TheWH History wrote:November 1992 Bam leaves the band to rejoin the reformed Dogs D'Amour. Ginger tells RAW that although he's still good friends with Bam, the drummer's heart had always really been with the Dogs D'Amour. Stidi is re-recruited as a temporary replacement.
November 1992 'Double EP' Don't Be Happy... Just Worry is released. It consists of four new songs recorded at Rockfield in Wales, with 'Anti-Dance' remixes (by Terry Date) of the Mondo Akimbo A-Go-Go tracks. (Kerrang!'s Neil Jeffries grins a knowing smile.)
November - December 1992 The Wildhearts lay down some pre-production demos at Wessex Studios, which turn out so good that they end up being properly mixed and used as the final versions on the Earth Vs The Wildhearts album.
December 1992 The Wildhearts are unceremoniously kicked off Izzy Stradlin's tour after the first date at Nottingham Rock City. The press speculate about the reasons for the band's ousting. Rumours include: The Wildhearts outsold Izzy on the merchandise stand; the ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist was none too pleased at the audience's lukewarm response following an amazing set from The Wildhearts; and Izzy took offence at his support band's backstage, ahem, herbal relaxation techniques, having only recently fought his own battles with substance abuse. However, Dante Bonutto recently told me that the band's ousting from the tour had something to do with an argument between Ginger and Izzy, and involved a woman. Said Dante: "I'm saying no more... except that The Wildhearts' response to this unceremonious booting-off was to print up a black and white flyer referring to Izzy Stradlin' as 'Izzy Strugglin'. Needless to say, this didn't go down well with the Izzy camp!"
1 March - 6 March 1993 The band replace Screaming Trees as support to Alice In Chains in the UK and Ireland.
30 April 1993 Mick Ronson dies from cancer of the liver. The former Spiders From Mars guitarist and Ian Hunter collaborator was working on a solo album entitled Heaven And Hull. One of his last recordings was the guitar solo for My Baby Is A Headfuck on Earth Vs The Wildhearts. Ronson was originally considered for the role of producer on the album, but was not well enough to take up the position.
May 1993 BBC Radio One's Friday Rock Show broadcasts a session by The Wildhearts. Four songs are played during the show: Pump It Up (the Elvis Costello song), Everlone, Something Weird and Liberty Cap. All of the tracks were specially recorded for the BBC.
31 August 1993 The band's debut album, Earth Vs The Wildhearts, is released.
21 September 1993 Having recently replaced Stidi, ex-Radio Moscow drummer Ritch Battersby (from Cannock, near Birmingham) plays his first gig with The Wildhearts, supporting Wolfsbane at The Marquee.
1-5 October 1993 The Wildhearts headline the Norwich Oval and Dudley JB's before going on to play with Alice In Chains at the Brixton Academy on 4 and 5 October. EastWest give away a free promo 7", with Suckerpunch on the A-side and fellow support act Clawfinger's War Fair on the flipside.
6 October - 22 October 1993 The band tour the UK in support of The Almighty (Kerbdog are third on the bill). It's The Wildhearts' first high profile tour, and the eyes of the press are upon them. The last three dates are cancelled when The Almighty's frontman, Ricky Warwick, collapses from nervous exhaustion. Danny later tells Kerrang!'s Morat that he had been having a few health problems of his own during the tour. The bassist had apparently suffered an acid trip that lasted three and a half months, and came close to being admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
7 March - 1 April 1994 The Wildhearts' Full Roar '94 tour plays to 23 venues around the UK. Willie Dowling (who played on Earth Vs The Wildhearts) is added to the touring line-up as a keyboard player. Support comes from Scottish labelmates Baby Chaos. Splitpigs also join the party at the Forum in London's Kentish Town on 27 March, where Ginger wears a white tuxedo and asks the crowd to join him in an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday. It's his mother's birthday, and she watches the gig from the balcony. A typical set list from the tour runs: Nothing Ever Changes But The Shoes, Greetings From Shitsville, Everlone, Liberty Cap, Shame On Me, Suckerpunch, News Of The World, Caffeine Bomb, My Baby Is A Headfuck, Love U Til I Don't. Some fans complain that the hour-long sets are too short.
March 1994 Caffeine Bomb is added to Earth Vs The Wildhearts and the album is re-released.
