Big Country Fields of Fire (Reading Rock 1983)

[@rthomas6946]

I was there aged 17 - right down at the front on the barrier. I had made a flag and this kid next to me grabbed it off me and waved it madly. Stuart saw this and got it up on stage and waved it himself. I was dressed like Stuart and had my hair cut like him. The Reading archive site says they were bottled but I don't remember that. They won them over and you can hear it in this recording - stunning. This is a precious archive. Thanks a million for posting!!!!

[@electricsilver]

I was there aged 16. They were "bottled" quite intensely at the start of their performance. I remember laughing when Stuart shouted "STOP THROWING THE BOTTLES YOU GOATS" , and they stopped, and everyone had a great time. Unfortunately, this isn't the Reading recording. Read my other comments for why.

[@TheJollyColonel]

I was at this gig, danced arm in arm with two Jocks from Fife who introduced us to Blue label Smirnoff and coke. A few thousand when they started, full on 40k when they about three tracks in. Stuart calling out an eejit that threw a can at him midway through Close Action. Next to Slade, best live band of all time for me. 59 now and still love 'em. RIP big man, God love la...

[@zepgen8]

I was there , danced like a nutcase, great band they blew a lot of rockers out of the water .

[@padraigsisk4057]

That gig cemented Big Country as a live act to a wider audience

[@MisterGee1968]

Brilliant post - sound is superb. I'd never heard this - forgotten they even appeared at Reading as "Special Guests". Great response from the crowd.

[@otautaugallery4562]

Love this! Was there....

[@annettemartin9110]

Amazing

[@PamelaHopkinsArtGallery]

I was there, and they were brilliant!

[@cliffordself8090]

I was there 18.

[@timgarrard8522]

I was at reading 83. I don't know if this is from that set. I do remember that big country was the surprise band that stood out for me - I didn't know them or the music but I did after that evening. Stranglers headlined think it was Friday night.

[@BEERTAD]

me too. i thought black sabbath were terrible with ian gillan. stevie ray vaughn great, as were marillion. suzi q was good. loved the stranglers.

[@Dubliner812]

The photos of them on Stage are from Phoenix Park Dublin 14th August 1983

[@AnGoosen]

Listen to that crowd! someone got the billing wrong that day putting them bottom of the bill? I saw them @ Fleetwood Marine Hall (that's right Fleetwood) Selling out Hammersmith Barowlands and all of the UK. Magical evening, top 5 gigs ever.

[@adriankitchen]

+John Smith They weren't at the bottom of the bill. They were second on the bill and played just before The Stranglers. They're at the bottom of the festival poster because that's where Reading Rock always used to put the 'special guests'. I know all of this for a fact because I hung on the railings at the front for the whole day (watching some pretty atrocious bands) just to see them. But it was well worth it, of course. It was, as it always was with Big Country, an amazing performance.

[@adriankitchen]

Great post. Thanks for that. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you send me the photo that appears at 4m06s to me? Thanks.

[@garyachilles634]

Unfortunately at the beginning just a few idiots in the crowd were bottling quite a few of the bands .. Stuart said "can you just give us a chance" and turned things around .. they put on an amazing performance..

[@electricsilver]

This is a brilliant recording but it ain't Reading 83. On the 2nd "...fields of FIRE" Big Country didn't shout FIRE, they sang it as intended in the original form. But the crowd did. Also, on the first "...fields of FIRE", there were loud stage explosions which were too close to the crowd, and a lot of people in the first 3 rows suffered burns. Didn't hear those.

[@broncycolon7059]

Nada,yur BC....know the Skids??