Simple Minds
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. The band is currently a core duo of original members Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (guitar), augmented by guest musicians. Notable former members include Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Derek Forbes (bass), Brian McGee (drums), Mel Gaynor (drums), and John Giblin (bass).<ref name="Larkin">Template:Cite book</ref>
Initially signed to Arista Records, Simple Minds released their debut album Life in a Day in 1979 to moderate commercial success, while the following two albums, Real to Real Cacophony (1979) and Empires and Dance (1980), achieved critical praise but limited sales. After signing to Virgin Records, their fourth album, Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981), became their first top twenty album in the UK, beginning their rise in mainstream popularity. The following album, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (1982), proved their major breakthrough, reaching the top ten in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well being their first charting album on the Billboard 200 in the US.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album also produced three UK top forty singles in "Promised You a Miracle", "Glittering Prize", and "Someone Somewhere in Summertime".
Their next album, Sparkle in the Rain (1984), featured another hit single with "Waterfront" and continued the band's commercial prominence, debuting at number one in both the UK, where it was certified Platinum,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and New Zealand. "Don't You (Forget About Me)", their contribution to the soundtrack of the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, became their breakthrough hit in the US, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The following album, Once Upon a Time (1985), reached number one in the UK and the Netherlands,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the top three in Canada and New Zealand,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the top ten in the US. It was certified 3x Platinum in the UK and Gold in the US,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and spawned four more hit singles with "Alive and Kicking", "Sanctify Yourself", "All the Things She Said" and "Ghostdancing". Their chart dominance continued with the album Street Fighting Years (1989), with its lead single "Belfast Child" reaching number one in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After two more successful albums with Real Life (1991) and Good News from the Next World (1995), the band underwent a commercial decline in the late 1990s. They returned to chart prominence starting in the late 2000s, with albums such as Graffiti Soul (2009), Walk Between Worlds (2018) and Direction of the Heart (2022).
Simple Minds have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> They were awarded the Q Inspiration Award in 2014 for their contribution to the music industry and an Ivor Novello Award in 2016 for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their other notable recognitions include nominations for both the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction and MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in 1985, nomination for the Brit Award for British Group in 1986 and for the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group in 1987.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Belfast Child" was nominated for the Song of the Year at the 1990 Brit Awards.
History
Early years (1977–1978)
Simple Minds originated from the punk band Johnny & The Self-Abusers, formed in early 1977 on Glasgow's South Side,<ref name="Larkin"/> as the brainchild of Alan Cairnduff. Cairnduff left the organisation of the band to John Milarky, suggesting that he enlist two strangers, singer and lyricist Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill. Kerr and Burchill, who had been acquainted since age eight, roped in their school friends Brian McGee and Tony Donald to play drums and bass respectively. Milarky served as singer, guitarist and saxophonist, and recruited his friend Allan McNeill to be the band's third guitarist. Kerr doubled on keyboards, and Burchill also played violin.<ref name=sm-genesis>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 11 April 1977, Johnny & The Self-Abusers held their first performance at the Doune Castle pub in Glasgow, following up two weeks later as the opening act for Generation X in Edinburgh. They performed concerts in Glasgow over the ensuing summer, but a split developed in the band, with Milarky and McNeill forming one faction and the other consisting of Kerr, Donald, Burchill and McGee;<ref name=sm-genesis/> In November 1977, Johnny & The Self-Abusers released their only single, "Saints and Sinners", on Chiswick Records (which was dismissed as being "rank and file" in a Melody Maker review). The band split on the same day that the single was released, with Milarky and McNeill going on to form The Cuban Heels. Ditching the stage names and the overt punkiness, the remaining members continued together as Simple Minds (naming themselves after a David Bowie lyric from his song "Jean Genie"),<ref name="simpleminds.com/">Template:Cite web</ref> making their very first performance at Glasgow's Satellite City on 17 January 1978.<ref name="simpleminds.com Act Of Love" />
In January 1978, Simple Minds recruited Duncan Barnwell as a second guitarist (allowing for an optional two-guitar line-up while also enabling Burchill to play violin). Meanwhile, Kerr had abandoned keyboards to concentrate entirely on vocals. In March 1978, Kerr, Burchill, Donald, Barnwell and McGee were joined by the Barra-born keyboard player Mick MacNeil. The band got a residency at the Mars Bar in Glasgow and played various other venues in Scotland<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and rapidly established a reputation as an exciting live act (usually performing in full makeup). Tony Donald quit in April 1978 and was replaced by Duncan Barnwell's friend Derek Forbes (formerly the bass player with The Subs). In May 1978 Simple Minds recorded their first demo tape, including "Chelsea Girl" and some other tracks that would appear on their debut album.<ref name="DT">Dave Thomas Simple Minds Glittering Prize Omnibus Press 1985, p.17-23</ref> The group were turned down by record companies, but gained a management deal with Bruce Findlay, owner of the Bruce's Records chain of record shops and the Zoom Records label.<ref name="DT" /> Championed by his journalist friend Brian Hogg, Findlay was persuaded to sign Simple Minds to his Zoom label which had a licensing deal with Arista Records.<ref name="DT" /> In November 1978, Barnwell was ousted from the band.<ref name="DT" />
From November 1978 through September 1981, Simple Minds would be a tight-knit quintet of Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes and McGee. Subsequent line-up changes would shrink and diminish this core band, with only founder members being considered to be full members of the creative and compositional team.
