Music has evolved over time, and in a specific era, a few musicians and bands are popular and admired. In this article, we will learn about Marti Pellow and how he rose to fame in the 90s.
A. Who is Marti Pellow?
Marti Pellow, born as Mark McLachlan in Clydebank, Scotland, on 23rd March 1965. He became the lead singer for Wet Wet Wet, a Scottish soft rock band that was popular in the 1990s. Throughout his career, he won many awards, such as Best British Newcomer (1988) and more.
B. Childhood:
Mark McLachlan was one of four children to his parents. His father was a builder, and his mother was a homemaker. Clydebank was known to be an industrial zone, with a shipyard nearby. Though they didn’t have much wealth, Marti said that his parents raised them with love. It was during his childhood that he gained an interest in music. His childhood idols in the music industry included Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and Otis Redding. In school, others called him ‘Smarty’ and he later turned it into his stage name, Marti and Pellow was his mother’s surname. And it was in school that he met his fellow bandmates: Nell Mitchell, Graeme Clark, and Tommy Cunningham.
C. Career:
Wet Wet Wet was a band that formed in 1982, and Marti was just 17. Its original name was meant to be Vortex Motion, but the members were inspired by a song of Scritti Politti, a British band formed in 1977. Initially, they performed in local areas before their debut album was released in 1987, Popped In, Souled Out. And that was a massive success in the UK, staying at the top of the charts for over 100 weeks. Over a million copies of the album were sold in the UK and globally, over 2 million (according to European reports). This cemented their reputation in the industry, and they released five more albums and other works before disbanding in 1997.
D. Problems:
In an interview, Marti said that he was involved in drugs and alcohol as a teenager. This childhood curiosity plagued him in his later years. In 1997, due to his addictions, the band had to disband. This period allowed Marti to reflect on his life, and he joined rehabilitation in 1999 to overcome his addiction.
E. Recovery:
After his rehabilitation, he has been sober since then. He released an autobiography in 2001, titled Marti Pellow: The Autobiography, and in 2001, he released a solo album called Smile. He also encouraged and supported others to recover from such habits. In 22004, Wet Wet Wet officially reunited and made a comeback. But in 2017, Marti left the band permanently to focus on his solo career. The Wet Wet Wet remains active, though three of the original members went on separate ways due to various reasons.
F. Personal life:
Now, it might make you wonder. Is Marti Pellow married? And the answer is no. But he is in a long-term relationship with Eileen Catterson, Miss Scotland of 1987, and a model. They have been in a relationship since 1990, and though he has proposed to her many times, they are not married yet due to personal choices. Currently, they live together in Windsor, Berkshire.
Though fans speculate about his personal life, Marti wishes to keep it private. And so, Marti Pellow remains an icon and continues to make music and guide others in the field.
