William Stuart Adamson (11 April 1958 – 16 December 2001) was a Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of rock group Big Country, which rose to prominence in 1983. Prior to that he founded Scottish art-punk band Skids. In the 1990s he founded alternative country rock act The Raphaels. He was once described by DJ John Peel as "the new Jimi Hendrix".
Early life
Adamson was born in Manchester. Both his parents were Scottish, and the family returned to Scotland when he was four. The family settled in a small mining town, Crossgates, about a mile to the east of Dunfermline in Fife.
Adamson founded his first two bands in Dunfermline and they both started out playing Dunfermline and across the Firth of Forth in Edinburgh. He went to school with Ian Rankin, who was two years younger and went on to become a fan of Skids. Adamson was a lifelong supporter of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.
Adamson's father was in the fishing industry and travelled the world. He encouraged Stuart to read literature, and both parents shared an interest in folk music. Adamson founded his first band, Tattoo, in 1976 after seeing The Damned play in Edinburgh. Besides Adamson, Tattoo included his friend William Simpson, who would also play bass guitar for his next band, Skids.
Why Stuart Adamson was the greatest songwriter (and rare live video "Shattered Cross")
Part 2 of this tribute is here, an a capella version of "One Great Thing"
https://youtu.be/UOOrUngbayM
0:00 Intro
2:00 Stuart's last days
5:00 Why Stuart was a great songwriter
7:00 Stuart's death
8:00 Conclusion, "Shattered Cross" performed by Stuart & the Raphaels
Two corrections:
1. Stuart originally wrote the song in 1998 although it wasn't released until 1999 [Big Country - Driving to Damascus UK Limited Edition]
2. The Raphaels album where it appeared is called "SUPERNATURAL" not "Superstition." I must've been thinking of Stevie Wonder.
Lyrics for "Shattered Cross"
You don’t mess around with a man in black
You say something wrong that you can’t take back
You go for a ride in his automobile
The spot in the woods just over the hill
No, you don’t mess around with a man in black
Yo...
published: 16 Dec 2018
Kirsten Adamson - In A Big Country
'Song Of The Week' voted for by Kirsten Adamson's members of Patreon recorded during live set on 14/5/21.
'In A Big Country' - Written by Stuart Adamson/Big Country
visit patreon.com/kirstenadamson for more info on becoming a member.
published: 18 May 2021
Big Country - Stuart Adamson and Tony Butler - The Big Breakfast, 2000.
BAN THE FAN - May 17, 2000.
This is a real treat to be able to share with you all.
in 2000, the Big Breakfast TV show featured an intermittent segment called 'Ban the Fan' where they would bring an artist or band into the studio as well as a big fan of theirs.
The artists would be asked a series of questions about their career and if they answered those questions incorrectly, they would then have to meet that fan and spend some time with them!
If, however, they got the questions right, the fan would be banished from the studio without ever getting to meet their heroes! True story!
An interesting and fun segment to be sure.
On May 17, 2000, the segment featured members of Big Country and a long time fan of the band, Craig Fettes.
Craig happens to be a friend of mine and I contacted him ...
published: 09 Jun 2019
Stuart Adamson Oldenburgh Germany Interview 2000
Stuart Adamson Oldenburgh Germany Interview 2000
published: 04 Jan 2012
Big Country - Stuart Adamson Interview - January, 1989.
A brief interview with Big Country members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson (well... Bruce is *there*...) broadcast on Off The Wall on the Super cable channel, hosted by Simon Potter before one of the band's London dates in January, 1989.
Big Country kicked off the English leg of the Peace in Our Time Tour with three consecutive dates at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on January 22, 23 and 24 in 1989.
Apologies for the background noise in this video, the source footage was somewhat degraded as it had been sitting on an old VHS cassette for 30+ years and has only recently been converted to digital. I have cleaned up the audio as much as possible.
A big thanks to Darren Mc who had this wee gem hidden away at the very end of one of his cassettes he sent over a while ago for conversion.
