In 1869, Henry C. Lunn of The Musical Times reviewed his performance: Mr. J. H. Stead … sang and danced the composition which has made his reputation – the ‘Perfect Cure.’ Mr. Stead is usually described as ‘the man who never stood still;’ and indeed, seeing that he has jumped into so good a thing, there is no reason why he should relax his efforts as long as the public will pay to see him, and his muscular system will hold out. Abstractedly, there is nothing either pleasing or amusing in seeing a full-grown man, in a striped suit and an eccentric cap, bounding up and down like an India-rubber ball, whilst he is trying to sing. But it is clever, nevertheless; and, although we do not sympathise with his ‘line of endeavour,’ as Carlyle says, we can at least praise him for his industry. Stead continued to perform the song into the early 1880s. His success led to the production of trick puppets in his likeness, for use in travelling shows, dancing to the tune of "The Perfect Cure". The tune itself became a popular fiddle tune at barn dances, often thought of incorrectly as a traditional Norfolk jig. Stead became ill with a chest condition in 1884, developed "symptoms of serious mental aberration", and died in 1886. Benefit concerts were arranged for his family, but after it was discovered that he had accumulated savings of some £3,000, a considerable sum at the time, the money raised was returned to the donors. He was buried at St Pancras Cemetery on 2 February 1886, where "a large number of residents of Camden Town" assembled in his honour. Stead's act was one of the inspirations of the 1980s dance group, the Wild Wigglers, created by Liz Aggiss and Billy Cowie. Like Stead, the dancers wore tall pointy hats, which can be seen on youtube. References 1826 births 1886 deaths 19th-century English singers English male comedians Music hall performers