“Perceptive analysis (and) also a fundamentally human story... this superb book rues Adamson's absence while celebrating his music’s still audibly beating heart.” 5/5 MOJOThe official biography of former Big Country frontman chronicling his career highs and tragic death.This is the story of Stuart Adamson, co-founder of not one but two seminal Scottish post-punk groups, The Skids and Big Country. But this is a book that is about much more than music. Stay Alive is about alcoholism, abuse, family, fame, addiction, depression and working-class pride. And along the way there are stories of drug busts, debauchery, flag burning, fist-fights, prison escapes and riots, with a revolving cast of characters from The Clash to the Rolling Stones. For the first time, both of Stuart Adamson’s wives, children and bandmates tell their side of the story: unflinching, funny and brutally honest.
Scott Rowley is content director for Future PLC, working across their stable of music publications from Classic Rock to Metal Hammer to Guitar World. He was editor in chief at Classic Rock for ten years. He is Scottish and lives just outside London.