March is moving along, winter will soon be behind us and CJ Wildheart has a new album to talk about, a new single being released and a tour to promote. These were all great reasons for us to say hello. Your friendly neighborhood music journalist tracked him down after his Japanese tour and found out all about what was going on!
CJ’s next single, ‘You Got The Best Part Of Me,’ will launch on 28th March, and CJ will be supporting Michael Monroe in May (dates below):
May
22 – Newcastle, University
23 – Glasgow, Slay
26 – Southampton, The 1865
27 – Brighton, Concorde 2
28 – Bristol, Thekla
30 – Swansea, Sin City
31 – Buckley, Tivoli
The album tells the story of the gambles taken in life and has been produced with long-term collaborator and friend Dave Draper (Terrorvision, They Fell From The Sky), and with Jason Bowld (“Bullet For My Valentine”) on drums. The official release date of “SLOTS” is March 28th 2025, with the album available on CD and Vinyl from https://cjdevilspit.com
We will review the album separately at the end of the month, but, for now, here is the interview we had with him for your reading pleasure!
Let’s begin with “The Baddest Girl in The World.” I absolutely love that song! It has everything that I like for a good song, ingredient wise! Plenty of melody, attitude, and fist-pumping energy! Do you love it as much as me? Also, just who is that bad girl? Does the song come from a real-life meeting? And, an extra bit to the question! We all know many girls love a bad boy, but do you boys love a bad girl?!
CJ Wildheart: HaHa… I love a good anthemic chanty shouty sing-along chorus; I try to make all my songs have that attitude. The Baddest Girl In The World, was inspired by the girls I used to see at the bars and clubs when I first moved to London in the 80’s. My teenage head was well and truly turned and the song is a nod to all the alternative girls out there. The ones bad enough to be different and stand out from the norm.
We chatted with Brenna Red and the boys from “The Last Gang” recently; we also did a piece with Jen Razavi from The Bombpops. American punk today has this wonderful melodic energy within it, I feel. Is that something you hold to in your songwriting? As a British observer, our punk is often more toxic and angry, I think?!
CJ Wildheart: For me, a song must have a hook, and melody is what I hook folks with. My singles sound like singles and it’s important to get to the chorus as quickly as possible. I occasionally get angry and spit out my words with a lot of venom but ultimately, it’s all about wrapping the melody with a punk-tinged attitude.
The image of you in the leather jacket and hat is great! My editor, Mark, is a fan of Kiss; I like Black Veil Brides; your make-up there is more distorted, joker style! Did you play with different ideas for the make-up design or did it evolve from the make-up on the cover for “Split?”
CJ Wildheart: Throughout my rather long career, I’ve played around with many different looks. Image is quite important to me and I never wanted to just keep one look. I’ve evolved as a person and musician and it’s really important when I look back, that I see a change and not some old geezer trying to look the same way he did in the 90’s. I really love wearing make up too.
Let’s talk “SPLIT” for a moment, released in 2023. Was that the pandemic album? For me, the standout tracks there were “Kick Down the Walls” and “Victoria.” Are those favorites of yours too, and how much of that album is going to continue to feature in the live shows of 2025 onward?
CJ Wildheart: No, “SPLIT” wasn’t a pandemic album; I actually recorded an album called ‘SEIGE’ during the lockdown and I reflected a lot on the state of the world at the time, a really strange time to be alive. I really like “Kick Down The Walls;” the song is about being young and starting out with your band and we kick off our live set with this tune. “Victoria” is a punk rock love song that I wrote for my wife Vicci, and it is very close to my heart.
The new album is “SLOTS,” of course. It comes out at the end of March and we will get a review out for that at the time (this will be done as a feature for January). Reading your press release, it says, “SLOTS is the album I thought I’d never finish. To say I’ve had an emotional year is an understatement. This album is me finding my mojo again and staying true to my punk n’ roll roots. I like this album a lot and can’t wait to play it live.”
Can you elaborate? Did you lose your mojo after “Split?”
CJ Wildheart: I lost both my parents within 19 months; they both had dementia, and it really was a tough time. Also, I was let down very badly by some people I trusted, and it knocked me for six. I’m thankful now, as true colors were shown. All this combined rocked me and threw me off track. Thankfully I come from strong stock and I’m not one to bitch and moan like an adult baby. I found my mojo again and “SLOTS” was me coming back even stronger.
You have been in the business a little while now and have been there and seen chart success; you have watched the evolution in music listening from physical buying to streaming. As we turn to 2025, are you hopeful and positive about the music business, or do you worry for young bands just starting off and trying to make a living?
CJ Wildheart: I’ve been making albums for almost 40 years now and music and life has to evolve. The world doesn’t stand still and young musicians know nothing of the world I grew up and cut my teeth in. I’m not a luddite, and modern technology has enabled me to record all my solo albums in my home. Of course, I wish more people would buy my albums on CD or vinyl, but for now, I’m still standing and I’m moving forward with the times.
If someone was coming totally new to you and your music and they asked you to play them one song to introduce yourself and what you musically stand for, what would it be and why?
CJ Wildheart: Good question… I’d play them “The Baddest Girl In The World.” It’s instant, has a positive message and shows my upbeat punk attitude perfectly.
And for those readers who are big fans of yours and excited about the new album, what can they expect and get excited about?
CJ Wildheart: Well, I’ve never viewed myself as a complex musician or songwriter. With me, you get exactly what it says on the tin. I don’t mess folks around; I’m honest, and my music hits you hard, but in a joyous melodic way. Too many bullshit artists out there these days, mugging a living and I always try to shoot straight; I need to sleep at night.
And…what plans can you share with us for 2025?
Well, I’ve just finished a Japanese tour with my excellent solo band, and we will hit the road again in May supporting the brilliant Michael Monroe around the U.K.
CJ Wildheart: I’ll be touring again in September, shows to be announced soon and I’m starting work on my brand-new solo album, ‘DEVIL,’ which will drop in early 2026. My hot sauce ‘DEVILSPIT’ will also go on presale in the spring. You can’t keep this punk down.
And there we are! That Devilspit sauce is one hot sauce, btw. I’d suggest the garlic version; the whole line sold out last time, but watch out for the new arrivals!
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You can find CJ Wildheart here:
http://www.youtube.com/@cjwildheart2034
https://www.instagram.com/cjwildheart/
https://www.facebook.com/CJWildheartOfficial/
By Anna-Louise Burgess
