Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson

The Authorised Biography

Scott Rowley author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Putman Publishing

Publishing:26th Mar '26

£25.00

This title is due to be published on 26th March, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

Stay Alive: The Life and Death of Stuart Adamson cover

The 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.

“An immensely moving story. Extremely well written and sympathetic” -- Mark Ellen * Word in Your Ear *
“There’s barely anyone who was important in the frontman’s story that hasn’t contributed here, and Rowley unearths some disquieting truths that help explain the pain that Adamson suffered his entire life… painting a picture of someone who could - with greater confidence - have been just as iconised as Springsteen 4/5” * Classic Pop *

ISBN: 9781917923538

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

400 pages