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Marti Pellow

ActorBorn March 23, 1965 (61 years)
Marti Pellow (born Mark McLachlan; 23 March 1965) is a Scottish singer. He was the lead singer of the Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet for 28 years: from their formation in 1982 until their split in 1997, and again from their reformation in 2004 to his departure in 2017. He has also recorded albums as a solo artist, and performed as an actor in musical theatre productions in both the West End and on Broadway.

Pellow's first exposure to music occurred around the age of 7. He would listen to his mother's Barras-bought 8-track record collection of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, but it was the soul genre of the selection that drew him in. Early Marvin Gaye and, especially, Sam Cooke captivated him. He then discovered live music. "Hey, wait a minute – check that picture: not only is this music amazing, but these guys deliver it live? That's for me."

When he told his father about the direction he wanted his life to take, he was less than enthusiastic. "'Are you on a hallucinogenic substance or something? What's wrong with getting out there and getting an apprenticeship? I'm a builder, your grandfather was a builder, your great-grandfather was a shipbuilder. What do you want to be a musician for?' And I said, 'No, you don't understand – this is my vocation in life; this is what I want to be'."

In 1982, at the age of seventeen, McLachlan, who was training to be a painter and decorator, formed a band with three friends from Clydebank High School in his hometown. The friends were Tommy Cunningham, Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell, and the band's name was Vortex Motion. This was subsequently changed to Wet Wet Wet, a title taken from the Scritti Politti song "Gettin, Havin' and Holdin'". McLachlan also changed his birth name in favour of the stage name Marti Pellow, created from his mother's maiden name Pellow and the nickname he was given at school (“Smarty”).

Pellow enjoyed success with Wet Wet Wet throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. However, in 1997 drummer Tommy Cunningham left the band over a royalties dispute and its success waned immediately. Pellow was by this time addicted to heroin. On finally overcoming his addiction, he stated: "It was textbook. I couldn't function without it. But there's no romantic side to heroin – it's no good."

Pellow left Wet Wet Wet in May 1999, effectively disbanding the group. They reformed, however, in March 2004. On 28 July 2017, Pellow departed from Wet Wet Wet to focus on his solo career.

Pellow began his career as a solo artist in association with Chris Difford of Squeeze. The two met while they were patients in The Priory in March 1999. Difford subsequently became Pellow's lyricist and unofficial helper. ...

Source: Article "Marti Pellow" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Known For

  • Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds Alive on Stage! The New Generation

Filmography

2024
The Royal Variety Performance 2024 · as Self - Performer
2021
2020
2020
The Masked Singer (UK) (TV Series) · as Self - Wolf
2017
James Martin's Saturday Morning (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2015
Michael McIntyre's Big Show (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest
2012
Sunday Brunch (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2007
The Alan Titchmarsh Show (TV Series) · as Self
2006
The ONE Show (TV Series) · as Self - Performance Guest
2004
2004
Strictly Come Dancing (TV Series) · as Self
2003
2002
Today with Des and Mel (TV Series) · as Self
2002
Fame Academy (TV Series) · as Self
2002
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (TV Series) · as Self - Performer
2001
Richard & Judy (TV Series) · as Self
2001
Lorraine (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2000
BBC Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self
2000
1999
Loose Women (TV Series) · as Self
1998
1995
1995
Wet Wet Wet: Julia Says · as Marti Pellow
1994
Elvis: The Tribute · as Self - Performer
1993
Live & Kicking (TV Series) · as Self
1993
GMTV (TV Series) · as Self
1992
The Big Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self
1990
Les Nuls, The Show (TV Series) · as Self
1989
Kelly (TV Series) · as Self
1989
BingoLotto (TV Series) · as Self - Musical Guest
1988
This Morning (TV Series) · as Self
1988
1987
Sacrée soirée (TV Series) · as Self - Wet Wet Wet
1982
Champs-Elysees (TV Series) · as Self - Wet Wet Wet
1972
Emmerdale (TV Series) · as Marti Pellow
1964
Top of the Pops (TV Series) · as Self - Wet Wet Wet
1962
The Late Late Show (IE) (TV Series) · as Self
1955
This is Your Life (UK) (TV Series) · as Self

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