Initial albums (1978–1980)
During late 1978 and early 1979, Simple Minds began rehearsing the set of Kerr/Burchill-written songs which appear on their debut album.<ref name="DT" /> On 27 March 1979 the band made their first television appearance, performing the songs "Chelsea Girl" and "Life in a Day" on the BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first Simple Minds album, Life in a Day, was produced by John Leckie and released by Zoom Records in April 1979. The album's title track "Life in a Day" was released as Simple Minds' first single and reached No. 62 in the UK singles chart, with the album reaching No. 30 in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="Larkin"/> In April/May 1979 they played their first UK tour as supporting act for Magazine, who were a major influence on them at the time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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In June 1979 "Chelsea Girl" was released as the second single from the album, failing to reach the chart, while the band continued to tour the UK on their own.<ref name="sm">Template:Cite web</ref> In September 1979 Simple Minds recorded their next album, Real to Real Cacophony, at Rockfield Studios with producer John Leckie. The songs were mostly conceived in the studio and was a significant departure from the pop tunes of Life in a Day.<ref name="Larkin"/> German Krautrock was now the band's main influence, adopting a more experimental electronic sound that drew influences from the motorik, repetitive grooves of bands such as Neu!, Kraftwerk and La Düsseldorf.<ref name="sa">Sean Albiez, David Pattie Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop 2011, page 156</ref>
The band began their Real to Real Cacophony tour in Germany and also made a short visit to New York in October 1979.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their performance of the songs "Premonition", "Factory" and "Changeling" at Hurrah was filmed for The Old Grey Whistle Test.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Real to Real Cacophony was released in November 1979. While the band got little marketing support from their record company Arista, who didn't like the album, it received critical acclaim.<ref name="sm" /> The release was followed by their third UK tour of the year and a BBC session for John Peel in December.<ref name="sm"/> In January 1980 "Changeling" was released as the only single from Real to Real Cacophony, failing to make an impression on the charts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March they supported Gary Numan on a couple of gigs, and continued their Real to Real Cacophony tour until June 1980 with dates mainly in Germany, France and the Netherlands.<ref>Real to Real Cacophony Tour Dream Giver Redux</ref> In June 1980 Simple Minds entered the studio to record their next album, again with producer John Leckie at Rockfield Studios.<ref name="sm"/> The band again had a new approach to their music that differed from the previous album, this time aiming for a more repetitive, dance-orientated sound inspired by disco music they had heard in nightclubs while touring Europe.<ref>Dave Thomas Simple Minds Glittering Prize Omnibus Press 1985, p.47</ref>
Empires and Dance was released in September 1980.<ref name="Larkin"/> Many of the tracks were minimal and featured a significant use of sequencing, further exploring their repetitive Krautrock-influences with electronic dance grooves.<ref name="sa" /> McNeil's keyboards and Forbes' bass became the main melodic elements in the band's sound, with Burchill's heavily processed guitar becoming more of a textural element. With this album, Kerr began to experiment with non-narrative lyrics based on observations he had made as the band travelled across Europe on tour. While a modest commercial success, Empires and Dance received enthusiastic response in the British music press<ref>New Musical Express 1980 Dream Giver Redux</ref> Simple Minds had caught the attention of Peter Gabriel, who selected them as the opening act on several dates of his European tour starting in August 1980.<ref name="Tour 1980">Empires and Dance Tour 1980 Dream Giver Redux</ref> The tour as Gabriel's support act gave the band the opportunity to play at bigger venues.<ref name="Tour 1980" />
Empires and Dance peaked at No. 41 on the UK Albums Chart and dropped out of the chart after three weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's manager Bruce Findlay later blamed Arista for poor handling of the album and it not being more commercially successful. Initially Arista only released 7,500 copies of the album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Furthermore, Arista did not release a single to promote the album. "I Travel" was not released as a single until October to promote the Empires and Dance tour. The single sold poorly and did not reach the UK chart, but the 12" version became popular in the US club scene and (based on import sales only) entered the Billboard Disco Chart at No. 80 in early 1981.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "I Travel" was subsequently reissued twice in the UK, but again failed to reach the singles chart.
