Celebrations

OUTLOOK FOR SUMMER IS WET, WET, WET

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Tuesday March 27,2012

By Gavin Docherty Have your say(0)

SCOTLAND’S biggest band, Wet Wet Wet yesterday announced they will re-unite to perform a 25th anniversary concert at Glasgow Green.

Lead singer Marti Pellow said the group is also planning a UK tour and an album composed by him and bassist Graeme Clark.

The concert, on July 20, will prove a major test of the band’s abiding popularity among fans who will be asked to pay £36 a ticket in a venue for 25,000.

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Pellow and fellow musicians Clark, Tommy Cunningham, Neil Mitchell and Graeme Duffin will also put on a spectacular musical showcase in their silver anniversary year.

They are performing three of their greatest hits, Temptation, Goodnight Girl and Love Is All Around, to an invited audience at the Banqueting Hall of Glasgow City Chambers.

There is an element of nostalgia and basically this is a celebration, but we would like to move on

Marti Pellow

Pellow, 46, said: “There is an element of nostalgia and basically this is a celebration, but we would like to move on. The apex will be the album. It is important for us as songwriters that we get to show where we are at now.

“It is not about yesterday, it is about tomorrow. It is about us rediscovering each other as well.”

The band, from Clydebank, split up in the late 1990s but re-formed for a Greatest Hits album in 2004 and celebrated their 20th anniversary with an arena tour.

Drummer Cunningham, 45, cautiously remarked: “We were last on stage four and half years ago. Don’t underestimate what it has taken for us to get into the city chambers together. I’d love to think that there is going to be an album and an arena tour. Maybe the people of Glasgow will decide that and come along in their droves then we will follow that up.”

Sweet Little Mystery for Wet Wet Wet fans as group feed 25th anniversary reunion rumours

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Mar 23 2012 By Beverley Lyons

WET Wet Wet were last night at the centre of reunion rumours after promising a “special announcement”.

The band, who topped the charts in the 80s and 90s – sent out invitations to join them at Glasgow City Chambers at midday on Monday.

They said only that they would be making an announcement, which would be accompanied by a performance and a question and answer session for reporters.

But there was immediate speculation that the big revelation would be of a reunion to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

The band, from Clydebank, first formed in 1982 under the name Vortex Motion.

But they made it big in 1987 with their debut Wishing I Was Lucky and went on to have hits including Sweet Little Mystery and the mega-selling Love Is All Around.

The band – Marti Pellow, Graeme Clark, Tommy Cunningham, Neil Mitchell and Graeme Duffin – have been hoping to find a way of celebrating their past successes for some time.

Tommy hinted at plans at Christmas when he told the Daily Record: “We’re trying to get it all together so we can do something but it’s not looking that good, which is disappointing, isn’t it?”

He then cheekily added: “Our 25-year anniversary. Personally I can see an SECC on the horizon – absolutely.”

The band split up in the late 1990s but reformed for a Greatest Hits album in 2004 and celebrated their 20th anniversary with a successful arena tour.

Las Vegas McGuire course

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Video shot at the McGuire course in Las Vegas.

http://www.lvrj.com/multimedia/Stuttering-Convention-teaches-students-how-to-overcome-their-speech-problems-140612653.html

Video by Justin Yurkanin & Jason Bean

Las Vegas Review-Journal ©

Feb. 27 at 12:32 p.m.

Stuttering Convention teaches students how to overcome their speech problems

Robbie Picken has had a stutter for most of his life. He was one of five new students who came to Las Vegas to attend the McGuire Programme, a progressive course designed by a stammerer to overcome one's stutter. Watch as these students cope with their stutter during this intense four day program.

If you would like more information about the McGuire programme please click this link:

http://beyondstammering.com/

14-2-2012 - Graeme Clark releases solo album

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:50:00 +0000

You might not know the name but chances are you know his music.

Graeme Clark is a founder member, bass player and songwriter with the multi-million selling band Wet Wet Wet, the band that during the late 1980’s and through the 1990’s produced 30 hit singles – including 3 number ones – and 4 number one albums. The Wets disbanded in 1999, and having resolved their issues, reformed, toured and continue to discuss future efforts.

Clark’s solo album, Mr Understanding, and the single Kiss of Life, will both be released on 5 March 2012.

