BIG COUNTRY Mark 'Octopus' Brzezicki 'Fields Of Fire' Intro

[chewdamax]

fantastic...a humble yet superbe drummer,with loyalty and real feeling for his comrades,truly the octopus,mike peters is worthy of a mention,another guy who fits into big country beautifully ,doesnt steal the show...big country ,a real unit....stuart would be proud of this r.i.p..

[ggcabsy]

when lars ulrich from metallica can say that mark is the best drummer hes ever seen then that just shows why he is named the octopuss! rip stuart adamson!

[aarlevanbram]

2011 we are still inabigcountry!

[longy12679]

He's nearly as good as me!

[debbieedeedoo]

U go Marko x



[FabiW1993]

I was on one of their German Concerts in Cologne and Mark gave me one of his sticks...its hanging on my wall in a frame...I love this guy absolutely

[bigyin1964]

the best dummer ever cozy powel my bot what a man best band on this earth true scottsman

[TheMaesglas]

A truly phenomenal drummer. His technique and natural instinct for capturing the right sound puts this man in a super category. He drives Big Country in a way which no other drummer could ever do and is as indispensable to this band as Keith Moon was to The Who.

[vecuccio]

@TheMaesglas

Agreed ! Mark Brzezicki is from another planet compared to any of his contemporaries. His sound, his beats, are as unique and as identifiable as Stuart's guitar playing. The man is phenomenal.

[billyconnearly]

The nicest drummer I've ever met!!!!!

[hinkyponky]

I can see why they call him 'Octopus' - amazing in concert

[aarlevanbram]

Bob Theil

[shaunbaird]

Outrstanding, really enjoyed this!!

[verkie]

This guy is amazing! WOW!!

[XuXaX]

very awesome!

[hoverthroughthefog]

I claim no special knowledge but it strikes me that he is a world-class virtuoso performer, and a throughly decent human being.

[BC1000stars]

fucking brilliant

[HeLzybelz]

ive met Mark like 3 times.

Mark is my dad's best friend since they were in school :]

Marks collects like amazing cars!

[AlexPxr8]

truly amazing drummer

[ILoveTench]

I want that Octopus!

<3

[cartoonist01]

Mark is a truly awesome drummer. I remember reading a Press Interview where he said he wanted to put REAL drums back on the map ! He did. If you're an "Octopus Drummer" fan, may I suggest you check out the superb Chris Sharrock (ex-Icicle Works) Saw him in the early 80's and I have NO idea how he manages to play "Birds Fly Whisper To A Scream" with only two hands and two feet. The best drummer Britain has produced.

[babble68]

Mark got his own style, its not easy to cover the stuff he do.

[kimo1371]

just wanted to add: the appice brothers,

jeff pocaro, Victor Feldman, thomas lang,

charlie watts, and how can you forget

GINGER BAKER???????

I'm a huge Bernard Purdie fan as well,

Mark belongs on the list with all of them...

[DocLibertos]

@kimo1371 I agree

[eyelivehere]

I met Mark 20 years ago in a west end night club called The Limelight and upstairs was club prince type stuff and downstairs was jamming club stuff all very exciting in the 90s I approached Mark nervously (he was one of the best drummers i'd heard ever!) and spoke about his favourite drummers etc (Phil Collins,Unorthodox behaviour)and he was a really genuine nice guy that left an impression on me that has lasted forever, I always said after metting Mark, the bigger the star the nicer they are.

[oliverburns]

I was there, brilliant footage, I was shouting go on Marky, I couldn't believe I was watching him up close, excellent

[gitbox23]

I can remember reading an interview with Mark (rhythm magazine circa 1990 i think) describing how he managed to get his practice in as a young aspiring drummer. This was before the age of electronic kits to play silently through headphones like nowadays.

He would drive his transit van out to busy A road laybys and practice there where no one would hear or make him feel self conscious.

[Bydand22]

Lovely but listen (and watch if you have to) Neil Peart of Rush, Chad Whackerman or Terry Bozzio of Zappa collaborations. Those for technical stuff. Heavy, go Bill Ward of Ozzy Sabbath era, or Bonham from Zepplin. Mark is fine but a lot is soulless. In the tunes he actually nails it. Who wants to shoot first?

[Britain0107]

Me.... Maybe he has lost some heart because of Stuart's suicide. Mark plays and plays and never hears that sweet voice of Stuart....Give Mark a break.

[sinister066]

mr brzezicki owns the drums.

[DreamingOfBaba]

Sweet drummer..Sweet man..

[steviecuz]

Simply the best around!

[animalexorcist]

I always thought Markymark could play! If he could learn to smile.....

:)

[aarlevanbram]

did Simon Philipshad is own band? Mark still has!

[stoofermouse]

he is ok, not being rude, but simon phillip and gary husbanda are a bit sweeter

[Samperman]

However, their taste of music is inferior ;-)

Mark Brzezicki is the ultimate rock drumplayer in the world! I saw Big Country play last year and they are still the best live rockband ever. Period.

[Chefen92]

Agree, Samperman, haven't seen them live though. This man, or what he might be for that matter, sometimes manages to pull off things you really question the possibility of. Listen to the intro of Chance for example, or the drumming in Thousand stars. I've never heard his drumming sounding bad, always inspiring and creative. Great Drummer, better band.

[smunn02]

Very true. I cover "Chance" during gigs, and the drumline is truly impossible for an amateur drummer to replicate; my brother has a bitch of a time trying to nail it.

[bbagump]

Amen !! Saw them in the 80's and Mark played the whole concert... No stop between the songs.. I felt like in front of a Scotish batalion ready to battle ... Awesome !!!!

[Samperman]

Damn right you are! Mark being the drums, Tony the canon fire and Stuart + Bruce the bagpipes. Soldiers in the army of peace :-)

[GOLLYSKYWOOD]

As a Big Country fan from their first album, I have always loved Mark Brzezicki's drumming, and watched his ability get better and evolve through passing years. If anyone thinks he is the best, I suggest they check out the playing Neil Peart from Canadian band Rush. They will more than likely change their mind.

[aarlevanbram]

formerly the most wanted session drummer in the world!

[wkrp71]

@aarlevanbram Exactly, you got that right! This guy is the best kept secret of the drum community.

[cretinbob]

Octopus indeed. I've yet to see a better drummer.

[trurob999]

not quite mel gaynor simple minds.. but good

[captvanhalen]

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE drummer! :)

[captvanhalen]

DrummerS even ... :/

[paulmichaelwills]

playing the drums as if he was getting paid for it ;)

[stoofermouse]

He is mediocre, watch the drummer from Bros if you are after proper chops

[captvanhalen]

Mediocre my ass. The quality of the audio on this is the only reason why he might seem to be mediocre. Please, do some real research before you rely on one source only next time. I suggest you listen to Big Country's album Steeltown and try to do what he does.

[bradyirishguy]

Exactly, or better yet, try to do what you see him doing above!!!

[aarlevanbram]

Isn't he great!

[MyPetsDontSmoke]

Thanks for posting this. Tried to ring you guys and see how it went but of course no answer from the big squeeze. :)