Big Country - 'Play At Home' documentary, 1984 (Complete)

For the first time on KZbin this is the complete Channel 4 documentary that was first aired in 1984.
No more having to switch from one clip to the next is a bonus and another is that the quality of this clip is a little better than what is currently uploaded.
Featuring clips and footage from Big Country's 1983 'Crossing The Fall' tour and from the show at London's Hammersmith Odeon on September 29, 1983.
- Porrohman
- Fields of Fire
- The Storm
- Harvest Home
- In A Big Country
With huge thanks to my good friend JfnG for the video clip that was a great improvement in quality over the versions I had.
Wind back the clock and enjoy this great doco from 1984!
Stay Alive as always.

[@tracysnow349]

I am speechless. It's amazing to me. I actually washed and waxed a 67 Charger that belonged to my best friend's brother for a ride to HUGE record store in downtown Denver called Wax Trax. It just so happened that I had a huge crush on him. So, when said day came that I deferred to him for a choice between Big Country's "The Crossing" and some other album (I don't know what it was) and he pointed to "The Crossing" the deed was done. And my life was changed forever. If that isn't serendipity, I don't know what is. I bring this up to let you know that I was one of those 16/17 year old people with limited funds. When Big Country toured the U.S. in support of the album, I was working part time and saved every dime to pay the extremely high price of $15.00 to stand outside in the Colorado cold to be first in on a venue whose capacity was 500. And ended up front and center. OMG! I was one of those. I know I didn't make the band much money. But I am 54 and can remember it all like it was yesterday.

[@superseventy-one4628]

Ah ! Wax Trax I spent a lotta money in there . What venue did they play at ?

[@tysongarrett8688]

Ditto response here......saw big country at palladium hollywood....1984.....small club....packed....one of the best shows ive ever seen.....and ive seen the who at winterland...zeppelin at the forum...etc.etc....this big country show just blew those other shows away....maybe the who at winterland would compete...but im saying....it was non stop rocking and great musicianship!.....i have every album.....everyone of them i love.....RIP stuart.

[@Round_07]

I have mixed feelings watching this. It’s great to remember what a truly amazing time this was; so sad that things can never be this good again.

[@quintonellis558]

A trick : watch series at Kaldrostream. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies lately.

[@mosesdominic9827]

@Quinton Ellis Definitely, been using kaldrostream for since december myself :D

[@mickmcdonagh1557]

I know exactly what you mean....wow I really do miss the great man Stuart Adamson...RIP

[@cleopatraoatcake7364]

Saw these guys in the US in the '80s. Stuart was an excellent, charismatic frontman, and the show was brilliant from start to finish.

[@faddy24]

Yeah mixed feelings for me too but isn't that what life is like, relationships, a certain time or moments in our life can be so special, memorable and unique but then that time and/or the person slips away. So we're left with the memory, the nostalgia and a sentimental tear or a wry smile.

[@davidquinn7144]

Was so lucky to call Stuart a friend went fishing with him many times so sad

[@davidquinn7144]

@@cejannuzi a top bloke who never forgot his roots proud to say he was a friend

[@nickowchar2001]

Lucky indeed ... definitely feeling envious right now

[@Cleme21]

I went to a musical heaven with him many times.we are there now. Big Country.

[@merin797]

Painful and mind blowing to see how little these guys made, for the genius lyrics and musicianship they had. Criminally ripped off. At least we have the music and great memories, but at what personal cost to the band? Bless them all.🙏

[@johnny5805]

The thing that sticks with me most after watching this (apart from everyone smoking everywhere) was that the the band was grossing 2k and the tour promoter was making 4k !! Man ! Everyone had their nose in the trough !

[@roslyncoward3222]

I cannot believe the ticket prices! How things have changed. I saw big Country a couple of times in the 80's, what a great group, so talented and you were guaranteed a really good time at their concerts. They deserved so much more from their amazing talent. Will love them and their music for ever.

