THE 90s were the decade of the boy band – and even the ones with one hit lived an A-list rock star lifestyle.
After releasing smash hit Crazy For You in 1994, Let Loose became one of the biggest groups of the time, selling over a million records worldwide – and even winning The Sun’s gong for Best Newcomer.
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But it all came crashing down in 1997, when the British trio – made up of Lee Murray on drums, Richie Wemerling on vocals and Rob Jeffrey on guitar – split after a series of rows.
And, in a further blow, Lee found himself £40,000 in debt, picking up litter outside the studio he and the boys used to record in.
“I went from being flown around in a helicopter all over the place, standing opposite Oasis, Take That and INXS at Top of the Pops, meeting Sir Tom Jones, going to Versace parties with George Michael and Sir Elton John to then my life unravelling,” drummer Lee, now 54, tells us in an exclusive chat.
Let Loose first released Crazy For You in 1993 shortly after emerging on the pop circuit.
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But it wasn’t until the following year that the catchy song would really take off, reaching number two behind Wet Wet Wet’s iconic Love is all Around.
It then stayed in the charts for a staggering 21 weeks, and Let Loose were at every showbiz party going.
£40k tax bill
But by 1997, Lee and Richie were barely speaking – and the end was inevitable.
He says: “We were in separate hotels and cars by the end.
“It got silly and I wanted out and that’s one of the reasons why we broke up.”
Not long after Let Loose split, an already reeling Lee was hit with a £40,000 tax bill.
With no money in the pot, the drummer was forced to postpone his wedding to his then-girlfriend, Helen, and take any job he could find to help pay off his debts.
“I was completely crestfallen,” Lee says. “I was supposed to be getting married and I didn’t know what I was going to tell my girlfriend.
“We had to postpone the wedding and I knew I needed to work. My dad had always instilled that in me.”
But, in a cruel twist of fate, he was soon picking up litter outside the recording studio where he and the band first found fame, after landing a job there.
“They told me they had a surprise when I got there,” he explains. “It was then they said we would be cleaning up around the grounds.
“The last time I’d been there I had been picked up in a beautiful car and now there I was (cleaning up).
“It was the lowest I’d ever felt. I felt sick.”
Hid in shame
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Lee also took up work as an extra on EastEnders – ironically filmed at Elstree Studios, where he’d previously performed to screaming fans on Top of the Pops.
“When I arrived, there was Let Loose graffiti on the walls where the kids used to wait for us after Top of the Pops,” he recalls.
“And suddenly I was there again – but this time as an extra.”
But it was bumping into his former peers Danniella Westbrook and Shane Richie on the set of EastEnders which really made Lee feel like a “massive failure”.
The last time I’d been there I had been picked up in a beautiful car and now there I was (cleaning up). It was the lowest I’d ever felt. I felt sick.
Lee Murray
He says: “I can remember walking into the dressing room and seeing Danniella.
“I knew her from East 17 and Brian Harvey (who she dated) and all the parties. She told me: ‘Isn’t it amazing you have a part in this?’
“I had to tell her I was there for background work. She was very sweet to me, bless her.”
He continues: “I remember another time I was doing a scene in the Queen Vic and Shane Richie was there, who I also knew. And I hid.
“I could have died when he spotted me because I felt a massive failure.
“But again, he was so nice to me.”
‘Dark side’ of fame
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Despite how low he was feeling, Lee continued to work around the clock to pay off his debts.
A year later, he and Helen managed to find the funds to pay for the wedding of their dreams.
But Lee’s mental health had taken a battering.
He says: “I’ve needed a lot of therapy, crisis therapy over the years since the split.
If you have got any fragility, the music business will find it and exacerbate it.
Lee Murray
“The music industry looks so glamorous – the big cars, fans screaming, playing at gigs.
“But there is a dark side just as prevalent as the glamour and it’s a tough business to be in.
“If you have got any fragility, the music business will find it and exacerbate it.
“It is a tough business and the hardest thing you will ever have to deal with both mentally and physically.
“Now looking back, it’s almost like watching a film through your fingers with all the ‘pinch me’ incredible highs and then terrible lows.”
Helen has been Lee’s rock throughout his dark times, and he credits her with helping him to overcome his mental struggles.
Time has also proved to be a big healer, as has his love of drumming.
After gaining some extra educational qualifications, Lee recently decided to set up his own drum school for neurodiverse children.
“It’s the best thing I ever did,” says Lee. “Teaching the children is amazing.
“I love seeing them flourish. It’s so good to find something that brings you joy and builds your confidence.”
Reunited
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Having fallen back in love with drumming, last year Lee decided to make the bold move to reform Let Loose after several failed attempts over the years.
He had some friendly chats with guitarist Rob, but “Richie wanted out”.
Looking back, it’s almost like watching a film through your fingers with all the ‘pinch me’ incredible highs and then terrible lows.
Lee Murray
So they reached out to one of their 90s pop mates, Matthew James Pateman, from Bad Boys Inc, about joining them as lead vocalist.
And they’ve now got a string of gigs lined up around the country – including 11 festival slots next year.
“We have had great support and played some great gigs this year,” Lee adds. “Some of our old fans are coming back with their children now!
“It has been amazing and I am really enjoying it all.
“I know we aren’t going to set the charts alight now and we are firmly in the 90s festival retro bracket but it feels good to be performing again.”
He finishes: “I live for the moment now.
“We have big screens up with clips from when we were all on Top of the Pops and I see my 22-year-old self and smile, thinking how wonderful it is to play at the age I am now.
“Life is really good.”
For more information on the group’s gigs and merchandise, go to www.letlooseofficial.com
