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Front Cover
Hand-written letter from Stuart:
Hi y'all,
and welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Big Country. I hope you find what you need here in the club but remember it's all about
communication so all suggestions are gratefully received.
We should now be able to keep you right up to date with what's happening with the group and hopefully include material to entertain and
stimulate on the odd occasion.
Remember though, that without your involvement the club would not exist so please make best use of it.
Cheers
Stuart
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BIOGRAPHY
1981
June Stuart Adamson (born April 11th 1958, Manchester) leaves The Skids and recruits fellow Dunfermlinian,
Bruce Watson (born March 11th 1961, Ontario, Canada). BIG COUNTRY is formed. Stuart, Bruce and Rick Buckler (the Jam) demo
"Heart and Soul" and "Angle Park" at London Townhouse for Virgin Records, whom Stuart is signed to.
July Virgin Records release Stuart from his contract but retain the publishing rights.
Sept CBS give Stuart demo time. CBS pass, so do A&M, Polydor, Arista, RAK, RSO, EMI, Sire, WEA, Chrysalis
and Jet. Stuart and Bruce form original BIG COUNTRY line up, adding Pete (now of RunRig) and Alan Wishart and Clive Parker
(formerly of Spizz Oil).
Nov Ian Grant (manager) gets response from Chris Briggs at Phonogram and goes to Dunfermline to see the
band in rehearsal. Ensign offer a singles' deal.
1982
Feb Big Country play their first major gig at Brighton Centre, opening for Alice Cooper. Second night at
Birmingham Odeon, band are asked to leave the tour.
Apr Mark Brzezicki (born June 21st 1957, Slough) and Tony Butler (born February 13th 1957, London) formerly of Simon Townshend's On The Air, join Stuart and Bruce
replacing the Wisharts and Parker. Band demo at Phonogram's studio.
May Big Country sign to Phonogram's Mercury label (contractually, they are signed as 'Angle Park'). Band's first gig at 101 Club, Clapham, London.
Aug First gig in America at New York's Peppermint Lounge, opening for The Members.
Sept Band record and release their first single "Harvest Home" (produced by Chris Thomas). It sells 6,000 copies and reaches 91 in the charts. Oct Big Country tour
Scottish clubs.
Nov Band open for A Certain Ratio at London Lyceum.
Dec Debut on British TV for Channel 4's "Whatever You Want", filmed before live audience at Brixton Academy. Big Country open six nights for The Jam at Wembley Arena.
1983
Jan "Fields of Fire" recorded — produced by Steve Lillywhite. Band open for the Popsicles at London's Venue.
Feb "Fields of Fire" released and peaks at Number 10 in UK chart. Big Country open for U2 at London's Hammersmith Palais. Dingwalls' tours taking in Sheffield, Liverpool,
Hull and Newcastle.
March Band record Radio One session for John Peel.
April First extensive tour of UK — 16 dates including headlining at The Lyceum, London. First Old Grey Whistle Test appearance.
May Record first album, "The Crossing", with Steve Lillywhite. "In A Big Country" released and reaches Number 17.
June First major headlining tour of UK. 34 dates including Hammersmith Palais.
July "The Crossing" released in UK, entering chart at Number 4, peaking at Number 3. Album achieves Platinum sales in UK Gold in USA and Double Platinum in Canada.
Album remained in UK chart for 83 weeks, Live TV broadcast from Sefton Park, Liverpool.
Aug "Chance" released and climbs to Number 9 in UK charts. Big Country appear at Phoenix Park, Dublin with U2, Simple Minds, Eurythmics and Steel Pulse. Big Country
are special guests of The Stranglers at Reading Festival.
Sept US showcase to American radio/press/record company in New York. Two nights at The Ritz HTV live television from Shepton Mallet. Big Country headline two nights
at Hammersmith Odeon as part of their UK tour, Band directed a documentary for Channel 4 series, "Play at Home".
Oct European tour.
Nov First North American tour commencing in Vancouver. 'The Crossing" peaks in the States at number 18.
Dec "In A Big Country" reaches Number 17 in the US singles chart. Band appear on Saturday Night Live in the States and continue touring.
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1984
Jan "Wonderland" released and reaches Number 7 in UK. Meanwhile "Fields Of Fire" makes it to Number 52 in the USA.
Feb Big Country nominated for two Grammy Awards in the US, for Best New Group and Best Single, and perform at the prestigious ceremony at the Shrine Theatre, LA.
May Tour Japan. Pink Pop Festival in Holland.
July Big Country appear at Wembley Arena as special guest of Elton John.
Aug Record "Steeltown" at Polar Studios, Stockholm, produced by Steve Lillywhite.
Oct "East of Eden" released and reaches Number 7 in UK. LP "Steeltown" enters UK chart at Number 1 and goes Gold in UK.
Dec Big Country play to two sell-out crowds at Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC, supported by The Cult. Perform live on BBC 2 from the Edinburgh Playhouse on Christmas Eve.
"Where The Rose Is Sown" is released and reaches Number 29 in UK.
