Big Country Eastworld Tour 2025 - Support: Pistol Daisys
The Biography
Big Country was originally formed in 1981 by guitarists Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, both hailing from the band's hometown of Dunfermline in Scotland.
Originally driven by a shared vision of widescreen guitar melodies, harmony, and lyrics, the classic Big Country sound was later further enhanced that summer with the arrival of drummer Mark Brzezicki and bassist Tony Butler. This is the Big Country that (with producer Steve Lillywhite) recorded the classic debut album "The Crossing" in 1983.
The band's worldwide breakthrough came with the release of the album classics singles "Fields Of Fire," "Chance," and the signature song "In A Big Country," which turned into global giants, selling over 2 million copies and earning "The Crossing" three nominations for the prestigious Grammy in the USA.
The success streak continued in the 1980s with the release of the anthemic single "Wonderland" and the second album "Steeltown" (1984), which debuted at number 1 in the UK and included hit singles "East Of Eden," "Just a Shadow," and "Where The Rose Is Sown." In 1985, Big Country performed at Live Aid in London, followed by further successful album releases such as "The Seer" (1986, which included the band's biggest UK hit "Look Away," which also reached number 1 in the Irish singles chart) and "Peace In Our Time" (1988), during which the band held the first privately organized concert in Russia at the Moscow Sports Stadium.
In the early 90s, "Through A Big Country" was released with all the band's classic hits, followed by the fifth studio album "No Place Like Home" (1991), with which the band sold well over five million records in total.
Other studio albums followed, such as "Buffalo Skinners" (1993) and "Why The Long Face" (1995), which saw Big Country receive a special guest spot on the Rolling Stones' "Voodoo Lounge" European tour and several shows in the UK and Ireland with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin in 1995.
In August 1998, they were invited once again to perform as the opening act for the Rolling Stones on their European tour "Bridges To Babylon," prompting Mick Jagger to state that Big Country was "one of the best opening bands we ever had."
Two songs written at that time ("Somebody Else" and "Devil In The Eye") were co-written with Ray Davies of The Kinks, who invited the band to support him on the main stage at Glastonbury to play a stormy set in the rain.
In the meantime, singer Stuart Adamson had moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and so his bandmates followed him to America to write and record the album "Driving To Damascus." It was to be the last album they recorded together. With Stuart at the helm, Big Country landed 17 Top-30 singles in the UK while also achieving 5 Gold and Platinum albums. Stuart and Big Country toured Europe for the last time in 2000, and on the final night in their beloved Barrowlands in Glasgow, the band fatefully welcomed Alarm singer Mike Peters and Bruce Watson's son Jamie on guitar for one last song on stage.
On December 16, 2001, Stuart Adamson took his own life in Honolulu, USA. He leaves behind his children Callum and Kirsten. In May 2002, a celebration of Stuart's life took place at Glasgow Barrowlands, where the remaining members of Big Country came together with special guest singers like Mike Peters, who also sang with the band at a fan club meeting in Zaandam, Holland.
The remaining three members had no serious plans to perform again as Big Country. However, Tony Butler, Mark Brzezicki, and Bruce Watson got back together in 2007 to celebrate the band's 25th anniversary. "It was not a comeback... we three were just having fun, as friends and as a band, hoping to bring some joy to the fans by playing our songs live to celebrate 25 years" - Bruce Watson
In the summer of 2010, Bruce Watson finally picked up the phone and asked Mike Peters to do what he had thus far refused to do: officially sing for Big Country. To celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary, Mike (a long-time friend of Stuart, who states that the lyrics of "In A Big Country" literally inspired him to "stay alive" despite two very public battles with cancer) instinctively agreed, and dates were booked. The first was fittingly on New Year's Eve 2010 in Glasgow, Scotland, and the second in the band's hometown of Dunfermline. The chemistry clicked immediately, and the band was also joined by Bruce Watson's son Jamie on guitar as Big Country once again sought solace in the music and the freedom to express their love and admiration for their late friend Stuart Adamson (whose usual spot at the center of the stage was symbolically left empty).
"When we play, it's as if we never stopped, but I know we stopped. I know we suffered a great loss. But you heal... slowly. I can assure you that Stuart will be with us every night, in our thoughts, in our words, and in our hearts. And now, we may not be fully healed yet, but healed enough to hear the call to continue this story. And over time, I've come to realize that this story has always been about our fans, the love we have for our fans, and the love they've selflessly given back to us." - Bruce Watson
"When Bruce Watson called and asked me to sing for Big Country, I didn’t have to think long. It was an incredible honor to get to know the music of Big Country so intimately, and it was a joy to be surrounded by such great musicians and fans. I find it very life-affirming to sing the lyrics of Stuart Adamson" - Mike Peters
This was followed by two years of intense and emotional shows, where the "new" Big Country was fueled by new energy and once again indulged in the dreams and visions that brought them together initially, and they were immediately embraced respectfully by fans and critics alike. Since then, the band has performed at many of the most famous festivals in the UK and Europe, including Isle Of Wight (twice), V Festival, T In The Park, Oxegen, Pink Pop, and Cropredy, creating a new generation of fans and renewing the passion of die-hard fans with the introduction of new original songs such as "Another Country" and "The Journey," which capture not just the sound but also the heart and soul of Big Country's past, present, and future.
With the prospect of a new era for the band and the realization that Big Country now had the platform to record and tour worldwide again, bassist Tony Butler decided that his time with Big Country had come to an end and he gracefully stepped away from the stage. The band now welcomes Scott Whitley on bass.
In April 2013, Big Country released "The Journey" and toured the globe throughout the year to promote this critically acclaimed album.
In 2014, Big Country faced new challenges. As Mike Peters dedicated himself fully to supporting the 30th anniversary of The Alarm's Declaration, Big Country was supported by Simon Hough as the singer. He fit perfectly into the band, which continued its tour throughout the year, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album "Steeltown." In 2015, there was a major Best Of (and more) tour through the UK and Europe, with Scott Whitley joining the band on bass after Derek left the band following 3 years. In 2016, the 30th anniversary of "The Seer" arrived, and the album was performed in full on the tour.
In 2021, the incomparable Gil Allan, hailing from Dunfermline, joined the band, replacing the departing Scott Whitley on bass. As Big Country navigated through the 2020s, they celebrated the 40th anniversary of "The Crossing" in 2023 and will celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Steeltown" in 2024. They continue to entertain fans around the world in a way that only Big Country music can.
Doors: 19:00
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