[@tonymcmahon_historybear]

Incredible that gigs used to be priced at £3.50 - even allowing for inflation, prices now are ridiculous.

[@Qwerty1235945]

Mate, thank you for sharing. I felt 13 again. I was at the Nottingham gig, and it was the most exciting thing I'd ever seen in my life. RIP Big Man. I still miss you.

[@juliehyde61]

cheers for this,i too felt a bit upset watching My hero Stuart but great memories

[@prostwest]

I've never seen the like of this: an up-and-coming band, basically producing their own reality show ( a decade before that term had been coined ) about all the complications that go along with nascent, brittle success. Leave it to Stuart and company. For those who are quick to condemn all the "hangers-on", I encourage you to consider the hell those young, inexperienced musicians would have had to go through to negotiate directly with concert venues, truck hires, lighting companies, and so on and so on- and THEN have enough energy left to perform. So while I agree there are a lot of opportunities to profiteer, there is also a cold necessity for the business-types. At least the boys from Dunfermline are smart enough to ask the right questions. Absolutely fascinating; another rare gem of a find, BC1000!

[@tracysnow349]

I am all like, it's all about me, and I do truly appreciate your comment. Nice perspective and people like me need it.

[@Stanky_doggo]

They say we shouldn't have regrets but i always regretted they didn't play Live Aid and don't mind admitting it. Partly because they were my favourite band at the time and my best pals fav was a young band called U2 and Live Aid helped grow them hugely. Also always believed that they would have went down a 'storm.'

[@BC1000Stars]

Wonderland, Chance, A Big Country, Fields of Fire... in that order. The place would have been bouncing.

[@Stanky_doggo]

I think they might have felt obliged to include rose is sown as the steeltown album was year before. I have a recollection of some of the crowd at the front chanting the chorus of chance.... Don't think it's a false memory either. I know they were interviewed and I think it was Stuart that said they didn't play because a couple of them were due new additions to their families etc. At least tony got them to go to Wembley and get down to the front of stage for the finale! Stuart roaring stay alive would have been so fitting given the cause that they were there for. Again if I remember correctly he was featured saying that on a recording around that time. Maybe the b side of do they know it's Christmas?

[@tonymcmahon_historybear]

The look Adamson is giving the A&R guy at around six minutes is priceless as he claims to be a "creative"

[@marleybu7984]

That was absolutely brilliant! Loved it. Thanks a lot for sharing. It was great seeing Stuart so happy. 😁

[@NannoDen1]

Fab to watch this all in once go - thank you Andy

[@Porrohman19]

The Hammersmith gig was one of my first gigs. I remember being impressed by the backdrop. So interesting to see what goes into a tour. Thanks for posting.

[@triplextreme2]

Sweet year i was born. Another crappy day made good from your shares. Thank you again.

[@tartansnow81]

Huge thanks for this , thoroughly enjoyed every second. I'm kinda wondering how the money back then translates to now (2023). I still remember finding out about Stuart passing away, was driving a cab and there's an A.M. Station here in Perth W.Aust. 1080 6IX and the newsreader said "Here is the News", then it went straight onto "In A Big Country" I was a bit confused and thought the station had made a mistake , but they played the whole song, then said "Stuart Adamson has been found dead. . . . " Hit me like a bloody hammer. Knocked off . Got absolutely hammered myself.

[@BC1000Stars]

I heard via a small article in Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper which i still have. I cried for hours, days, weeks. Completely inconsolable, he was my hero.

[@carlsumm6866]

I too......had to leave work and drink to the lovely guy. still saddened to the very core when I see him on footage like this......Go safely Scottish man in Aussie!

[@tartansnow81]

Slainte @@carlsumm6866

[@salihkasap3770]

Absolutely magic great post thanks

[@niallsbasstones9713]

In the next Life, I’m coming back as Tony’s Bass Guitar Tech 🎸

[@bwm5150]

This is great! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@SuperBroonie]

From his Skids days to BC he wrote a massive amount of historically significant music. Absolutely underrated, Skids still touring keeping the memory alive and they sound unbelievable live. Go See Them.

