I saw BIG COUNTRY open for Roger Daltrey on December 9th, 1995 at Madison Square Garden in New York, and they were nothing short of fucking amazing!!!

The work that Big Country and the people associated with them have done to combat alcoholism and addiction since the tragic death of Stuart Adamson has to be commended. I am certain that there are many people looking at this who have struggled or have known people who have struggled with such issues. I hope you can help them - or seek help yourselves. You are not alone.

Mark did a fantastic job drumming for the Cult also.....great drummer. Love Bruce's guitar style also.

My idols are getting old like me but I still love them! Their music and influence are already running in my blood and even death can't take it away from me because it will live within my spirit. Thank you very much guys!

Stuart was a pal of mine at school....... only talked to him a few times after we left..... sad day when he left us........

They sound great. Bless them they are carrying on with the band. RIP Stuart Adamson

Big Country will forever be an inspiration for me. I miss hearing Stuart's voice. Mike Peters and The Alarm was also a great influence. Great to see the combination.

great interview one of the best Celtic Rock bands. Wish I had seen them live

Hey Mark! You guys were a studio band!! Nobody touched you guys as studio performers! Ex: that interplay between you and Tony at the end of Harvest Home on The Crossing. You were equally adept performing live! Just a great and special band! Met you guys at an appearance at a record shop before you played the pier in NYC in '86. You saw my brother and me walking on a backstreet after the signing and pulled the limo over and talked to us(we were carrying autographed Big Country albums). You guys were fantastic!!!! Thanks for all the great memories😍

A truly amazing Band - and I do mean Band as while Stuart tends to get the most attention, the total talent of EVERY player in the band was and is exceptional to have in one band. A band that deserved then and still deserves now to be much better known.And the treat is that the material is as fresh today as it was when it was first released. Thanks much mates!

I know that it's not the same but Mike has been so eloquent in his respect for Stuart, As he said it's a chance for fans to let the music live on.

2022. I am now 55. I was so lucky to be able to see Big Country and The Alarm on seperate occasions. Magical, both! Unique.

Back in 1983 in Phoenix Park, Dublin, I saw, on the same day and in the following order, Steel Pulse, Eurythmics, Big Country, Simple Minds and U2. All of them at their peak, and the ticket was probably not much more than a tenner. Quite a day!

Excellent interview. I love the Restless Natives Soundtrack personally.

one of the best drummers ever.....

Seen B.C. about 15 times in many different locations, and the band has never been less than brilliant. Saw them with Mike Peters in Swansea last week with Mike Peters as front man. The band is still alive and kicking and Mike compliments all they do. It`s still raw energy and crazy down the front. Loved it.. so did my wife and daughter. All the big B.C. hits are there and well delivered. Superb!1 What a night. I`d recommend all B.C. fans to go and support them

Your name will never die, Stuart Adamson

My world fell to pieces when Stuart took his life - the music was brilliant and enjoyed it so much. The advent of the personal stereo made my life so much better - a truly excellent decade to becoma a teenage.

So interesting. I had 3 fav bands throughout my teenage years and The Alarm and Big Country were two of them so for Mike to be the vocalist is just a natural progression to me. The talent between all of these guys is infinite and I am so happy to hear their new music and get so much enjoyment from it. Fantastic stuff.

wonderful interview and I love the steve lillywhite gets a mention! what a producer

'Driving To Damascus' is, in my opinion, their best album. A masterpiece!

The Crossing ist still my favorite Album.

I was lucky enough to see the original lineup in 1984 at a free concert in Daytona Bch. during spring break . They where awesome . I was amazed at that time as I had never heard guitars sound like that (bagpipes come to mind) , and I was hooked ! Not only that, Mark is an amazing drummer and Tony a great bass player . I wish the best for this new lineup , and think they too sound great ! Its pretty cool that Mike Peters, ( The Alarm) and the bass player from Simple minds are with them now , also 2 bands that I like alot !

Great to see Mike up there adding his unique style of singing to this great band.. All respect to these guys..

Great to hear that they're still kickin it, and still get enjoyment out of performing. The unique sound of the band combined with lyrics that actually meant something have been the center of my musical world since their first release.

Loved the Oriental celticy sounds, would love to hear some more new choons,ahm still playing ma cds and still collecting the rare songs too, quality guys.. Aitchie fi boness

watching this tonight amazing, seeing a dad bring his son its like an appernticeship also the alarm and Forbes guy, professionals so good in so many ways, not forgetting the drummer guy, lovely accent btw 🙈

Saw you guys at the waterfront Norwich last year,absolutely superb!!keep it going ,such an inspiration

Saw BC at PJ Molloys Dunfermline in December 2016. Have to say what a great night. Its all about keeping it going letting these great sings being heard full pelt. Long may it continue

Great Band, Good people...

