Guitarist CJ Wildheart departed The Wildhearts in 2022 when the band disbanded. He has since publicly shared his desire to reconcile with frontman Ginger Wildheart, as reported by Louder Sound. Ginger has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has chosen to refuse treatment. He responded to CJ’s outreach negatively on social media.
CJ spoke openly about reaching out to Ginger following the difficult end of the band and Ginger’s cancer diagnosis, expressing hope for a reunion with former bandmates.
“I sent him an honest and open message. We hadn’t spoken in three years because The Wildhearts ended badly. His diagnosis came as a shock, though I wasn’t shocked that he decided against treatment – that’s a very Ginger-esque stance,” CJ said.
CJ went on to describe the response he received and his hopes for a potential reunion to bring closure to the band’s story.
“Although I said he didn’t need to reply to my message, he did, and with a really nice message. I built a bridge between us. Whether or not Ginger decides to come over 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 myself, Danny [McCormack, bass] and Richie [Battersby, drums] back together again to close the circle,” he continued.
Ginger Wildheart, however, swiftly shut down the idea, writing on social media in response to CJ’s remarks: “Never, ever gonna happen.”
CJ’s appeal for reconciliation comes against the backdrop of a long and turbulent history for The Wildhearts — a band defined as much by its internal tensions as by its music. To understand the weight of this moment, it helps to look back at where the band came from and what it has endured over the decades.
The Wildhearts were originally formed in 1989, with Ginger Wildheart serving as the sole constant member throughout the band’s entire existence, as noted by Wikipedia. The group has been split up or placed on hiatus multiple times over the years, making breakups and reunions a recurring theme in their story.
Despite the band’s fractured history, Ginger has continued to keep The Wildhearts alive in various forms, most recently with a new lineup following the 2022 disbandment. The Wikipedia entry on the band noted that Ginger has been actively writing material for the next Wildhearts album, even amid his health struggles.
The health struggles in question are serious. Ginger Wildheart was diagnosed in March 2026 with mantle cell lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer, as documented by Wikipedia. True to his uncompromising character, Ginger has publicly stated his decision to refuse treatment. CJ acknowledged this choice as entirely in keeping with who Ginger is.
Given all of this, CJ’s desire to reunite the classic lineup — himself, Danny McCormack on bass, and Richie Battersby on drums — carries a particular urgency. Whether Ginger’s blunt social media response marks the final word on the matter, or simply another chapter in the band’s long history of conflict and reconciliation, remains to be seen.
