The 90s were the decade of the boy band – even the one-hitters were living the A-list rock star style.
After releasing their smash hit Crazy For You in 1994, Let Loose became one of the biggest acts of their time, selling over a million records worldwide – and even winning a Sun gong for Best Newcomer.
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Let Loose were a huge boy band of the 90s Credit: Alamy
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Drummer Lee Murray speaks exclusively to The SunCredit: instagram/lee_murrayinsta
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Let Loose – seen with Bond girl Britt Ekland – star party Credit: Philip Harris
But it all came crashing down in 1997, when the British trio – consisting of Lee Murray on drums, Richie Wemerling on vocals and Rob Jeffrey on guitar – broke up after a series of arguments.
And, in a further blow, Lee found himself £40,000 in debt, picking up rubbish outside the studio where he and the boys were recording.
“I went from being helicoptered everywhere, standing opposite Oasis, Take That and INXS on Top of the Pops, meeting Sir Tom Jones, going to Versace parties with George Michael and Sir Elton John to unraveling my life” , drummer Lee, now 54, tells us in an exclusive interview.
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 infectious song really took off, reaching number two behind Wet Wet Wet’s iconic Love is all Around.
It then stayed on the charts for an incredible 21 weeks, and Let Loose was at every showbiz party.
Tax bill of £40k
But by 1997, Lee and Richie were barely speaking – and the end was inevitable.
He says: “We were in separate hotels and cars until the end.
“It got stupid and I wanted out and that’s one of the reasons we broke up.”
Not long after Let Loose broke up, an already shaken Lee was hit with a £40,000 tax bill.
I was a boy band star in the 90s who sold 10 million records, but hotel room lockouts sent me into a spiral of drugs… I know exactly how Liam Payne struggled
With no money in his coffers, the drummer was forced to postpone his wedding to his then-girlfriend, Helen, and take any job he could find to pay off his debts.
“I was completely desperate,” says Lee. “I was about to get married and I didn’t know what to tell my girlfriend.
“We had to postpone the wedding and I knew I had to work. My dad always instilled that in me.”
But, in a cruel twist of fate, he was soon picking up trash outside the recording studio where he and the band first rose to fame, after finding work there.
“They told me that they had a surprise waiting for them when I got there,” he explains. “Then they said that we will clean the field.
“The last time I was there, I got picked up by a beautiful car, and now I was there (cleaning up).
“It was the lowest I’ve ever felt. It made me sick.”
He hid in shame
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Let Loose hung out with George Michael Credit: Getty
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Lee once hid from Shane Richie on the set of EastEndersCredit: BBC
Lee also started working as an extra on EastEnders – ironically filmed at Elstree Studios, where he had previously performed to screaming fans on Top of the Pops.
“When I arrived, there was Let Loose graffiti on the walls where the kids were waiting for us after Top of the Pops,” he recalls.
“And suddenly I was there again – but this time as an extra.”
But meeting his former peers Danniella Westbrook and Shane Richie on the set of EastEnders really did make Lee feel like a “huge failure”.
The last time I was there I was picked up by a beautiful car, and now I was there (tidying up). It was the lowest I’ve ever felt. I got sick.
Lee Murray
He says: “I 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 said to me, ‘Isn’t it amazing that you have a part in this?’
“I had to tell her I was there for background work. She was very nice to me, bless her.”
He continues: “I remember the second time I was doing a scene at the Queen Vic and Shane Richie was there, who I also knew. And I hid.
“I could have died when he saw me because I felt a great failure.
“But then again, he was so good to me.”
The ‘dark side’ of fame
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Lee says there was a ‘dark side’ to fameCredit: Alamy
Despite how low he felt, Lee continued to work day and night to pay off his debts.
A year later, he and Helen managed to find the funds to pay for their dream wedding.
But Lee’s mental health was failing.
He says: “I needed a lot of therapy, crisis therapy in the years after the split.
If you have any fragility, the music business will find it and make it worse.
Lee Murray
“The music industry looks so glamorous – big cars, screaming fans, playing gigs.
“But there’s a dark side that’s just as prevalent as the glamour, and it’s hard to get into.
“If you have any fragility, the music business will find it and make it worse.
“It’s hard work and the hardest thing you’ll ever have to deal with both mentally and physically.
“Looking back now, it’s almost like watching a movie through your fingers with all the ‘pinch me’ amazing highs and then the terrible lows.”
Helen was Lee’s rock during his dark times, and he credits her with helping him overcome his mental issues.
Time also proved to be a great healer, as did his love of drumming.
After gaining additional educational qualifications, Lee recently decided to set up his own drum school for children with neurodiversion.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” says Lee. “Teaching children is amazing.
“I love seeing them blossom. It’s so good to find something that brings you joy and builds your confidence.”
Reunited
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Lee reunited with his Let Loose bandmates Credit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getto
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Now touring the country at festivals Credit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getto
After falling back in love with drumming, Lee decided to make the bold move last year to reform Let Loose after several failed attempts over the years.
He had a few friendly chats with guitarist Rob, but “Richie wanted out”.
Looking back, it’s almost like watching a movie through your fingers with all the ‘pinch me’ amazing highs and then horrible lows.
Lee Murray
So they contacted one of their ’90s pop peers, Matthew James Pateman, of Bad Boys Inc., to join them on lead vocals.
And they now have a string of gigs across the country – including 11 festival dates next year.
“We’ve had great support and played some great shows this year,” adds Lee. “Some of our old fans are now coming back with their kids!
“It’s been amazing and I’m really enjoying it all.
“I know we’re not going to set the charts on fire now and we’re firmly into the retro ’90s festivals, but it feels good to be performing again.”
He ends: “Now I live for the moment.
“We have big screens with clips from when we were all on Top of the Pops and I see myself as a 22-year-old and smile, thinking how wonderful it is to be playing at the age I am now.
“Life is really good.”
For more information on the band’s gigs and merchandise, visit www.letlooseofficial.com
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Source: HIS Education