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Biography
Having needed to make a choice between crime, the dole, football, or music, in 1982 four Clydebank High School attendees met and formed Wet Wet Wet. Drummer Tommy Cunningham and bassist Graeme Clark initially met on the school’s bus and soon became friends, shortly afterwards keyboardist Neil Mitchell joined the group, promising to supply keyboards with the money from his paper rounds. In the midst of his training to be a painter and decorator, lead vocalist Mark McLachlan was invited to join the group, followed a year later by Wet Wet Wet’s honourary fifth member Graeme Duffin.
Following two years of practice sessions and honing their songwriting skills, Wet Wet Wet made their debut performance at Glasgow’s Nightmares club. Around this time singer Mark McLachlan altered his stage name to Marti Pellow and the group inked a record deal with Polygram in 1985. With Polygram man Nick Angel as manager, the group issued their debut single “Wishing I Was Lucky” in 1986, which reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. The full-length “Popped In Souled Out” followed in September 1987, spawning the subsequent hits “Sweet Little Mystery”, “Angel Eyes (Home and Away), and “Temptation”. Narrowing missing out on the UK No. 1 Album spot held by Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, the record introduced Wet Wet Wet’s style of pop, rock and jazz to a national audience.
1988 brought with it the band’s first No. 1 hit with a cover of the famous Beatles single “With a Little Help from My Friends”. Subsequently Wet Wet Wet issued the album “The Memphis Sessions”, a collection of songs recorded during their time in the U.S. The band’s official sophomore album “Holding Back the River” arrived in 1989 marked by greater use of string and classical arrangements. Like its predecessor the record peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, aided by the hit singles “Sweet Surender”, “Broke Away”, “Hold Back the River”, and “Stay With Me Heartache (Can’t Stand the Night)”.
“High on the Happy Side” appeared in 1992 led by the group’s only self-penned No. 1 single “Goodnight Girl”. The day after the release, under the pseudonym Maggie Pie & The Impostors, the group released the special-edition album “Cloak & Dagger” featuring covers of songs by Elvis Costello, Carole King, Todd Rudgen, and Mose Allison. The greatest hits compilation “End of Part One” was released towards the tail-end of 1993, after which their cover of The Troggs’ single “Love Is All Around” made its way onto the “Four Weddings and a Funeral” soundtrack, greatly exposing the band. The single subsequently maintained its No. 1 Singles position for 15 weeks, paving the way for Wet Wet Wet’s fifth studio album “Picture This” in 1995. Held as one of Britain’s finest soft rock bands, the group released the album “10” in 1997 celebrating their decade atop the charts, followed by “Timeless” in 2007.
Live reviews
From the first piano chords and notes drifting from onstage to the last uproarious cheer from the audience, my experience seeing Wet Wet Wet live was truly phenomenal. Marti Pellow stood front of stage in black, matching his bandmates, pouring his soul into the microphone amidst a haze of fog and orange lights. The audience sang along with him, and he loved it.
During "Temptation," after swishing the microphone back and forth to the hits from the brass, he prompted the audience to sing along with him, and they joined back in, whistling and cheering in the process. One of the best parts of seeing a performance like Wet Wet Wet live is that the audience's energy adds so much to it.
As impressive as Pellow's long, sustained final note in "Temptation" was, it was amplified even more by the fact that the audience cheered and whistled along with him the whole duration of the note. Not only did the audience love Wet Wet Wet, they loved soft rock, and were there to support their love for music.
The large screen behind the band displayed varioius elemental ambient visualizations similar to the old visualizations in music players like Windows Media Player, which helped heighten the performance in a subtle way as well. It was a nice use of technology that didn't upstage Wet Wet Wet, while still adding to the show. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Wet Wet Wet live and would reccomend them to any lover of soft rock.
I have been at the Caird Hall many times. I find the venue a little disappointing. The acoustics aren't great and the selection of beers on offer at the bar is very poor.
That said the show was not disappointing. The support (Sam Swallow) I found a little bland. Wet Wet Wet were terrific. The place was far from full. Many may have stayed away because Marty Pellow is no longer with the group. Their loss. Musically they were pin sharp. Kevin's vocals were great. And let's be honest. No singer. No band. So without Kevin or another singer there would be no gig. Everyone I spoke to who was there enjoyed themselves.
craig-hutchison
Oh I ADORE my gorgeous Marti. My best friend STILL to this day, 37 years later, says to me "You do know that he's still not ever gonna marry you, don't you"?
(I know he has Eileen) But I can dream, can't I?. As long as he's HAPPY.
Saw W.W.W many times in concert. Mostly back on the 90's. ROYAL ALBERT HALL was incredible. TEMPTATION has always been my favourite. Kevin had some BIG shoes to fill, but he's doing really well. Sorry,but it's just not the same without my Marti.
I miss him. Think we all do, Huh?
Been a fan since 1985.Ohhh, those were the days.
Love 2 Love
KandyKitten
Fabulous....... tight ...... perfect
What can I say .
They are superb musicians and Marti's voice is still pitch perfect .
I adored every moment .
I saw them at the first show 30 years ago , 20 years ago so on so on .
Amazing ❤️
julie-anne-hilsdon
