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CJ Wildheart and Ginger Wildheart in London, 2019. | Photo: Will Ireland/Total Guitar Magazine
Guitarist CJ Wildheart, who left The Wildhearts in 2022 after their breakup, says he contacted Ginger Wildheart following the frontman's recent cancer diagnosis and would love the opportunity to reunite the band's most celebrated lineup.
In March, Ginger announced that he had been diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a type of cancer that affects white blood cells, but would not be receiving chemoimmunotherapy.
«"I won't undergo treatment," Ginger said. "I've lived the lives of 10 men, and I'll die with dignity.".
«"I sent him an honest and open message," CJ tells the publication. Classic Rock . "We hadn't spoken for three years because The Wildhearts broke up. His diagnosis was a shock, though I wasn't surprised that he refused treatment—that's very Ginger-like.".
«"Even though I told him he didn't have to reply to my message, he did, and in a very nice way. I've built a bridge between us. Whether Ginger decides to cross that bridge and meet me in the middle is up to him, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to get back together with Danny [McCormack, bass] and Richie [Battersby, drums] to close the circle.".
The band's lineup has evolved several times throughout Wildhearts' long and often turbulent career, most recently between 2018 and 2022, when the albums Renaissance Men и 21st Century Love Songs .
The current line-up of the group that worked on last year's album Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts , consists of Ginger, Random bassist John Poole, guitarist Ben Marsden, drummer Charles Evans and keyboardist Carol Hodge.
CJ Wildheart's new album, Devil , will be released on June 26. He plans to go on tour in September.
The Wildhearts: 2026 Tour Dates
June 11: Huddersfield Parish, UK July 16: Shipley Kirkgate Centre, UK July 17: Bedford Esquires, UK July 18: Bridgewater, Palace Nightclub, UK July 19: Maidstone, Maid of Stone Festival 2026, UK July 20: Birmingham, XOYO, Birmingham, UK August 8: Southampton, The Brook, UK August 9: Stockport, Firevolt Rock Festival 2026, UK August 10: Reading, Sub89, UK
Find Wildhearts concert tickets.