- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: 'WET WET WET' ANNOUNCE TWO CONCERTS
- Date: 5th March 1997
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 5, 1997) (REUTERS) WET WET WET WALK INTO NEWS CONFERENCE, POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS WETS DRUMMER TOMMY CUNNINGHAM ANNOUNCING THE TWO CONCERTS CUNNINGHAM SAYING IT'S TOTALLY A RISK, WHEN THE MUSIC WITHIN EUROPE IS GOING ONE DIRECTION WHICH IS BASICALLY DANCE. WET WET WET CAN'T DANCE. YOU CAN'T DANCE TO OUR SONGS. WE'VE ALWAYS STOOD ON THE PERIPHERY IN THIS BUSINESS IN AS MUCH AS WE'VE NEVER FOLLOWED THE TRENDS. BRIT POP COMES UP AND OFF IT GOES AND SOMETHING ELSE AND SOMETHING ELSE COMES ALONG. WET WET WET ALWAYS STOOD ALONE IN A LITTLE DARK CORNER. FROM A CREDIBILITY POINT OF VIEW, WE'LL NEVER HAVE THAT CREDIBILITY. WE'LL NEVER BE THE CLASH, WE'LL NEVER BE THE PRODIGY BUT PEOPLE KEEP BUYING THE RECORDS. PARTS OF THE MEDIA DON'T LIKE WET WET WET BECAUSE WE DON'T FIT INTO PARTICULAR HOLES BUT THE PUBLIC STILL BUY THE RECORDS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL HERE (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 20th March 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAMKNXTZV65AL7LID7OLK15JM5
- Story Text: Glawegian foursome Wet Wet Wet are celebrating ten years of making records with a new album -- their tenth -- and two outdoor gigs in England to mark the milestone.
The Wets announced the gigs, at Sheffield and Milton Keynes in August, at a news conference in London on Wednesday (March 5).
They also unveiled their new single "If I Never See You Again" which will be released on Monday (March 10) from the new album "10".
The album sees the band's first collaboration with renowned songwriting team of Graham Lyle and Terry Britten (producers and writers for Tina Turner, Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson).
But the band says "If I Never See You Again" has the distinctive Wet Wet Wet sound.
Drummer Tommy Cunningham describes the album and it's move on two tracks to a "big band" sound as a risk.
"It is a risk when the music within Europe is going in one direction which is basically dance. Wet Wet Wet can't dance. You can't dance to our songs. We've always stood on the periphery in this business." There are 12 tracks on "10" but the band delivered 23 new songs for consideration for the album.
The album took six months of intensive songwriting and producing, singer Marti Pellow said.
The Wet's history can be traced to April 1987 and their debit single "Wishing I Was Lucky" making it to number 6 in the UK charts.
"Sweet Little Mystery" followed, making it to the top 5.
The album that followed "Popped In Souled Out" charted straight at number 2 and went one step further when "Angel Eyes" also made it to the top 5.
The Wets have had three number 1 singles - "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Goodnight Girl" and the massive hit "Love Is All Around" which remained at number 1 for 15 weeks -- the longest period ever by a British act.
Ten years in the business, however, hasn't tarnished the group.
Cunningham credits much of that to staying in their hometown.
"We always try and avoid the fame side of things," he said.
"We don't like the kind of London addiction of being famous and well-known for going to the right parties. We can avoid that.
Staying in Glasgow keeps our feet firmly on hte ground and we've jut got older.
"I hate the word mature but I guess that's the best way to do it."
"10" will be released on March 31. The Wets then plan to embark on a world tour, starting in Europe later this year.
By their own admission, Wet Wet Wet may never be the Clash or the Prodigy but as Cunningham says, "the fans keep buying our records and that's why we're still here." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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