Reme...
published: 16 Dec 2022
Big Country - In A Big Country
Read more about Big Country’s debut album here: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/big-country-the-crossing-album?utm_campaign=uDYT&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=youtube
Listen to more from Big Country: http://big-country.lnk.to/Listen
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/inabigcountry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigcountryuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigcountryofficial
Website: https://bigcountry.co.uk/
Music video by Big Country performing In A Big Country. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
published: 23 Jan 2017
Stuart Adamson Fragile Thing
Stuart Adamson and Big Country
published: 03 May 2013
Big Country - Driving to Damascus Live on VH1 (+ Stuart Adamson interview)
Big Country perform Driving to Damascus live in the MTV Studios for VH1 Live in 1999. Also includes
an interview with Stuart Adamson.
***PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. IT ENCOURAGES ME TO UPLOAD NEW CONTENT***
Part 2 of this tribute is here, an a capella version of "One Great Thing"
https://youtu.be/UOOrUngbayM
0:00 Intro
2:00 Stuart's last days
5:00 Why Stuart was a...
Part 2 of this tribute is here, an a capella version of "One Great Thing"
https://youtu.be/UOOrUngbayM
0:00 Intro
2:00 Stuart's last days
5:00 Why Stuart was a great songwriter
7:00 Stuart's death
8:00 Conclusion, "Shattered Cross" performed by Stuart & the Raphaels
Two corrections:
1. Stuart originally wrote the song in 1998 although it wasn't released until 1999 [Big Country - Driving to Damascus UK Limited Edition]
2. The Raphaels album where it appeared is called "SUPERNATURAL" not "Superstition." I must've been thinking of Stevie Wonder.
Lyrics for "Shattered Cross"
You don’t mess around with a man in black
You say something wrong that you can’t take back
You go for a ride in his automobile
The spot in the woods just over the hill
No, you don’t mess around with a man in black
You don’t fool around with a woman in red
You wake up alone in a cold barren bed
She’ll empty your pockets and rip out your heart
And leave you with ruins of a life torn apart
No, you don’t fool around with a woman in red
You never make deals with a guy named Doc
You’ll have a gun in your hands by 12 o’clock
’Neath the sodium lights with your heart in your throat
Your life won’t amount to a bottle of smoke
No, you never make deals with a guy named Doc
Don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss
The rags of your dreams, your shattered cross
I’ve heard your confession, I know who you blame
If you had it all back you’d just lose it again
You can’t bank on redemption if if you ain’t saved
So don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss
Oh don’t bring me the pieces of your shattered cross
* * *
Part 2 of this tribute is here, an a capella version of "One Great Thing"
https://youtu.be/UOOrUngbayM
0:00 Intro
2:00 Stuart's last days
5:00 Why Stuart was a great songwriter
7:00 Stuart's death
8:00 Conclusion, "Shattered Cross" performed by Stuart & the Raphaels
Two corrections:
1. Stuart originally wrote the song in 1998 although it wasn't released until 1999 [Big Country - Driving to Damascus UK Limited Edition]
2. The Raphaels album where it appeared is called "SUPERNATURAL" not "Superstition." I must've been thinking of Stevie Wonder.
Lyrics for "Shattered Cross"
You don’t mess around with a man in black
You say something wrong that you can’t take back
You go for a ride in his automobile
The spot in the woods just over the hill
No, you don’t mess around with a man in black
You don’t fool around with a woman in red
You wake up alone in a cold barren bed
She’ll empty your pockets and rip out your heart
And leave you with ruins of a life torn apart
No, you don’t fool around with a woman in red
You never make deals with a guy named Doc
You’ll have a gun in your hands by 12 o’clock
’Neath the sodium lights with your heart in your throat
Your life won’t amount to a bottle of smoke
No, you never make deals with a guy named Doc
Don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss
The rags of your dreams, your shattered cross
I’ve heard your confession, I know who you blame
If you had it all back you’d just lose it again
You can’t bank on redemption if if you ain’t saved
So don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss
Oh don’t bring me the pieces of your shattered cross
* * *
'Song Of The Week' voted for by Kirsten Adamson's members of Patreon recorded during live set on 14/5/21.