1985
Jan "Just A Shadow" released and peaks at Number 25 in UK.
May Tony and Mark record with Roger Daltrey for his solo album, "Under A Raging Moon" (Bruce guests on one track).
July Big Country perform in supergroup at Wembley Arena for the Finale of 'Live Aid'.
Oct/Nov Tony and Mark rehearse with Roger Daltrey for "Under A Raging Moon" for the album/tour.
Dec Recording commences of 'The Seer' with Robin Milar producing. Big Country open for Roger Daltrey at Madison Square Garden, New York.
1986
Jan Band continue recording "The Seer", Kate Bush makes a guest appearance on title track.
Feb "Restless Natives" film soundtrack recorded with Geoff Emerick (who engineered Sergeant Pepper).
March "The Seer" tour opens in Holland. Band appear on German "Rock Palace" which is broadcast across Europe. Two nights sold out at Hammersmith Odeon.
April "Look Away" released and reaches Number 7, giving Big Country their biggest UK hit to date. "Restless Natives" soundtrack released on 12" of "Look Away" and the next single, "The Teacher".
May Big Country perform at Montreux Golden Rose Festival in Switzerland, Headline Seinejoke Festival in Finland.
June Big Country' perform at 10th Birthday Party of Prince's Trust at Wembley Arena and headline Lochem Festival, Holland.
July Band headline at three day festival in Roskilde, Denmark, "The Teacher" released and reaches Number 28 and their third LP 'ffhe Seer" enters at Number 2 in the UK
album chart and goes Gold in UK, Big Country headline at the Brittany Festival.
Aug "One Great Thing" released in UK and climbs to Number 19 giving Big Country their tenth consecutive Top 30 hit. Big Country appear as special guests of Queen at Knebworth
with Status Quo and Belouis Some, in front of a 200,000 audience. "The Seer" tour of America begins. Band appear on American Bandstand and Solid Gold in U.S.A. Big Country headline show at The Pier
in New York, for an audience of 7,000.
Sep Tour Europe.
Oct Live satellite TV broadcast to USA college stations from Limehouse Studios, London.
Nov "Hold The Heart" released.
Dec Big Country play two sell-out dates at Wembley Arena (11th and 12th).
1987
June Big Country are special guests of David Bowie on his Glass Spider Tour, which included two nights at Wembley Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, Roker Park Sunderland and Slane Castle,
Dublin. Mark Brzezicki plays in supergroup including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Elton John.
Dec "Under Wraps" tour of colleges and clubs in UK.
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1988
Jan Big Country fly to LA to record their fourth album, "Peace In Our Time" with Peter Wolf.
Jun Mark plays drums with Phil Collins in supergroup at Prince's Trust concert at Royal Albert Hall.
Also plays drums with Phil Collins in set at Nelson Mandela Concert including The Bee Gees, Fish, Tears For Fears,
Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, etc. at Wembley Stadium.
July Big Country fly to Australia to film videos for "King Of Emotion" and "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)",
directed by Richard Lowenstein. Big Country co-headline Peace Festival in East Berlin with Bryan Adams, 140,000 people attend.
Aug "King Of Emotion" released and peaks at Number 16 in UK. Band play at Soviet Peace Festival in Tallin,
Estonia, USSR and co-headline with Public Image Ltd. 200,000 people attend.
Sept Big Country announce plans to tour Russia at a reception at the Soviet Embassy in London, playing
a live set from their new "Peace In Our Time" album, broadcast live on Radio One and featured in the News At Ten.
"Peace In Our Time" enters UK charts at Number 7.
Dec Big Country play to the first ever standing audience in a Moscow sports stadium, with 258 media
junket in attendance (from UK, USA, Canada, Japan and Europe). These were the first concerts in the USSR to be promoted
by a private individual.
Oct "Peace In Our Time" video is shot in Moscow and Washington. "Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)" is released in UK.
Dec Stuart Adamson is made an Honorary Patron of the Scottish Prince's Trust.
1989
Jan/Feb Tour UK (three sell-out dates at the Hammersmith Odeon) and Europe.
Mar Bruce performs with Fish at the Lockerbie Disaster gig in Scotland.
May/June Tour continues in Europe with Big Country headlining festivals at Muncheng ladbach in Germany
and St Gallen in Switzerland.
July Mark Brzezicki leaves the Band.
Sept Stuart Adamsom performs at Wet Wet Weft free concert in Glasgow, playing an acoustic Big Country set.
Oct Bruce Watson performs at Glasgow Barrowlands gig with Fish on his solo tour.
Nov Stuart appears on stage as part of all star line up including Brian May, Van Morrison, Dave Edmunds,
James Burton and John Lodge at Jerry Lee Lewis' concert at Hammersmith Odeon.
1990
Feb Big Country begin work on new material with Pat Ahern on drums.
Mar "Save Me" recorded in London with Tim Palmer (Tin Machine, The Mission etc) producing.
Apr "Save Me" single released.
May Tour of UK. Band release their greatest hits compilation 'Through A Big Country" which enters at Number 2.
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