In recent years Graeme has decided to write songs for his own use. And while his lyrical and musical influences on Wet Wet Wet music is clear, his recent writing has more of his roots influencing the melodic soul than before. Free from the limitations that a successful band can bring, his music is flourishing and exhibiting the best of his creative seams.

Graeme’s craft of writing and producing wasn’t an easy road. “It took me a long time to compose the material I felt would suit me. I put a lot more into the writing. Not having a deadline made it easier and I could work at my own pace. I’m genuinely excited about the creative processes and have found my love of song-writing once again.”

Along the way Graeme has summoned influence and input from his team in and out of the studio resulting in an acoustic album of great depth and diversity.

“Mr Understanding” was recorded at The Foundry Music Lab in Glasgow in Graeme’s home studio and the G2 Studio London over a 12 month period. It’s a powerful body of work displaying a wealth of variety but with the ever-present soul influences that have been a trade-mark of Graeme’s work. The songs are tuneful, thoughtful and, as you might expect, soulful with an interesting range of influences.

With the exception of one track, all songs were written and produced by Graeme. Naturally there's a hint of The Wets in parts of the music, but there's much, much more to Graeme's musical vocabulary.

Having recently toured showcasing tracks from “Mr Understanding”, he is joined on stage by Wets’ guitarist, Graeme Duffin along with friend and musical collaborator Iain Duff – on accordion and piano. Their UK live dates will include one or two old favourites along with a natural enthusiasm that is evident both on this album and also in all their live shows.

But, as Graeme says, “I love that band and it would be pompous and foolish to turn my back on it”. As a result, their live set includes some old favourites in addition to this new material – a set that aims to welcome everyone to the world of GC.

The move to centre stage has shown Graeme to be a natural and talented performer.

Intimate, acoustic shows provide the perfect environment to see the man and to hear his music in a more natural way. As a well-known music industry insider put it “GC is without ego. He lives to perform and just loves getting close to the audience”.

Live dates, with more to be confirmed, are:

24th February @ Swansea Evening Post Theatre

26th February @ Louisiana, Bristol

29th February @ Islington Garage, London

7th March @ Fibbers, York

10th March @ Birmingham HMV Institute

15th March @ Glasgow King Tuts, Glasgow

18th March @ Brighton Komedia

22nd March @ Liverpool O2 Academy 2

Graeme Clark is back......30-1-2012

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:40:00 +0000

Wets star well on way to solo album success

By RUSSELL LEADBETTER Share 30 Jan 2012

EX-Wet Wet Wet co-founder Graeme Clark is back, back, back.

Graeme, bass player and songwriter with the multi-million-selling Scots band, is poised to return with solo album, Mr Understanding. The new album was recorded at Glasgow's Foundry Music Lab, in Graeme's home studio and a London studio over a 12-month period.

He’s doing several concerts to promote the new acoustic record … including a date at King Tut’s in Glasgow on March 15.

Graeme, together with Marti Pellow, Tommy Cunningham and Neil Mitchell, found enormous fame with the Clydebank band.

During the late 1980s and through the 1990s they produced 30 hit singles, including three No1s, and four chart-topping albums.

beginning 2012 is keeping Graeme bussy

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Not only is he very busy at the FML but he told me he's off to Las Vegas in two weeks time.

Dave McGuire (McGuire programme) asked Greame if he could assist him in Las Vegas for the McGuire stammering course there. Of course Graeme was delighted to be asked and a free trip to Las Vegas isn't to bad :). He's flying out on the 24th and coming back on the 30th.

He won't have much time to do some Las Vegas site seeing as the course is 5 days, and with traveling, there won't be much time left. I did give him some tips what to see, if he has a few hours off, as I was there last year :).

Also he's going to do all the Graeme Clark solo gigs and looking very forward to that. All the information and how to purchase tickets are under "calendar" .

Motherwell College music students release their first single

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:25:00 +0000

Sep 22 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO HND Music students from Motherwell College are hoping to chart when their debut single is released this week.

Danielle Tonner and John Muir, both from Motherwell, make up the band Till This Night, and will release their single ‘Runaway’ tomorrow (Friday, September 23).

Having studied music at NQ level, then progressing to HNC and now HND in Rock and Pop, the pair work with producer Graeme Duffin of Wet Wet Wet.

Graeme helps run the Foundry Music Lab which has a strong partnership with Motherwell College, facilitating some of the more practical side of the music courses.

