Not too long ago, trying to get anyone to believe that Marti Pellow was hooked on heroin was akin to persuading people that the Queen Mother was in charge of South London's most ruthless crack cartel. It's astonishing to think that the cherubic, fresh faced Scottish popster and frontman of the world's least threatening band, Wet Wet Wet, could sink to such depths. However as the band slowly disintegrated the booze and the brown stuff took over his life.
Now on the comeback trail as a 'serious' soul artiste, the boy Pellow has immersed himself in Memphis soul and hooked up with one time Squeeze man Chris Difford to write songs for his forthcoming solo album. Having been out of the limelight for sometime and with the memory of his former combo fading it would be easy to write him off. But on the evidence of this first of two shows it seems as though he has exorcised his inner demons and come out the other side, as ever, beaming from ear to ear.
Choosing the prestigious Albert Hall as the venue for his return to the fray seemed at first glance a foolhardy undertaking, but with only a few seats left unsold it's apparent that he still has a ready audience. As he takes to the stage immaculately turned out in a suit and shocking silk shirt his devoted following can barely contain themselves. His trademark grin fixed upon his face like the Cheshire Cat having just won a lifetime supply of double cream he launches into 'Sweet Little Mystery' and of course the gathered masses go wild. Fit, healthy and in remarkably good voice he performs a set of crowd-pleasing oldies lifted from his days with the Wets with a few of his new numbers thrown in for good measure.
A little too slick and polished for comfort and ridden with cliche - there's sing-a-longs, lighters in the air, some underwear thrown at the stage and he even says f*** - the show is so middle of the road that if it ever goes wrong for him again he could easily get a job painting lines up and down the length of the M1. The new material, obviously an attempt at a more mature sound, largely consists of ballads and despite being well received doesn't quite whip the same hysteria of his former efforts.
As he returns for a second encore he does the unthinkable and plays 'Love Is All Around' and once again gains an ecstatic response. Job done, as he leaves for the wings in triumphant fashion one thoroughly satisfied and slightly overcome customer enthuses that Pellow "was Wet Wet Wet," and on tonight's evidence who can disagree.
IMAGES: HAYLEY MADDEN
