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 as both performer and engineer/producer.
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), 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.