© Frank Schwichtenberg / CC BY-SA 4.0

Scottish rock band Big Country appeared on the music scene in the 1980s and enjoyed chart success throughout the decade and beyond. They are known for their unique blend of rock, folk and martial music - a genre of military songs often played on bagpipes. The band's guitar-led songs evoke the traditional sounds of Scotland, including fiddles, bagpipes and other folk instruments. They became known as a "Celtic rock band" as a result. Between 1982 and 2000, they had 29 hit singles and released platinum, gold and silver albums. After a break from performing, Big Country reformed in 2010 and are still making music today. However, they have a different line-up, following the tragic death of their founder member, William Stuart Adamson, in 2001. The band has been in the studio recently and will be playing live gigs this summer, including a one-off set on Sunday 2nd June, at the Acoustic Festival of Britain at Uttoxeter Racecourse. Band's origins Adamson formed Big Country in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981. He was actually born in Manchester, in April 1958, to Scottish parents, William and Anne. The family returned to Scotland and settled in Fife when Adamson was four years old. He was brought up to share his parents' love of folk music. He had been in several bands in his youth, before forming punk and New Wave band The Skids in 1977, at the age of 18. Their biggest hit was Into the Valley in 1979, which peaked at number ten in the UK singles chart and earned them an appearance on Top of the Pops. After three albums, Adamson left The Skids in 1980 and formed Big Country, playing guitar and keyboards and singing lead vocals. The other founder members were Bruce Watson on guitar, sitar, mandolin and backing vocals, bass guitarist and vocalist Tony Butler, and Mark Brzezicki on drums and percussion. The band won a record deal with Mercury. Released in 1982, first single Harvest Home wasn't a big commercial success, reaching only number 91 in the UK singles chart. In early 1983, they fared better with their second single, Fields of Fire, that made the top 20. In a Big Country The single which became their signature tune was In a Big Country, released in May 1983 from their album, The Crossing. The album was a hit in the United States and In a Big Country made it to number 17 in the US Billboard Hot 100. It also charted in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The song featured guitar-playing engineered to sound like bagpipes. This was achieved by using an MXR Pitch Transposer's 129 Guitar Effect and an E-bow - a device which modifies a guitar's sound, so it resembles a synthesiser or strings. Adamson co-wrote the anthem-like song, which had plenty of drum-driven energy and emotive guitar riffs. The critics tried to decipher the meaning behind the lyrics but they struggled - Adamson was never forthcoming about their meaning. He said that Big Country had never been a "message band" and added if listeners could identify with their songs, or simply enjoyed dancing to them, then they were happy. The lyrics were ambiguous, to say the least. On the one hand, some seemed to be full of hope when Adamson said, "I'm not expecting to grow flowers in a desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime." However, some seemed melancholy, suggesting he had mixed emotions when writing them. In particular, he writes, "I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered, but you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered." Fans' sites have suggested their own interpretation of the lyrics, claiming that Adamson was going through a personal trauma when he wrote them, after his ex-girlfriend married another man. However, this was never confirmed, nor denied, by the singer. Later career After the massive success of In a Big Country, the band went on to have many more hits, and a number of personnel changes, with Adamson remaining the lead singer until 2000. In 1999, Adamson revealed he was taking some time out after their current work commitments. The band released what was to be their final studio album, Driving to Damascus, which charted in the UK and Germany. He led the band for their "Final Fling" farewell tour in 2000. The climax was a sold-out gig at the Barrowland Ballroom, in Glasgow, on 31st May. Their last ever live show with Adamson fronting the band took place in October 2000 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sadly, Adamson died on 16th December 2001 and a memorial was erected in January 2002 at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline. He has left the world with his wonderful songs and music. The remaining band members decided to reform in 2007 for a one-off tour to mark 25 years since the formation of Big Country. In 2010, they again got back together on a permanent basis and released a new studio album, The Journey, in 2013, which charted in the UK. Their latest release was the compilation album, Why the Long Face, in June 2018. They continue to tour and will be playing live at Let's Rock Scotland on Saturday 15th June at Dalkeith Country Park in Midlothian as part of their current UK tour. For life in the Big Country Established in Cornwall in 1970, Grigg’s country store has outdoor clothing and leisurewear for adults and children. Please contact us for further information.