'In A Big Country' - Written by Stuart Adamson/Big Co...
'Song Of The Week' voted for by Kirsten Adamson's members of Patreon recorded during live set on 14/5/21.
'In A Big Country' - Written by Stuart Adamson/Big Country
visit patreon.com/kirstenadamson for more info on becoming a member.
'Song Of The Week' voted for by Kirsten Adamson's members of Patreon recorded during live set on 14/5/21.
'In A Big Country' - Written by Stuart Adamson/Big Country
visit patreon.com/kirstenadamson for more info on becoming a member.
BAN THE FAN - May 17, 2000.
This is a real treat to be able to share with you all.
in 2000, the Big Breakfast TV show featured an intermittent segment called 'B...
BAN THE FAN - May 17, 2000.
This is a real treat to be able to share with you all.
in 2000, the Big Breakfast TV show featured an intermittent segment called 'Ban the Fan' where they would bring an artist or band into the studio as well as a big fan of theirs.
The artists would be asked a series of questions about their career and if they answered those questions incorrectly, they would then have to meet that fan and spend some time with them!
If, however, they got the questions right, the fan would be banished from the studio without ever getting to meet their heroes! True story!
An interesting and fun segment to be sure.
On May 17, 2000, the segment featured members of Big Country and a long time fan of the band, Craig Fettes.
Craig happens to be a friend of mine and I contacted him recently about the possibility of writing some recollections about that day to add to the notes section here. He generously accepted but his notes were too long to fit in the section here so I have posted them separately as a comment and will pin it to the top.
Craig’s notes give an amazing insight into the day and what went on behind the scenes in the video clip so a HUGE thank you to him for agreeing to be involved with this clip and being such a good sport to give us some fabulous (and funny!) details. I hope you agree that they make the clip so much better.
Stay Alive and once again, thanks so much, Craig.
BAN THE FAN - May 17, 2000.
This is a real treat to be able to share with you all.
in 2000, the Big Breakfast TV show featured an intermittent segment called 'Ban the Fan' where they would bring an artist or band into the studio as well as a big fan of theirs.
The artists would be asked a series of questions about their career and if they answered those questions incorrectly, they would then have to meet that fan and spend some time with them!
If, however, they got the questions right, the fan would be banished from the studio without ever getting to meet their heroes! True story!
An interesting and fun segment to be sure.
On May 17, 2000, the segment featured members of Big Country and a long time fan of the band, Craig Fettes.
Craig happens to be a friend of mine and I contacted him recently about the possibility of writing some recollections about that day to add to the notes section here. He generously accepted but his notes were too long to fit in the section here so I have posted them separately as a comment and will pin it to the top.
Craig’s notes give an amazing insight into the day and what went on behind the scenes in the video clip so a HUGE thank you to him for agreeing to be involved with this clip and being such a good sport to give us some fabulous (and funny!) details. I hope you agree that they make the clip so much better.
Stay Alive and once again, thanks so much, Craig.
A brief interview with Big Country members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson (well... Bruce is *there*...) broadcast on Off The Wall on the Super cable channel, h...
A brief interview with Big Country members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson (well... Bruce is *there*...) broadcast on Off The Wall on the Super cable channel, hosted by Simon Potter before one of the band's London dates in January, 1989.
Big Country kicked off the English leg of the Peace in Our Time Tour with three consecutive dates at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on January 22, 23 and 24 in 1989.
Apologies for the background noise in this video, the source footage was somewhat degraded as it had been sitting on an old VHS cassette for 30+ years and has only recently been converted to digital. I have cleaned up the audio as much as possible.
A big thanks to Darren Mc who had this wee gem hidden away at the very end of one of his cassettes he sent over a while ago for conversion.
Remembering the great and much loved Stuart Adamson today.
A brief interview with Big Country members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson (well... Bruce is *there*...) broadcast on Off The Wall on the Super cable channel, hosted by Simon Potter before one of the band's London dates in January, 1989.
