Scottish soft rock sensation Wet Wet Wet has been embroiled in a legal row over the band's legacy, with the original members now speaking only through legal representatives.
Graeme Clark, who made chart hits including Goodnight Girl, remains just one of four still involved with the group and is looking to tour with a new line-up ahead of their Aberdeen performance next year.
However, a row has since arisen over an early agreement between bassist Clark, singer Marti Pellow, keyboardist Neil Mitchell and drummer Tommy Cunningham, that all revenue should be split four-way and that there should be consensus on the Wets' direction, writes the Daily. File.
READ MORE: Greyhope Bay in Aberdeen unveils exciting plans for new expansion of the popular cafe READ MORE: Georgia 'Toff' Toffolo shares love for Aberdeen's TK Maxx and Haddo House on latest visitClark, 58, said: "It's all in the laps of lawyers at the moment, which is quite difficult, but I've made my case in terms of what I do. I want to take the band on the road, I want to keep these songs current.
"There was a simplistic shareholder agreement that we signed in the 1990s, and that's the only thing that keeps everyone safe. If one man controls it, the fear may arise that I will run off with the Crown Jewels and sell them for myself.
'That's what the agreement is about. Everything went both ways and it's written in stone, but people are starting to question the clauses. That is why there is no communication and it is done through lawyers. It's an expensive way to do it. "
The working-class boys grew up on the streets of Clydebank before founding Wet Wet Wet in 1982. They went on to sell more than 15 million singles and albums and spend 500 weeks in the UK charts.
At the height of their success, only the removal of Love Is All Around from stores prevented it from becoming Britain's longest-running No. 1 single, after 15 weeks in the top spot.
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Clark has planned a UK tour next year with regular Wets guitarist Graeme Duffin and Kevin Simm, who replaced Pellow.
Shows include P&J Live in Aberdeen and Dundee Caird Hall in February, and Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall and Usher Hall, Edinburgh, in November.
He said: "We're on our way in 2025 and there are difficulties we're going to face. There was a decision I had to make when people were getting out. It was like, 'Okay, what do I do?'
"But I love this band, so when everyone else fell by the wayside I decided to keep Wet Wet Wet going with Graeme and a great singer in Kevin."
Pellow left the band two weeks after the Wets played a 30th anniversary show at Edinburgh Castle in 2017. He agreed to continue part-time while he built a career in musical theatre, panto and as a solo artist.
Clark said: "During the performance at Edinburgh Castle, Marti hugged Graeme on stage which I thought was a bit strange. I later realized this was a farewell. We got stuck between The Krankies panto and Blood Brothers and he was going to embed for three weeks do an album.
"The creative process isn't about adding 15 minutes here and there. You had to keep him engaged and you couldn't put him off by asking him, 'Why the hell are you doing Blood Brothers? a singer in a band.'
"That wasn't a conversation we could have. When he left, we had to make a decision. He had big shoes to fill and we didn't want to become a parody of ourselves. Kevin came along and could clearly sing."
Drummer Cunningham and keyboardist Mitchell also recently quit. Clark said: "I don't think it was something they wanted to do when they reached their 60s. I don't know because there is no communication. I do my thing and they do their thing.
"We're obviously not parodying ourselves, but we have to balance that with the fact that we're going to play some of the old songs that became successful with some of the other guys that aren't there. aren't quite The Drifters yet.
"Sure, we have a new keyboardist and a new drummer, but at least these people want to be in the band." Clark added: "I sent Neil a few texts to which I got no response.
"Then came the email from Neil saying that since Tommy had left it seemed like a natural point for him to leave too, so I've had absolutely no communication with Neil, who doesn't say much at the best of times. "
Clark believes illness could have been the catalyst for his legal troubles. He said: "Between the lines I think when I got sick last year that played a role. I wasn't doing so well. I developed pneumonia complicated by Covid. I was intubated.
"I have had emphysema for years, but I was only diagnosed last year. Smoking and all that. So I had Covid and I got pneumonia and I was in the 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 thought, 'No way, man.' They said they had a few medications to try that might not work.
"I thought, 'What happens if I die?' I had to get better. Luckily the drugs took effect and I was able to get 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 have to ask the others what they think about me taking over the band.
"Sometimes I think they think I'm raising all this money, but the music business isn't what it used to be. The holy grail now is concert ticket sales and they didn't like being away from home or their families They left the band and I didn't."
He added: "I am not surprised that we are dealing through lawyers, but I am disappointed because the costs are terrifying. I wish they would pick up the phone. I don't want to be on the Supreme Court. fighting the people I grew up with."
A spokesperson for Pellow, Cunningham and Mitchell said: "While it is true that specialist entertainment lawyers have been working to connect the dots and cross the i's and cross the arrangements to resolve the various copyright and revenue streams associated with the band's catalog manage, there is no hostility at all."
