Posted on 12/17/2001 3:13:50 PM PST by TLBSHOW
HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP)
Stuart Adamson, lead singer and guitarist for the Scottish rock band Big Country, which had hits in the 1980s with "In a Big Country" and "Fields of Fire," was found dead in a hotel room of an apparent suicide, authorities said. Adamson, 43, has been missing from his Nashville, Tenn., home since last month, Nashville police said Monday.
The body, found Sunday at the Plaza Hotel in Honolulu, was positively identified through fingerprints. An autopsy determined the British-born Adamson's cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging, according to the Honolulu medical examiner's office.
Adamson's estranged wife, Melanie Shelley, reported the singer missing from his Nashville home Nov. 26. Nashville Detective Clinton Vogel said he suspected marital troubles prompted his disappearance.
Adamson had played with the Scottish New Wave group the Skids before he formed Big Country in 1981. He played guitar and sang lead; fellow guitarist Bruce Watson, bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki completed the quartet.
They had a minor hit in Britain with "Harvest Home" before making their names with the international hits "Fields of Fire" and "In a Big Country," both from the album "The Crossing," in 1983.
The group was nominated for two Grammys, best new artist and best song, in 1984.
Their guitar sound was inspired in part by folk music and was described by some critics as mimicking bagpipes.
They continued to be active through the 1980s and '90s, reaching the British Top 10 in 1986 with "Look Away." Other singles include "Peace in Our Time" and "King of Emotion." Albums such as "Steeltown" and "The Seer" also made the charts.
Adamson relocated to Nashville around 1997 and remained active, including a collaboration with Nashville singer-songwriter Marcus Hummon.
Adamson's opening guitar in Into the Valley still sends chills.
Bye dear Stuart, Lord I will pray for those you left behind, I hope your heart was forgiven before you left.
Low Oil (and running out of salt water)
He'll be missed.
Here is proof this man was brilliant. This snippit is a b-side piece too. If anyone knows of another group with this sound, I sure would like to know it. Enjoy gang. It is my favorite Guitar section in the world. I have known no equal.
But no record player.
BLOOD AND SOIL
Too many hymns going down We can be taught blood and soil
Too many books held ahigh, We can be taught blood and soil
Blood and soil
Changing these joys to provide, We can be taught blood and soil
Blood and soil
Too many hymns going down We can be taught blood and soil
Too many books held ahigh, We can be taught blood and soil
Blood and soil
R.I.P.
Hanging around hawaii.
You mean the ugly yellow one with the string attached to it. Yep I still got mine too. Along with too many little pins and junk I spent too much money on as a kid. Wish I had the leather bomber jacket though. I was too broke to buy any of it. I missed out on buying their durn Award trophy I saw in a music collector magazine (Goldmine) a few years back. It went for around 500. I should of bought it. That was a real gem, New Artist of the year award, wonder how it got away from the band??
Cheers, Low Oil
Some of my Big Country stuff on display...
I got some BC songs I want to link up tomorrow. Remakes actually by a buddy of mine. Hope yall enjoy them. Free to download and legal too. Tomorrow ASAP. Late now
Low Oil
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