Wet Wet Wet‘s Marti Pellow Opens Up About Addiction and the Perils of Fame
Bournemouth, UK – Marti Pellow, frontman of the Scottish band Wet Wet Wet, is embarking on a 30th-anniversary tour alongside the release of his new album, The Game, but reflects on a past struggle with addiction fueled by the pressures of sudden celebrity. Pellow, who rose to fame with the band in 1987, has spoken candidly about the jarring transition from a normal life to international stardom and the difficulties in navigating its pitfalls.
Wet Wet wet achieved important commercial success, selling over 15 million records. However, the band’s internal relationships strained, and Pellow himself faced personal challenges. He describes the allure of fame as initially deceptive, comparing it to entering a seemingly agreeable room that ultimately proves “a wee bit spiky to navigate.” Pellow explained to BBC scotland that the rapid ascent – “Living in the basement, suddenly you find yourself in a penthouse and you can’t get off at any level to kind of take in how it’s happening to you” – left him struggling to cope.
Formed in Clydebank, outside Glasgow, Wet Wet Wet quickly became a household name. Pellow’s comments offer a rare insight into the darker side of the music industry and the challenges faced by artists grappling with sudden wealth and recognition.He acknowledges that while some individuals adapt successfully, others, like himself, find the experience overwhelming.
Looking ahead, Pellow expresses a continued desire to create and perform, while also acknowledging the weight of his journey. ”Sometimes I’ll sit…and I’ll think to myself, ’I’d love to do that, I’d love to do that,'” he said. “Then you understand about the circle of life. And I think: I need two lives.” His anniversary tour begins next week in Bournemouth.