Big Country kicked off the English leg of the Peace in Our Time Tour with three consecutive dates at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on January 22, 23 and 24 in 1989.
Apologies for the background noise in this video, the source footage was somewhat degraded as it had been sitting on an old VHS cassette for 30+ years and has only recently been converted to digital. I have cleaned up the audio as much as possible.
A big thanks to Darren Mc who had this wee gem hidden away at the very end of one of his cassettes he sent over a while ago for conversion.
Remembering the great and much loved Stuart Adamson today.
Read more about Big Country’s debut album here: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/big-country-the-crossing-album?utm_campaign=uDYT&utm_medium=youtube&utm_s...
Read more about Big Country’s debut album here: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/big-country-the-crossing-album?utm_campaign=uDYT&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=youtube
Listen to more from Big Country: http://big-country.lnk.to/Listen
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/inabigcountry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigcountryuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigcountryofficial
Website: https://bigcountry.co.uk/
Music video by Big Country performing In A Big Country. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Read more about Big Country’s debut album here: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/big-country-the-crossing-album?utm_campaign=uDYT&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=youtube
Listen to more from Big Country: http://big-country.lnk.to/Listen
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/inabigcountry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigcountryuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigcountryofficial
Website: https://bigcountry.co.uk/
Music video by Big Country performing In A Big Country. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Big Country perform Driving to Damascus live in the MTV Studios for VH1 Live in 1999. Also includes
an interview with Stuart Adamson.
***PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. IT ...
Big Country perform Driving to Damascus live in the MTV Studios for VH1 Live in 1999. Also includes
an interview with Stuart Adamson.
***PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. IT ENCOURAGES ME TO UPLOAD NEW CONTENT***
Big Country perform Driving to Damascus live in the MTV Studios for VH1 Live in 1999. Also includes
an interview with Stuart Adamson.
***PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. IT ENCOURAGES ME TO UPLOAD NEW CONTENT***
Part 2 of this tribute is here, an a capella version of "One Great Thing"
https://youtu.be/UOOrUngbayM
0:00 Intro
2:00 Stuart's last days
5:00 Why Stuart was a great songwriter
7:00 Stuart's death
8:00 Conclusion, "Shattered Cross" performed by Stuart & the Raphaels
Two corrections:
1. Stuart originally wrote the song in 1998 although it wasn't released until 1999 [Big Country - Driving to Damascus UK Limited Edition]
2. The Raphaels album where it appeared is called "SUPERNATURAL" not "Superstition." I must've been thinking of Stevie Wonder.
Lyrics for "Shattered Cross"
You don’t mess around with a man in black
You say something wrong that you can’t take back
You go for a ride in his automobile
The spot in the woods just over the hill
No, you don’t mess around with a man in black
You don’t fool around with a woman in red
You wake up alone in a cold barren bed
She’ll empty your pockets and rip out your heart
And leave you with ruins of a life torn apart
No, you don’t fool around with a woman in red
You never make deals with a guy named Doc
You’ll have a gun in your hands by 12 o’clock
’Neath the sodium lights with your heart in your throat
Your life won’t amount to a bottle of smoke
No, you never make deals with a guy named Doc
Don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss
The rags of your dreams, your shattered cross
I’ve heard your confession, I know who you blame
If you had it all back you’d just lose it again
You can’t bank on redemption if if you ain’t saved
So don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss
Oh don’t bring me the pieces of your shattered cross
* * *
'Song Of The Week' voted for by Kirsten Adamson's members of Patreon recorded during live set on 14/5/21.
'In A Big Country' - Written by Stuart Adamson/Big Country
visit patreon.com/kirstenadamson for more info on becoming a member.
BAN THE FAN - May 17, 2000.
This is a real treat to be able to share with you all.
in 2000, the Big Breakfast TV show featured an intermittent segment called 'Ban the Fan' where they would bring an artist or band into the studio as well as a big fan of theirs.
