Tommy did most of the hard work in trying to get a record company interested in his band. From the 30 or so that he contacted, only 3 agreed to see them.
Tom
and Graeme set off for London in the hope of returning with a record deal.
Phonogram weren't interested at that time, MCA said that they were "okay" but
Rough Trade thought they were brilliant. There was a problem though, all of
their money was riding on another new band, The Smith's. Tom and Graeme were
told that if The Smith's did well, there would be more money to put into the
band from Clydebank. In an attempt to make this happen, the guys bought many
copies of The Smith's records but sadly it didn't help in their own careers.
Elliot Davis, who was managing a band called Sunset Gun, had heard the band's 4 track demo and he invited them to play at the Night Moves club. On Wednesday night's they had an "open" night when any band could go along and play. The club's owner thought that they were brilliant. Apparently Elliot was not so impressed but he obviously recognised their talent as he signed them to his newly set up record label - The Precious Organisation which started life in the old police station in Maryhill, Glasgow.
A music writer, Tom Morton, had recommended to the band that they get a new guitarist in. Graeme Duffin, who was a jazz guitarist with New Celeste at the time, was the man! At the end of 1984 Lyndsay McAulay decided to leave the band and Graeme slotted into the band perfectly.
Mark McLachlan then became Marti Pellow. Marti being a school nickname and Pellow being his mum's maiden name.
1985 saw the band touring the country. They were being mentioned in the music
press but were still unsigned and unknown. On 20th February they played at
Shotts prison in Glasgow. Music journalists from Britain and America went along
to see this new band and they were impressed! Many record companies were keen to
sign the Glasgow band but it was Phonogram who clinched the deal, offering
£150,000 in advance! Elliot Davis added a clause to the contract which allowed
for a year's supply of Whiskas cat food.
In April '85 the Wets signed a publishing deal with Chrysalis and they played a
gig at Glasgow University which received great press! The show was brilliant and
was the turning point for Wet Wet Wet. On 22nd May, the band signed the record
deal with Phonogram.
Two months later, the guys were in Liverpool in the famous Amazon Studios to
write and re-do some of their songs. A producer was brought in for them but they
hated the results. The Wets decided that only they knew exactly how they wanted
their records to sound. They looked back through their own record collections
and decided that they wanted the legendary Willie Mitchell to produce them.
Phonogram brought in someone else and that didn't work out either.
That summer the guys went off on holiday. For the first time ever they had
money and were able to go off and enjoy themselves. On their return they worked
their way through numerous producers, none of whom they were happy with.
Phonogram were losing patience!