Virgin Records deal (1981–1982)
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In early 1981, Simple Minds' frustration with poor support and marketing by Arista made them threaten to split up rather than continue working with them. They were released from Arista and instead signed to Virgin Records.<ref name="Larkin"/><ref name="sm" /> After the band had left the label, Arista decided to release "Celebrate" as the second single from Empires and Dance in February 1981 to promote the album, with the earlier single "Changeling" on the b-side to promote Real to Real Cacophony, but this single too sold poorly and failed to chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following year, Arista put out a compilation album, Celebration, featuring tracks from the three previous albums which reached No. 45 on the UK albums chart.<ref name="oc">Template:Cite web</ref> Following their change of record company, the band demoed new songs and embarked on a club tour in the US and Canada.<ref name="sm" />
In May 1981, Simple Minds' first release on Virgin, the single "The American", reached No. 59 on the UK singles chart.<ref name="sm" /> The band recorded their next album with producer Steve Hillage. An abundance of new material was recorded under much time pressure,<ref name="sm" /> and at the end of the sessions, drummer Brian McGee decided to leave the band, citing exhaustion at Simple Minds' constant touring schedule,<ref name="Larkin"/> and a desire for more time at home with family.<ref name="sm" /> In an interview shortly after, he also cited disappointment that he was not getting enough credit in the band. McGee joined Glasgow band Endgames,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and later Propaganda.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August, "Love Song" was released and became their highest charting single to date, peaking at No. 47 on the UK singles chart<ref name="oc" /> and an international hit, reaching the Top 20 in Australia and Sweden, and No. 38 in Canada.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 1981, Virgin released the entirety of Simple Minds recent studio sessions on two albums: Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call.<ref name="Larkin"/><ref name="sm" /> The albums were initially issued as a double set for the first 10,000 copies printed, after which they were made available as two separate single albums.<ref name="Larkin"/> The albums were charted together, peaking at No. 11 on the UK albums chart,<ref name="oc" /> and were subsequently placed as No. 18 on Sounds "Album of the Year"-chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next single "Sweat in Bullet" was a remixed version by Peter Walsh and included two songs recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon in September.<ref name="sm" /> During this period, the band's visual aesthetic was established, masterminded by Malcolm Garrett's graphic design company Assorted iMaGes. Characterised at first by hard, bold typography and photo-collage, Garrett's designs for the band later incorporated pop-religious iconography in clean, integrated package designs that befitted the band's idealised image as neo-romantic purveyors of European anthemic pop.
McGee was initially replaced by Kenny Hyslop (ex-Skids, Slik, Zones), who played on the first leg of the Sons and Fascination tour, which included Simple Minds' first visit to Australia, touring with Icehouse.<ref name="Larkin"/><ref name="sm" /> Hyslop also played on the studio recording of "Promised You a Miracle", a song originating in a riff from a tape of funk music Hyslop played on the tour bus, that would become the band's next single.<ref name="pyam">Template:Cite web</ref> Despite this contribution, Hyslop ultimately "didn't fit in" with the band or their management and was replaced for the second leg of the Sons and Fascination tour<ref>Sons and Fascination tour Dream Giver Redux</ref> by the Kilmarnock-born percussionist Mike Ogletree (the former drummer for Café Jacques) in early 1982.<ref name="Larkin"/>
New Gold Dream and breakthrough (1982–1983)
Simple Minds started working on their next album in an old farmhouse in Fife. In February 1982 the songs "Promised You a Miracle" and "King is White and in the Crowd" were premiered on a BBC session for Kid Jensen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band then moved to Townhouse Studios for recording sessions with producer Peter Walsh. The band told Walsh they wanted the album to represent their live sound, so Walsh decided to record it as a live studio album.<ref name="ngd">Template:Cite web</ref> Unsatisfied with Ogletree's drumming style, Walsh introduced them to London-born drummer Mel Gaynor,<ref name="Larkin"/> a 22-year-old session musician with plenty of experience from playing with funk bands such as Beggar and Co and Light of the World,<ref>New Gold Dream Box Set simpleminds.com</ref> who then played drums on the majority of the album, while Ogletree played drums on three tracks.<ref>Dave Thomas Simple Minds Glittering Prize Omnibus Press 1985, p.71</ref>
"Promised You a Miracle" was released in April 1982 and became Simple Minds first Top 20 single in the UK, peaking at No. 13 and also reaching the Australian Top 10.<ref name="Larkin"/> The song earned the band performances on Top of the Pops and interviews in teen-orientated pop magazines.<ref name="pyam" /> New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) was released in September 1982. The album was a commercial breakthrough, spending 53 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 3 in October 1982.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It generated charting singles including "Glittering Prize", which reached the UK Top 20 and Australian Top 10.<ref name="Larkin"/> While some tracks ("Promised You a Miracle", "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel") continued the formula perfected on Sons and Fascination, other tracks ("Someone Somewhere in Summertime", "Glittering Prize") were pure pop.<ref name="Larkin"/> Jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock, who recorded in the studio next door, performed a synth solo on the track "Hunter and the Hunted".<ref name="ngd" />
The band embarked on their extensive New Gold Dream tour in September 1982, which included dates in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.<ref name="NGT">Template:Cite web</ref> Mike Ogletree played on the first leg of the tour, but was asked to leave the band in November 1982, later joining Fiction Factory.<ref name="NGT" /> Mel Gaynor was recruited for the remaining dates<ref name="NGT" /> and retained afterwards, eventually becoming the band's longest-standing drummer (and longest-standing member other than mainstays Burchill and Kerr) despite thrice leaving and returning in the following decades. The band's late 1982 UK dates included a show at City Hall in Newcastle that was recorded by Virgin and later included on the 2003 Seen the Lights DVD.<ref name="NGT" /> On these dates the band was supported by China Crisis.<ref name="NGT" />
The second leg of the New Gold Dream tour started in March 1983 and included dates in Europe, USA and Canada. In July they performed at festivals such as Roskilde Festival in Denmark and Rock Werchter in Belgium.<ref name="NGT" /> Prior to the tour the band had started working on their next album. In August the new song "Waterfront" was premiered in a live concert. In September the band recorded the song at a BBC session for David Jensen, along with another newly written song, "The Kick Inside of Me". In October their next album was recorded with producer Steve Lillywhite at Townhouse Studios in London. In November "Waterfront" was released as a single and became their biggest hit to date, reaching No. 1 in New Zealand, No. 5 in Ireland, the Top 20 in Australia and Sweden, and No. 13 on the UK chart.<ref name="oc" /> On the same day the single was released, the band embarked on their Sparkle in the Rain tour. The opening show at Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow was filmed for the "Waterfront" video.<ref name="sm" />
Mainstream success (1984–1987)
The band released their sixth studio album, Sparkle in the Rain, in February 1984<ref name="Larkin"/> which entered the UK albums chart at No. 1.<ref name="oc" /> It was preceded by the single "Speed Your Love to Me" which reached No. 20 on the singles chart.<ref name="oc" /> A third single from the album, "Up on the Catwalk", was subsequently released and also reached the Top 30 in the UK.<ref name="oc" /> Sparkle in the Rain hit the Top 20 in several other countries (including Canada, where it reached No. 13).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band spent much of 1984 touring the world, including Australia, Europe, North America and Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1984, Jim Kerr married Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders (who renamed herself Christine Kerr).<ref name="Larkin"/> Simple Minds headlined a North American tour supported by China Crisis during the Canadian leg and supported the Pretenders in the US while Hynde was pregnant with Kerr's daughter. The marriage lasted until 1990.
