After a day or so of rumours it's officially been announced that
Mike will no longer be involved with
Big Country after the conclusion of the "Lands End..." tour last night in Grimsby. Anyone who saw the band with
Mike will know that he bought his passion and gave his all in helping the
Big Country legacy continue on stage and off with the brilliant studio album "The Journey".
In The Poppy Fields will stop to actively report on
Big Country matters unless they purport to
Mike as we are an
Alarm site and there are specific BC sites out there.
Next year will be a busy one as always, kicking off with
The Gathering before the 30th anniversary
"Declaration" solo tour and rumours of new
Alarm material too!
Really upset that Mike is leaving Big country,Really gratefull to him for all he has done for Big country, bringing the band to life again, and for the new album he helped create, Wish him all the best for the future, and will see him in Alarm and indeed solo projects. Thanks Mike
ReplyDeleteBarry Hills
Nicely put Barry, a sentiment shared by many!
DeleteSounds to me like Big Country didn't want part-time singer, given Mike's many solo/Alarm commitments. Given the success of The Journey, I'm sure Big Country wanted to do a follow-up record or more touring. I will admit that Mike did a very nice job on The Journey, but he was just an addition. The original line-up: Stuart, Mark, Bruce & Tony were the core that inspired so many fans!!! Thank you Big Country for all your great music.......Stay Alive!!
ReplyDeleteMike - a great thanks to achievieng the impossible, reviving one of the world's most underappreciated bands seemingly destined for eternal silence and relative failure. And doing in a style that honoured a true legend in Stuart. The Journey Lp was excellent and you have left a real mark of quality in all your endeavours (plus you spread the knwoeldge of your charity work and other music of yours i for one am now aware of, as more of an observer as opposed to a fan of the Alarm previously )
ReplyDeleteThe only think that seems odd is the way this was done but that being as it may (and typical of the Spinal Tap/Anvil like road that BD have followed almost since c 1985) i hope you are aware of the admiration and thanks from BC fans
Didn't Mike abruptly quit The Alarm years back after a concert?? Mike is no saint....stop trying to make him out to be this innocent victim!!!
ReplyDeleteBased on all the dates MP has booked in 2014, obviously he was intending to put Big Country to the side. Bruce Watson has already stated that BC was writing new material while on tour, and we're probably ready to go back to the studio and follow-up with another tour. I doubt the guys are making tons of money, so MP figures he'll make more money touring alone......pure greed!!!!
ReplyDeletePure greed?? Come off it, mate. Lest we forget the music business is just that, a business. Who are we to question musicians from making a living and supporting their respective families?
DeleteYes matey, pure greed......I'm positive Big Country thought they had a long term commitment to the band. Otherwise, they wouldn't have stated as such in their numerous interviews during The Journey tour.
DeleteDont think mike wanted to commit full time to BC which, i think, is what the band wanted. Saw them in a sweathole pub in Ipswich the other week, good gig but mike seemed a little distant. I was a massive BC fan upto PIOT. The journey was a solid effort and, if new BC material is to materialize, i wonder who will pen ghe lyrics and who will sing them.
ReplyDeleteI think BC should retire but, as they have to make a crust, i doubt this will happen.
BTW Cant wait for new Alarm material
Dont think money comes into the equation. During the first incarnation of the alarm royalties were split evenly, even though twist and sharpie commited little to some albums.
ReplyDeleteThe truth will hopefuly be known soon, just hope it was an amicable decision as the lads seemed to get on great, i was also at the Ipswich concert , yes it was bloody hot, and too thought mike seemed a little distant , i just put this down to his health problems.
Of course the split was caused by money. Mike was booking solo shows during BC's Journey tour. And now, he's already got shows booked through April. He's so distraught over the split, yet he immediately books over 20 new dates......yeah, give me a break!! Mike is a big phony!! BC made Mike relevant again and now he wants to capitalize on it!! I've lost all respect for MIke!!!
ReplyDeleteSadly, BC is hardly relevant again. Playing small "sweat hole pubs" hardly makes one relevant. MP is trying to make a living in a digital music world where it's more difficult than ever to make a living. Today, merchandise and touring is where most artists make their money. Everyone knew his role in BC was as a replacement singer and i don't think anyone expected him to be a permanent member. He's now moving back to his other career after seeing the BC album and tour through 2013. Clearly he can't be faulted for this.
DeleteYeah, like Mike is going to be playing huge arenas or stadium......NOT!!! I find it ironic how MP released so many solo dates right after BC's announcement. You can call him a replacement singer, but to everyone else he is a petty opportunist!!!
DeleteI totally agree the fault lies with MP. I remember reading a few interviews during The Journey tour where BC members were excited about future recording & touring with Mike. Obviously BC wanted Mike to stay on as vocalist. MP was irrelevant all these years prior to being tapped as BC's singer. Now, he's gotten some recognition and wants to keep all profits from future touring by himself. Goodbye MP.......BC will live on! Big Country......Stay Alive
ReplyDeleteI think people are failing to realize is that as with most things in life, timing is everything. MP saw his commitment to BC through. Now he has an opportunity to play HIS songs in a 30th anniversary year of HIS original bands albums. Expecting another singer who enjoyed success (success is relative) in their OWN band to not go back and do their own thing when the timing was right is perhaps selfish and irresponsible. If Stewart were still around would we be upset if he went back and played with the SKids??
DeleteI say good riddance to MP!! BTW.......its Stuart.
DeleteWho has Mike got recognition from exactly? Mike has never been irrelevant, what a stupid commet , the kind i would expect from a five year old having a 'my bands better than your band' argument in the playground.
