Singer Adamson's funeral held

Adamson (second-left) was lead singer with Big Country

A private funeral has been held for Stuart Adamson, the former lead singer of 80s pop group Big Country, who was found dead earlier this month.

Some 50 close friends and family attended the service at Dunfermline Crematorium in Scotland on Saturday.

Adamson, 43, had been missing from his home in Nashville, Tennessee, several weeks before his body was found on 16 December in a Hawaii hotel room.

Friend and manager Ian Grant said the ceremony had been attended by former band members as well as family.

Adamson suffered from a drink problem

"It was a simple service, with words from Stuart's uncle on behalf of the family and from me, on behalf of the band," he said.

"Stuart touched many people's lives and will be greatly missed."

The musician's favourite song, Nils Lofgren's Shine Silently, was played at the service.

There was a minute's silence for Adamson at Dunfermline Football Club's East End Park before the game on Saturday.

A memorial service to celebrate the singer's life will take place at the ground on 26 January, it was confirmed.

Stars

Adamson was actually born in Manchester but grew up in Crossgates by Dunfermline in Fife.

He became a member of punk rock band The Skids in the late 70s but was most famous after he formed the band Big Country in 1982.

A string of hits included Look Away, Wonderland, In a Big Country and Fields of Fire.

The band were massive stars throughout the 80s reaching total sales of more than 10 million albums.

But in 1986, Adamson told how he had suffered a nervous breakdown six years before and was on the verge of another due to stress and overwork.

It is known he suffered with a drink problem and was due to appear in court on a drink driving charge in March next year.

He was reported missing from home by his estranged wife, Melanie Shelley, last month.

Adamson left a note for his son Calum on 7 November saying "back by noon Sunday", but was not seen again after that.