Ex-Big Country drummer starts legal action
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 27 Jun 2012 09:30
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The original Big Country line-up pictured in the Glen in 1982 with Parker-Sharp second from left.
FORMER Big Country drummer Clive Parker-Sharp has started legal action almost 30 years after leaving the band.
He claims that he was "shocked and dismayed" to recently discover eleven songs he co-wrote were published without any payment to him.
The band's original line-up featured Parker-Sharp along with brothers Alan and Pete Wishart, now a MP.
However, after a disastrous debut tour supporting Alice Cooper in 1982, changes were quickly made with Parker-Sharp and the Wisharts being replaced by Mark Brzezicki and Tony Butler.
It was under the new formation that Big Country - founded by Dunfermline's own Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson - went on to achieve major chart success through the 1980s.
Parker-Sharp, now an author, has instigated proceedings against the band's publisher EMI Music and manager Ian Grant.
The former drummer has engaged media lawyers Sheridans, in London, to handle his claim derived from "breach of song copyrights and musical works".
Parker-Sharp joined Big Country in 1981 and the legal claims involve songs on 'The Crossing' album.
Parker-Sharp said, "I tried everything to resolve this amicably myself and using the Musicians Union but I've had no luck and have regrettably been forced into this position.
"I walked away from the band in 1983 never expecting them to use my work - why would they?
"Then recently, when I put some restored tapes on YouTube, dozens of the group's old fans contacted me to say these songs had already been released.
"I was shocked and dismayed they'd used my work, someone else has been earning money from it and that's not fair. I've had to do something out of principle."
Lawyer Nick King, of Sheridans said, "We are currently in the process of asserting claims in respect of 11 Big Country songs that Clive has never been credited with co-writing.
"Despite the passage of nearly 30-odd years, Clive is fully able to show his substantial input into those songs which were written prior to musicians Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki joining the band."
Big Country manager Ian Grant said today, "We've no comment to make at this time."
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 27 Jun 12
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