Wet Wet Wet

Wet Wet Wet formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1986 and took their name from a Scritti Politti song. The band consisted of four school friends, Marti Pellow (vocals, born Mark McLaughlin in 1965), Tommy Cunningham (drums, born 1964), Graeme Clark (bass, born 1966), and Neil Mitchell (guitar, born 1965).  Graeme Duffin performed as a session guitarist for the band in their early days, but later became the unofficial fifth member of the group.

The band's first single, "Wishing I Was Lucky," was released in early 1987 and immediately gained the band a great deal of attention. Peaking at number six on the British charts, the song aroused eager anticipation of the debut album. That disc, Popped In Souled Out, was released in September 1987 and became a huge hit in itself, as well as producing three more hit singles in "Sweet Little Mystery," "Temptation," and "Angel Eyes (Home and Away)."

In 1988, Wet Wet Wet returned with The Memphis Sessions. Recorded prior to Popped In Souled Out, the album had been shelved but was released after the success of their debut album. In the same year, the band scored their first British number one with a version of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends," recorded for charity.

In 1989, their follow-up proper to Popped In was released. Entitled Holding Back the River, the album almost became as successful as its predecessor. The disc marked a slight change in sound from soul-pop to a more pure pop sound, with attempts at blues thrown in for good measure. While a more focused album, Holding Back the River did not feature any singles as strong as "Wishing I Was Lucky." "Sweet Surrender" was a success, but the other singles released ("Broke Away," "Hold Back the River," and "Stay With Me Heartache") barely made a dent on the charts.

Wet Wet Wet once again raced up the charts in 1992 with the release of High on the Happy Side. An album full of radio-friendly ballads, High on the Happy Side produced a successful single in the shape of "Goodnight Girl." 1994 saw Wet Wet Wet at the peak of their talents when their contribution to the soundtrack to the film Four Weddings and a Funeral was released. The song, a cover of the Troggs' "Love Is All Around," became a huge international success, spending 15 weeks at the top of the British charts and driving the band's best of compilation End of Part One to healthy sales.

In 1995 Picture This was released. While enjoying good sales, the album did not produce any major singles. By the time of 1997's 10, the band had begun to implode. Cunningham had already left the group to form the Sleeping Giants, and, shortly after the release of 10, Pellow quit to concentrate on a solo career. But in 2006 the band reformed and with all of their various accomplishments in tow, Wet Wet Wet are looking forward to releasing their first album of new material in 10 years independently, thereby embracing the current climate of self-promotion and artist control in the digital age. The band are taking hold of their destiny and making it happen in the mainstream once again.