Artistes

Tony Butler

Tony was bass guitarist and backing vocalist with Big Country for nearly 20 years Big Country sold 10 million albums worldwide including The Crossing (UK number 3 and on the chart for over a year and top 20 in US) and the number 1 UK album Steeltown. The band recorded seven studio albums, 15 compilation or live albums, had 17 Top 30 singles and two Grammy nominations.

Always popular with fans and music professionals alike, Tony was dubbed “the nicest man in rock ‘n’ roll” by Rolling Stone magazine. The band supported the Rolling Stones on two European tours - the Voodoo Lounge in 1995 and Bridges to Babylon in 1998 (“one of the best opening bands we have had” – Mick Jagger). The band were also involved with Greenpeace anti-nuclear protests, releasing a single, Non, stop the tests.

Tony, who moved to Cornwall with his family in 1987 at the height of Big Country’s success, released his first solo album, The Great Unknown, in 1997 to coincide with the launch of his label, Great West Records, set up to record and promote artists from the Westcountry.

Three years later, in 2000, Tony announced his departure from Big Country after the promotion of Driving to Damascus – in his opinion their best ever album – with the Final Fling tour which culminated in an emotional farewell night at the Glasgow Barrowlands. The band played one more gig – in Malaysia - the last time he shared a stage with Stuart Adamson, who died in December 2001.

Since then Tony has trained as a further education teacher and lecturer, mentoring young people in music technology and performance in Devon and Cornwall.

Life Goes On, released on the Great West Records label, has Tony producing and playing most of the instruments, but also features colleagues and students invited for their individual talents.

More info on Tony and his music
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