A MESSAGE FROM IAN GRANT
November 97. Stuart calls from Nashville. He wants to get the loud guitars out again and misses the guys. I suggest demoing in Nashville. This is great, as Ray Davies has said he would like to be Involved with the band and obviously we needed songs before he could get involved. One session either side of Christmas in Nashville taking us into 98. The songs were ok but Stuart had been writing with Nashville songwriters and he was not quite back in the band mode. That's why I suggested a tour and when Barrow FC (ironical that it didn't take place as such) was offered by John King I thought we could build a little tour around it. So in May the band did do 8 dates in Scotland and England. Everyone got off on being back together and demoing sessions took place several times in UK and then between The Stones dates in August of that year The band had got into full gear now and were writing the best material in a while.
The Stones tour was a massive boost to motivation etc and one more session in Nashville in September left them with dose on 30 songs. Ray and I were still talking. He took some interest and came to a few rehearsals and we met at Konk. He was having trouble with Velvel, his US partner in a new venture, who were going to fund 50% of a Big Country deal. The months dragged on. The band and I were beginning to get a little irritated, not that we were being impatient. Ray thought that the songs weren't quite there and suggested he and Stuart write in New York at his place. This the two of them did, in December Into 1999 and still we weren't getting anywhere with Ray and a deal. I had just become aquainted with Bill Kenwright I helped him out with a band of his that he had signed and recorded for inclusion in his new film "Don't Go Breaking My Heart' He wanted to return the favour and liked the idea of being part of a label anyway. We decided to put Big Country and Snowdogs, a young band I had been working with, in the studio. I had been offered the name and logo of legendary Track Records by one of its founders and in no time at all. Big Country were ensconced at Rockfield studios in Wales recording their 8th studio album. Rafe McKenna who I came across as he produced Kolony for Bill seemed like worth a try with BC He was terrific and the band soon warmed to him. He had worked with Eddi Reader in the past and brought her into the project. You now know some of the results.
For the first time I held the destiny of the band in my own hands and set about setting up a team to work with Its been pretty cool so far with a lot of work coming our way I really think that act positive and positivity comes to you The Kosovo gig at SECC was the first gig that gave the band some long awaited profile. Huge coverage in Scotland and broadcast nation-wide on BBC2 N. The London gig at Shepherds Bush was put on the schedule way back and also a private gig the night after. We managed somehow to include a last minute appearance with Rod Stewart at Hampden Park Glasgow and for Jacques Villeneuve at his Lucky Strike bash, pro- Silverstone. This we hope leads to another appearance for Jacques but this time in Japan at the final grand prix in October. The 'Fragile Thing' video shoot in the USA led to an intimate and successful gig in Nashville
Now in the UK, with a Radio 2 "A" list and larger regional N and radio promotional tour in the week, preceding the gig in Hyde Park (which Kele Le Roc will replace an unavailable Eddi Reader), a tremendous *roots" following on the web, I am feeling somewhat pleased with our start There's a hell of long way to go though We must chart high with the single and hope that you are able to dig deep and find the pennies to purchase all 3 formals in week one 9th August. You shall also see the release of the album in all major territories. We have deliberately set the UK up first before trying to release on small dodgy labels overseas. That's not to say I want the label to be with majors everywhere, far from it, but with a UK success story to tell, everyone will take more notice, simple as that.
Onwards and upwards!
And a BIG thanks from me for all the amazing support this band continues to receive Ian Grant 18/07/99
