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The Venue, London, 14th February 1983Ian Winter writes:Waiting impatiently for the next chance to see Big Country, I was delighted to hear about the one-off gig at The Venue. Knowing instantly that was not to be missed, I set about planning the trip to London. At 11.10am on February 14th, the day of the gig, I caught a train for Waterloo, accompanied by two enthusiastic BC fans, Robert Buchanan and Nigel Hayes. Having taken a day off college (Itchen sixth form college in Soton), we were well aware we were going to be about 7 hours early for the gig in seemingly Arctic conditions - but we were determined to fulfil our aim of meeting the band. We arrived at Waterloo about 12.45 and immediately set off in search of The Venue. Once there we bought our tickets and were told that BC were due to arrive at 4pm. Undeterred by this (which meant a 3 hour wait) and the bitter cold and piercing wind, we walked to Hyde Park in order to sit down and eat. Driven away by scavenging gulls and pigeons, we went back to the venue at 3.30pm and waited ... and waited ... and waited. Soon, however, our wait was over, thanks to the efforts of Martin Somers, who helps in the fan club. All of a sudden we were face to face with Stuart, Tony and Bruce, shortly followed by Mark. It was great to chat with the band for the first time, while they were quite genuinely supprised that we had come so far and so early. Then they went off in different directions and returned for the soundcheck which we were lucky enough to see. The evening was going to be great, I could sense it. It didn't take long for The Venue to fill up; the atmosphere was great and there was a fine array of BC T-Shirts and sweatshirts on display. The band definately have a great following going already. It was also pleasant to talk to fellow fans (especially Mick Leese and Calvin Chesworth from Birmingham and somebody from Southend); the spirit amongst the followers is really hard to comprehend, perhaps even more euphoric than the truly fantastic days of the Skids. After somewhat mediocre support, although the Popsicles were mildly enchanting, Big Country took to the stage and after one chord brought immediate euphoria and rapture to the many enthusiasts at the front, including my friends and I. It is hard to describe the magic which exists within the band, but the sheer power and energy cannot, and did not, fail to scythe through any "Heart & Soul" in the crowd. The highlights of the night for me were Angle Park, Heart & Soul, Fields of Fire, Lost Patrol and Inwards. It was all a complete triumph - proof that this is the best new band in the country. It only remains to say that success is on the horizon - "just as you sow, you shall reap". |
Dingwalls, Hull, 25th February 1983Timothy Dickson writes:The packed audience squeezed onto the tiny dance floor as Charlie checked the drum kit. A little voice churned over the PA system: "You may have seen Big Country on the Oxford Road Show tonight. Well they were playing live, they've just arrived, here's Big Country!" Bruce, Tony, Mark and Stuart bounced on stage from a tiny porthole of a dressing room. Stuart apologised for being late - then (finally) got on stage at 9.45pm. The crowd was blessed with Angle Park for starters, then the brilliant Harvest Home, shortly followed by hot favourites Heart & Soul, Balcony and Close Action. Everyone enjoyed the lyrically amazing Lost Patrol. Bruce, looking cool and calculating, Mark slapping everything, Tony twanging away and Stuart still apologising for being late. They were all naturally flamboyant and brilliant. The audience caught two encores, the final number a quite stirring Inwards. Then they rode into the distance. Bloody great, ace, etc. I met all four of Big Country afterwards and they were extremely kind and helpful (thanks). I had a chat with Stuart, a brilliant man, the best. I got all their autographs which now have pride of place on my bedroom wall. |