ReplyDeleteBig country were only preaching to the converted, many of whom would have been aware of the alarm anyway.
As a fan of both bands i am sad at the outcome but lets not slag either party until the truth is known
Mike peters is s phony? What a load of ill informed tosh.
ReplyDeleteMike peters is, firstly, frontman of the alarm and, secondly, the singer for BC.
To commit to two bands at his age and with his medical condition is an unworkable situation.
Mike gave an irrelevant band recognition, not the other way around.
Ok....I've let some of the comments slide even though I don't agree with them...but now I would like to close this debate. Mike was always going to mark the 30th anniversary of "Declaration" and whether or not being committed to 2 bands had any bearing on the decision we don't know.
ReplyDeleteBig Country were a great band with Stuart and Mike paid tribute to his passing and to the band on the Poppy Fields tour when the Alarm included "In A Big Country" in the set. Various members of BC had played with Mike across the years and Mike contributed to BC continuing "The Journey" and pleasing a lot of fans.
Yes, there were some BC fans who couldn't accept a different front man but the band didn't have a choice unless they were to form a new band at this late point in their career - and why should they have to? Some Alarm fans too weren't best pleased at "losing" Mike to his BC commitments but I hope those that gave the union a chance got as much enjoyment out of it that I did.
In terms of money being a factor in anything....well here's a newsflash....Mike is a professional musician as are the rest of the band. Money matters to pretty much all of us in life rightly or wrongly.
Every single time I have met Mike or talked to any fan that has, his openness, dedication and commitment to his fanbase and music has been second to none.
So enough is enough, please let the dust settle, lets look forward to hearing BC as a four piece and lets look forward to seeing Mike both solo and with The Alarm.
Respect to all who commented but please no more.
Rob
Dear Rob and Joff,
ReplyDeleteReally think its quite childish to remove posts that offer a different view from yours. You run this website, but does that give you authority to act as a dictator and remove posts that favor Big Country? What happened to freedom of speech? I suppose the truth hurts..........such an accurate synopsis in this case. Your attempt to remove pro-BC posts only proves the point of Mike Peters shameful and despicable actions........Stay Alive
Hi,
DeleteI have removed 2 posts, something I haven't done before, as in my previous post I had asked that we bring this thread to a close as everything had been said. I do not agree with some of the comments already in the above thread but I left them in, respecting the passion of the fans who posted them. I have always tried to cover all aspects of The Alarm and have published interviews that may have been hard reading for the Alarm camp (take Steve Grantley being very open and honest about his departure from the band for instance) but I try to remain respectful as I am after all a fan.
This isn't a case of pro-BC or pro-Mike...I am a Big Country fan as well, as I state I am looking forward to hearing what the band do next as a 4 piece and I hope that fans give Jamie (I assume, as he did vocals on the last soundchecks of the tour) a warm welcome and a chance. Don't compare him to Stuart, let him be his own man.
So again I ask please can we just move away and let this post be, be respectful and if you, or anyone would like to discuss this further with me just send me an email inthepoppyfields@gmail.com
We are all fans and we all have opinions!
Thanks
Rob
Well, well, well, I have been a Big Country fan and watched them live on numerous occasions since 1985, but after this, that will be the last interest in Big Country I will have...........what pathetic responses from some people above.
ReplyDeleteI will always have fond memories of Stuart, but Mike deserves a lot more respect than some of these BC fans are giving him, his hard work resurrected BC.
Kinda glad now thinking about it.........
Love, Hope, Strength..........something is missing..........oh yeah, that's it........
Dignity.......thanks Mike.
Mike has dignity........what a farce!! You're the pathetic joke for writing such a ridiculous comments. Go Google the various interviews BC & Mike did during The Journey tour. In each interview, Mike states his intentions are to continue with BC for a long time. Obviously, BC didn't make mega-millions during their tour so good ol' Mikey figured he'd tour alone now instead of splitting the purse 5 ways!!! I guess now we know why Tony Butler suddenly 'retired'....he couldn't stand working alongside that annoying hypocrite (MP)!!! Thanks for NOTHING MP!!!!!
DeleteI discovered this blog site a few months back. I've tried to stay away from posting a comment about Mike's departure from Big Country, but after reading Peter's comments on The Alarms website I knew I had to speak up. I was sickened by Peters' condescending & demeaning comments describing how "I was not required anymore" and "proud of the renaissance and everything I gave for them" and "the contribution we 'all' made to the Big Country legacy". I can understand the fury of the fans' comments above. The main reason for Mike's departure was he couldn't fully commit to the band and Big Country did not want to be treated like a side project. I think Peters' disgraceful exit from Big Country has burned a lot of bridges with fans. My final message to Mike is: karma is a funny & unpredictable thing!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Net Boys and Net Girls,
ReplyDeleteI have been a fan of The Alarm since the beginning and just wanted to say just how thankful I was to hear such a great record from Big Country in "The Journey".
I really think it was one of the best rock and roll records of the year.
I was so happy to see fans of Mike Peters and of The Alarm have the opportunity to dig deeper in the music of Big Country (myself included) and so very happy to see the music of Mike Peters, The Alarm (classic and current line ups) find a broader audience in the fans of Big Country as well.
Love, Hope, Strength,
ReGorLaTroy
Sorry to see Mike Peters leave Big Country as he was a good lead vocalist for the band. Whatever the reasons are, the decision has been made. I wish MP and BC all the best for the future. Looking forward to seeing the new line on tour.
ReplyDelete