Wreckless Eric

Wreckless Eric (Born Eric Goulden on May 18, 1954 in Newhaven, East Sussex) is a rock and roll singer/ songwriter. He is best known as one of the original members of the Stiff Records artist roster along with Ian Dury, Madness, Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. His debut single "Whole Wide World"/"Semaphore Signals" was produced by & featured bass (and most of the other instruments) by Nick Lowe, with Ian Dury on drums.

His debut album "The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric" was a Top 50 hit in the UK, but by the time his second album "Wreckless Eric" came out he was already being overshadowed by labelmates Costello & Dury. It was during this time that his shows became known for his increasingly drunken antics. He attempted a more Pop Music style on the (either dryly or optimistically) titled "Big Smash" album, his last with Stiff Records. Ironically Cliff Richard's cover of Broken Doll from "Big Smash" was the highest one of his songs ever charted.

In 1985 he signed to New Rose Records as Eric Gulden & released "A Roomful of Monkeys" with various members of the Blockheads, and was quickly followed by an eponymous LP by The Len Bright Combo. Unfortunately these records were no more successful than his previous releases, and the same on-stage problems continued until he seemingly self-destructed and moved to France where he "pursued a career as a full time alcoholic" (according to his own bio).

After several years in France, Eric straightened up & founded Le Beat Group Electrique with bassist André Barreau and drummer Catfish Truton & released "Le Beat Group Electrique", "At the Shop" & "The Donovan of Trash".

Eric returned to the UK in 1998 and has written his autobiography, A Dysfunctional Success – The Wreckless Eric Manual, and recorded & released the album "Bungalow Hi".

Discography

As Wreckless Eric

• The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric (1978)
• Wreckless Eric (1978)
• The Whole Wide World (1979)
• Big Smash (1980)
• Almost a Jubilee: 25 Years at the BBC (with Gaps) (2003)
• Bungalow Hi (2004)

With Captains of Industry

• Roomful of Monkeys (1984)

With The Len Bright Combo

• The Len Bright Combo Presents... (1985)
• Combo Time (1986)

(The two Len Bright Combo albums were re-released on a single CD on Eric's Southern Domestic label in 2004.)

With Le Beat Group Electrique

• Le Beat Group Electrique (1989)
• At the Shop (1990)
• The Donovan of Trash (1991)

With Hitsville House Band

• 12 o'Clock Stereo (1996)

As Eric Goulden

• Karaoke (1997)

Compilation appearances

• Bunch of Stiffs (1977)
• Live Siffs Live (1978)
• Heroes & Cowards (1978)
• Can't Start Dancing (1978)
• The Last Compilation Album (1980)
• The Stiff Records Box Set (1991)
• DiY 3: Teenage Kicks – UK Pop I (1976–79) (1993)

Bibliography

• "Wreckless Eric" Gulden: A Dysfunctional Success – The Wreckless Eric Manual Do Not Press (2004), ISBN 1–904316–18–2 Book Homepage