Danielle explained: “The advantage that we have being on the music course, is that a lot of the stuff we previously had dreamed about doing in music we get to do on a day to day basis by being at the college. To think we are in a position of releasing a single and going on our own UK tour as part of our coursework makes us feel very fortunate.”

The music courses at Motherwell College have gained a lot of press attention over the past year, having had guest lecturers such as Dave McGeehan and Dave Corbit who manage DF Concerts which run T in The park, music journalist Billy Sloan, and marketing expert Michelle Mone.

Last week the course was named music course of the year at the Scottish New Music Awards, and HND music student and ‘Till This Night’ member John was delighted with the achievement.

He said: “To be honest every single one of us feel the sense of achievement, our lecturers and fellow students have all been part of winning that award. We take our work very seriously and unless you are part of it, it is hard to explain how good an atmosphere there is on the music course.”

Till This Night start their college project/UK tour at the HMV Picture House in Edinburgh on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Their single Runaway is available from Friday as a download from

www.soundcloud.com/tillthisnight and www.facebook.com/tillthisnight

GC's Blog " first time we met Graeme Duffin " :)

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:43:00 +0000

Radio Scotland - Tom Morton Show 5th July 2011

Hi Friends

Back to the 'Old Country' again and a big thanks to Tom Morton for having me on his show, a live radio session.

Tom's an old friend of the band and 27 years ago he did an interview with us for 'Melody Maker'. During that interview I told him we were looking for a guitarist and he said, "Graeme Duffin - he's your man."

So, GD appeared at the audition in a geography teacher's long, green trench coat topped with a Tom Baker Doctor Who scarf. At that point we were questioning Tom's judgement - that's the polite version.

Then he played. We were speechless. The rest is history.

Graeme made a huge contribution to the sound of our beloved band and I'm glad to say that 27 years later I am about to take to the stage with him yet again. He's also made a substantial contribution to my new album 'MR UNDERSTANDING'.

Anyway, back to Tom Morton. It was great speaking with him again. He asks questions you hadn't quite anticipated -just like he did all these years ago. All my bullet points were a waste of time but I did manage to plug the gig - 15th July, if you've forgotten.

It also good to get Tom's support. He has carved out his own musical niche in the radio world and is highly respected.

I forget how nerve wracking live radio is. Singing and playing the guitar brings another dynamic to the party. To confuse things more, TM does his show in Shetland, the production is in Aberdeen and I was in a studio in Glasgow. How the world has changed but in a good way. You can be anywhere in the world and still communicate your message.

I am grateful to all of you for the support you guys give me. The feedback is always welcome, so keep it coming.

It really means a lot to me, and everyone at GC HQ.

Interview with Graeme Clark

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:07:00 +0000

Wet Wet Wet star Graeme Clark: It took me fifteen years to sober up

Jun 17 2011 John Dingwall

Wet Wet Wet star Graeme Clark is making a comeback as a solo artist - after winning a booze and drugs battle.

Clark, 46, wrote Wets classics such as Goodnight Girl, Angel Eyes and Wishing I Was Lucky.

But last July, he announced on Twitter that he had quit the million-selling group he formed with pals Marti Pellow, Tommy Cunningham and Neil Mitchell.

Now he plans to release a solo album, Mr Understanding, and is putting together a tour, which includes Glasgow's Oran Mor on July 15.

And Clark also wants to reform Wet Wet Wet, the Clydebank band he shot to fame with in 1987, for a new album and tour in 2012.

He said: "Until a year ago, there had been plans to make music with Wet Wet Wet but that changed. I decided to wipe the slate clean to make my music.

"Looking back, it wasn't the best thing to tweet that I was leaving Wet Wet Wet but I wanted to make my own music."

Clark, who plays bass, guitar and sings on his solo album, gave The Record an exclusive preview of the songs, which include the touching ballad In Another World and the mid-tempo Kiss Of Life.

They were recorded in his home studio in Surrey, where he lives with wife Beverley and their 18-year-old son, Alexander.

Speaking at home, he said: "In Wet Wet Wet, it would be a tour every five or six years and I realised I could be doing something in between. I have needs to be met. I sound like a girlfriend but I wanted to get out there.

"I did a gig the other day down here and sang Wet Wet Wet songs. People didn't realise who I was.

"They were turning round thinking, 'I know that song'. By the end, they were all singing along. I have to look back at my old songs that Wet Wet Wet did to see if I can sing these.