Already a popular band in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia, Simple Minds were starting to crack the US charts in 1983. The band's early UK releases on Arista were not picked up by Arista USA, who had 'right of first refusal' for their releases. By 1983, the band had moved to A&M Records in the US and began gaining traction. The band's US breakthrough finally came in 1985, thanks to one of the year's most successful films, The Breakfast Club. For the film's soundtrack, the band recorded "Don't You (Forget About Me)",<ref name="Larkin"/> a song written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff,<ref name="Larkin"/> which had previously been offered to Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry before being offered to Simple Minds. Released as a single, the song reached No. 1 in the US,<ref name="Larkin"/> and also became a hit in many other countries around the world, including the UK, where it became the band's first Top 10 single.
Despite this upshot in success, it was during this time that the camaraderie that had fuelled Simple Minds began to take a load on the band, and in time over the next ten years the band's line-up underwent frequent changes. Jim Kerr subsequently recalled "We were knackered. We were desensitized. The band started to fracture. We were lads who had grown up together, we were meant to grow together, politically, spiritually and artistically. But we were getting tired with each other. There was an element of the chore creeping in. We were coasting and this whole other thing was a challenge."<ref>Interview with Jim Kerr in Scottish Sunday Times, 23 September 2001</ref> The first casualty was bassist Derek Forbes, who was beginning to squabble with Kerr. Forbes began failing to turn up for rehearsals, and was dismissed. Forbes remained in touch with the band, and was soon reunited with another former Simple Minds bandmate, drummer Brian McGee, in Propaganda. To replace Forbes, Simple Minds hired John Giblin, who owned the band's rehearsal space. A former member of Brand X, he had most recently been working as a session musician for artists such as Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Kate Bush. Giblin made his debut with Simple Minds at Live Aid in Philadelphia, where the band performed "Don't You (Forget About Me)", a new track called "Ghost Dancing" and "Promised You a Miracle".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During 1985, Simple Minds were in the studio with former Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks producer Jimmy Iovine. In November, Once Upon a Time was released.<ref name="Larkin"/> Former Chic singer Robin Clark performed call-and-response vocals with Kerr throughout the album, effectively becoming a second lead singer, and was heavily featured in the music videos. Once Upon a Time reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 10 in the US, despite the fact that their major-league breakthrough single "Don't You (Forget About Me)" was not included.<ref name="Larkin"/> The album generated four worldwide hit singles: "Alive and Kicking", "Sanctify Yourself", "Ghost Dancing" and "All the Things She Said",<ref name="Larkin"/> the last of which featured a music video directed by Zbigniew Rybczyński that used techniques developed in music videos for bands such as Pet Shop Boys and Art of Noise. The band also toured, with both Robin Clark and percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos added to the live line-up.
Because of Simple Minds' powerful stage presence and lyrics that were now beginning to adopt Christian symbolism, the band was criticised by some in the music press as a lesser version of U2, despite the fact that both bands were now heading in different musical directions.<ref name="Larkin"/> The two groups were well-acquainted with one another, and Bono joined Simple Minds on-stage at the Barrowlands in Glasgow in 1985 for a live version of "New Gold Dream". Bono also appeared on stage at Simple Minds' Croke Park concert and sang Steven Van Zandt's "Sun City" during the "Love Song" medley. Derek Forbes also appeared on stage at the Croke Park concert and performed on several songs during the encore. To document their worldwide Once Upon a Time tour, Simple Minds released the double-live album Live in the City of Light in May 1987,<ref name="Larkin"/> which was recorded primarily over two nights in Paris in August 1986.
