ONE of the most legendary bands to hail from Dunfermline are to mark the 30th anniversary of their third album in style tonight (Friday).

‘The Seer’ was the final part of the “first chapter” of rockers Big Country and founding member and lead guitarist Bruce Watson believes there’s no better way for the band to end the year than with a hometown audience at PJ Molloys in the heart of the town they hold so dear.

He told Press:On: “I think we’re going to make it an annual thing from now on. We’re always touring at this time of year and we tend to end up in Scotland in December. I love PJ Molloys but I don’t get there as much anymore, although my son, Jamie, is never out of there. I don’t get to many gigs these days. When I’m on the road I’m away for half the week gigging and as I’m an older chap I like to have some recovery when I go home. When you’ve played for as long as I have, you really need to watch your ears! It’s one of the tools of your trade!”

The iconic group will perform the entirety of The Seer, with a number of tracks from the record surprisingly not having been played live before, 30 years after its release.

Bruce added: “It was our third album and a lot of people really enjoyed the first three albums. I think fans saw it as the first chapter, really. Things kind of changed after that, our songwriting became slightly different, geographical changes and people moving all over the place. I’m proud of each album in their own ways.”

The album boasts their best-selling single, ‘Look Away’, and Kate Bush’s trademark voice can be heard on the record’s title song.

The vocals of fellow founding member Stuart Adamson can also be felt, with the late vocalist sadly passing away in 2001, much to each band member’s disbelief.

The five-piece have had various members over the years but now comprise Simon Hough (vocals), Scott Whitley (bass), Mark Brzezicki (drums) with Bruce and son Jamie on guitar.

With such a strong emphasis on social media and aggressive marketing campaigns in music today, it is perhaps not shocking to hear Bruce admit that if Big Country were starting out now he doesn’t feel they would make the same impact in comparison to their early successes in the 1980s.

He doesn’t hesitate and replies: “Definitely less of an impact. Without question. We came from an era where we were musicians and that was our job. Originally we were amateur musicians and we all had day jobs at the dockyard. Then you became semi-professional playing in pubs and clubs but we were lucky enough to go professional and we were more interested in writing songs and making records and then going out and performing them.

“Apart from younger musicians, a lot of people want to become celebrities and stuff like that, rather than working out how to do it yourselves. Back in those days, we learned our trade in smoky rooms above pubs learning to play songs. Nowadays, you can be famous one day and no-one remembers you a year after. Those reality shows aren’t really my cup of tea, and that’s being polite.”

With so many years of touring and selling-out venues across the world, the 55-year-old Bruce was keen to pass on advice to the next generation of musicians.

He concluded: “If you think the music is good, then it is good. If you’re sitting at your house with your mates and you’ve written a song you’re enjoying and think it sounds good, then keep going with it.

“I just think as long as you’re having fun, and you’re getting off playing with other people then great, keep doing it until it gets to a point where that changes.

“In any career you do have highs and lows and you can either walk away from things or persevere. There’s been that many high points, and low points really, but I think for me, being a huge Rolling Stones fan, touring with them and playing about 18 shows with them over the few years, that was amazing.

“I was in my element. You don’t know what to expect when you’re starting out. One minute you’re at school playing football, then you’re getting a job, then you start a band and then all of a sudden you’re on stage with the Rolling Stones.

“When you’re on stage that’s when you let rip. I still love it. My head loves it. My heart loves it. But my body just goes stupid at times when you’re waking up the next day feeling like you’ve been playing five-a-side football in a sauna! I’m still really enthusiastic and I’ll keep going until I can’t anymore. It’s that simple.”

Tickets to see one of Dunfermline’s most recognisable bands are £22.50 from the bar at PJ’s or ticketweb.co.uk.