Brilliant. Enjoyed this hugely. Mark & Bruce good and honest review on a career and life thus far in the music industry.

Thank you for posting this, it was a great opportunity to get to know the guys. It was interesting to see them warm up - they seemed indifferent to the interview at the beginning and then as the memories came back they really opened up. I'm sure it get's old talking about your bandmate (excellent though he was) killing himself while they are still around trying to make an honest go of it. Living is the hard part, yet they have to talk about Stuart each interview. Wish interviews would just focus on them and their musicality. They are brilliant in their own right.

Big Country has been my Ultimate Favorite Band from the Beginning. Followed them trough out the bands career. Was Very happy to see that Mike Peters joined in as Vocalist. Loved The Alarm. Was very saddened to see Tony leave but was very happy to see that Derek Forbes took over the bass for Tony. The Dynamics of a band is always changing. I'm glad to see that this Dynamics added 3 great musicians as Jamie Watson is showing that he can hold his own. Sorry I missed you all n Phoenix AZ Broke my

Greetings from Henderson Kentucky. We love you guys.

Great to hear from all the current set up, the respect for each other and the older band members is truly amazing. I've been fortunate to see the original set up live sooo many times, I truly cherish those times - I even feel blessed that I got to shake the great mans hand at several of those concerts. My wife bought me tickets to go and see the new set up in Sheffield a few years back, like the TIT that I am, I put the tickets in a safe place, only to forget where that was on the day we were going, alas we didn't go - gutted does not really give it justice !!!!

if it wasnt for the crossing i would never be playing drums thank you very much mark !!!!!

Marks brother Anthony was in my class at school. St Joseph's RC Sec Mod. Slough. 66 - 71.

band from my high school days. they're just part of my life. difficult to explain their depth.

thanks for this great interview on a great band

Do not worry so much on new stuff your back catalogue is so amazing from skids to big Country and I remember just before Stuart passed away he was working with a new band. Pressure is a funny thing~got to Brian from Sweet, Fish Marillion, Syd Barrett Floyd all induced from too many drugs to give them confidence, as the New York Dolls ~ once said Too Much Too Soon & there is not many left from that line up just like The Ramones (one was suicide) I am 55 & I suffered with depression for yrs

Excellent.

In a big country dreams stay with you on the journey...

my dad was in a band with bruce watson. my dad left the band and it later went on to be big country

I love this song they play.

Great interview: Bruce and Mark are great artists

a great band / memories .

Hi Martin, Way Way Back 1982 or there about. First time I heard them they were played on a college station in Milwaukee, WI. Saw them in November 1984 @ the Eagles Club next I saw them was exactly 10 years to the day later at the Roxy in Hollywood, CA. In 2000 my husband had the privilege to interview Bruce for an e-zine we write for DaBelly.com So I was really upset that I missed them here in AZ. Literally was crushed that I missed my favorite band of all time.Rush is 2nd.

Great interview.

The Song they sing on here, sounds 'Very Good'. It's got that Energy. I'll have to pick it up. ;)

Great interview

great band.....keep it going boys

The Crossing - that's the their best work, everything else is just the faded past. I remember it clearly, 1983 riding on the wrestling bus to a meet and one of my buddies was listening to Ozzy, he only liked heavy metal. He asked me what I was listening to. I told him "Big Country". I handed him my Walkman headset and he was first confused by the scottish accented singer, but then the drums came in. After Porroh Man was over he said, "Those are some mad drums!" Laughter lies on faces Where the sun has never shone The fear of life is strong

Touring now.... 'STEELTOWN' albums 40th Anniverary. Now with Simon Hough as lead singer,.... and as much as I love all that Mike Peters has done within the band.... Simon's voice suits the 'songs of old' better in my honest opinion. Roll-on end of March '24 in Liverpool.

that interview is made out of pure sadness

Pink Floyd seemed to cope just fine without Roger Waters. Go for it.

The no bending strings was a clever decision, it really set them apart. Later on they did bring that in and it made them more of a poppy rock sounding band which changed them quite a lot. The stronger stuff was definitely the Scottish sounding material, and now there's no Stuart so not sure that's really BC anymore....

big country were an amazing band !!!!

awsome! so underated.

