Rhiannon
I had so many thoughts on this book and what I would say in my review. First, things to know: Big Country is and has been my all-time favourite band from the moment I first heard them at the age of 13 back in 1983. That has never wavered, not once. I have remained devoted to them (I had bought every album and 12” and special editions in both vinyl and CD) regardless of all the other music in my life, of which there is So Much, despite my wildly varying tastes, and despite the band not being ‘cool’ or ‘popular’ (here in North America, anyway). This Scottish band has remained true for me.
So, when Stuart died in 2001, I was broken. I was 31 and absolutely devastated by his death. I was never able to follow Big Country with the various lineup changes they made after Stuart was gone though – it never felt right for me. Back in those days we didn’t have mass media or social media so there were only vague rumours and hints of what had led up to it, and what really happened. I have waited literal decades, like so many other fans, with great apprehension and trepidation for the story.
And here it is. And it’s made me feel no better, although it has answered some questions and confirmed some things. What it has done is made me realize that this band that I thought was so close was in fact in constant chaos and disarray. That they weren’t at all this cohesive unit musically or thematically. That members of the band often didn’t like the music they were making. The dark and tragic lyrics that Stuart so poetically conveyed were always his words, and his alone. None of the others felt the depth of them as much as he did, beyond recognizing that he was an amazing poet and storyteller. And some barely even thought of him as a friend…
I knew this book wouldn’t be a happy one – how could it be? But I wasn’t expecting it to be so scarce in joy, when the music they made brought me and so many others such delight and wonder. I am sad but not surprised. The music won’t change for me.
I give it 4/5 – I did find the writing uneven and a bit jumpy at times. But I am so very grateful that the author was able to finally get access to the principal players in this story – band, family and friends. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them to be this honest about Stuart’s life and death.
Originally posted at www.amazon.ca.
I had so many thoughts on this book and what I would say in my review. First, things to know: Big Country is and has been my all-time favourite band from the moment I first heard them at the age of 13 back in 1983. That has never wavered, not once. I have remained devoted to them (I had bought every album and 12” and special editions in both vinyl and CD) regardless of all the other music in my life, of which there is So Much, despite my wildly varying tastes, and despite the band not being ‘cool’ or ‘popular’ (here in North America, anyway). This Scottish band has remained true for me.
So, when Stuart died in 2001, I was broken. I was 31 and absolutely devastated by his death. I was never able to follow Big Country with the various lineup changes they made after Stuart was gone though – it never felt right for me. Back in those days we didn’t have mass media or social media so there were only vague rumours and hints of what had led up to it, and what really happened. I have waited literal decades, like so many other fans, with great apprehension and trepidation for the story.
And here it is. And it’s made me feel no better, although it has answered some questions and confirmed some things. What it has done is made me realize that this band that I thought was so close was in fact in constant chaos and disarray. That they weren’t at all this cohesive unit musically or thematically. That members of the band often didn’t like the music they were making. The dark and tragic lyrics that Stuart so poetically conveyed were always his words, and his alone. None of the others felt the depth of them as much as he did, beyond recognizing that he was an amazing poet and storyteller. And some barely even thought of him as a friend…
I knew this book wouldn’t be a happy one – how could it be? But I wasn’t expecting it to be so scarce in joy, when the music they made brought me and so many others such delight and wonder. I am sad but not surprised. The music won’t change for me.
I give it 4/5 – I did find the writing uneven and a bit jumpy at times. But I am so very grateful that the author was able to finally get access to the principal players in this story – band, family and friends. I can’t imagine how hard it was for them to be this honest about Stuart’s life and death.
Originally posted at www.amazon.ca.
