by Scottish soft sensation Wet Wet Wet is embroiled in a legal row over the band’s legacy, with its original members now speaking only through legal representatives.
Graeme Clark, who wrote chart-topping songs such as Goodnight Girl, is only one of the four still involved in the group and is looking to bring a new group on tour before their gig in Aberdeen next year.
However, it has since fallen apart under an early agreement by bass player Clark, singer Marti Pellow, keyboard player Neil Mitchell and drummer Tommy Cunningham that all revenue would be split. in four ways and that there should be an agreement regarding the direction of the Wets, writes the Daily. Record.
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Clark, 58, said: “It’s all in the lawyers’ lap at the moment, which is quite difficult, but I’ve made my case for what I’m doing. I want to take the band out on the road, I want to keep these songs up and sailing.
“There was a simplistic shareholder agreement that we signed in the 90s, and that’s the only thing that keeps everyone safe. When it is ruled by one man there could be the worry that I would take the crown jewels and sell them to myself.
“That’s what the agreement is about. Everything went four ways and it’s etched in stone, but people are starting to question the clauses. That’s why there’s no communication and it’s going through lawyers. It’s an expensive way to do. “
The working-class lads grew up on the streets of Clydebank before forming Wet Wet Wet in 1982. They went on to sell more than 15 million singles and albums, spending 500 weeks in the UK charts.
Their success only meant that when Love Is All Around was pulled from stores it could not become the longest running No1 single in Britain, after 15 weeks at the top spot.
Clark is touring the UK next year with long-term Wets guitarist Graeme Duffin and Kevin Simm, who replaced Pellow.
Shows include P&J Live in Aberdeen and Dundee Friends Hall in February, and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Usher Hall, Edinburgh in November.
He said: “We’re on track in 2025 and we’re facing difficulties to do that. I had a decision to make when people were giving up. It was like, ‘Okay, what do I do?’
“But I love this band so when everyone fell by the wayside I decided to keep Wet Wet Wet going with Graeme and great singer Kevin.”
Pellow left the band two weeks after the Wets played a 30th anniversary show at Edinburgh Castle in 2017. He agreed to continue on a part-time basis while forging a career in musical theatre, panto and as a solo artist.
Clark said: “At the Edinburgh Castle gig, Marti hugged Graeme on stage which I thought was a bit strange. Later, I realized he was fine. We got stuck between The Krankies panto and Blood Brothers and he would we went in for three weeks to make an album.
“The creative process isn’t about putting in 15 minutes here and there. You had to keep it involved and you couldn’t turn it off asking, ‘Why the f*** are you doing Blood Brothers? singer in a band.’
“That wasn’t a conversation we could have had. When he left we had a decision to make. His big shoes had to be filled and we didn’t want to be a parody of ourselves. Kevin came and d he could sing clearly.”
Recently, drummer Cunningham and keyboard player Mitchell also quit. Clark said: “I think it was not something they wanted to do to reach their 60s. I do not know because there is no communication. I am doing my thing and they are doing their thing.
“Obviously we’re not parodying ourselves but we have to balance that with the fact that we’re going to be playing some of the old hits with a bunch of other guys who aren’t there. The Drifters aren’t quite that yet
“Sure, we have a new keyboard player and a new drummer but at least these guys want to be in the band.” Clark said: “I sent Neil a couple of texts which I didn’t get a reply to.
“Then came the email from Neil saying, since Tommy left it seemed like a natural point for him to leave as well, so I’ve had no communication with Neil, which isn’t saying much at the best of times. “
Clark believes illness may have been the catalyst for his legal issues. He said: “Reading between the lines, I think when I got sick last year that had something to do with it. I was not very good. I got pneumonia complicated by Covid. I was intubated.
“I’ve had emphysema for years, but it was only diagnosed last year. Smoking and all. So I had Covid and I got pneumonia and I was in hospital and I couldn’t move or breathe.
“The doctors said, ‘Graeme, if it doesn’t change the best place for you is in intensive care in a coma.’ I was like, ‘No way, man.’ They said they had a few drugs to try that might not work.
‘I was thinking, ‘What if I die?’ I had to get better. Luckily, the drugs kicked in and I was out of there. So I’m the last man standing and I like to think I’m the brains behind Wet Wet Wet, certainly musically, but you’ll have to ask other people what they think about the fact that I accepted the band.
“Sometimes I think they believe I’m collecting all this money, but the music business isn’t what it used to be. The Holy Grail is now concert ticket sales and they didn’t like being away or leaving their family. the band and I wasn’t.”
He added: “I’m not surprised we’re dealing through lawyers but I’m out because the cost is outrageous. I want them to pick up the phone. I don’t want to be in the High Court at fighting the people I grew up with.”
A spokesman for Pellow, Cunningham and Mitchell said: “While specialist entertainment lawyers are working on dotting the ‘i’s & crossing the ‘t’s’ arrangements to manage the various copyright and revenue streams associated with the band’s catalogue, yes no no trouble involved.”
