Entering the late 1980s with an audacious mix of punk, glam, and classic rock, Boys Wonder made quite the impression. Yet, they ultimately faded into obscurity just as their sound began to dominate the charts. Now, they’re back—so, is there any bitterness about the past?
The band’s track “Goodbye Jimmy Dean” kicks off with a striking barrage of power chords, seemingly lifted from The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The opening lyrics, delivered in an unmistakable estuary accent—“I get bored so easily—that’s why I only say hello”—set the stage for an eclectic mix of influences, from the Sex Pistols to Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, wrapping up with an unmistakable nod to The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout.” The chorus reveals a fierce, delightfully camp opposition to the overwhelming dominance of classic American culture: “Goodbye Jimmy Dean, don’t tell me what to wear / See you later Monroe, if anybody cares.”
While this might invoke the nostalgia of Britpop’s vibrant 1990s, “Goodbye Jimmy Dean” is actually a product of Boys Wonder, a band whose rise and fall occurred between 1986 and 1988. They were a good eight years ahead of their time, struggling to fit into their musical landscape, which ultimately led to their downfall. Nonetheless, they made a significant impact in their brief existence. I personally witnessed them performing their infectious anthem “Shine on Me” on the Channel 4 comedy show Saturday Live in 1987 and was captivated. However, with the media ignoring them and the internet still nonexistent, I was left puzzled about their disappearance.
Now, I’ve learned that Boys Wonder only released four singles, with “Goodbye Jimmy Dean” being the third. Just before losing key members and trying to pivot towards a more dance-inflected sound, they experienced brief exposure. Even at the height of their popularity, journalists turned a blind eye, often dismissive of their music, as Ben Addison, the band’s lead vocalist, recalls: “We were banging our heads against a wall. And the wall won.”
However, recognition for their prescient work is finally coming. The band recently graced the stage for their first performance in 35 years, with another show on the horizon. Additionally, some of their original stage attire will be showcased in “Outlaws,” a new exhibition at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum focusing on the “fashion renegades of 80s London.” The highlight, however, is the release of “Question Everything,” a brilliant anthology featuring mostly unheard material.
During a captivating two-hour Zoom call, Addison, now a father of two living in Dusseldorf, shares the band’s story. Along with his twin brother Scott, an art school graduate from southeast London, they initially cut their musical teeth in a band called Brigandage, described by Addison as “the Sex Pistols with a female singer.” After that project fell through, they teamed up with guitarist Graham Jones, in the aftermath of the short-lived pop sensation Haircut 100. Together, they envisioned a unique sound that blended punk with an array of diverse influences.
Jones recalls how they routinely gathered at the Addison’s flat to record songs on a four-track Portastudio. “While Scott was doing his overdubs,” he says, “Ben would be in the corner with a pad and paper, sketching outfits. Our girlfriends were in fashion school, enabling some of them to create the clothes Ben designed. The music was just part of a larger creative process.”
They infused themselves with the aesthetic of their favorite music. Addison mentions iconic performances like The Who’s “My Generation” on The Smothers Brothers Show and the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” music video. Their musical tastes spanned far and wide, from Roxy Music’s flamboyant styles to pre-fat Elvis and an array of glam influences.
Initially considering a name like Batman & Robin, they settled on Boys Wonder to avoid legal issues while keeping the whimsical spirit alive. The Addison twins adapted their haircuts to a bowl-style that starkly contrasted the quiffs dominant in the ’80s. “A friend of ours, Andrew McLaughlin, had this severe bleached fringe one night at the Greenwich theater bar, and I thought, ‘That’s the bomb. That’s what we’re going to do,’” Addison recalls, which led to his unforgettable look.
“It was thrilling to be doing something no one else was,” Jones adds. Their unique vibe soon captured the attention of Seymour Stein, the legendary American music executive known for signing the likes of The Ramones and Madonna. Despite their talent, financial limitations meant their major label experience was short-lived.
Reflecting on their earlier struggles, Addison notes, “We were doing late-night recording sessions and jokingly asked Stein for more money while he lounged by a Vegas pool. He told us we were living in a dream world, and honestly, he had a point. We were more like a tax write-off than anything else.” Their brief time with Rough Trade yielded little more success.
Their new anthology reveals that, despite the setbacks, Boys Wonder’s music never faltered in quality. Their defining sound combined punk, glam, and perfect pop aesthetics across not only “Goodbye Jimmy Dean” but also hits like “Shine on Me” and “Now What Earthman?” Their lyrical creativity shone through titles like “Lady Hangover” and “Baby It’s No Joke,” while songs like “Soho Sunday Morning” foreshadowed the direction 90s British music would take.
Fast forward to the mid-’90s, the Addison twins formed the band Corduroy, releasing music that retained a distinct London feel while exploring different genres. Watching bands like Blur, Suede, and Pulp rise to fame, Addison reflects, “If it weren’t for Corduroy, I might have been more blue about it all. Blur even sampled our song ‘London, England’ for their intro tape and invited us to their Alexandra Palace gig, which I’m grateful for.”
There’s a more personal connection to Britpop; Addison recalls a memorable gig where Boys Wonder was supported by a then-unknown Blur, who performed under the name Seymour. “I don’t want to claim anything,” he laughs, “but that’s what happened. There was a strange correlation between us; Britpop felt so unglamorous. Everyone was in Adidas shell toes and plain shirts, which lacked the style we embodied.”
As he speaks about the band’s upcoming reunion, Addison reflects on the passage of time. “I’m way older now. I’m not jumping around as much, and I won’t be doing the eyebrows again. But there’s a new confidence in our music. It feels exciting to revisit our old glories.”
Interestingly, this return has led him to question generational norms. “I’m not on a mission,” he says with a grin, “but I think there’s something to be said: your grandparents were a lot more interesting than you are.”
Boys Wonder will perform at the 100 Club in London on October 23, with their anthology “Question Everything” set to release on November 1.
