The Wolfhounds
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | David Callahan, Paul Clark, Andy Golding, Andy Bolton, Frank Stebbing |
| Headquarters | Romford, Greater London , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Albums, singles, EPs |
The Wolfhounds are a noise pop group originating from Romford, Greater London, established in 1985 by David Callahan, Paul Clark, Andy Golding, Andy Bolton, and Frank Stebbing. After an initial period of activity until 1990, they reunited in 2005 and have since continued to compose, produce, and perform, with album releases in 2014, 2016, and 2020.
History
Emerging as an indie pop/rock outfit influenced by garage and post-punk styles, The Wolfhounds were formed by Callahan and Clark, who had previously collaborated in The Changelings—a band known for their classic garage covers. In 1986, the group signed with the Pink label; their first EP, Cut the Cake, secured their spot on the notable NME C86 compilation through the track "Feeling So Strange Again."
Although early recordings were made with limited resources, the band quickly cultivated a dedicated fanbase and performed at prominent venues including the ICA. Following two single releases and their debut album Unseen Ripples from a Pebble under Pink, they briefly transitioned to Idea Records before establishing a relationship with September Records, which later became Midnight Music for subsequent projects.
As lineup changes occurred—replacing Bolton and Clark with David Oliver and Matt Deighton—the band experienced internal discussions regarding their commercial approach. This period saw their sound evolve into a denser and less pop-driven style. Their sophomore album Bright and Guilty (1989) included singles such as "Son of Nothing" and "Rent Act," while later works like Blown Away (1989) and Attitude (1990) ventured into more experimental sounds reminiscent of Sonic Youth.
Despite receiving critical praise for three distinct albums released within fifteen months, The Wolfhounds faced commercial difficulties compounded by frequent label transitions. Ultimately, they disbanded in early 1990 after encountering commercial obstacles. Following the split, members engaged in new ventures: Golding and Stebbing initiated Crawl; Callahan joined Moonshake alongside former Ultra Vivid Scene member Margaret Fiedler; Deighton went on to form Mother Earth.
Reformation
After establishing a career as a freelance ornithologist, Callahan initially declined invitations to revive The Wolfhounds. Nevertheless, in 2006 he reunited the band for a performance arranged by Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne at London's ICA to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the C86 cassette.
Callahan reflected, "When we started playing together again it just clicked... it immediately felt like a creative collaboration." This experience altered his stance, leading him to embrace subsequent opportunities.
The reassembled lineup—David Callahan (guitar/vocals), Andy Golding (guitar/vocals), Peter Wilkins (drums), and Richard Golding (bass)—continued live performances, including opening for The Membranes at The Lexington in London. In March 2012, they supported Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab during a benefit event for the Timperley Frank Sidebottom memorial statue.
April 2012 saw the release of the EP EP001 on Vollwert-Records Berlin, containing three early tracks that had never been properly recorded; notably, 'Skullface' received considerable radio attention. Throughout 2013 several 7" singles followed; these were gathered along with the EP on the 2014 compilation Middle Age Freaks issued by Odd Box Records. That same year featured a limited reissue of Unseen Ripples from a Pebble with additional tracks via Optic Nerve Recordings.
Their fifth album Untied Kingdom (...Or How to Come to Terms with Your Culture), released in October 2016, earned a 9/10 score from Louder Than War. The sixth album Electric Music (2020) was praised by the same publication as potentially their finest work yet.
The Wolfhounds prioritize continual artistic development over nostalgia. Callahan stated: "We occasionally perform older songs like 'The Anti-Midas Touch' but mostly focus on material from our newest album... inspired by bands such as The Fall and Wire who consistently present fresh compositions live. I respect my past but always look ahead, striving to leave unfinished creations ready for future exploration."
Solo Careers
David Lance Callahan, performing as David Lance Callahan, debuted the solo track "Strange Lovers" in 2019, followed by the album English Primitive I released in 2021. Meanwhile, Andy Golding adopted the moniker Dragon Welding to launch a self-titled LP in 2019 and subsequently released Lights Behind The Eyes in 2021.
Discography
Positions listed correspond to rankings on the UK Indie Chart.
Studio Albums
- Unseen Ripples from a Pebble (Reached No. 6) (May 1987, Pink; reissued November 2014, Optic Nerve [LP & CD])
- Bright and Guilty (February 1989, Midnight Music; re-released August 2022, Optic Nerve [2LP] with additional tracks)
- Blown Away (October 1989, Midnight Music)
- Attitude (May 1990, Midnight Music)
- Untied Kingdom (…Or How to Come to Terms with Your Culture) (October 2016, Oddbox; reissued 2017, Optic Nerve [CD])
- Electric Music (2020, A Turntable Friend [LP/CD])
Live Recordings
- My Life as a Young Idiot (Hammersmith 1985) (Digital release, 2015)
- Blazing White Bleached Crack in the Top (Brixton 1986) (Digital release, 2015)
- Noise-pop aus UK (Netherlands 1987) (Digital release, 2015)
- I Miss the Electric Mistress (Brighton 1989) (Digital release, 2015)
Compilation Albums
- The Essential Wolfhounds (November 1988, Midnight Music)
- Lost But Happy (1986-1990) (April 1996, Cherry Red)
- Middle Aged Freaks (November 2014, Oddbox)
- Hands in the Till: The Complete John Peel Sessions (2018, A Turntable Friend)
Singles and EPs
- "Cut the Cake" (March 1986, Pink) (Charted No. 19)
- "The Anti-Midas Touch" (September 1986, Pink) (Charted No. 6)
- "Rats on a Raft" / b/w Razorcuts track (1986, The Legend!)
- "Cruelty" (April 1987, Pink) (Charted No. 15)
- "Me" (November 1987, Idea) (Charted No. 18)
- "Son of Nothing" (May 1988, September)
- "Rent Act" (November 1988, Midnight Music)
- "Happy Shopper" (March 1989, Midnight Music)
- EP001 ["Skullface"/"Rats on a Raft"/"6000 Acres"] (April 2012, Vollwert-Records)
- "Cheer Up"/"Security"/"The Devil Looks After Her Own" (January 2013, Odd Box)
- "Cheer Up"/"Skullface" (May 2013, Manic Pop!)
- "Divide and Fall"/"The Ten Commandments of Public Life" (2013, Oddbox)
- "Anthem"/"Middle-Aged Freak" (2013, Oddbox)
Sources
- Tassell, Nige (2023). Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids? An Indie Odyssey. Nine Eight Books. ISBN 978-1-7887-0560-8