The Great Divide - The Big Country Podcast

Scott Rowley is the author of the authorised biography "Stay Alive: The Life And Death of Stuart Adamson". Listen as Tom and Svein sit down with Scott for a chat about the book, uncovering many interesting stories from the making of the book as well as perspectives gained in the process.

The deep-dive series on the Wonderland EP/mini-album is finally reaching its end, as Tom and Svein delve into the song that shares its name with Big Country's debut album: The Crossing. You get comprehensive coverage of the song's origins and development, and everything else you expect from a Great Divide deep-dive. Have at you, and enjoy!

We have reached our 100th episode! The best possible way we could mark the occasion is with a definite Bruce Watson interview, where every activity and happening with the band is discussed. This includes tributes to Mike Peters, thoughts on the recent band split and the new line-up, the coming book and documentary, the chance for a 40th Anniversary edition of The Seer (including the Robin Millar mix), the Restless Natives musical, news on Eastworld (the coming b-sides/re-recordings album), unreleased songs from the Mike Peters years, as well as plenty of musings from your podcast hosts. Enjoy!

After two and a half years, Tom and Svein have finally arrived at the fourth song from their selection of songs from the Wonderland EP. Heart And Soul is one of the earliest Big Country songs, and it fascinates the hosts how much of the song would show up in later works thematically. Expect the usual deep-dive into the song's history, lyrics, and music.

Tom and Svein take another sidestep as they do a PSA about Svein's new book "Rocking In the Norselands, part 1". Find out what the book is all about, how it was like to put it together, and several reflections on the power of stories about music. Thanks for indulging us, and we'll be back with the next part of the Wonderland deep-dive series soon.

We have reached the third part of the Wonderland deep-dive, which continues with its track-by-track approach. This time Tom and Svein takes a thorough look at All Fall Together, and rarely have they been so in sync about being jubilantly positive about a track. Expect some song background for both Giant and All Fall Together, an overview of different versions, as well as the usual dissection of music and lyrics. And if you're a fan of the movie Streets of Fire, apologies in advance!

The Wonderland deep-dive continues with this second part, which is wholly devoted to the track Angle Park. This is the first Big Country song that Stuart and Bruce finished in 1981, with its roots going back several years before that. We delve deep into the timeline of the track, its lyrical meanings, and the actual location in Dunfermline that named it. Wonderland may "just" an EP, but after just two songs we have spent more time on it than we have some of the albums!

To celebrate the podcast's 10th anniversary, Tom and Svein speak at long last to Pete and Alan Wishart, the respective keyboardist and bassist in the very first incarnation of Big Country. This is an incredibly informative conversation on the earliest begninnings of the band, including the ill-fated Alice Cooper tour and the subsequent difficult decision by Stuart to revamp the lineup. Some rare live clips are played from BC's first-ever show, as well as some rare interview clips with Pete and Stuart from 1981. Joining Tom and Svein are the mighty JfnG and Stuart "Ming the Merciless" Menzies. Enjoy this incredible deep dive into this rare and formative period of the band's history.

After talking about the possibility of a Wonderland deep-dive several times, it's finally happening. Tom and Svein dive deeper than ever before as they explore every aspect of the most significant singles release in the band's career and get into the song itself. You are welcome to join them, but encouraged to bring an extra oxygen tank for this one.

Over thirteen months after the previous proper episode of The Great Divide, Tom and Svein are back. They may have missed out on a 2021 Christmas Yuletide episode, but as the traditional Yule season stretches well into January, your hosts make amends with a New Years Yule episode instead. 2021 is recapped and events are caught up on as our host shake off their ringrust in anticipation for a more active 2022.

When we recorded the first Millar Mix petition in 2014, we didn't know what to expect. After years of this seeming like a lost cause, developments in 2021 have left us more hopeful than ever. Please listen to the latest updates, sign the petition, and share it with others. We can make it happen if we all act NOW!

The Yuletide that nearly didn't happen is here. Join Tom and Svein for a look at the things that didn't happen this year, the things that happened, and the things we all have to look forward to. We send a Christmas letter to an old friend, and explore how Big Country music ended up in a computer game in the 1980s. Have at Yule!

After a bit of a break since our last proper episode, Tom and Svein are joined by Bruce Watson and John Gouveia. Expect a bit of general catch-up and LOTS of questions submitted by BC fans on the Great Divide Facebook page. Hear Bruce talk about his pre-BC bands, the recent Skids online show, his Subbuteo collection (and plans to do a match video soon), memories of past shows, and much more.

In this final installment of our WKW Pledger episodes, Tom and Svein are joined by Americans Jim Schubilske and Steve Coulter and by UK native Iain Chambers. A variety of Big Country topics are discussed, including favorite BC live songs, bands that should cover BC songs and what cover they should choose to fit their style, the shortest BC set in history, and Hammer Time. Sound bites are played and many laughs ensue.

Bruce Watson and John Gouveia join Tom and Svein in discussing Big Country's recent shows on the US East coast. Bruce also gives an update on how the current COVID-19 virus outbreak is impacting the band and answers fan-submitted questions. Listen to Tom share some great stories from his Big Country adventures in New York! Find out why JfnG had to burn his couch! Hear us marvel at the Whitley streaming concert! As usual there is also some rambling and general updates on this and that, and we hope this episode can entertain you for a few hours during these very unusual and uncertain times.

Tom and Svein speak with two more WKW pledgers from WKW's "Men of Steel" campaign: Gene Melang and John Lewis. Gene and Tom speak a good bit about WKW, which includes a segment with Bruce Watson answering some of Gene's questions for him. Gene is kind enough to allow us to share Tom's acoustic version of "Where the Rose is Sown", which Gene also received as part of his pledge. John Lewis talks about the early days of the BC email group, his own history as a fan and shares some nostalgic memories with Tom and Svein.

WKW has released their new album Men of Steel on CD, a feat which would have not been possible without so many generous pledgers. One of those pledge tiers got the benefactor an appearance on the show, and on this episode, we talk to the first two who purchased that option in the WKW Crowdfunding Campaign: Stuart Arnott and Tom Stieber. Between the two of them, we'll hear tales of gigantic record collections, surprise free shows during the Buffalo Skinners era, and the time Tony Butler performed at one of their homes. Plus, this show returns to our 90-minute roots! It's a bite-size Divide!

Is it Yule again already? Tom and Svein celebrate the year that has been in terms of podcast episodes, the WKW crowdfunding project, and other musings. The King of the Bogans, Andy Inkster, provides the main course as he visits the show to host an epic quiz for Tom and Svein. Who shall be victorious? John Gouveia is also called for the latest news and updates from Parts Unknown. Enjoy, have a happy holiday season, and have at Yule!

This episode is about the 'Return To Steeltown' 35th Anniversary Tour, focusing on the very first show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. As it happens, Svein was at that show and brings stories, soundclips, thoughts and reflections from his first BC adventure. Several Speakpipes are featured from others who also attended this show.

Tom and Svein finish The Crossing deep-dive series with an entire episode devoted to the final song on the album: "Porrohman". The most epic song gets the most epic discussion: three hours of the deepest dive possible, the podcast's longest discussion for a single song ever. Enjoy the final episode from the last album deep-dive that we'll ever do!