Dicken /Mr Big/Broken Home
Mr Big, Dicken & Broken Home Biography
Dicken can trace his roots back to the late sixties with his then band Burnt Oak (later to become Mr Big).
They regularly performed gigs at the famous Marquee Club London and others around the country.
His first break came with Mr Big when they signed a deal with Epic (CBS) in 1974, and releasing three singles which led to their first TV appearances in Lift off with Ashia and Softly Softly Task Force with actor Paul Nicholas.
1975: Mr Big were signed up by Bob Hirschman, the manager of Mott The Hoople. The first album was released (Sweet Silence) by EMI receiving great reviews from the music press. TV appearances followed to promote the band, including Supersonic with Mike Mansfield and Superpop.
November 1975: Mr Big toured with Queen on their "Night at the Opera" tour.
1976: They had their own UK headline tour and later supported Sweet in their tour of Europe.
There was TV appearances across Europe and the UK.
Mr Big were 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 who later went on to produce 'Betty Davies Eyes' for Kim Carnes.
1977: US tour in February,March and April with Tom petty, Journey, Kansas and Joan Jett 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 follow up single 'Feel Like Calling Home' reached No 35 in UK. A Mr Big UK headline tour and more television in the UK and Europe took place.
1978: The third album 'Seppuku' was recorded with Ian Hunter as producer and the band again toured the UK. They last appeared on the UK's Top Of The Pops TV programme with the track 'Senora'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaBBV275Q-E
and then Mr Big split up.
1979: Dicken signed to Tony Smith at Hit and Run and along with Pete Crowther from Mr Big formed a new band called Broken Home.
1980: The first album entitled '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 called 'Life' which was produced by Greg Walsh and released in Europe only on Mercury/Polygram label. A very popular single 'Oh Yeah' was a hit in parts of Europe particularly in Norway and Germany. Shortly afterwards Broken Home split-up.
1982: Dicken worked with Mutt Lange on Demos
1983: Joined forces with Barrymore Barlow (Ex Jethro Tull), Zal Cleminson (Alex Harvey Band) and Charlie Tummahi (Be-Bop Deluxe) in the band Tandori Cassette.
1984: Dicken was to be seen on TV shows in Germany promoting his solo single 'It's All Over'.
Dicken has since appeared with various line-ups of the band Mr Big and other bands.
1996 saw the release of the album 'Rainbow Bridge' with a 4 track CD single called Broadway.
More on Mr Big, Broken Home and Dicken can be found at their Facebook,
https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.r.pain
https://www.facebook.com/MR-BIG-148810031822878/
https://www.facebook.com/Mrbigoriginal/
Twitter https://twitter.com/Mrbigoriginal
Albums that Dicken has been involved with are available from 'Angel Air Records'
'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 Dicken - 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 - 'Life' 07 March 2004 The Angel Air edition of LIFE remastered with 8 bonus tracks! the Angel Air version has sleeve notes, 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).
Dicken update 26/6/11.…….. Dicken has been writing and recording with Paul Gibbons in their studio in Oxford Soundfactor Studio's. Produced by Jake Carter / Dicken / Paul Gibbon
The 4th album by Mr Big called Bitter Streets. …re-issued 2016 on ANGEL AIR
Dicken - Vocals -Guitar
Eddie Carter - Vocals & guitar
Pete Crowther - Bass
Paul Gibbon - Keyboards
Simon Saunders - Drums
2012 - Broken Home reform played 2 gigs in NORWAY and again in 2015
Today 2017 Broken Home are recording a new album for release in 2018