Big Country are about to release their first single in 12 years.

It’s called Another Country and will be put out on August 29 in CD and digital formats. This was produced by Steve Lillywhite and features Mike Peters on vocals.

Says bassist Tony Butler: ”To have the opportunity to release our first single in over 12 years, considering what we been through, is amazing. To work with Steve Lillywhite again was tremendous. There is something really exciting about entering the world of singles again”.



1. Another Country
2. Just A Shadow (Billy Sloan Session)
3. Steeltown (Billy Sloan Session)
4. Never Take Your Place (Live)

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GUB3NM/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005GUB3NM/?tag=imwan-21

And this was from a few months ago in Classic Rock Magazine:

Big Country bassist Tony Butler has told Classic Rock that it was fan pressure which has led to the band reuniting for two tours, the first time they’ve played since a short tour in 2007.
“It’s happened because so many people have asked us to do it,” he admits. “So, we decided to do a run of shows in December/January. But they sold out so fast that our management suggested we do more. Now, these days I’m a teacher, so I can only do things around academic holidays, which is why we’re going out at Easter time.”

Butler is very aware of Big Country’s legacy and is anxious not to cheapen it.

“We don’t want to do what Queen have done with Paul Rodgers. That’s a good example of doing something the wrong way. That’s why we’ve got Mike Peters (The Alarm) in to front the band, because we know he can do it in the proper manner. The last thing we want to do is be seen to fleece our legacy.

“About six years ago, I reluctantly agreed to go to a Big Country fan convention in Holland. But I remember that Mike got up and played with us, and it worked well. So, when this reunion was being out together, I spoke to Bruce (Watson, guitar) and we both felt Mike was the man for the job (of replacing late frontman Stuart Adamson). There were certain people who didn’t feel he could do the job on the big stages, but we’re not doing big places, so that doesn’t come into it.”

With Mark Brzezicki back on drums and Watson’s son Jamie augmenting the line-up on guitar, Butler feels that they can do anything from their catalogue.

“I know there are songs others might feel are close to Stuart, but as far as Mark, Bruce and I are concerned, we lived with those song as much as Stuart did, and there’s nothing that’s off limits. However, what we will stuck with are the hits and tracks we know our fans want to hear.”

What happens further down the line is still undecided, as far as Butler is concerned.

“It’s a case of sucking it and see, doing these gigs and then seeing where we stand. Right now, I can’t see a new album being something we’d go for. That’s certainly not on my horizon anyway. If we do decide to do more shows, then they’d have to fit in with my teaching commitments. My mum died around the same time as Stuart (2001) and I took the opportunity then to change my life. I went to college, got teaching qualifications, and that’s been my career now for eight years.”

But even though he has nothing to do with the music industry these days, Butler can’t escape the Big Country influence.

“Everywhere I go people want to talk about the band, and it’s always so positive. Even my students know about us. I can’t keep a low profile to save my life!”

I'm a huge Big Country fan (see that avatar), and I was lucky enough to see them with Mike Peters in Edinburgh this past April when I was there to attend a Scottish friend's wedding. Although they sound very different without Stuart Adamson, and it could be argued that it shouldn't be called Big Country, the spirit of the band is still there...and Peters did an incredible job of bringing those songs back to life. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I look forward to anything these guys record. Mark Brzezicki is one of my drumming heroes, so I'm always happy to him playing. I've also met them on a couple of occasions & they're genuinely nice & appreciative of the fans.

Does anyone know who Billy Sloan is? Two of the songs on the single say "Billy Sloan Version." I'm guessing he's a BBC DJ (?). Both of those songs come from my favorite album of the 80s, and one of the truly greatest albums of the last quarter century, "Steeltown" (see that avatar again).

'“We don’t want to do what Queen have done with Paul Rodgers. That’s a good example of doing something the wrong way. That’s why we’ve got Mike Peters (The Alarm) in to front the band, because we know he can do it in the proper manner. The last thing we want to do is be seen to fleece our legacy.'

With Adamson's death Big Country didn't just lose their lead singer, their lost their Brian May as well. How can this reunion be any more legit than Queen + Paul Rodgers?

I don't agree with their reasoning, but I have no problem with them playing & recording as Big Country, if for no other reason than to keep the music alive and hopefully introduce it to some people who missed them the first time. I think it's different with a band like Queen because their music never went away, and they've always been huge, whereas BC is generally regarded as a musical footnote, a one-hit wonder (especially in the US). Anything to keep their incredible music alive. You won't find many people who are bigger fans of Big Country than me, and this lineup gets my seal of approval.

