Mushroom Music Publishing

2004

Unfinished business. Two words which speak volumes about why Wet Wet Wet are back together again.

Musically, sparks are flying. The group have emerged from the studio and are now in tour mode. It hasn't come a moment too soon. They've recorded tracks for this new greatest hits album. The UK arena dates in December 2004 are their first concerts since 1997. Within hours of Graeme Clark, Tommy Cunningham, Neil Mitchell and Marti Pellow reconvening... it was like they'd never been away. Problems. Disagreements. Reservations.
They all dissolved when the guys began doing what they do best - making music.

It's no secret the band's amazing 16 year career ended in disarray. You know the story, so there's no need to drag it all up again.

Suddenly, the lives of Graeme, Tommy, Neil and Marti had taken on new priorities. They were busy doing different things. As a result, the four had not seen each other in five years.

In their years apart, Marti embarked on a successful solo and stage career starring in the musical, Chicago in London's West End and on Broadway, New York. Graeme utilised his writing and production talents working with other artists while Neil wrote songs. Tommy kept busy with business interests outside the music world. On March 3, 2004, the guys had a secret meeting - at a London hotel - to test the water. It was the first time they'd been in a room alone together in seven years. The atmosphere was tense.

"It was a weird experience,"revealed Tommy, "But in the back of my mind I thought, 'I've still got some unfinished business with Wet Wet Wet'. I wanted to get in front of an audience again. We wrote some songs and sparks were flying. We created a wee bit of magic again. I refuse to be an '80s revival act. We've come up with some brilliant new songs."

Each group member is fully aware this reunion is a creative leap in the dark. Inevitably, their new material will be judged alongside an incredible back catalogue of songs which includes three U.K. No. 1's ... With A Little Help From My Friends (1988), Goodnight Girl (1992) and Love Is All Around (1994). But if the four didn't think they could recapture - and improve on - their immense music achievements they wouldn't waste their own time... let alone ours.

Bass player, Graeme said, "There was trepidation about going back into the studio. It's fair to say everybody felt this was a trip into the unknown. But we'd spent nearly 16 years together. So in some ways it was as if the group had just stopped last week. We quickly got back into the old routine. As musicians, we're much more equipped to deal with this whole process than when we were younger. When a great song idea comes it's like being on a roll... and you've just got to run with it. Looking back, that's what Wet Wet Wet's success almost feels like. It was a case of, 'Let's run as fast as we can ... for as long as we can'. Creatively, you forget about all the things that could trip you up."
Keyboard player Neil added, "There's always doubts in the back of your mind you can pull it off. We're all coming back from different directions now. When I looked around the studio - and saw the other three - it felt familiar again. I'd deliberately not played for the last year. I was surprised how easy it was to slot back in. I discovered I'd missed Wet Wet Wet."

Billy Sloan - Glasgow, October 2004.