FOR over two decades The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the British rock scene. Led by charismatic frontman Ginger, the group's turbulent career was a roller-coaster ride, which, after numerous frightening twists and turns, finally derailed in spectacular fashion sometime in the late 90s. With tales of sex, drugs, bust ups, fights (both with labels and themselves), splits, more drugs and a lot more controversy, The Wildhearts' story now continues with Ginger leading the latest version of the band on a forthcoming tour with fellow 90s heroes Terrorvision, Reef and Dodgy and a date at the Buckley Tivoli in June.

"We had no rivals," chuckles Ginger, remembering The Wildhearts' glory days. "I didn’t even think we had any equals, but that’s the beauty of youth. Our press person tried to push us as the Stones to Oasis’ Beatles, for a short while, but that was never going to work with me, it seemed far too desperate an angle to take seriously.

"I liked Oasis a lot, but I saw the constant comparisons to them as destructive to this ‘We Are England’ dream that people were peddling. Badly peddling, as it turned out, as the whole thing fell apart when the only band people cared about started writing uninspiring songs, which was always going to happen."

Looking back, I suggest to Ginger the Britpop era seemed like the perfect time to be in a band, given people bought records, you had TV shows like Top Of The Pops and there seemed to be no shortage of labels willing to sign acts?

"It was a great time to be in a band, but the perfect time was the early 70s, when bands were allowed to experiment with their direction, and the record companies were happy to fund it just as long as it found a market," he says.

"In the 90s, record executives seriously thought they knew how the music business worked. They unfortunately forgot about their real bosses, namely the audience."

The Wildhearts have always had an incredible reputation as a live band but what differences does Ginger see touring now as to the 90s - be it crowds, venues, attitudes?

"I can only speak for myself," he says. "But I see that the fans I’ve made over the years create a community that looks after the people in it.

"The shows these days have a level of family spirit and belonging that we didn’t even know we were cultivating back in the 90s. And all it ever needed was to look after your fans and respect them, which far too many musicians forgot to do."

As well as the tour, Ginger is planning new material before the end of the year.

"I’m recording a new album with The Wildhearts in November, which I’ve been writing and rehearsing with the guys in York over the last few months and we hope to have that out early next year," he says.

"I’ve also finished recording the follow up to my current solo album, Ghost In The Tanglewood, which I hope to release later this year.

"I’m also writing some new songs for an album that is even confusing me. I don’t even know what kind of music it is, but it’s very emotional and I can’t wait to hear it recorded at some point this year."

The bands have issued a mission statement for the tour pledging to wage war on “boredom, mediocrity and probably each other”…so does Ginger believe that there is an element of mediocrity and a lack of buzz and excitement in the current live music climate?

"Yes, I think everyone feels the lack of excitement these days," he adds. "Bands are getting huge but from YouTube videos, which create no real excitement for anyone, so success these days equals sales and little else. Real characters have all but disappeared in rock music, no-one seems to want to stick out anymore. I think that’s why people are still interested in the 90s.

"Regardless of your opinion on 90s music, there were always lots of unique characters around. I miss that."

The Wildhearts play with Reef, Terrorvision, The Wildhearts and Dodgy at Manchester Academy on May 4 before headlining their own show at Buckley Tivoli on Friday June 29. Tickets available for both gigs from seetickets.com