The artists would be asked a series of questions about their career and if they answered those questions incorrectly, they would then have to meet that fan and spend some time with them!
If, however, they got the questions right, the fan would be banished from the studio without ever getting to meet their heroes! True story!
An interesting and fun segment to be sure.
On May 17, 2000, the segment featured members of Big Country and a long time fan of the band, Craig Fettes.
Craig happens to be a friend of mine and I contacted him recently about the possibility of writing some recollections about that day to add to the notes section here. He generously accepted but his notes were too long to fit in the section here so I have posted them separately as a comment and will pin it to the top.
Craig’s notes give an amazing insight into the day and what went on behind the scenes in the video clip so a HUGE thank you to him for agreeing to be involved with this clip and being such a good sport to give us some fabulous (and funny!) details. I hope you agree that they make the clip so much better.
Stay Alive and once again, thanks so much, Craig.
A brief interview with Big Country members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson (well... Bruce is *there*...) broadcast on Off The Wall on the Super cable channel, hosted by Simon Potter before one of the band's London dates in January, 1989.
Big Country kicked off the English leg of the Peace in Our Time Tour with three consecutive dates at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on January 22, 23 and 24 in 1989.
Apologies for the background noise in this video, the source footage was somewhat degraded as it had been sitting on an old VHS cassette for 30+ years and has only recently been converted to digital. I have cleaned up the audio as much as possible.
A big thanks to Darren Mc who had this wee gem hidden away at the very end of one of his cassettes he sent over a while ago for conversion.
Remembering the great and much loved Stuart Adamson today.
Read more about Big Country’s debut album here: https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/big-country-the-crossing-album?utm_campaign=uDYT&utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=youtube
Listen to more from Big Country: http://big-country.lnk.to/Listen
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/inabigcountry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigcountryuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigcountryofficial
Website: https://bigcountry.co.uk/
Music video by Big Country performing In A Big Country. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Big Country perform Driving to Damascus live in the MTV Studios for VH1 Live in 1999. Also includes
an interview with Stuart Adamson.
***PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. IT ENCOURAGES ME TO UPLOAD NEW CONTENT***
William Stuart Adamson (11 April 1958 – 16 December 2001) was a Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of rock group Big Country, which rose to prominence in 1983. Prior to that he founded Scottish art-punk band Skids. In the 1990s he founded alternative country rock act The Raphaels. He was once described by DJ John Peel as "the new Jimi Hendrix".
Early life
Adamson was born in Manchester. Both his parents were Scottish, and the family returned to Scotland when he was four. The family settled in a small mining town, Crossgates, about a mile to the east of Dunfermline in Fife.
Adamson founded his first two bands in Dunfermline and they both started out playing Dunfermline and across the Firth of Forth in Edinburgh. He went to school with Ian Rankin, who was two years younger and went on to become a fan of Skids. Adamson was a lifelong supporter of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.
Adamson's father was in the fishing industry and travelled the world. He encouraged Stuart to read literature, and both parents shared an interest in folk music. Adamson founded his first band, Tattoo, in 1976 after seeing The Damned play in Edinburgh. Besides Adamson, Tattoo included his friend William Simpson, who would also play bass guitar for his next band, Skids.
Each of the then-emerging bands created urgent, upbeat rock with melody to spare ... “Each of those groups had a big impact on people like me.” ... The group died when singer-songwriter StuartAdamson committed suicide in Hawaii in 2001.
Huge thanks to the band and audience for making this a very special gig which exuded with love for The Jam and From the Jam ...Richard also paid a poignant tribute to former friend and Skids founder, the late, great StuartAdamson. .
A week into the new year and once again we have our first music festival under our belts, and goddammit it feels good ... You can't watch the Skids without thinking of the legend that was StuartAdamson, and Jobson plays tribute to his old mate ... .
We spoke to Tony about his two latest releases, his candid recollections of his journey with Big Country and the enduring impact of lead singer StuartAdamson’s untimely death ... What impact did Stuart’s passing have on the band?.