TEN YEARS ON...AFTER...LATER!!
Ten years to the day since this little beauty was released on AOR HEAVEN.
We're both very proud of this eclectic collection of T-S/Newman songs and so touched by the kind comments at the time, in between and right now.We've always felt incredibly flattered by the numerous requests for a second album during this time too.
Much has happened in the intervening years to keep any potential follow up on the back burner but this past surreal year has certainly given us both pause for thought ......and so we are both delighted to announce that plans are afoot for writing and recording!
Big Life II ....who'd have thunk it??!! Keep well everyone!!
Mark & Steve xx
We're both very proud of this eclectic collection of T-S/Newman songs and so touched by the kind comments at the time, in between and right now.We've always felt incredibly flattered by the numerous requests for a second album during this time too.
Much has happened in the intervening years to keep any potential follow up on the back burner but this past surreal year has certainly given us both pause for thought ......and so we are both delighted to announce that plans are afoot for writing and recording!
Big Life II ....who'd have thunk it??!! Keep well everyone!!
Mark & Steve xx
IT'S ALIVE!!!! BIG LIFE'S ALIVE!!!!
Yes, ladies and gentleman, we've found a pulse!!!
After nearly 2 years in stasis, BIG LIFE responds to the CPR and kicks back in to life again.
Steve and I shared the stage on October the 5th at my Rock Originals charity gig with SUMMERS, LOCK 'N' LOAD and LUCKY 13.
It was my first MT-S original gig in 18 years and a fair amount of Big Life songs were featured so Steve was obviously invited up to join me on a few tunes! https://www.facebook.com/biglifeuk
The evening was a sell out and we raised over £1500 for Macmillan Cancer Support Unit in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Portsmouth, Rowans Hospice in Purbrook and the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Gosport in memory of Fay Wray's original drummer and my great friend Big Al Partridge R.I.P.
Steve's been super busy as usual with NEWMAN both on the recording front i.e. the marvelous SIREN CD and also on the live front with new members Pete Newdeck and Joel Peters and I've had my hands full with the READY TO ROCK SCHOOLS, FAY WRAY & T-S & THE YOUNG BLADES but it looks like schedules are clearing up enough for us to embark on another exciting BIG LIFE adventure....writing for BIG LIFE II kicks off next week.....watch this space!!
Yes, ladies and gentleman, we've found a pulse!!!
After nearly 2 years in stasis, BIG LIFE responds to the CPR and kicks back in to life again.
Steve and I shared the stage on October the 5th at my Rock Originals charity gig with SUMMERS, LOCK 'N' LOAD and LUCKY 13.
It was my first MT-S original gig in 18 years and a fair amount of Big Life songs were featured so Steve was obviously invited up to join me on a few tunes! https://www.facebook.com/biglifeuk
The evening was a sell out and we raised over £1500 for Macmillan Cancer Support Unit in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Portsmouth, Rowans Hospice in Purbrook and the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Gosport in memory of Fay Wray's original drummer and my great friend Big Al Partridge R.I.P.
Steve's been super busy as usual with NEWMAN both on the recording front i.e. the marvelous SIREN CD and also on the live front with new members Pete Newdeck and Joel Peters and I've had my hands full with the READY TO ROCK SCHOOLS, FAY WRAY & T-S & THE YOUNG BLADES but it looks like schedules are clearing up enough for us to embark on another exciting BIG LIFE adventure....writing for BIG LIFE II kicks off next week.....watch this space!!
MARKS CHATS TO JAMIE & KIMMI ON MISSOURRI'S FINEST ROCK SHOW HOOKLINES AND SINGERS!!
Jan 24, 2012 |
Mark will be chatting to the marvellous Missourri DJ duo Jamie Allen and Kimmi Jae on the
Hooklines and Singers rock show tonight from 8pm Central/2am GMT
Tune in and join the chat room!! http://youradionetwork.com
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Jan 2, 2012 |
Happy New Year all!!
What a fantastic time this year has been for the Big Life & Newman camp....two CDs out to great acclaim, Steve's triumphant return to Firefest ....and my chance to jam with Doug and Brian from Whitesnake!!
