Big Country's Adamson Found Dead

HONOLULU, Hawaii (AP) - Stuart Adamson, lead singer and guitarist for the Scottish rock band Big Country, which had hits in the 1980s with "In a Big Country'' and "Fields of Fire,'' was found dead in a hotel room of an apparent suicide, authorities said.

Adamson, 43, has been missing from his Nashville, Tenn., home since last month, Nashville police said Monday. The body, found Sunday at the Plaza Hotel in Honolulu, was positively identified through fingerprints. An autopsy determined the British-born Adamson's cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging, according to the Honolulu medical examiner's office.

Adamson's estranged wife, Melanie Shelley, reported the singer missing from his Nashville home Nov. 26. Nashville Detective Clinton Vogel said he suspected marital troubles prompted his disappearance.

Adamson had played with the Scottish New Wave group the Skids before he formed Big Country in 1981. He played guitar and sang lead; fellow guitarist Bruce Watson, bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki completed the quartet.
They had a minor hit in Britain with "Harvest Home'' before making their names with the international hits "Fields of Fire'' and "In a Big Country,'' both from the album "The Crossing,'' in 1983.
The group was nominated for two Grammys, best new artist and best song, in 1984. Their guitar sound was inspired in part by folk music and was described by some critics as mimicking bagpipes. They continued to be active through the 1980s and '90s, reaching the British Top 10 in 1986 with "Look Away.'' Other singles include "Peace in Our Time'' and "King of Emotion.'' Albums such as "Steeltown'' and "The Seer'' also made the charts.

Adamson relocated to Nashville around 1997 and remained active, including a collaboration with Nashville singer-songwriter Marcus Hummon.