The music of the late Fife rock hero Stuart Adamson is being brought to life again for a new generation of fans.
WKW have released the album ‘Men of Steel’ which includes one of the earliest songs from punk legends The Skids which was written by Adamson in 1977.
Born in Manchester, Adamson grew up in Crossgates near Dunfermline and formed The Skids in the 1970s.
After leaving the band he formed Big Country, who had a string of hits in the 1980s including Fields of Fire, In a Big Country and Look Away.
Adamson tragically died alone in a Hawaiian hotel room in 2001 after years battling depression and alcohol addiction.
WKW is Bruce Watson, his guitarist son Jamie, and American musician Thomas Kercheval, who launched a public fundraising campaign to make the nine-track album which features “huge guitars, driving bass, mountainous drums and anthemic choruses”.
Bruce Watson said: “Nationwide is a song written by Stuart Adamson in 1977 that most of you have probably never heard before.
“It was one of the earliest songs demoed by Skids, and it featured prominently in their early live sets.
“We decided to do a faithful take on it for the album.”
Bill Simpson, original and current bassist for The Skids, also played on the track just as he did on the demo in 1977.
WKW have also included the beloved Big Country B-side ‘Troubled Man’ and ‘Killiecrankie’ which was previously covered by the Fife rockers.
Bruce Watson was picked by Adamson to join Big Country in 1981 after he left The Skids.
Watson still plays in the band along with Jamie following Adamson’s death and they are also current members of The Skids.
American musician Kercheval has been a fanatical Big Country fan since his early teens.
“Big Country has always been my biggest influence,” he said.
“The music I write always springs from that source naturally.”
Kercheval shared one of his songs with Bruce Watson and offered his services as a writing partner.
Watson sent him two unreleased demos which Kercheval worked on and sent back to him “with bated breath”.
“Long story short, he and Jamie both loved it and away we went,” he said.
People can go to
https://wkwmusic.com/
to find out more about how to purchase the album.
