It’s time to look forward, come together and enjoy ourselves
Marti Pellow’s Lockdown Sessions went viral during the pandemic. MARION McMULLEN discovers how it all began after he helped a family laid low by Covid-19
MANY musicians went to ground when lockdown closed venues and recording studios, but Marti Pellow went online to spread a little happiness.
“We started this thing called Lockdown Sessions,” he says. “A family approached me online and asked me to sing a wee song for them. They had a relative in a coma because of the coronavirus so I was happy to help.”
The family played the music to their loved one in the hope it would help. Happily it worked with the patient making a full recovery.
“I was so touched by that experience,” Marti says. “I was just glad to help. The only way for me to reach out was online, but then the response became phenomenal.”
The former Wet Wet Wet frontman was soon being asked to sing for other people – a young boy, Oliver, who was unwell, or to raise money for PPE for his hometown of Clydebank.
The Scots singer also showed support for NHS staff on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic by posting a video on his Facebook page of him belting out a special rendition of his group’s iconic hit Love is All Around in tribute to all those who have been risking their lives in the battle against the deadly virus.
He says he was happy to help during the pandemic and the response proved extraordinary. The sessions went viral and became an online phenomenon attracting millions.
It led to Marti delving into his own back catalogue as well as covering songs by artists he admired such as James Taylor and Annie Lennox.
“I covered songs by those two and both got in touch. James sent me a lovely message and Annie wrote a beautiful email. They both loved what I’d done with their songs.”
Now Marti, 57 later this month, is looking forward to performing live on stage again as his successful Greatest Hits Tour resumes next month. “We all deserve a good night out,” he says.
The seasoned performer sold several million records with Wet Wet Wet – hits included Wishing I Was Lucky, Goodnight Girl and, of course, the bestselling single Love Is All Around. The song spent 15 weeks at the top of the UK charts after featuring in the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Marti has gone on to forge a successful solo career and has also made his mark in musical theatre in London’s West End and on Broadway. He’s been a crooked lawyer, a mysterious stranger and a horny little devil in shows like Chicago, Blood Brothers and The Witches Of Eastwick and toured the country as Che Guevara in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s international smash Evita.
Marti is now looking forward to offering a night of hits on the tour. “It’s about entertaining the people. The only thing I want them to bring to the show is their smile,” he says. “I’ll take care of the rest. This tour is going to be a great celebration of the music. It’s all about gathering together for a great evening.
“There’ll be songs to make people dance and laugh. I want to connect, connect, connect. I’m fortunate that I have plenty of songs in my back catalogue that can do that. I want it to be a night of great music that people are familiar with.”
Marti says there’s a sense of anticipation about these shows already. “I see it with the comments from people on social media.
“It’s time to look forward. We’re heading into something like normality and it will be great for us to come together and enjoy ourselves.
“As a singer, I want to get busy and entertain. I love doing that. We all take certain things for granted in our industry but it was first to close and last to re-open. It’s brilliant that I can go and do this again.
“And for the fans, there’s never been a better time to see their favourite artists. Everyone is raring to go.”
Marti says people have told him they have fallen in love, got married and had children to his music. “These hits are songs that evoke happy memories for so many people and I get so stoked that people feel that way about my music.
“People walked down the aisle to Love Is All Around or they played Angel Eyes when their child was born. Some people escape through these songs. They climb inside and go back to a special time and a place in their lives.
“That’s what this Greatest Hits tour is about. That’s exactly what they’re going to get. There’s real power in this music and I am so grateful to the fans for coming with me on this journey.”
He also hopes the tour dates will be an opportunity to escape from the hardships of recent times.
“The dressing room door will open, the lights will go on and the action will start. At that point, all of us – band and audience alike – will forget everything and just have a great time.”
Go to martipellowofficial.co.uk for tour dates and ticket details
A family asked me to sing a wee song for a relative in a coma because of coronavirus so I was happy to help.