We couldn't have wished for better....not only the CDs out to a great response but meeting some fantastic people throughout the year who love the melodic rock scene with an absolute passion! Mr Steve Price, Paul Nicholls and his good lady Dawn
Fraser-Nicholls from ARFM, Ian Spencer from HardRockAsylum, the legendary Dave Ling and all of the wonderful new friends from Facebook and Firefest...well done, Bruce and Kieran...what a weekend that was with Steve stepping in at the
last minute to cover for Far Cry and wowing the audience for the 2nd year running!
I just soaked the entire weekend up...felt like I'd finally come home :>)
Thanks for all of your support and who knows what 2012 has in
store for us both??
MARK ON ARFM'S HEELZ OF STEEL!!
Dec 11, 2011 |
Mark joins Dawn Fraser-Nicholls on her Heelz Of Steel show on ARFM www.arfm.co.uk on Wednesday the 14th of December at 21.00 GMT.
Mark will be playing some of his favourite songs and will also be talking about his time in TOUCHE, FLIGHT 19, PRAYING MANTIS, THE SWEET & BIG LIFE, with tracks from the same plus songs from his much sought after solo CD A FAR CRY FROM NEW JERSEY.
Tune in and ask Mark a question!! The show will be available on podcast via
http://www.mixcloud.com/arfm/dawn-nicholls-heelz-of-steel-14th-december-2011/
MARK SINGS WITH DOUG AND BRIAN FROM WHITESNAKE!!
Dec 10, 2011 |
No, you couldn't make it up!!
If you look back to our May update, where Big Life were on the Fireworks CD headlined, of course, by Whitesnake, Mark went one step further and actually jammed with Doug Aldrich and Brian Tichy with a cracking rendition of Superstition at Nevada Music in Portsmouth last night.
Mr Coverdale's Whitesnake colleagues were there for a Natal & Marshall workshop demonstrating their latest gear to a packed house and invited Mark up to sing with them!!
'I was totally blown away to be asked earlier in the afternoon and it certainly has been one of the highlights of my year.
I wasn't going to the evening workshop as I had a gig that night and I'd only popped in to put a poster up....Doug was there early to set up and I introduced myself...brilliant timing!! I did the song and raced off to the gig...just about had time to say
thanks to the guys....a number of people filmed it on their mobiles so, as soon as find any I'll pop it up here'
NEWMAN AT FIREFEST!!
Oct 19, 2011 |
Steve and the NEWMAN boys grace the FIREFEST stage for the second year running and Mark will be in the audience cheering them on...probably drink in hand!!!
Steve has answered the emergency call from Firefest co-founder Kieran Dargan as a late replacement for Sunday openers FAR
CRY. The acclaimed New Jersey band are unable to make it over for the show but guitarist Pete Fry will be on stage with Steve for one of their co-written songs.
Mark and Steve will be at the festival for the entire weekend so make sure you come on over to say Hi!!
www.thefirefest.com
NEWMAN JOINS MISTER T-S IN BIRTHDAY BASH!!
Oct 4, 2011 |
Steve and the NEWMAN boys are joining Mark at his birthday gig this week, at The HEROES, in Waterlooville UK, for a pre-FIREFEST warm up.
Steve received an emergency call up from FIREFEST promotor Kieran Dargan to fill the place of FAR CRY who reluctantly had to pull out of the much prized Sunday opening slot.
Mark's birthday celebration, with his legendary covers band FAY WRAY, which also features Paul, Nick and Dave from NEWMAN, gives Steve a great opportunity to not only join Mark on his special night but also to try out some of his new material from his new album UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES before the festival in Nottingham's Rock City. Both Mark and Steve are looking forward to the gig....and there may just be a little bit of BIG LIFE being played on the night!!
WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING!!
May 1, 2011 |
Well, the BIG LIFE CD is now OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE at all good record stores near you!!
We've been bowled over by the reaction to the album and would like to thank all of you that have taken the time to listen to it,
review it and play it on the rock stations around the world. THANK YOU ALL!!!! Mark & Steve.
