Big Country

Big Country is a folk rock band from Scotland that was originally associated with the New Wave. The band plays rock music with strong Scottish influence, although not a member of the band was born in Scotland. Two of the band members grew up near Edinburgh.

History

Starting from singer, guitarist and main songwriter Stuart Adamson, who founded the punk band The Skids at age 16, in 1981 the band Big Country with Bruce Watson (guitar ), Mark Brzezicki was ( formerly Bass The Pretenders ) founded (drums) and Tony Butler. Early singles like In a Big Country or Wonderland were chart successes and Steve Lillywhite took over the production of the first album of the band. The debut album The Crossing was nominated for the sales and media success and for two Grammy Awards. The single Look Away the published 1986 album The Seer, in which Kate Bush sings on the title track, became a hit. After successes in the 1980s, it became quiet around the band.

Stuart Adamson came again and again with his alcohol problems in the headlines. After a last studio album and a final tour of Europe, the band announced its dissolution in 2000. In December 2001, Stuart Adamson was found hanged in a hotel room in Honolulu. The police went out of suicide. Also worth mentioning are the soundtrack of the Scottish film Restless Natives, which was released on a double CD with rare recordings, and the re- emergence of the music of Big Country in an episode of Gilmore Girls.

In the 1990s, the group played at some concerts of the Rolling Stones and The Who as the opening act. Bruce Watson plays and Others at Fish guitar and is part of the band Fourgoodmen, which also ex-members of Simple Minds are represented, and the hits of Scottish bands playing, including from Big Country.

Reunions

In 2007, the three surviving members of the band on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, for a tour of England and Scotland as well as a concert in Cologne have reunited briefly. Late December 2010 / early January 2011 the band played seven concerts in England and Scotland. Lead singer was Mike Peters ( The Alarm ), formerly played even the opening act for Big Country. Another guitarist Bruce Watson's son Jamie was used. A further 14 concerts - two of them in Ireland - took place in April 2011, just as appearances at the Isle of Wight Festival on 10 June 2011 and 16 July 2011 as guests at a concert of Simple Minds in Inverness ( Scotland). The success of the top festivals in the summer of 2011 meant that new pieces were written, including the single Another Country.

In February 2012, there was another England / Scotland tour in March 2012 to two concerts in small clubs in Berlin and Bochum. With this tour, the 30 - year anniversary of their first album The Crossing should be celebrated. It was followed by appearances at various festivals (among others at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park, the Isle of Wight Festival and at Fairport 's Cropredy Convention as special guests of Fairport Convention ).

On September 26, 2012 it was announced that the band by her longtime manager Ian Grant separated and bassist Tony Butler has retired from the band. New bass player was Derek Forbes (formerly Simple Minds ), Mike Peters and Jamie Watson hear now the main cast. In April and May 2013, the band released as part of the The Journey Tour 2013 several concerts in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. There followed several months concert tour of the U.S. and Canada.

Since November 2013 Big Country and Mike Peters go their separate ways. Peters current successor is Simon Hough (vocals, harmonica and acoustic guitar).

The band leaves the space free in live performance in memory of the late frontman Stuart Adamson.

Discography

Albums

• The Crossing (1983 )
• Steel Town (1984 )
• The Seer (1986 )
• Peace in Our Time (1988 )
• Through a Big Country ( Greatest Hits 1990)
• No Place Like Home (1991 )
• The Buffalo Skinners (1993 )
• Without the Aid of a Safety Net ( live) ( 1994)
• Why the Long Face (1995 )
• Eclectic ( live) ( 1996)
• Brighton Rock ( live) ( 1997)
• King Biscuit Flower Hour ( live) ( 1997)
• Restless Natives and Rarities (1998)
• The Radio Sessions (1999)
• Come up Screaming (2000)
• Driving to Damascus ( 2000)
• One in a Million (Acoustic ) (2001 )
• Undercover ( Cover Versions ) (2001 )
• Rarities II (Compilation ) (2001 )
• Greatest 12 " Hits (2001)
• The Feast ( live) ( 2001)
• Peace Concert ( Live in East Berlin ) (2001 )
• Live in Cologne (2002)
• Rarities III (Compilation ) (2002 )
• The Greatest Hits of Big Country and The Skids (2002)
• Rarities IV (Compilation ) (2003 )
• Rarities V (Compilation ) (2003 )
• The Collection (Compilation ) (2003 )
• Rarities VI (Compilation ) (2004 )
• Rarities VII (Compilation ) (2004 )
• Rarities VIII (Compilation ) (2005 )
• Twenty Five Live ( live) ( 2007)
• Rarities IV (Live Compilation) (2011)
• Dreams Stay With You ( live) ( 2011)
• The Journey (2013 )

Singles

• Harvest Home (1982 )
• Fields of Fire (400 Miles ) ( 1983, UK chart # 10, U.S. # 52, # 9 EIR )
• In a big Country ( 1983, UK chart # 17, U.S. # 17, # EIR 22)
• Chance ( 1983 UK charts # 9, # EIR 12)
• Wonderland ( 1984 UK chart # 8, U.S. # 86, # 4 EIR )
• East of Eden ( 1984 UK charts # 17, # EIR 12)
• Where the rose is sown (1984; UK charts # 29, # EIR 25)
• Just a Shadow ( 1985, UK chart # 26, # EIR 11)
• Look away (1986; UK charts # 7, D # 19, CH # 18, # EIR 1)
• The Teacher (1986; UK charts # 28, # EIR 14)
• One great Thing ( 1986, UK chart # 19, # EIR 12)
• Hold the Heart ( 1986 UK chart # 55)
• King of Emotion ( 1988 UK charts # 16, # EIR 11)
• Broken Heart ( Thirteen Valleys ) ( 1988, UK chart # 47)
• Peace in Our Time (1989; UK charts # 39, # EIR 16)
• Save me ( 1990 UK chart # 41)
• Heart of the World ( 1990, UK chart # 50)
• Republican Party Reptile EP ( 1991, UK chart # 37)
• Beautiful People ( 1991 UK chart # 72)
• Alone ( 1993 UK chart # 24)
• Ships ( Where were You? ) ( 1993, UK chart # 29)
• I'm not ashamed ( 1995 UK chart # 69)
• You Dreamer ( 1995 UK chart # 68)
• Fragile Thing ( Big Country featuring Eddi Reader ) (1999 ) (1999, UK chart # 69)
• See you / Perfect World (1999)
• Somebody Else (2000)
• Another Country (2011)
• Hurt ( 2013)