"The Wets material is sewn inside of me but I'm not Marti interpreting the song because he is a unique singer."

For the album, Clark enlisted the help of fifth Wets member, Graeme Duffin, who contributes some guitar, as well as Iain Duff on accordion and Sandy Jones, who engineered the Wets hit Love Is All Around, on keyboards.

But he ditched Pellow's demo backing vocals. Clark explained: "Marti is such a good singer with such a distinctive voice that the minute he sang on it, he would take over.

"When our voices come together, it's that sound again. You could say I was the voice of Wet Wet Wet because I wrote the songs.

"It means I get control of the content. It was with the blessing of the guys who told me I needed to run with this. I wanted to do it on my own."

Ironically, Clark was only able to get his head together to make his own songs after beating drink and drug addictions that made it impossible for him to help Wets frontman Pellow when he became a heroin addict back in 1999.

Clark realised his problem had reached crisis point when he punched wife Beverley in 2001. He was later fined s200 for the attack.

Clark said: "I was drinking a lot.

If you pour alcohol on me, I'm like firework. I am going to go off.

"Beverley is a powerful, strong woman. That is the big attraction for me. She is very opinionated.

"But the tempestuous aspect of our relationship came from me. It didn't come from Beverley.

"Thankfully, I don't drink any more. That fire has dissipated.

I don't drink at all. I am clean and sober.

"Twenty years ago, I knew I was drinking too much, but my perception of an alcoholic was the guy in the park with string for a belt and drinking meths.

"Once I started drinking, I was at the party myself 10 hours later, thinking where has everybody gone?

"I had this disease of more, more, more. There was nothing we could do about Marti's heroin addiction. I had my own problems.

"We should have taken two years out to get ourselves together."

He added: "I took the decision to stop drinking 20 years ago but it took me 15 years to stop. It is the best present I ever gave myself.

"I drink a little coffee now and that's the closest I get to drugs."

Having sold 20million albums, Wet Wet Wet reunion talks are underway, despite Pellow's starring role in the hit West End musical Jekyll & Hyde.

Clark said: "Everybody is busy. I speak to them once or twice a month. There is an element of the logistics of getting these four people at the same time to decide when to do this.

"Next year, there will be exciting stuff - a new tour and a new Wet Wet Wet album.

"I have put it to the guys and they agreed we have to be seen to be current.

"We don't want to go out there and be Rick Astley, an 80s throwback. People don't look at us as an 80s band like Duran Duran and they don't see us as a 90s band. We have managed to transcend that.

"There has got to be a new album, otherwise it becomes nostalgia. We are looking at dates in the autumn.

"Marti is doing Jekyll & Hyde for the next six months and his own album first. I haven't seen Marti in any of his musicals but I am going to Glasgow this weekend and hoping to see him then.

"Marti actually doesn't know if he is Jekyll or Hyde, but I have the utmost respect that he's doing that because it takes a lot of bottle."

Michelle Mone visits students at Motherwell College

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Michelle Mone at Motherwell College

HND Music students at Motherwell College were treated to a very special guest lecture by one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs.

Ultimo boss Michelle Mone paid a visit to the college earlier this month. As part of the music course, the students not only record and perform within bands as part of assessment but they have to study the business side of the music industry.

As well as giving advice in marketing a brand, networking and seeking funding for arts projects, Michelle gave the students business advice on the individual music projects which are currently being assessed.

And she spoke in detail about how to market a product online through social media, how to network at corporate events and manage a budget whilst dealing with overheads.

Course lecturer Scott Cowie said: “We are absolutely delighted that entrepreneurs such as Michelle Mone take the time out of their busy schedules to talk to our music students.

“We can give our students their music education but there is nothing to beat hearing directly on how to succeed, from the big names in business and the music industries.”

Michelle Mone is one of many well-known people to deliver a guest lecture to the music course students. Others include T in the Park promoters Dave McGheachan and Dave Corbitt, top music journalist Billy Sloan, and Wet Wet Wet’s Graeme Clarke.

The college music courses have a strong partnership with the Foundry Music Lab in which most of the practical and recording sides of the course are delivered.

The Motherwell-based professional recording and rehearsal facility was founded by Graeme Duffin (guitarist with Wet Wet Wet), Ted Blakeway and Sandy Jones. The college has worked with the Foundry since 2006.