CJ

Who is CJ?

CJ is a British singer/songwriter of Guyanese and Seychellois descent. He is best known as the guitarist in UK rock band The Wildhearts.

He was born in Colchester, and his early childhood was spent living in various military bases in Malaysia and Europe whilst his father and mother served in the British army. The family eventually moved back to the UK during his teens. He was involved with many local bands including Medusa where he met then bassist Andy Merz. CJ's first notable success was during the late 1980s as the guitarist of London based hair rockers The Tattooed Love Boys who released their Bleeding Hearts and Needle Marks album in 1988.

He left the same year and formed The Wildhearts with ex-The Quireboys guitarist Ginger. Despite being plagued by widely-reported drug and alcohol problems, the band enjoyed considerable mainstream success during the early 90s, including 2 UK top 20 hits. In 1994, at their commercial peak, CJ was unexpectedly kicked out during the recording of the P.H.U.Q. album due to personal differences between himself and Ginger.

He soon went on to enjoy further success with ex- Wildhearts keyboard player Willie Dowling in Honeycrack, before eventually forming his own band The Jellys with ex-Wildhearts drummer Stidi. The Jellys disbanded when CJ and Stidi both re-joined The Wildhearts in 2001 and recorded The Wildhearts Must Be Destroyed, both staying in the band until they split again in 2005. The Wildhearts reformed again in 2006 with a new line up including CJ, but he also formed his own band 'CJ & The Satellites', releasing one album in 2007. He went on to record the eponymous album The Wildhearts in 2007 and Chutzpah! in 2009, with the Wildhearts.