Jul 1997 to Dec 1998
Jan 1999 to Dec 1999
Jan 2000 to Nov 2000
Dec 2000 to Dec 2001
Jan 2002 to Jun 2004
Jul 2004 to Dec 2006
Jan 2007 to Dec 2008
Jan 2009 to...

After taking a short break following the Wonder Stuff's December performances and promotional work, Miles returned to the studio with Michael Ferentino, Tony Arthy, Dom Murphy, Martin Bell and Pete Whittaker to record more tracks for his second album with Pat Collier at the production controls.  Six tracks were recorded - three new tracks, 'Waiting', 'Flapping On The Pier' and 'Playing The Twist' plus new versions of tracks previously released on 'Hairy On The Inside' - 'Not In My Plans', 'Amongst The Old Reliables' and 'Everything Is Not Okay'.

In February Miles announced that the schedule for the second album had changed again.  Following discussions with his record label, the album would now not be released until early 2002.  He went on to say that it would no longer be called 'Flapping On The Pier' and was unlikely to include any of the tracks previously released on the two 5-track EP's.  He did however suggest that GIG Records may be considering releasing an album of the same title which would contain a repeat of the tracks from both EP's in addition to a couple of additional tracks which had been recorded during the same period.

 

Following promotion and live work with The Wonder Stuff during June, Miles headed back to America for three months to write and record more material.  During his time over in the States, he worked with Michael Ferentino and his colleague Andres Karu - both former members of GIG-signings Amazing Meet Project.  The trio worked on a number of tracks that had previously been released on the 'Life's Great' and '5 Songs' EP's, in addition to new tracks which were being co-written by both Miles and Michael.  The sessions also bought saw the addition of other session musicians to provide additional instrumentation to the tracks.  Andres was also working on the mixing and production of the material and Miles was heard to be in awe over how the tracks now sounded, and more matched his ideas of how they should have sounded as opposed to the versions currently available on the EP's.  So prolific were the sessions that, by the end of August, the trio had finished the initial copy of the new album and planned it's track listing.  On the last day, the group also wrote, recorded and mixed a brand new track, 'Running Into The Dark With The Sun On Yer Back'.  The lyrics to the track were ones that Miles had been playing with for almost a year since he tried to tried to match them to Pansy Division's 'Elders of Zion'.  Since then, he had returned to them only once when The Wonder Stuff were rehearsing for their last tour and the five-piece had tried out ideas for new material.

Whilst in America, Miles was also offered to perform with Tom Robinson at his New York City date in August.  Robinson had always been a hero of Miles', hence the reason he had often included the track 'Not Ready' during many acoustic performances.  At one stage, he even recorded a proper version of the track with US group Pansy Division but this has never yet been released.

During the concert, which included former Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry in the audience, Miles joined Tom onstage to perform 'Not Ready' plus one of his solo compositions.  In a later quote, Miles spoke about being asked to play alongside Robinson who has always been one of his musical heroes: "Imagine trying to explain to a 12 year old Milo, at a TRB gig at the Birmingham Odeon in September 1978, 'be patient kid & you'll be playing alongside that hero of yours at a gig in New York City in 23 years'. Sometimes, I think life is weird, and then it gets weirder still..."

 

New York's CMJ Festival in September was pencilled in a second appearance by The Miles Hunt Band after their original show the previous year.  Reformed Midlander's Ned's Atomic Dustbin were also playing at the festival having also recently done some work for GIG Records and Indian, GIG's owner, had asked Miles if he would open for them.  This would give Miles, Michael and Andres the chance the showcase some of the tracks they had been working on over the past few months with the addition of The Wonder Stuff's bass player Stuart Quinell.  However, a few weeks before the festival was due to take place, Ferentino gave notice that he would be unable to attend so the group's appearance was shelved.  As it was, the whole festival was cancelled following the terrorist attack on New York's Twin Towers on September 11th.

 

In August, as part of an interview to promote The Wonder Stuff's appearance at the Longest Day Festival, Miles spoke for the first time about his plans for The Miles Hunt Club.  The group had now completed their debut album, which now had the working title of 'Everything Is Not Okay', and would contain new material combined with re-workings of tracks from his 'Hairy On The Inside' album and the two EP's.  The album was currently pencilled in for release in Summer 2002 and, when they toured to promote it, Miles hoped that former Vent 414 colleague Pete Howard would be taking on the drumming duties.

 

At the end of November, after weeks of rumour and speculation, the first tourdates of the Miles Hunt Club were finally announced which included a month-long Monday-night residency during January 2002 at the legendary Borderline club in London.  It was also confirmed that the group's now self-titled debut album was scheduled for release in mid-February on Eagle Records marking Miles' return to a high-profile UK record label.  Prior to the album's release, Eagle also planned to release Hunt's first UK single, 'Everything Is Not Okay', in over five years.