Returning to Australia next month for the first time since 1980, Wreckless Eric was a labelmate of Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury & The Blockheads on the infamous Stiff Records label when he released his classic “Whole Wide World” single in 1978. Since covered by everyone from Mental As Anything to Green Day to Marion Manson to actor Will Farrell, “Whole Wide World,” as a song, is a punk-pop icon. ILYOS looks at the artist and a few covers of his most famous tune, and reveals that “Whole Wide World” is just one of the numerous wonderful songs that Eric has recorded over a career that has found the singer-songwriter move from New Wave pop hitmaker to DIY Underground hero.

One of the classic punk-era pop songs, Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World” is up there with “Another Girl Another Planet” by The Only Ones and “Shake Some Action” when it comes to seemingly one-shot classic songs but otherwise overlooked artists from the punk era. 

Released on the infamous Stiff Records label – the label that had changed Declan McManus’s name to Elvis Costello and released his classic early singles and first album as well as other brilliant material from The Damned, Nick Lowe and Ian Dury & The Blockheads  - “Whole Wide World” was a minor hit on 1978.  Eric followed the single up with a number of other classic pop tunes, include “Reconnez Cherie,” “Hit and Miss Judy” and “Broken Doll,” but by 1981, his star had faded. Jaded, he stepped away from music. 

Eric returned to music a few years later with the wonderful Len Bright Combo. Featuring Eric, two members of cult Kent garage-beat band The Milkshakes, and no one named Len Bright, the Len Bright Combo released a couple of cheaply recorded albums full of wonderful – and wonderfully bizarre - pop songs, including “You’re Gonna Screw My Head off” and “Someone Must’ve Nailed Us Together” and “The Golden Hour of Harry Seacombe.” 

Firmly committed to a DIY approach, Eric kept working, and released two albums in the 90s that saw him reach new artist heights. Again home recorded, Le Beat Group Electrique and the aptly titled The Donovan of Trash contained some of Eric’s most memorable tunes and would become touchstones for a generation of DIY indie and garage pop artists over coming decades.

Eric kept working, and in 2008 started making albums with his wife,  US garage-country-popster Amy Rigby. Now based in upstate New York,  Eric again started recording solo in 2015 with the album AmERICa. He released his latest album Construction Time & Demolition, earlier this year. 

Of course, while all this has been going on, “Whole Wide World” has quietly, and without any push from its writer, become a much loved and oft-covered pop classic. The Monkees were the first notable artist to pick it up (although Eric’s label mater Elvis Costello had performed it live back in 1977), including a version on their 1987 reunion album Pool It.  In 1995, our own Mental An Anything, who were undoubtedly cut from the same cloth as Wreckless Eric in their early days, had a minor hit of their own with it here in Australia. Since then the Proclaimers, Green Day, Marilyn Manson, Jack Johnson, and numerous others have recorded it or performed it live in concert. Even actor Will Ferrell got with it, performing it in a particularly touching scene in the film Stranger Than Fiction.

Wreckless Eric has not toured Australia since 1980 when he undertook a lengthy and successful pub tour with his band, but he’s back in November, and if you love “Whole Wide World” as much as we do, you’ll want to check him out. Special guests on the tour include original Mentals Reg Mombassa & Peter O’Doherty, Nic Dalton of the Lemonheads, Nick Craft of Sidewinders and others.

All info and tickets can be found here. 

Nov 11  Melbourne – The Tote with special guests Craig Dermody (Scott & Charlene’s Wedding) +  Pink Tiles duo (Mara & Victoria) 
Nov 14  Adelaide – The Gov with John Dowler Vanity Trio (Zimmermen, Young Modern) + Piers Diprose
Nov 15  Sydney – Factory Theatre with special guests Reg Mombassa & Peter O’Doherty (Mental As Anything, Dog Trumpet) + Nic Dalton (Half A Cow Records, Lemonheads) 
Nov 16  Sydney - Petersham Bowling Club with special guest Natalie de Silver (The Dandelion)
Nov 17  Hardys Bay - Hardys Bay Club with DJ Rusty Hopkinson (You Am I)
Nov 18  Canberra – The Basement with special guest Nick Craft (Sidewinder)
Nov 22  Brisbane – The Triffid with special guest JJ Speedball
Nov 23  Castlemaine - Theatre Royal with special guests Sleeper & Snake (Amy Hill & Al Montfort)
Nov 24  Melbourne – Northcote Social Club (matinee) with special guests Girlatones duo (Jesse & Leah)
Nov 24  Melbourne – Caravan Club (evening) with special guests John Dowler Vanity Trio (Zimmermen)
Nov 26  Perth – The Rosemount with special guest Joe Bludge (Painkillers)