It’s amazing to even consider now, but once there were debates on who’d be the bigger band – U2 or Big Country?
It’s obvious who won that little argument, but believe it or not, there was a time around 1983 where it was a dead heat. Both bands had critical acclaim, hotly touted live shows, and briskly selling albums. But Big Country had the lead when it came to mainstream acceptance, scoring a Top 40 hit with “In A Big Country” and a platinum album with their debut, The Crossing. U2 were just starting to break though with War, but singles “New Years Day” and “Two Hearts Beat As One” didn’t make much of a dent on the charts.
Things had changed a bit three years down the road. U2 were coming off the biggest album of their career at that point, The Unforgettable Fire, and had finally crossed over to Top 40 with “Pride (In The Name Of Love).” Meanwhile, Big Country remained one-hit wonders, with the EP Wonderland and their second full-length, Steeltown, both flopping in the States (while doing well in the UK). In 1986, Big Country could use a hit. (more…)
Richard Jobson and Stuart Adamson founded Scottish punk band the Skids in 1977 – and if that second name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you know Adamson’s more famous combo, Big Country. But years before, Adamson honed his songcraft and guitar playing on three Skids albums, even charting with a few singles in the U.K.
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