Big Country

Were a Scottish rock band from Dunfermline who fused the style of rock with traditional Scottish folk music instruments and sounds and were very successful commercially as a result of this fresh new sound.

The band consisted of Stuart Adamson, Bruce Watson, Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki. The group formed after Adamson and Watson left the punk band The Skids and after a few personnel tweaks they eventually settled on the four and although the band drew its influences from Scottish folk music, none of the band members were actually Scottish!

They formed in 1981 and a year later saw there first entry on the UK charts with 'Harvest home' which peaked at 91 and this gave them some exposure to what lay ahead. The next single hit the top 10 with 'Fields of fire' and this was followed by the debut album 'the Crossing' That album and the following single 'In a big country' were high entries in the American market as the demand for more traditional sound and the debut album sold over one million copies in the UK. What was different about the band was there use of bagpipes amongst others and the use of the E-Bow on the guitars to give that distinct Country sound.

A worldwide tour followed and also they found time to release 'wonderland' which again hit the top 10 in the UK. The second album followed suit and 'Steeltown' charted in at number one on the UK album charts. The latter end of 1984 and most of 1985 was touring and they did participate in the Band Aid single in 1984 and supported the likes of Roger Daltrey and Queen. They also recorded the score for a Scottish independent movie called 'Restless Natives' although this was not released until 1997!

1986 saw the release of the third album 'The Seer' and this charted in at number two in the UK album charts and included there biggest selling single 'Look away'. The album also saw Kate Bush provide backing vocals. The album was well received in the UK but this album like the last was not a great success in America so they turned to producer Peter Wolf for the next album in 1988 'Peace in our time' but the American dream was fading and the album only reached number nine in the UK album charts.

The early 1990s saw the band dropped by there record label Phonogram and although they had success as a supporting act coupled with the odd chart entry the halcyon days of the 1980s were no more. Eventually, Stuart Adamson took it badly and sadly took his own life. The band still continue today with Watson and Brzezicki still leading the band with the addition of Mike Peters Ex- the Alarm and Derek Forbes Ex- Simple Minds.

During the 1980s the band released four studio albums all top 10 with 'Steeltown' the only number one. They also released 15 singles with four top 10 hits with 'Look Away' reaching number seven in the charts.