Formed in 1981 by guitarists Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson in Dunfermline, Scotland, Big Country are known for their widescreen guitar melodies, harmony and lyrics, further enhanced by drummer Mark Brzezicki and bass player Tony Butler. This is the Big Country that (with producer Steve Lillywhite), recorded the classic debut album ‘The Crossing’ in 1983.
The band broke massively worldwide with the release of the album’s classic singles ‘Fields Of Fire’, ‘Chance’ and signature song ‘In A Big Country’, which went on to become massive worldwide hits, selling over two million copies and driving ‘The Crossing’ to three prestigious Grammy nominations. The run of success continued throughout the 1980′s with the release of the anthemic single ‘Wonderland’ and the second album ‘Steeltown’ (1984), which debuted at number one in the UK and contained the hit singles ‘East Of Eden, ‘Just a Shadow’ and ‘Where The Rose Is Sown’.
Big Country toured with the likes of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and the Rolling Stones and co-wrote songs with Ray Davies, before founder member Stuart Adams tragically took his own life in 2001. A celebration of Stuart’s life was held at Glasgow Barrowlands in May 2002 featuring the remaining members of Big Country with special guest vocalists including Mike Peters who would also sing with the band at a fan club convention in Zaandam, Holland.
The remaining three members had no real thoughts of performing as Big Country again. But, Tony Butler, Mark Brzezicki and Bruce Watson re-united in 2007 to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary. “It wasn’t a come-back… it was just the three of us having fun, as friends and as a band, and hoping to give the fans some enjoyment by playing our songs live, to celebrate 25 years” – Bruce Watson
Two years of intense and emotional shows followed with the ‘new’ Big Country fuelled by a renewed energy and once again revelling in the dreams and visions that had brought them together in the first place, finding instant and respectful acceptance by fans and critics alike. With the promise of a new era dawning for the band and the realisation that Big Country now have the platform to once again record and tour on a world wide scale, bassist Tony Butler has decided that his time in Big Country has come to a close and so he has retired gracefully from the stage. The band now welcomes Scott Whitley on bass.
We are thrilled to welcome Big Country to the Band on the Wall stage, following their 2016 30th anniversary celebrations of ‘The Seer’.
“One of the best opening bands we ever had.” – Mick Jagger
Lineup:
Mark Brzezicki – Drums, Bruce Watson – Guitar, Jamie Watson – Guitar, Simon Hough – Vocals, Scott Whitley – Bass