August 22nd 2024.
Marti Pellow, the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet, is still thrilled to perform their classic songs. The band rose to fame in the 80s and 90s, with one particular hit that seemed to be everywhere on the radio. From "Sweet Surrender" in 1989 to their chart-topping song "Goodnight Girl" two years later, Wet Wet Wet's anthems are instantly recognizable and have a way of sticking in your head.
But according to Marti, it wasn't their original songs that catapulted them to the top of the charts. "Put it this way, I've had more number ones with other people's songs than I have with my own," the Stargazer singer shares with The Agency, with a chuckle. "I just enjoy the songs. I don't care where they come from. Covers are brilliant because as a songwriter and a storyteller, the value of a good song is immeasurable."
Their first chart-topping hit was a cover of The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends," which they recorded as a charity single for Childline in 1988. The single, released as a double A-side with "She's Leaving Home," covered by Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey, held the top spot for four weeks.
While this solidified their status as pop stars, it was their rendition of "Love Is All Around" that took them to new heights. On May 21, 1994, the Scottish band released their version of the Troggs' hit song and thanks to its inclusion in the movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral," it shot to number one.
Despite not writing the hit themselves, Marti believes it is now a part of their history as artists. He even had the opportunity to play it for Reg Presley, the lead singer and songwriter of the Troggs. "I remember playing the song for Reg Presley when he came to see us on tour," Marti recalls. "He took me aside and was quite emotional. He said, 'I love what you've done with our song.' For me, that was a big compliment because I wear that song in the same way that he did. It's a part of who I am."
Wet Wet Wet's version of "Love Is All Around" spent an impressive 15 weeks at number one in the UK, making it the joint third-longest UK chart reign of all time. It continued to dominate the charts for another 20 weeks, with some radio stations even banning it due to listener fatigue, before finally dropping off the hot list. But the song had a resurgence in 2003 when it was featured in another Richard Curtis film, "Love Actually."
According to Marti, this just shows the "diversity" of the song. "That's the beauty of a well-crafted song," he explains. "You can paint it many different ways." Over 30 years since its release, the singer still receives countless stories from fans about how the song touched their lives. "It's the kind of song where people will say, 'My daughter was born when that song was number one,' or 'We got married to that song,'" Marti shares. "It's a sign of good pop music when it becomes a part of people's lives and memories."
Marti left Wet Wet Wet in 2017 to focus on his solo work. He has released both original and cover albums, and even ventured into musical theatre, working on well-known productions like "Evita" and "Chicago." While he never planned on working in musicals, Marti loves the surprises that come with his career. "Those little anomalies that you hadn't planned for, I love that," he says. "I think a lot of it is down to serendipity and being in the right place at the right time. I always have a little chuckle to myself when those things happen."
The Scottish singer will be heading to Newcastle for his "Summer Lovin' Live" show on August 25th, where he will perform a mix of new songs and Wet Wet Wet hits. While he does have a setlist prepared, Marti admits that he often plays "whatever I fancy on the day." "I always find that reading the crowd matters because you don't get the same results every night," he explains. "I'll see what engages the audience in the moment, which I suppose is a bit of a nightmare for my band. But it's my last big gig of the summer, so it'll be nice to just go up there and play those songs."
Despite their split in the late 90s, Wet Wet Wet reunited in 2004 and continued to make music together, with Marti pursuing his solo projects as well. However, he left the band for good in 2017. But even after all these years, the singer is constantly approached by fans who want to share their memories of his music. "It's the kind of song that you bump into people and they say, 'My daughter was born at that time' or 'We got married to that song'," Marti says. "It's a sign of a good song when it becomes a part of people's lives and memories. And that's something to be treasured."
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