Marti: I’m leaving band to pursue personal projects
MARTI Pellow has quit Wet Wet Wet after 30 years.
The singer made the shock announcment yesterday, saying he was leaving the band to concentrate on solo work, including songwriting and acting.
It comes just weeks after they celebrated their 30th anniversary with a summer tour – including three sold-out shows at Edinburgh Castle.
Pellow formed the group in the 1980s with friends Tommy Cunningham, Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell and they went on to sell more than 15 million singles and albums around the world with hits such as Goodnight Girl and Love Is All Around.
Marti, 52, from Clydebank, said last night: “I will be spending more time on my solo work –performing concerts, acting and my own songwriting – as an artist I feel a lot more settled in this world.
“I have had a great time and loved my career with Wet Wet Wet and to me they will always be the best band in the world.
“When I started in Wet Wet Wet, I gave it 100 per cent of my heart and soul and that’s what it demands and that is also what the fans demand – and if I can’t do that because my focus is elsewhere, then this is not fair on the fans or the rest of the guys in the band.”
He added online: “Hi all, wanted you to know for foreseeable future I’ll be concentrating on my solo work, am excited by the future and seeing you out there x”
The frontman previously left the band in 1999 to deal with substance addiction issues.
But the lifelong friends reformed the group in 2004.
During previous breaks, he has recorded solo albums and starred in the West End and on Broadway in shows including Chicago, Blood Brothers and Evita.
He has also played a pantomime villain in Glasgow last Christmas.
He is said to be writing a new stage musical with producer Grant Mitchell and playwright Jack Bradley and will join a UK tour of Blood Brothers later this year.