Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson (Hardcover)

Scott Rowley

ISBN 10: 1917923538 / ISBN 13: 9781917923538

Published by Putman Publishing, 2026

About this Item

Hardcover. Perceptive analysis (and) also a fundamentally human story. this superb book rues Adamson's absence while celebrating his musics still audibly beating heart. 5/5 MOJOThe official biography of former Big Country frontman chronicling his career highs and tragic death.This is the story of Stuart Adamson, co-founder of not one but two seminal Scottish post-punk groups, The Skids and Big Country. But this is a book that is about much more than music. Stay Alive is about alcoholism, abuse, family, fame, addiction, depression and working-class pride. And along the way there are stories of drug busts, debauchery, flag burning, fist-fights, prison escapes and riots, with a revolving cast of characters from The Clash to the Rolling Stones. For the first time, both of Stuart Adamsons wives, children and bandmates tell their side of the story: unflinching, funny and brutally honest. The official biography of former Big Country frontman chronicling his career highs and tragic death. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781917923538

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Putman Publishing
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1917923538
• ISBN 13: 9781917923538
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

In November 2001, Stuart Adamson walked out of a bar in Atlanta, Georgia, and disappeared. His body was found over a month later in a hotel room in Hawaii. He had taken his own life.

It was a tragic and unexplained end to a man with an astonishing talent. Stay Alive is the first full account of Adamson’s life and work with Big Country and the Skids – and the only one made with the cooperation of his family, friends and bandmates.

More than just the simple story of a band, Stay Alive is about a love affair, about alcoholism, abuse, family, fame, addiction, depression and working-class pride, with stories of drug busts, flag burning, fist-fights, concubines and prison escapes – as well as encounters with the Clash, the Stranglers, the Rolling Stones, Kate Bush and more – a story that goes from small-town Scotland to Soviet-era Moscow, ‘80s London to LA and the bars and rehearsal rooms of Nashville.

For the first time, both of Stuart Adamson’s wives – and his children – tell their side of the story. They are unflinching, funny and brutally honest.