Marti Pellow is known for his iconic music and good looks, but it has sometimes resulted in him needing a quick getaway from fans.
Speaking to The Anton Savage Show today, Marti said being an iconic figure of the 80s and 90s does have its costs.
“Most people the luxury to put those old pictures in a drawer, but mine can be found on the internet,” he said.
As lead singer for the Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet for 28 years, he has had a lot of experience from growing as a group to international acclaim.
“We had been playing universities, we were on the cover of NME, then suddenly when our first record came out, we were on the cover of Smash Hits and a teeny bop audience embraced it,” he said.
“To see that hysteria is something to behold because when it gets to a fever pitch, I can still remember it being quite scary.”
Rick Astley with Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow, 1987. Image:Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock PhotoMartin recalled one instance in a HMV in Dublin where he and the band were invited to a signing.
“We came over to sign the album and there were 3,000 kids waiting to get in,” he said.
“Then the whole window came in, all fell in from the kids pushing and then everybody just ran into the store.
“I just ran out the door... that caught us in the hob.”
Marti and his family
Marti said his family have been an important presence keeping him humble across his career.
“After my first number one record, I’m making a few quid, I walk in the door of my dad’s and I’m wearing a Versace shirt,” he said
“I said, ‘Do you like it, Dad? I paid 300 quid for it’ and he said, ‘I don’t need to know that because I just worked for 250 quid a week’.
“It was a life lesson... people interact with you differently cause you’re on the TV screen.”
Marti will be performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in the 3Arena on March 10th as part of his 'Popped in Souled Out' tour.
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