for us, so good job, wanna hear you singing all night though, alright?” says Hunt with that distinctive West Midlands accent that he’s never lost. He remains the constant thread in the band along with Malc Treece who left and rejoined. Nockalls has been around for 20 years now and she is a solid part of the band. Pete Howard, formerly a member of The Clash, is on the drums and Mark Gemini Thwaite is also on guitar.
We should do this again some time!
Golden Green, Mission Drive and Welcome to the Cheap Seats all get a run out and the crowd sing along with glee. Musically the band are still really sharp and tight as a group. They are a united force and while they might be in their early 60s now, they sound absolutely great. Nockalls adds something special to the mix, and Hunt’s voice is full of wry detachment, with a touch of arrogance; he knows that he’s got everyone in the room hanging on every word he sings.
The gig plays out like a best of album and apart from a few newer tracks the crowd knows every single song and there’s a sense of shared history between the band and the fans. Hunt works the crowd with ease. More hits arrive in quick succession, with Size of a Cow doing exactly what it has always done - setting a venue on fire. The Rock City faithful have been waiting for this one and everyone is bouncing around and singing along to the slightly ridiculous lyrics, but everyone is smiling and loving it. Don’t Let Me Down, Gently, Unbearable and Give, Give, Give, Me More, More, More complete the main set and as the band leave the stage the crowd sing "Give, Give, Give, Me More, More, More" over and over until they return.
The encore consists of Radio Ass Kiss and Ten Trenches Deep which is met with approval from the fans who are still singing, dancing and bouncing along to every song. But all too soon the night is over and it’s only about 9.30pm! These guys are getting older and so are the fans, so no doubt they appreciate the early finish. It’s been a great gig - we can’t ask for
any more.
“We should do this again some time!” says Hunt as the band take their bows and leave the stage, the sound of clapping and cheering still ringing in his ears. As we all continue to age, faster than we like, maybe next time we can have a matinée performance and all get home in time for dinner...
The Wonder Stuff performed at Rock City on 7th May 2026.
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