October 11th 2024.
Marti Pellow, the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet, still loves performing their classic hits. The band dominated the charts in the 80s and 90s, with one particular song that seemed to be playing everywhere you turned on the radio. From "Sweet Surrender" in 1989 to their number one smash hit "Goodnight Girl" two years later, Wet Wet Wet's anthems are instantly recognizable and always seem to get stuck in your head.
But according to Marti, it was actually cover songs that helped propel the band to the top of the charts. He jokes, "Put it this way, I've had more number ones with other people's songs than I have with my own." He goes on to say, "I just enjoy the songs. I don't care where they come from. Covers are brilliant because as a songwriter and storyteller, that's the value of a good song."
Their first chart-topping hit was a cover of The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends," which was recorded as a charity single for Childline in 1988. The single, released as a double A-side with Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey's cover of "She's Leaving Home," stayed at number one for four weeks.
Although this cemented the band's status as pop stars, it was their version of "Love Is All Around" that truly launched them to stratospheric heights. Released on May 21, 1994, their cover of the Troggs' hit shot to number one thanks to its placement in the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral," directed by Richard Curtis.
Despite not writing the hit themselves, Marti feels it is a part of their history as artists. He even had the opportunity to play the song for Reg Presley, the lead singer and songwriter of The Troggs. Marti recalls the emotional moment, saying, "He took me aside and said, 'I love what you've done with our song.' And for me, that was a big compliment because I wear that song and feel the same way he did. It's a part of who I am."
"Love Is All Around" spent an impressive 15 weeks at number one in the UK, tying for the third-longest reign on the charts. It continued to dominate for another 20 weeks before some radio stations started to ban it due to listener fatigue. But just nine years later, the song had a resurgence thanks to its appearance in another Richard Curtis film, "Love Actually."
Marti believes this is a testament to the song's "diversity," saying, "That's the beauty of a well-crafted song. You can paint it in many different ways." Even now, over 30 years after their version was released, Marti is still approached by fans who share their memories of when the song touched their lives. He explains, "It's the sort of song that you bump into people and they say, 'My daughter was born at that time' or 'We got married to that song.' It's a sign of good pop music because it gives you three and a half minutes of escapism."
Wet Wet Wet split in the late 90s due to personal issues but reunited in 2004, with Marti also pursuing solo projects. However, he left the band for good in 2017 and has since released multiple studio albums with original songs and covers. He has also ventured into musical theatre, performing in iconic shows like "Evita" and "Chicago" on the West End and Broadway.
Marti admits that he never planned on working in musical theatre, but he loves the unexpected opportunities that have come his way. He says, "Those little anomalies that you hadn't planned for, I love that. I think a lot of it is down to serendipity and being in the right place at the right time. I always have a chuckle to myself when those things happen."
He adds, "I'm a great believer that what you put out, you get back. I'm just that type of person. I think there comes a time in your life when you start to understand that. If you're always chasing something, sometimes you might not get it. But when you're just sitting back and looking out the window, the phone might ring and something will offer itself up to you."
Marti recently performed at his Summer Lovin' Live show in Newcastle and has announced that he will be back on the road in 2025 for his 30th anniversary UK tour, where he will perform a mix of new songs and Wet Wet Wet hits. He says that while he does have a setlist prepared, after decades in the business, he just plays "whatever I fancy on the day." He explains, "I always find reading the crowd matters because you don't get the same results every night. I'll see what the moment calls for, which I suppose is a bit of a nightmare for my band. But it'll be nice just to go up there and roll out those songs."
This article was originally published on August 22, 2024. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, please get in touch with our entertainment team by emailing us or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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