Marti Pellow responds to fans' plea with Greatest Hits live show in Sheffield

Marti performs at Sheffield City Hall on April 12, 2022, as part of a 30th anniversary tour.

His run of shows is in direct response to fans begging him to perform live after the Covid lockdown restrictions lifted.

He said: “Twelve million people tuned in for the lockdown sessions and each one of you have inspired me to make this tour happen this year. I finally wanted to put together a show that would celebrate all the wonderful music throughout my career and that I – and I know all of you - fell in love with again through the sessions.

“All through lockdown, when I could only communicate with my fans through my social media platforms, you – the fans - would ask me to sing songs from the beginning of my career right up to the present day. It was a joy to get such great feedback from everyone and got me thinking about a greatest hits tour, where we could all enjoy those songs again and where I could enjoy singing them.”

During the online sessions, Marti also got to cover songs from other songwriters that were either favourites of his or had been suggested by his fans. He said: “I think they resonated with everyone so much that I’m looking forward to including some of them in my shows.”

Marti will also be airing songs from his latest album Stargazer which gave him the opportunity that let him pay homage to all of his heroes. He said: “I can’t wait to sing these songs live for the first time.

"This brand new ‘Greatest Hits’ tour is about finally being able to come together to celebrate love, life, and remember those we may have lost along the way. Most of all, it’s about enjoyment and celebrating the here and now. Get your dancing shoes on – it’s time to party with Marti!”

In his previous incarnation as lead singer with Wet Wet Wet, Marti voiced several number one hits including With A Little Help From My Friends and Goodnight Girl. Their best-selling single was a cover of The Troggs’ Love Is All Around, which topped the charts for 15 weeks and was the soundtrack for the film Four Weddings and A Funeral.

Marti fronted Wet Wet Wet from 1982 to the band’s split in 1997. He was reunited with the group in 2004 when it reformed but departed 13 years later.

In his solo career Marti has released singles from nine albums throughout two decades.

He has also put his stamp on musical theatre, playing lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago, the lead in Jekyll & Hyde, Che Guevara in Evita and the narrator in Blood Brothers.

Marti partnered Hannah Waterman to win the second series of the BBC reality show Just The Two Of Us in 2007.

Tickets to his Greatest Hits show in Sheffield are priced from £35.15, go to www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk