Marti Pellow

Marti Pellow (born Mark McLachlan; 23 March 1965) is a Scottish singer, best known as the lead singer of the pop group Wet Wet Wet for 28 years: from their formation in 1982 until their split in 1997, and again from their reformation in 2004 to his departure in 2017. The bands debut album, Popped In Souled Out spawned four successful singles, including "Wishing I Was Lucky" and "Angel Eyes (Home and Away)", with the album peaking atop the albums charts in the United Kingdom, selling 1.5 million copies and earning a 5x Platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

The lead single from their fourth album, Picture This (1995), "Love Is All Around" topped the singles charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and their native Scotland. Spending a total of fifteen consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Charts, it became one of the longest chart reigns of all time in the United Kingdom, where it sold over 1.9 million copies. The band dissolved in 1997 following the release of their fifth album, 10, which resulted in Pellow launching a career as a solo artist with his debut solo album Smile being released in June 2001.

Pellow re–joined the band alongside the other members in 2004, releasing their first album of new material in ten years, Timeless in 2007, before Pellow left the band once more in 2017 to focus on his solo career. In addition to music, Pellow has performed as an actor in musical theatre productions in both the West End and on Broadway.

Early life Pellow's first exposure to music occurred around the age of 7. He would listen to his mother's Barras-bought 8-track record collection of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, but it was the soul genre of the selection that drew him in. Early Marvin Gaye and, especially, Sam Cooke captivated him. He then discovered live music. "Hey, wait a minute – check that picture: not only is this music amazing, but these guys deliver it live? That's for me."

When he told his father about the direction he wanted his life to take, he was less than enthusiastic. "'Are you on a hallucinogenic substance or something? What's wrong with getting out there and getting an apprenticeship? I'm a builder, your grandfather was a builder, your great-grandfather was a shipbuilder. What do you want to be a musician for?' And I said, 'No, you don't understand – this is my vocation in life; this is what I want to be'." This was subsequently changed to Wet Wet Wet, a title taken from the Scritti Politti song "Gettin, Havin' and Holdin. McLachlan also changed his birth name in favour of the stage name Marti Pellow, created from his mother's maiden name Pellow and the nickname he was given at school (“Smarty”).

Career Wet Wet Wet (1987–2017)

Pellow enjoyed success with Wet Wet Wet throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1997 drummer Tommy Cunningham left the band over a royalties dispute and its success waned immediately. Pellow was by this time addicted to heroin. On finally overcoming his addiction, he stated: "It was textbook. I couldn't function without it. But there's no romantic side to heroin – it's no good."

Pellow left Wet Wet Wet in May 1999, effectively disbanding the group. They reformed in March 2004. On 28 July 2017, Pellow departed again, to focus on his solo career.

Solo launch and Smile (2001–2004) Pellow began his career as a solo artist in association with Chris Difford of Squeeze. The two met while they were patients in The Priory in March 1999. Difford subsequently became Pellow's lyricist and unofficial helper. In November 1999, Pellow began his first solo tour. On 4 June 2001, he released "Close to You" from his debut solo album, Smile. A further single, "I've Been Around the World", was released that November; towards the end of the year he embarked on a seven-date tour (the Smile Tour) around Britain. In 2002, he hosted and sang in Girls' Night Out, one of a week of shows in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, at the Royal Albert Hall. This led to him, in 2002, being offered the part of Billy Flynn, the lawyer in the musical Chicago in London's West End and, in 2004, on Broadway.

Devil and the Monkey (2010–2012)

In May 2010, Pellow released his fourth studio album, Devil and the Monkey, to coincide with a seven-date arena tour with George Benson, performing songs from his new album as well as hits from his solo and Wet Wet Wet career. In 2011 he released Love To Love album, a fully orchestrated and romantic tribute to his favourite love songs that saw Pellow back in the UK charts, as well as starring in a touring production of Broadway musical Jekyll & Hyde, beginning in January at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley, and ran to the end of July 2011.

On 17 August 2012, Pellow performed his new concert show Boulevard of Life with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at Dublin's National Concert Hall. The conductor for the show was Fiachra Trench, a previous collaborator. It showcased songs from his 30-year career, both with the band and from his work in musical theatre.

Theatre and Stargazer (2012–present)

He performed the role of The Sung Thoughts of the Journalist in the 2012–13 arena tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage! The New Generation. Pellow appeared as Che in Evita on tour around the UK in 2013, and subsequently reprised the role in a limited-run West End production of the musical from 15 September 2014 at the Dominion Theatre. Pellow played the narrator in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at Hastings White Rock Theatre between 23 and 28 March 2015.

In 2021, he confirmed the release of new single "These Are the Days" and album Stargazer.

Personal life In October 2003, Pellow's then-ex-bandmates attended his mother's funeral, a show of support that touched the grieving frontman. "I thought it was a powerful gesture", Pellow said. "Moments like that put things into perspective – it wasn't all about music, it was more about a kinship between us. I remember my mother once saying, 'Maybe Wet Wet Wet will get back together again one day'. She must have had a wee vision. I'd never closed the chapter on the band; I'd always left the door open."

Discography

Albums Year Album details Peak chart positions CertificationUK GER IRE NL 2001 Smile Released: 4 June 2001 Label: Mercury Format: CD 7 71 41 44 UK: Gold 2002 Marti Pellow Sings the Hits of Wet Wet Wet & Smile Released: 18 November 2002 Label: Universal Format: CD 34 — — — UK: Gold 2003 Between the Covers Released: 17 November 2003 Label: Universal Format: CD 66 — — —2006 Moonlight Over Memphis Released: 2 October 2006 Label: DMG TV Format: CD 27 — — —2008 Sentimental Me Released: 14 April 2008 Label: Warner Music UK / Rhino Format: CD 161 — — —2010 Devil and the Monkey Released: 23 May 2010 Label: D&M Records Formats: CD, download, LP — — — —2011 Love to Love Released: 24 January 2011 Label: Marti Pellow Records Format: CD 27 — 15 —2013 Hope Released: 18 March 2013 Label: BK Records Format: CD 60 — — — 2014 Boulevard of Life Released: 22 September 2014 Label: Marti Pellow Records Formats: CD, download — — — —2015 Love to Love – Volume 2 Released: 18 December 2015 Label: Marti Pellow Records Formats: CD, download — — — —2017 Mysterious Released: 10 March 2017 Label: Arctic Poppy Records Formats: CD, download 54 — — —2021 Stargazer Released: 26 March 2021 Label: BMG Formats: CD, download 18 — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Singles