Tony? ..amazing bassist/musician...Derek...also huge fan..had to add that!! JS

Good interview. The new album is good (Ive got all their studio albums). Keeps the old sound alive and blends in a little new. Get the kid some rock and roll clothes for interviews. :-) Thought he was gonna go bale some hay after the interview with the jacket. And I know what that looks like. Im from Nebraska.

A friend of mine in high school turned me on to Big Country I liked Big Country better than Bono and U2

Mike Peters. You sir are an utter gent.

top guy Mike Peters he got up with rockin band the Twangmasters at a club in north wales played guitar and sang I fought the law with a 68 guns line superb got it on dvd .

Sally, I was obsessed with this band in high school and tracked down their albums through local music store and have lived them ever since. I have never seen them and I would live to. Any idea where I could get a shirt for Big Country?

Rip Stuart

still love them

Still a massively awesome band aye.

damn, missed their first Australian tour, why didn't you tell me!

What a lineup!! A lot of talent here...where is Tony? Who is doing the writing? ... Great seeing you all here! JS

In concert tonight at the Flower Pot in Derby

Intro at 27:36 is similar to Return of the Two-Headed King - too good a riff to leave undiscovered...!

Love the band....now don't laugh....I hate seeing anybody years later...as they get older....I want to frezzer them in time...in my mind...it makes me stay young....lol....I want to remember everybody in their prime ....lol...The Crossing....that's what they will always look like to my mind.....you all stay safe and young...

If Mark Burgess of Chameleons VOX bleached his mop , he’d be Mike Stevens . I saw BC at Reading in 1983. They along with Nick Lowe , Ten Years After , The Enid , The Stranglers , Thin Lizzy , Marillion & Sabbath with Ian Gillan & Lots of Metal bands too . I still have Into The Valley / TV Stars on 7” . Super loud production. I can hear Big Country in a band whom my lad plays called Twilight Sad ❤️👍

great lads mark bruce nd jamie nd mike did a great job

Hi Sally - how long have you been a Big Country fan for? I used to run their fan club back in 82-83

Yes they was awesome maybe they do a movie

Legends

Magic

Derek Forbes....my bass idol.

Did Mark tour with Gary Brooker, and Mathew Fisher, in around 2002 or so? Looks familiar.

A Big Country lineup without Stuart or Tony is simply not Big Country......end of..

That door hinge is really bugging me!

CC please. hard to make out the audio, and accents.

For a fan like me it's almost as shocking when my fave bands SUPERTRAMP's Roger Hodgson was almost recruited for YES' Talk. However major band collaborations arent as much of a big deal anymore.

Chance best ever song

What happened to the original bass player?????

Holy Bald Headed Jesus Mark's got MASSIVE hands!

Yes gutted about Stuart always will be I heard them in the 80s harvest home, big country etc , 12” rock singles were the new thing at the time fields of fire was one going HAT HAT HAT and other stuff to stretch out the record to 12” we though the guitars sounded like bag pipes ( we from Leicester what do we know)

Interesting point about changing your sound/style, when Bruce says 'All Status Quo songs sound different to me' that's the difference between being a musician and just a music fan.

i saw mike peters with the band in the town and country (or the forum or whatever) in Kentish Town about 8 years ago. they were good but……..

the whole band is amazing, Bruce is irreplaceable and mark has also give his greath services to the Cult !!!!!!

And of course The Alarm and Simple Minds I think you could play in for hours and after what happened put below lol the two tracks on here are are brilliant and for God's sake look after Mike we are not want him going down the same road as the latter poor old sods below

If only Mike were still in the band.

Another GREAT Scots export

Big Country, one of the best bands ever 1982 - 88. Mark B, one of my drumming heroes, I still love and cherish that period, always will. Driving To Damascus is fantastic as well. Saw them without Stuart in 2010 and the sense of loss was almost too much to bear, given the personal nature of the songs. The interviewer is a complete nob, so wooden and stiff it's like someone has shoved a broom handle up a certain orifice, boring and predictable questions, a wasted opportunity in many ways. But will always love these guys.

super group! hope someone will wear a kilt ;)

"Big Country are one of the most successful rock acts of the last 3 decades..." Hang on a tic. What did the Matt character say? Really? So, of all the big or ridiculously big rock acts over the last 30 years, Big Country are up there with the most successful. Oh, and with no new releases for 14 of those massively successful 30 years. (Cripes, I hope this improves... :-/ At least Bristow has that sunny, inclusive, engaging disposition.)

Maxwell lexinton,said hello.

Plastic fantastic, lobster telephone.

Bruce looks tired, tracks of a wild life, he still looks like harley davidson and the Marlboro man's Mickey Rourke ;-)