Original members. Dicken, Pete Crowther, Eddie Carter, Vince Chaulk, John Burnip and John Marter.
Current members. Dicken, Eddie Carter, Paul Gibbons, Simon Saunders, and Mike Higgins
Sounds Like
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 (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 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'
* This site is run & maintained with help from Annies Place *
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 at 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.
DICKEN'S ALBUMS AVAILABLE FROM ANGEL AIR RECORDS
The "Life" album re-mastered!
[November 1999] Three of Dicken's solo songs, previously only available on a scarce 12" single ("Solid Gold", "The Beat Speaks" and "Magic of the Trees") were done at the same time and may be added to the "Life" re-issue.
"Seppuku"
[February 2001] "Seppuku", the unreleased Mr Big LP from 1978, produced by Ian Hunter, was finally released on Angel Air Records. The album was digitally remastered, using the original master tapes, and comes with a 16 page booklet with sleeve notes by yours truly - including exclusive interviews with Dicken and John Burnip
"Broken Home" - first time on CD!
Angel Air Records re issued Broken Home's self-titled 1980 debut album on CD
[February 25, 2003] "Broken Home"
Broken Home - "Life"
07 March 2004] The Angel Air edition of -LIFE remastered with 8 bonus tracks! the Angel Air version has sleevenotes, plus Dicken's own comments to all the songs. Added information about Burnt Oak's appearances at London's legendary Marquee Club in 1971 - 1972.
[09 April 2007]...DICKEN..Angel Air release a 2CD compilation entitled "From Mr Big to Broken Home and Back" on 06 August 2007 These 2 cds contain songs from 1977.... 2007...including the 70's hit single "ROMEO" (Angel Air SJPCD247).
MR BIG in 2008/ 2009.. new album????.. watch this space...
Thank you Lord for all the things to us, you bring, By helping our hearts and souls truly; to sing Minister Thy word to our heart each day, Let us ever remember each night and day to pray. Calling on our God of all to give us our needs, By each of us every, day planting; Thy seed God of all, forgive us our sins, family and friends Help us oh Lord to truly, our deeds amend Dear God of all help us daily not to forget to call, On Thee our Almighty Lord of Lords and God of All Help us to remember to watch the eastern sky, Knowing in our hearts, that Jesus will soon be by Have a blessed Thanksgiving There is so much to be thankful for.
leaving your page a print of love, a marvelous tuesday full of blessings and light leaving special footprints towards another born day...my good wishes never ends.
I send you this wish… I wish you joy beyond compare, success in all you do. I wish your goals within your reach, friendships true and strong. I wish you gracious wisdom and forgiveness, when you're wrong. I wish you nights of wonderous rest. I wish you strength and courage, and persistence to be your best. And most of all, I wish for you more love than most will find, the grandest love in all the world, the everlasting kind! Wishing you blessings and love for you and your loved ones today and always!
weekend....october ends and november comes...i wish for you more good times ,blessings and health...to continue doing with whatever you may wish to accomplish. HAPPY SATURDAY
God has not given us the Spirit of fear, He promise he will dry our tears, If we bring all our sorrow to Him he will share, And our every burdens He will bear. 2 But God has given us the spirit of power, And will always be our strong tower, Our Rock, our Shelter, our Deliverer and our Cover, For He has given us the Spirit of love and a sound mind, He is one of a kind, With His love He has bind, Our heart, our soul and our mind, Not another you will find.
We are hand picked by God To do His reasonably service Every talent, every gift Our characteristic and every fibre of our being The combination was exactly the right portion For us to fulfil God's purpose for our lives His will must be done in our lives unless we decide to shut Him out Let us open our heart and mind to the love of Christ Let us fully surender our all to Him He is coming back again to collect His jewels That He has hand picked Have a blessed Wednesday in the Lord Jesus Christ
Hi Mr Big! Thanks for finding us. I just read your page and played some of your tunes. I feel both educated and enlightened now . Nice to (virtually!) meet you. Respect and best wishes, Steve
Online Now!
with cosmic cuddles and glittery luv
. Nice to (virtually!) meet you. Respect and best wishes, Steve