Love Is All Around

INTERVIEW

IF I WANT TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND DO A SHOW, I HAVE AN AUDIENCE THERE THAT WILL COME AND SEE ME. THAT’S A BLESSING

LOVE IS ALL AROUND

Wet Wet Wet star Marti Pellow tells Declan Harte his UK tour will be a dance down memory lane for fans

arti Pellow has reigned supreme in and be able to give them a little bit more you might not be too familiar with” is calling at was a full-on recession going on and there was a it just kind of went a wee bit crazy there. But I know,” he said. “It would be rude not to write a the charts, starred on Broadway and background on some of the songs that I wrote, venues throughout Britain, from Edinburgh and sense the community was being eroded away.” enjoy it, I do.” part for myself!” M sold millions of records. But the why I did that and what was going on.” Gateshead to Kent, Worthing and Sussex. It runs But luck soon changed for the four members of He is now penning a musical of his own, But for now, the man born Mark McLachlan proud Scotsman has not forgotten He added: “Because of the nature and size of until mid June. Wet Wet Wet, who met at school. inspired by Scottish mythology. The piece, titled is drawing from his extensive back catalogue to where he came from, with his homeland the venues, this type of show works really well in With a Scottish accent seemingly undimmed The 1987 single sailed into the charts, with Celtic Warrior, examines Scotland’s place in the give fans a great night out. continuing to inspire new work. that environment.” by three decades of global fame, he is keen to accompanying album Popped in Souled Out world music map. He said: “It embraces music He even said he’ll take requests, “if you shout it The former Wet Wet Wet frontman is bringing As well as mega-hit Love is All Around, which explain the stories behind the songs. selling several million. The massive success that from my culture and music from Morocco and out loud enough”. 30 years of hits to fans on The Private Collection spent a staggering 15 weeks at number one in Wet Wet Wet’s debut single, Wishing I Was followed saw more than a dozen top-10 singles, Africa. So I get different time signatures and “Look, I still have a love and a passion for what tour. He said: “Sometimes I’d meet some people 1994, fans can expect classics from Marti’s Lucky, was inspired by the lack of work in his including three number ones. different thematic rhythms. I do,” he said. “I have a very eclectic career, I who’d say, ‘hey Marti, such and such a song career in the musicals. “It’s an evening to drop native Clydebank, outside Glasgow. Starring in smash musicals in the West End “It’s basically about a mythical stone that have balance in my life. If I want to get up in the reminds me of when we got married or when my your shoulders to and have a good time, it ain’t “At the beginning of the career we wrote what and on Broadway is not something the Scot shows up in Scotland. morning and do a show I have an audience that daughter was born’. rocket science,” the 53-year-old said. was in front of our eyes,” he explained. “That’s expected growing up. “But some people come from another part will come and see me. That’s a blessing.” “It got me thinking that I’ve got songs like that After leaving Wet Wet Wet to go solo in 1999, a great source to draw from. Growing up in “I never thought the day would come where I of the world to try to steal the stone, because He added: “Lets have a great time. You’ll walk in my life too. You’ll hear a song on the radio he starred in hit shows Chicago, Evita, Blood Clydebank, we would see some of our friends would be presenting myself as a character in the the stone can either free you, or keep you away from the evening knowing me a wee bit and instantly it will take you back to a time and Brothers and Chess. It was a career second-wind, who had to leave the area because there was no hit musical Chicago on Broadway,” he said of oppressed.” better, I hope.” place and put you in it. It made me think it would after overcoming drug and alcohol problems. The work there anymore. his US success. “Working with Andrew Lloyd Of course, there’s room in this show for Marti. be good to shoot the breeze with my audience tour, showcasing “songs you know and songs that “The shipyards were padlocked shut. There Webber or Tim Rice or the Abba boys on Chess, “Would I play the Scottish character? I do not For tour dates visit: martipellowofficial.co.uk

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