Political activism, continued success and hiatus (1988–1993)
By 1988, Simple Minds had built their own recording premises — the Bonnie Wee Studio — in Scotland. Following the lengthy period of touring to support Once Upon a Time, Kerr, Burchill and MacNeil began new writing sessions in Scotland, while Gaynor and Giblin pursued session work elsewhere while waiting to be called in. Initially the band began work on an instrumental project called Aurora Borealis (mostly written by Burchill and MacNeil). This project was then supplanted by an increase in the band's political activism, something which they had begun to stress in recent years (by giving all of the income from the "Ghost Dancing" single to Amnesty International, and playing Steven Van Zandt's "Sun City" on tour), inspired by Peter Gabriel with whom they had toured in the early 1980s.
Simple Minds were the first band to sign up for Mandela Day, a concert held at Wembley Stadium, London, as an expression of solidarity with the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela.<ref name="Larkin"/> Bands involved were asked to produce a song especially for the event – Simple Minds were the only act which produced one. This was "Mandela Day", which the band played live on the day. Steven Van Zandt joined the band for "Sun City", as did Peter Gabriel for the band's performance of his song "Biko". The band's studio recordings of "Mandela Day" and "Biko", as well as another new song "Belfast Child", were released on the Ballad of the Streets EP, which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart (the only time the band did so).<ref>"Belfast Child" No. 1 in UK Singles Chart Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 19 August 2007.</ref> "Belfast Child" was a rewrite of the Celtic folk song "She Moved Through the Fair",<ref name="Larkin"/> which had been introduced to Kerr by John Giblin, with new lyrics written about the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland. The song was also an expression by Simple Minds of their support for the campaign for the release of Beirut-held hostage Brian Keenan, kidnapped by the Islamic Jihad (Keenan was eventually released in 1990).
Their next album, Street Fighting Years, (produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson) moved away from the American soul and gospel influences of Once Upon a Time in favour of soundtrack atmospherics and a new incorporation of acoustic and folk music-related ingredients. The lyrics were also more directly political, covering topics including the Poll Tax, the Soweto townships, the Berlin Wall and the stationing of nuclear submarines on the Scottish coast. The band underwent further line-up changes during the recording of Street Fighting Years.<ref name="Larkin"/> Mel Gaynor and John Giblin contributed to the initial recordings (and, in Giblin's case, to some of the writing) but both left the band during the sessions. The remaining trio of Kerr, Burchill and MacNeil completed the album with high-profile session musicians playing bass and drums. Gaynor rejoined the band in time for the following tour, though Giblin's departure remained permanent.
Released in 1989, the album rose to No. 1 in the UK charts<ref>Street Fighting Years No. 1 in UK Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 19 August 2007.</ref> and received a rare five-star review from Q magazine. It received a less positive review in Rolling Stone which criticised the band for what the reviewer considered to be political vacuity. "This Is Your Land" was chosen as the lead single for the US, and even with guest vocals from Lou Reed, the single failed to make a mark on the pop charts. Reunited with Mel Gaynor, Simple Minds hired Malcolm Foster (ex-Pretenders) as the new bass player, following a failed attempt to re-recruit Derek Forbes (who declined due to family reasons and a lack of affinity with the new music).<ref>"Simple Minds’ Bassist Extraordinaire Derek Forbes Unleashes His Autobiography" - review in Post Punk Monk, 20 November 2023</ref><ref>"Book Review: A Very Simple Mind: On Tour by Derek Forbes" - review in Crazy on Classic Rock by angiemoonthemod, 5 January 2024</ref> The live band was once again expanded by recruiting three additional touring members: Level 42 backing singer Annie McCaig, percussionist Andy Duncan and violinist Lisa Germano. Touring began in May 1989, and included the first and only time that the group headlined Wembley Stadium,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> where they were supported by fellow Scottish bands The Silencers, Texas and Gun. In September, the concert in the Roman amphitheatre Verona Arena in Italy was recorded for the live video Verona, released by Virgin in 1990, and later included on the Seen the Lights DVD in 2003.
At the end of the Street Fighting Years tour, Simple Minds laid plans to go to Amsterdam to begin recording a new album. Just before the end of the tour, keyboardist Michael MacNeil announced to the band that he would not be joining them as he needed a break. MacNeil played his last concert with Simple Minds in Brisbane a week later. At the time, MacNeil's departure was put down to health concerns, but he had been gradually suffering disillusionment with the band's lifestyle and touring schedule (as well as what Kerr has referred to as "a number of animated quarrels").<ref name="diary">"The Spirit of MacNeil" (Jim Kerr online diary entry on Simple Minds website, dated 1 December 2009)</ref> At around the same time, long-term manager Bruce Findlay was dismissed. In December 2009, Kerr retrospectively defended the changes in an online diary entry, although he said that MacNeil's departure had been a "colossal fracture". He also paid tribute to his former bandmate and said that MacNeil had been irreplaceable.<ref name="diary" /> Simple Minds continued to record, hiring keyboard players as and where required. The first of these was session keyboard player Peter-John Vettese who played live with the band at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert and on a short German tour. He was subsequently replaced in the live band by Mark Taylor.Template:Citation needed
In 1991, Simple Minds returned with Real Life. The album's cover showed a trio of Kerr, Burchill and Gaynor and the writing credits for all songs was Kerr/Burchill.<ref name="Larkin"/> The album reached No. 2 in the UK, where it also spawned four Top 40 singles. In the US, "See the Lights" was the band's last Top 40 pop single. The band toured to support the release, playing as a basic five-piece (Kerr, Burchill, Gaynor, Foster and Taylor) and cutting down on the extended arrangements of the last few large tours. Mel Gaynor left the band in 1992 to pursue session work and other projects, and for the next two years Simple Minds were on hiatus, releasing the compilation album Glittering Prize 81/92 in 1992.