[@Stanky_doggo]

Skids have Bruce Watson and his son featured on guitar

[@philipthompson8525]

Thanks Andy, Great To See This, its Priceless, Like All my music Collection Of B/C. my Hero's.

[@jacktzu1528]

What a great upload my friend. I 1st saw BC in the King’s Hall in Belfast, in December 84. I’ve never seen this program. Thanks very much. Stay alive..👍🏻

[@BC1000Stars]

Stay Alive to you too! You're most welcome.

[@jacktzu1528]

@@BC1000Stars Cheers. Subscribed.👍🏻

[@Marigolded]

Thank you for uploading this. I have been looking for it for ages, didn't think anyone had recorded it. Feels like ten lifetimes ago (instead of just two!)

[@dammcadam4689]

Wonderful to see footage like this, thank you x

[@earletrimble4637]

Thanks for sharing.. Love this channel.. Never enough Big Country!!

[@loutiscrive]

Your name will never die, Stuart Adamson

[@sandramiddleton4367]

Thank you for posting and sharing this x

[@Unaufgeregt]

Thanks to share this valuable documentation of the early years of these band that i will never forget.

[@concordiapittsburgh2598]

Was too shy to talk to them after the March 5, '84 show @ Wake Forest University - wish I had now

[@marleybu7984]

Porrohman.. 😁

[@danielnichols5632]

39 grand for a whole tour! That wouldn’t cover the coffee bill nowadays, how times have changed. For the worse…..

[@Stanky_doggo]

BC fan since The crossing and seen them several times live but didn't know this documenntary existed..... really interesting to see. Wonder what the back story was to it being made? Thanks for the opportunity to see it.

[@BC1000Stars]

Found this online about it: www.tvpopdiaries.co.uk/playathome.html

[@JohnZokas-hf3qw]

Stuart ressurected the sound of the guitar… it was a dying art it was dead till he formed big country…esp the sound and e bow technique

[@DavidGardiner-ko9rv]

Best band ever

[@marcoinvernizzi1365]

Stuart è un dio.....

[@ZeldaFitz]

By 1984 Big country had all ready peaked commercially

[@JohnZokas-hf3qw]

Stuart no fool he was a highly intelligent young man….and loved playing live more than money matters…big in Germany all there early concerts were sell outs … he knew all about rip offs but you can,t control all the players I worked security Glasgow Apollo met him and Sandra after the amazing sound check… 2 lovely people..

[@alexbrown6624]

Crazy the prices of concert tickets now ? Just milk the fans till they say no more but the band or entertainer is made less popular by doing this ,you’d think in 2024 after seeing Feed the world & Band Aid we’d being doing it much better for everyone ? R.I.P Stuart Adamson was weird seeing and listening to him again l listen to Big Country every morning in the shower ,loud and proud it sets me up for the days !

[@joecruze-globalNEWS]

The band was ripped off at a time when they could have made the most amount of money, but that's how the industry works. Fans don't get to see this side.

[@stuartcarswell2815]

Fun fact ..Chris Briggs signed Robbie Williams

[@JohnZokas-hf3qw]

They could have made a lot of money… but that music industry Has only a few decent souls who stick by a good band… big country were awesome live… and I have seen them all from 1969 to 2020.. the crossing the country tour… and some great support bands like the icicle works.. the costs but the sale of music is big money and the future credits

[@a.c.4732]

£6 a ticket :-o

[@juliehyde61]

the comment from julie hyde is from my husband steve hyde

[@MrBenmanning]

korsty Asamson is the natural progression for me ...

[@MrOnFeed]

What a brilliant find. Just goes to show how the music industry is full of parasites. The band do all the writing and performing etc, but look at all the extras.

[@jezza10181]

This is like Spinal Tap