Part of a gang of DIY post-punk oddballs signed to the legendary indie label
Stiff Records, Wreckless Eric delivered eccentric pop songs with frantic,
snarling energy and a ragged spirit. Born in East Sussex, Eric Goulden cut his
teeth on the London pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and landed a deal with Stiff
in 1977 when Nick Lowe heard a cassette tape of homemade demos he had dropped
off. His single Whole Wide World was championed by Radio 1 DJ John Peel and
albums Wreckless Eric (1978), The Wonderful World Of. (1979) and Big Smash!
(1980) became cult favourites with Elvis Cost...