BIG LIFE SUPPORTS WHITESNAKE...WELL, IT'S ONLY ON CD BUT AT LEAST IT'S A START!! :>)
May 1, 2011 |
BIG LIFE'S 'DYING DAY' is included on the new FIREWORKS magazine compilation CD out now with May/June issue No. 45!
The CD kicks off with the mighty Mr Coverdale's new single 'Love Will Set You Free' with Big Life following on in great style!!!
The magazine also includes a great interview with Fireworks' Mark Warburton firing off an excellent set of questions for
Mister T-S to open up on the past, present and future.
http://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_magazine&Itemid=142
STEVE AND MARK JOIN STEVE PRICE ON ARFM!!
Apr 30, 2011 |
ARfm - Steve Price Show - Sunday 8th May
BIG LIFE hits the ARFM global audience on May the 8th with Steve and Mark joining 'the legend that is' Mr Steve Price, for his Sunday show, from 6pm to 9pm BST. Tune in and if you miss it, it's repeated on the following Thursday at 4pm BST and Friday at 6am BST.
www.arfm.co.uk
CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE TRACK OF THE DAY - 'DYING DAY' BY BIG LIFE
Apr 24, 2011 |
mdome / News / 24/04/2011 11:58am
Big Life are a British melodic hard rock band, with an album due out next month. They provide the latest Track Of The Day.
Big Life are Steve Newman (guitar/vocals/keyboards), Mark Thompson-Smith (vocals) and Rob McEwan (drums). Between them, these talents have played with the likes of Praying Mantis, The Sweet, Steve Overland, Grand llusion and David Rosenthal.
Newman has forged a firm reputation in his own right during recent years, touring and recording under the name of Newman. Now, this trio are determined to bring their on mark to the world of AOR., proving a British heartbeart to what is a global sound.
Their self-titled, debut album is released by AOR Heaven on May 2, with plans for live performances soon.
Now you can download the song Dying Day (the album’s opener) for free right here.
Find out more at http://www.big-life.co.uk/
MALCOLM
DOME
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/track-of-the-day-big-life/
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Feb 4, 2011 |
AOR HEAVEN – THE APRIL RELEASES:
Big Life - Big Life / Release date:
29.04.2011 -
Big Life is a new project featuring the immense talents of the UK's melodic rock genius, Steve Newman (Newman) and ex-Praying Mantis frontman, Mark Thompson-Smith.
Steve Newman's reputation in the Melodic Rock circuit is impressive - with eight immense Newman albums released in the last decade, the latest being the highly acclaimed The Art Of Balance. Add to this his work on other albums with artists such as Atlantic, Steve Overland, Eden, AOR Project, Frozen Rain, Far Cry, Grand Illusion and Phenomena.
Mark Thompson-Smith re-emerges from the shadows after a lengthy period out of the limelight to more than demonstrate that time has not dulled his impressive vocal powers. Best known as the singer with Praying Mantis in the early 90's and as guest vocalist in The Sweet in 2005, he has also featured as frontman for various 80's UK bands such as Idol Rich, Touche and Flight 19.
The early 90's also saw Mark working in America with Mike Walsh (Departure) and legendary keyboardist Dave Rosenthal
(Rainbow/Red Dawn/Billy Joel/Infinity), spending two exciting years performing and recording the later released and now much sought after solo album, A Far Cry From New Jersey.
Returning to the UK in 1993, as the grunge band tsunami swept away the US melodic rock scene, Mark joined Praying Mantis recording the impressive “Only The Children Cry” EP and completed a successful tour of Japan before leaving the band in 1994. During the years, he appeared a couple of times as backing vocalist on various Newman albums. The Sweet experience being short lived as the band required a bass playing vocalist, it fired up Mark's renewed passion for singing further and so he sought out Steve Newman to embark on a brand new musical adventure....and certainly found it in Big Life!
The guys are joined by Rob McEwen, the outstanding drumming talent on the last three Newman albums, and all recordings have once again taken place at “The Blue Room” studios in England.
xx
PRESS RELEASE
Feb 1, 2011 |
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Hi folks, and welcome to the home of Big Life ... thank you for all of your support !! There will be a full press release later this week on the new album along with a few soundbytes.......... watch this space !!!