CJ Wildheart looks back with ‘One of the Boys’
Veteran punk lifer CJ Wildheart has never been one to soften the edges — but on One of the Boys, he lets the cracks show. Released today, the new single offers a candid, high-volume reflection on a life spent in music, serving as the lead preview of his eighth solo album DEViL, due June 26.
Best known for his years in The Wildhearts, CJ has built a reputation on fusing melody with distortion, and One of the Boys continues that tradition. It’s loud, direct, and unmistakably rooted in punk n’ roll, while lyrically turning inward — grappling with longevity, doubt, and the weight of experience.
A punk veteran taking stock
There’s a sense throughout the track that this isn’t just another release — it’s a reckoning. CJ himself has described it as something close to a “swan song,” capturing the emotional push-and-pull of continuing as an independent artist in an increasingly difficult landscape.
“Each year it gets harder to survive as an independent artist… this time round I came so close to just stopping.”
Rather than stepping away, he’s channelled that uncertainty into DEViL, an album shaped by frustration, resilience, and creative defiance. The result, if this single is any indication, is a record that doesn’t shy away from the realities behind the music.
Built the hard way
True to form, CJ remains fiercely hands-on. He performs and records the bulk of the instrumentation himself, with added firepower from Jason Bowld — known for his work with Bullet For My Valentine — whose drumming injects weight and urgency into the record.
Mixing duties are shared with long-time collaborator Dave Draper, ensuring the album retains both polish and punch. A special Japanese edition is also on the way, featuring bonus tracks and expanded packaging for collectors.
Still shaping the scene
CJ’s legacy isn’t just audible — it’s currently on display. His 1989 Gibson B.B. King Lucille guitar is featured as part of a punk exhibition at the Gibson Garage London, a fitting nod to his enduring role in the UK’s punk ecosystem.
With select live dates planned for May and a broader tour pencilled in for September, DEViL looks set to carry that legacy forward rather than close the book.
Release details
One of the Boys is available on all major streaming platforms now.
The album DEViL is available to pre-order ahead of its June 26 release.
More CJ Wildheart on Punkinfocus: Live review: Michael Monroe Brings Hanoi Rocks’ Legacy to Life in Camden (December 2024) · CJ WILDHEART DROPS THE BLISTERING ‘STATE OF US’ VIDEO (November 2020)
