'Dark truth behind 90s boyband fame that left me spiralling and in £40,000 debt'
'Dark truth behind 90s boyband fame that left me spiralling and in £40,000 debt'
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Behind the glitz and glamour of the Britpop era was a dark and sinister side that left Let Loose star Lee Murray spiralling. The Nineties boyband drummer, 52, was once on the cover of Smash Hits magazine and a regular performer on Top Of The Pops alongside his bandmates Rob Jeffrey and Richie Wermerling. In their heyday, they were whisked around in helicopters, interviewed on Cilla Black's chat show, and brushed shoulders with the likes of Take That and Oasis.
But despite selling millions of records worldwide and living the life he once dreamed of, Lee's mental health suffered and when it all came crashing down in 1997, so did he. He tells The Mirror: "When our singles were high in the charts, we were hot property. We were everywhere, constantly on TV. But when you're not viral, you're dumped, and it's really difficult to deal with.".
Nearly three decades after the band separated, Let Loose has reformed, but this time without singer Richie. Matthew James Pateman, from Bad Boys Inc, has instead joined them as lead vocalist. They are set to perform gigs and festivals across the country this year, and Lee is soon to release a solo single, but it will be an entirely different experience for the dad-of-two.
Lee was in his early twenties when Let Loose shot into the spotlight, and he had no idea what to expect. Sharing the reality, he told us: "You go from playing to thousands of people at a gig, then you're suddenly on your own in a hotel room. You have massive highs and terrible lows. When the crowd is singing your lyrics back to you, it's incredible - but there's a dark side.".