Return from hiatus (1994–1999)
Simple Minds returned to activity later in 1994. By now the band was officially a duo of Kerr and Burchill (with the latter taking on keyboards in the studio, as well as guitar). Hiring Keith Forsey (the writer of "Don't You (Forget About Me)") as producer, they began to put together an album which returned to the uplifting arena rock feel of their Once Upon a Time days. With Gaynor now out of the picture, the remaining instrumentation was covered by session musicians (although Malcolm Foster was included among the bass players used for recording). Good News from the Next World was released in 1995.<ref name="Larkin"/> The album reached No. 2 in the UK and produced the Top 10 hit "She's a River" and the Top 20 single "Hypnotised". The band toured to promote Good News from the Next World, with Malcolm Foster and Mark Taylor as touring bass and keyboard players and Mark Schulman (who had played on the album) on drums. This was Foster's last work with the band, and Schulman returned to session work at the end of the tour.
After being released from their contract with Virgin Records, Simple Minds made use of the skills of their original rhythm section, Derek Forbes and Brian McGee (returning after respective eleven- and fourteen-year absences). Although McGee was not involved beyond the rehearsal stage, Forbes formally rejoined Simple Minds in July 1996. The band then reunited with Mel Gaynor for a studio session in early 1997. Gaynor was reinstated as a full-time member for the European tour (which once again featured Mark Taylor on keyboards). After the tour, album recording sessions were interrupted by Kerr and Burchill's decision to play live (without Forbes, Taylor or Gaynor) as part of the Proms tour (a series of orchestral concerts featuring a mixture of light classical and pop music). The duo played versions of "Alive And Kicking", "Belfast Child" and "Don't You (Forget About Me)" backed by a full orchestra and were billed as Simple Minds.
The new album, Néapolis featured Forbes playing bass guitar on all tracks, and Gaynor on one song, "War Babies". Other drum tracks were recorded by session players Michael Niggs and Jim McDermott, with additional percussion programming by Transglobal Underground/Furniture drummer Hamilton Lee. It was the only Simple Minds album released by Chrysalis Records, who refused to release the album in the U.S., citing lack of interest. The music video for "Glitterball", the album's lead single, was the first production of any kind to film at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. A European tour followed between March and July 1998, undermined by problems with ill-health and contractual fiascos (including a pull-out from the Fleadh Festival to be replaced by British rock band James).Template:Citation needed
As Simple Minds' main writing team, Kerr and Burchill had continued to demo and originate material by themselves. For the latest sessions they had shared studio space with a band called Sly Silver Sly who featured Jim Kerr's brother Mark (previously the drummer with Gun) and bass guitarist Eddie Duffy, and who were working with American songwriter Kevin Hunter. While in the studio, the two writing and recording projects (including the Hunter co-writes) merged to become the sessions for the next Simple Minds album, Our Secrets Are the Same. Once again, Forbes and Gaynor found themselves out of the band: Mark Kerr became the new drummer and Eddie Duffy joined on bass guitar. The new-look Simple Minds made their début with a short set of greatest hits at the Scotland Rocks For Kosovo festival, with Mark Taylor returning on keyboards. The displaced Forbes and Gaynor, having apparently been told that the band was not appearing at the festival, formed a new band of their own to play the same concert.Template:Citation needed
Second hiatus, return and decline (1999–2005)
Having delivered Our Secrets Are the Same to Chrysalis, Simple Minds then found themselves caught up in record company politics while Chrysalis, EMI and other companies attempted to merge with each other. Originally due for release in late 1999, the album remained unreleased after the band mired themselves in lawsuits with Chrysalis. In 2000, the situation became even more complicated when Our Secrets Are the Same was leaked on the internet. Discouraged with their label's failure to resolve the problems, and with both momentum and potential album sales lost, the band once again went on hiatus. Eddie Duffy, Mark Taylor and Mark Kerr all moved on to other projects. Jim Kerr moved to Sicily and took up a part-time career as a hotelier, although both he and Burchill continued working together on various business interests and kept the idea of the band alive.Template:Citation needed
In 2001, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill began working with multi-instrumentalist Gordon Goudie (ex-Primevals) on a new Simple Minds album to be called Cry. Mark Kerr also contributed to the project (this time as an acoustic guitarist and Burchill's co-writer on several songs) while Kerr brought in various Italian musicians as collaborators, including Planet Funk and Punk Investigation. In parallel to Cry, Simple Minds also recorded an album of covers called Neon Lights, featuring Simple Minds versions of songs from artists including Patti Smith, Roxy Music and Kraftwerk. Neon Lights was the first to be completed and released (later in 2001). In the video for the Neon Lights single "Dancing Barefoot", the band consisted of Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Gordon Goudie and Mark Kerr. A 2-CD compilation, The Best of Simple Minds, was released soon afterwards.