Rider College, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA, 7th December 1983Les Washburn Schriber writes (with intro from Andy Inkster):Intro from Andy Inkster, posted on the Through A Big Country Facebook Group on 7th December 2020: Les Washburn Schriber has been a Big Country fan since he first heard them back in 1983. He first saw them live, on this very day - December 7, 1983 - in Lawrenceville, New Jersey on Big Country's first ever US tour. You may know that Les was responsible for recording one of the rarest Big Country live shows ever - the Madison Square Garden concert from 1985 and then passing that on to be shared with everyone. Well, he also recorded the first show he attended mentioned above. To celebrate the 37th anniversary of it, Les has passed on the show and it has been worked into a YouTube clip with some terrific and rare pics of the show and the venue (see below). So, here is Les' very own recollections of that gig and the ensuing drama of it. It's a brilliant read and I thank Les for not only this contribution, but to all of his Big Country enthusiasm over the many years he has been, and continues to be, a fan and a valued member of TABC and the BC community. On 7 Dec 1983 I was 16 years old. Several months earlier, in October, I had discovered BC, when my friend, George, had asked me on our walk home from school one day if I had seen this new music video on MTV featuring 4 wheelers, cool scenery, castles, guys in checked shirts and guitars that sounded quite Celtic. I hadn't! Well, not yet, but I had to keep an eye out for it. Both of us were well into The Beatles, The Who, and The Kinks. He told me I would like this group called Big Country, which I thought was a strange name for a group, because I was already getting into The Alarm at the time. After binge-watching MTV for a few days I finally saw the video in all its glory. It was everything that George said it would be visually and more! And the music? What was this? I couldn't believe my ears. This music spoke to me. I immediate called George and told him I saw it and that I was going to the record shop to buy the album. He could come with me or not…I was on a mission. He tagged along and we each purchased a blue copy of "The Crossing" (the only colour available at that time). We each went home and listened separately. I just remember new worlds opening up. I knew nothing about this band but I related to them and them to me. George's family heard all about how great BC was. They also heard the album because he played it at deafening levels in his house. George's father taught business management courses part-time at Rider College (as he still does at age 80), which is only 2 miles from our neighbourhood. He came home one night in mid-November with the news that this "Big Country" group that had been the talk of the house would be playing at the college in a few short weeks... would George and Les like tickets? He can get them for $3.00. $3.00... imagine that... and students from the college were FREE!!!! The answer was simple. The night of the show my parents dropped us off on the campus at the front of the Student Centre. We walked up the steps and inside. The large room where the show was held (called the "Multi-Purpose Room"... the MPR) was to the right. There was also a curtained off section which I presume was the band's dressing room was outside the MPR. There were some people in and out of there that looked like roadies and managers. Someone I saw that night I later recognized as resembling Ian Grant. Anyway, as we entered the MPR we had our tickets ripped and the entrance was just near the front of the stage, with the stage being to the right and the long length of the hall being to the left. The wall across was all glass with a kind of sheer curtain. The stage was huge for the room. About 15 ft deep by 25 ft wide by 4 ft high. George and I headed right for the stage and got a spot right in front of Tony's monitor against the stage as the rest was filling up quick. We got the Sony Walkman recorder out and set it up while we still had light and waited. The Elvis brothers came out first. I actually enjoyed their set. But then The Storm started playing but the band wasn't quite on stage. The smoke machines are going. The mountain and lake background in full view with a faux stone wall supporting the amplifiers. It was such a cool stage set up. Then they came out….ah intro music. Stuart was wearing those red shoes. The stage being as high as it was, I was about 4 feet from them, looking right across the top of the stage at them…I was mesmerised by them. Then those beating drums and the first live guitar I ever hear from BC is those shrill opening notes of "1000 Stars"... still one of my favorites to this day... what an opener. Then to follow is some other riff... what is it? I've never heard this before. Stuart says something indistinguishable into the mic, "This is called 'Bumble Puck'!" Well that's a heck of a name for a song, but it sounds great! I later find out that "Angle Park" is a much better name for a song. Without running through a blow-by-blow list of EVERYTHING that happened from here on out, here's a few key memories:
Big Country - Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA - Dec 7, 1983 (audio), uploaded by BC1000stars. Many thanks to Les and Andy for allowing me to reproduce this! Oliver. |