I 100% agree that is a ridiculous statement. Slamming Queen + PR but praising yourself for doing it "properly"? Not "fleecing the legacy"? According to who? Big Country essentially WERE Adamson, where Freddie was obviously an enormous, irreplacable part of Queen, but he was 1/4 of that amazing singing/performing/writing team.
I love Big Country, and Adamson was a songwriting and guitar genius. I haven't heard this incarnation but I'll give it a fair shot and will not blast it without hearing it (but man, you're missing a lot without Stu), but Butler's statements are highly misguided whether the music is worthy or not.

IP, it's hard to dispute your assertion that Big Country WERE essentially Adamson, especially because of that distinct voice, great guitar playing and incredible songwriting, but their rhythm section was enormously important to their sound, and they bring that sound to this new incarnation. Sure, I wish they called themselves something else, but no one should fault them for wanting to continue playing those songs. A few years ago they released a live album as Big Country with just the trio of Butler, Brzezicki & Watson, with Butler handling lead vocals, and it was atrocious. At least Mike Peters is bringing some real vocal abilities (and their shows are raising money for a cancer research fund co-founded by Peters after two bouts with cancer).

They can call it what they want that's not at all what I was commenting on. At the same time, to reunite without their heart and soul but to bash Queen for doing the same thing-that is beyond lame.
At no point did I say they should not or could not continue. But Butler comes off like a fool.

Sorry, IP. I didn't mean it to sound like I was criticizing you. I couldn't agree more that Butler's comments are completely ridiculous. I just wanted to stress how much I'm enjoying them having a second life with Mike Peters.

No problem. I didn't think you were! I checked out clips on You Tube and it sounds OK to me. Certainly not doing any damage to the legacy, but the guitar playing is where I hear it most. It's decent but Adamson was a virtuoso and I don't hear any of that in there. Mike Peters is a good talent though and they made a solid choice but his voice really sounds like he's singing Alarm tunes (how could he not?) and the songs seem in a different key. But the spirit is there and nice to see.



I found a pro-shot clip-is a DVD out or coming?

Yep, the guitar playing is where it's most noticeable. Bruce Watson is a good guitarist but Adamson was truly a virtuoso, and even with Watson's son there to fill in the sound it's not the same.

They recorded the show I was at in Edinburgh, which is supposed to be released on DVD soon. The last time I checked their website, the release was pushed back, so I don't know when it's due...but needless to say I'll be buying it. I was in the front row of the balcony, so I'm hoping I'll show up on the DVD.

Just want to weigh in for a moment because I'm also a huge fan of Steeltown. After that album they took a step back from the "wall of sound" they created on those songs, and I understand why, but I remember being incredibly impressed at just how loud and intricate it sounded when I first bought it. And the songs were beautifully written and sung as well: anthems with brains.

Hi, Human Top. It's always great to find someone else who loves Steeltown. That was such a pivotal record for me. I was fortunate enough to meet the band when they played in New York in 1993, and when I told Stuart how important his music, and especially that album, had been to me, he shook my hand & said (in his thick Scottish brogue), "Ya cannae know how much tha means ta me." A truly great memory. I agree that their sound changed after that album, and even his vocal approach was different starting with "Peace In Our Time," but the songwriting & guitar playing always remained.

I saw the original Big Country live once at a festival some years after their career had peaked and they were still a great live band. (Coincidentally I saw Mike Peters live at that same venue, Swansea's Singleton Park, probably on a different occasion.)

I have no problem if they want to tour with Peters. Perhaps they should call it 'Big Country + Mike Peters' though?

Yep, they never stopped being a great live band. Unfortunately, they stopped touring the US after 1986, and by the time they came back in 1993 they had been mostly forgotten by all but the diehards. That was the only tour I got to see (for some reason I never saw them on their three tours in the 80s), and the only disappointment was that they didn't do anything from Steeltown. I even asked Stuart about it at that NYC show and he said they might play something later that week in Asbury Park, but I was also at that show and it was exactly the same set.

FYI, the shows with Mike Peters have been 100% Big Country songs. Nothing by the Alarm or Peters, so it's clearly a way to keep these songs out there.