Cry was released in April 2002. Although the album did not sell in great numbers in the US, Simple Minds felt confident enough to mount a North American leg of their Floating World tour (named after the instrumental track which closes Cry), their first in seven years. With Goudie opting to remain studio bound (and Mark Kerr leaving the band again), Simple Minds once again recruited Mel Gaynor as drummer. The live band was completed by the returning Eddie Duffy on bass guitar and by new keyboard player/programmer Andy Gillespie (of SoundControl). On 28 October 2003, Capitol released Seen The Lights – A Visual History, the first-ever Simple Minds commercial (double) DVD, featuring over four hours and twenty minutes of archive footage. The first disc includes the majority of the band's promotional videos. The second disc is devoted to Verona, the band's first live home video release, which was originally released in VHS format in 1990. It was upmixed to 5.1 surround sound for the DVD, but otherwise remains the same as the original VHS copy.
On 18 October 2004, Simple Minds released a five-CD box set compilation entitled Silver Box. This mostly comprised previously unreleased demos, radio and TV sessions and live recordings from 1979 to 1995, but also included the long-delayed Our Secrets Are the Same. In July 2005, the band embarked on the Intimate tour, a series of low-key European and UK gigs at smaller venues which ended in December 2005. Andy Gillespie was unable to appear at all the gigs, and Mark Taylor returned to cover for him on several occasions. From this point onwards, the two alternated as Simple Minds' live keyboard player, depending on Gillespie's schedule with his other projects.
Return to prominence (2005–2009)
With the Kerr, Burchill, Duffy and Gaynor line-up, Simple Minds released Black & White 050505 (their fourteenth studio album), on 12 September 2005. The album's first single, "Home", received airplay on alternative rock radio stations in the US. It reached No. 37 in the UK and was not released in North America. The band spent 2006 touring throughout Europe, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand on the Black And White tour (with Mark Taylor on keyboards).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2007 marked the band's 30th anniversary and saw the band embark on a brief tour of Australia and New Zealand as guests of INXS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 27 June 2008, Simple Minds played the 90th birthday tribute to Nelson Mandela in London's Hyde Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band then undertook a short tour of the UK to celebrate their 30th anniversary. During these concerts, the band performed the entire New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) album and songs from their other albums in a two-part concert performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill also played a number of concerts with Night of the Proms across Europe in spring, followed by further shows in late 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In June 2008, Kerr and Burchill briefly reunited with the full original band line-up for the first time in twenty-seven years, when meetings with Derek Forbes, Mick MacNeil and Brian McGee led to a studio rehearsal date.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reverting to the Kerr/Burchill/Duffy/Gaynor lineup, Simple Minds released a new studio album entitled Graffiti Soul on 25 May 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the November/December Graffiti Soul UK tour they were supported by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark as special guests.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2009, Graffiti SoulTemplate:'s first single, "Rockets", was released as a digital download single only.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 31 May 2009, the album entered the UK Album chart at No. 10, becoming Simple Minds' first album in 14 years to enter the UK Top 10.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Interspersed with Simple Minds activity, Jim Kerr recorded and released his first solo album Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr on 17 May 2010 under the name "Lostboy! AKA". Explaining the project name and ethos, he commented "I didn't want to start a new band. I like my band...and I didn't want a point blank Jim Kerr solo album either."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Lostboy! AKA 10-date European tour followed from 18 to 31 May 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Touring (2010–2014)
The band played a mini-concert on 2 October 2010 at the Cash For Kids Ball organised by Radio Clyde at the Hilton in Glasgow, and a full-length concert on 10 December 2010 at the Festhalle in Bern.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In early October 2010, a new line-up of Simple Minds - Burchill, Kerr, Gaynor, Gillespie with new bassist Ged Grimes (ex-Danny Wilson and Deacon Blue) - completed four weeks at the Sphere Recording Studios in London during which four songs were recorded and mixed for a new compilation album to be called Greatest Hits + and for the new Simple Minds studio album. From 16 June to 28 August 2011, the Greatest Hits + tour visited European countries: the UK, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Gibraltar and Serbia mainly at summer festival venues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Simple Minds played several free concerts (on 4 July 2011 in Potsdam, Germany, on 4 July 2011 in Florence, Italy for the opening of Florence's Hard Rock Cafe, on 18 August in Belgrade, Serbia before 110,000 people and on 27 August in Bad Harzburg, Germany before 25,000 people). To coincide with the 2012 5X5 Live European tour, EMI Music released on 20 February 2012 the X5 box set featuring the first five albums over six discs: Life in a Day, Real to Real Cacophony, Empires and Dance, Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call and New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) (with Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call as separate discs in a gatefold sleeve as well as bonus material on each disc, including B-sides and remixes).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After a gig on 30 March 2012 at the Døgnvill Festival in Tromsø, Norway, the band embarked on 23 June 2012 in Vienna, on a 25-date tour of European summer festivals which ended on 22 September 2012 in Germersheim, Germany. In July they played at the T in the Park festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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On 21 April Virgin Records released the band's first record ever to be released exclusively for Record Store Day 2012. The 12" single contained two remixes, "Theme For Great Cities" remixed by Moby on side A and the 2012 remix of "I Travel" remixed by John Leckie (who produced the original version of the song in 1980) on side B. The 12" was limited to 1,000 copies worldwide, of which 100 copies were sold in Sister Ray Records in London, where Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill took part in a record-signing session.