Dickens' Broken Home track called 'Shot Down' a tribute to John Lennon. Kindly been made into this brilliant video featuring images of both Lennon and Broken Home, by our friend Michael at Youtube (aka Falke58)
Another beautiful video featuring Mr Bigs' track 'Golden Lights' kindly supplied by Marcmickey/Laserlady7 at Youtube.
Mr Big at rehearsals March 2009 - Lazy Sunday
Mr Big interview regarding Billy Sheehans band.
Mr Big rehearsing 'Sandy' February 2009
Mr Big "Baby Come Around" 2009 New Single
Mr Big Promo Video - Romeo 1977
Mr Big 'For the Fun to Find' on Supersonic
Mr Big
Mr Big performing 'Senora' on Top of the Pops 1978
Mr Big performing 'Romeo' Live on Supersonic
''Peculiar People'' Dicken & Paul Gibbons
Live footage at rehearsals in 1983
Big Bad Mime 1985
Rehearsing 'Its all Over'
Mr Big can trace their roots back to the sixties. The name was first used when the band performed regular gigs in the Marquee Club London. A name change was already on the cards when, the manager of the club gave the band a big surprise.
During 1972 they were billed as Mr Big instead of Burnt Oak that had been the name of the band at the time. The club manager wouldn't change it, so it stayed. The name was registered and from then on it was Mr Big all the way. Almost without a break Mr Big has carried on doing what they do best - great music! Mr Big signed to Epic in 1974, and released three singles without making a major breakthrough.
However it did lead to their first TV appearances in Lift off with Ashia and Softly Softly Task Force with Paul Nicholas.
In 1975 the band signed to Bob Hircshman who was then manager of Mott The Hoople.The first album was released called Sweet Silence by EMI receiving great reviews from the press. TV appearances followed to promote singles including Supersonic with Mike Mansfield and Superpop. November 1975, Mr Big toured with Queen on their Night of the Opera tour.
1976 Their own UK headline tour and supported Sweet in their tour of Europe. There was TV in Denmark, Holland and the U K. Mr Big were possibly the first British band to be signed to ARISTA Records by Clive Davis in America. They recorded their second album titled Mr Big in LA. The producer was Val Garay.
1977 US tour in Feb,March and April with Tom petty, Journey, Kansas and The Runaways, plus 20 minute live TV in Boston. While this was happening the single Romeo reached No 4 in the UK despite being banned for a while by the BBC. It sold well in Japan, Australasia, the USA and parts of Europe. The song has since been covered by a band in South Africa. Sadly the follow up single Feel Like Calling Home only reached no 35 in UK. However a Mr Big UK headline tour and more television in the UK and Europe took place.
The third album Seppuku was recorded in 1978 with Ian Hunter as producer and the band again toured the UK. They appeared once on the UK's Top Of The Pops TV programne with Senora and then Mr Big split up, but only for a while. 1979 Dicken signed to Tony Smith at Hit and Run and a long with Pete Crowther from Mr Big formed Broken Home.
In 1980 the first album called simply Broken Home was produced by Robert John Mutt Lange for Warner Music and released worldwide. The band toured the UK finishing at Reading festival August 1980.
1981 Dicken and Pete Crowther recorded the second Broken Home album Life produced by Greg Walsh was released in Europe only, on Mercury/Polygram label. A very popular single Oh Yeah was hit in parts of Europe particularly in Norway and Germany. Shortly after Broken Home broke-up.
During 1981and 82 Dicken worked with Mutt Lange on Demos and in 1983 joined forces with Barrymore Barlow (Ex Jethro Tull), Zal Cleminson (Alex Harvey Band) and Charlie Tumahi (Be-Bop Deluxe) in Tandori Cassette. In 1984 Dicken was to be seen on TV shows in Germany promoting his solo single It's All Over.
The 1970s line-up of Mr Big ceased in 1978 but since then in addition to his other activities Dicken has appeared with various line-ups of the band. Mr Big could never keep quiet for long, but then nor could Dicken. As well as solo recordings in 1996 an album called Rainbow Bridge with a 4tr CD single called Broadway was made available on the Rockshop label. There is much more to come from Mr Big!
The current Mr Big consists of 2 members from the 1970s plus a few from other line-ups.
More on Mr Big, Broken Home and Dicken can be found at the Oxfordrocks website or in Japanese at Sweet silence.
Thank you very much for your request. Nice to listen to some good music and read about the bands history. Hook up with you again some time soon. Peace, John
