Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson

Scott Rowley

ISBN 10: 1917923538 / ISBN 13: 9781917923538

Published by Putman Publishing, GB, 2026

About this Item

A TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER"Perceptive analysis (and) also a fundamentally human story. this superb book rues Adamson's absence while celebrating his music's 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 Adamson's wives, children and bandmates tell their side of the story: unflinching, funny and brutally honest.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781917923538

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson
• Publisher: Putman Publishing, GB
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1917923538
• ISBN 13: 9781917923538
• Binding: Hardback
• 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.