From apprentice painter to pop icon: the unlikely evolution of Marti Pellow
In short: Before he was a chart-topping frontman, Marti Pellow was training for a life in trades. The journey from a Scottish apprentice to a global pop star involves massive record sales, a battle with addiction, and a surprising second act in musical theatre.
Born Mark McLachlan in 1965, the singer’s path to stardom was far from certain. While his family lineage was rooted in building and shipbuilding, Pellow was initially training as a painter and decorator. His musical foundation was built on a childhood collection of soul and Motown, inspired by the sounds of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. In 1982, at age seventeen, he formed the band Vortex Motion with school friends, later renaming it Wet Wet Wet.
The band achieved massive commercial success, particularly with their 1987 debut, Popped In Souled Out, which sold 1.5 million copies and earned 5x Platinum certification. Their 1995 hit 'Love Is All Around' became a phenomenon, spending fifteen consecutive weeks at number one in the UK and selling over 1.9 million copies locally. However, the late 1990s brought significant upheaval, including a royalties dispute that saw drummer Tommy Cunningham depart and Pellow facing a period of heroin addiction.
Pellow’s career has been defined by resilience and reinvention. Following the band's initial split in 1997, he launched a solo career, even collaborating with Squeeze's Chris Difford after the two met as patients at The Priory. His versatility has seen him move beyond pop into jazz, soul, and prestigious musical theatre roles, including Billy Flynn in Chicago on both the West End and Broadway, and the narrator in Blood Brothers. Whether performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra or starring in West End productions, Pellow has maintained a presence in the spotlight for decades.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Marti Pellow
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