Very sad to hear that Nick Walusko has died at just 59. The Wondermints were a treasured secret among pop-pop obsessives like me in the 90s. I saw them twice, and their gig at the Borderline was one of the very best shows I’ve ever seen.
The Wondermints are best known for backing up Brian Wilson, and an amazing job they did of it too, but I’ll always wish they got to record some more of their own stuff. Now it’s too late.
Yes, very sad news. Never saw the Wondermints, but saw Nick with Brian Wilson about 13 times, he always did a great job particularly on the track “Pet Sounds”.
Couldn’t agree more TrypF. The Wondermints were a slightly unknown quantity to me before that Borderline gig, then they opened with a fantastic cover of “Porpoise Song” and all was right with the world.
Agree it is a shame that The Wondermints career was subsumed into Brian Wilson’s rebirth but I guess it paid the bills.
RIP Nicky
I once spent an interminable journey from the Lakes to St. Albans with someone playing the Wondermints constantly to persuade me of their charms. He failed and I can’t imagine ever wanting to hear them again – I had a lifetime’s worth in a day. Sorry Tryp.