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> EMI released on 19 November 2012 a double live album of the tour entitled 5X5 Live.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Simple Minds embarked in late 2012 on an eight-date Australia and New Zealand joint tour with American band Devo and Australian band The Church starting on 29 November 2012 in Melbourne, and ending on 15 December 2012 in Auckland (the only show played in New Zealand).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 25 March 2013 a new greatest-hits two- and three-disc collection entitled Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + was released on Virgin Records, including two new tracks, "Blood Diamonds" "Broken Glass Park"; the three-disc version also includes "Stagefright", a track which has never been available in CD format before, and unreleased single mixes of "Jeweller to the Stars" and "Space".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The North American version of the album contains only one disc.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was followed by a 30-date Greatest Hits + UK tour, which began with a concert in Dublin on 25 March and ended in Ipswich on 4 May 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2013 they continued the Greatest Hits + tour in Brazil, United States and Canada,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> followed by concerts in South Africa, Europe and the UK in November, including four arena shows in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London, with guests Ultravox at all four concerts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Big Music and Acoustic (2014–2017)
In November 2014 Simple Minds released their first studio album in five years entitled Big Music, which was followed by a Winter/Spring 2015 UK and European tour (from February to May 2015).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 22 October 2014, Simple Minds were presented the Q Inspiration to Music award by Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield and saw the first public outing of new member Catherine AD as part of the lineup. On 2 November 2014, Simple Minds introduced Big Music with a special acoustic session for Radio Clyde's The Billy Sloan Collection.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In December 2014, Simple Minds recorded an acoustic session at Absolute Radio including live unplugged performances of "Honest Town", "Alive & Kicking", "Let The Day Begin", "Don't You (Forget about Me)" and David Bowie cover "The Man Who Sold the World". The band continued to tour throughout 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 14 November 2015, the band self-released a 29-track double-CD live album entitled Live – Big Music Tour 2015. It was recorded during the 2015 Big Music live tour and contained a cross-section of the Simple Minds back catalogue.
On 7 April 2016, Simple Minds performed their first unplugged gig at the Zermatt Unplugged Festival in Zermatt, Switzerland, followed by a second unplugged show in Zürich on 29 October 2016, also at the Zermatt Unplugged Festival. This was the first concert to feature a secondary acoustic live-and-recording line-up of Simple Minds, with Jim Kerr and Sarah Brown on vocals, Charlie Burchill on acoustic guitar and accordion, Ged Grimes on bass, Gordy Goudie returning on acoustic guitar and harmonica and new recruit Cherisse Osei on percussion.<ref name="simpleminds.org Simple Minds simple minds #50">Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2016, they were given an Ivor Novello award where Kerr noted that: "we just wanted to be in a great band and take it round the world. We're very fortunate because we get recognition".<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2016, the band embarked on a promotional tour of the acoustic material, including a live concert on 10 November 2016 at the Hackney Empire, London that was broadcast on BBC Radio 2.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Simple Minds released Acoustic which was recorded with the new line-up during Summer 2016<ref name="simpleminds.org Simple Minds simple minds #50"/> and which featured acoustic re-recordings of songs spanning their career. On the lead single, 1982's "Promised You A Miracle", the band were joined by fellow Scot KT Tunstall. The two-disc vinyl version of the album was released on 25 November 2016, including three extra tracks: "Stand By Love", "Speed Your Love To Me" and "Light Travels".<ref name="Simple Minds Official website Acoustic">Template:Cite web</ref> In Spring 2017 they embarked on a two-month (47-date) Acoustic Live '17 UK & European tour.<ref name="simpleminds.com Simple Minds Acoustic Live 2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 16 November 2016, Simple Minds were given the Forth Best Performance Award at the Radio Forth awards ceremony in Edinburgh.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Walk Between Worlds and line-up changes (2017–2022)
Since September 2014, Simple Minds had been working on new material with the electric Kerr/Burchill/Grimes/Gaynor line-up (minus Andy Gillespie), including the songs "Fireball"Template:Refn and "A Silent Kiss".Template:Refn
On 15 November 2017, the new album title and track listing leaked on Amazon UK. Entitled Walk Between Worlds, the album features eight tracks while the Deluxe edition includes three bonus tracks (one live and two studio tracks). On 20 November 2017, a 20-second promo video was released on the band's Facebook page, promoting the album. The video featured a snippet of "Magic", the lead single, as performed by the six-person Acoustic line-up (now including Catherine AD).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Produced by Simple Minds, Wright and Goldberg, Walk Between Worlds was released on 2 February 2018 via BMG and entered at No. 4 - their highest UK album chart position in over 23 years - and No. 2 on the Scottish albums charts, the album's highest chart position in all.
In Spring and Summer 2018, the band extensively toured Europe as part of the Walk Between Worlds tour, promoting the new album. Having performed on three tracks on the album, Cherisse Osei now became the band's full-time drummer, replacing Mel Gaynor; Catherine AD also joined the live band on additional guitar, vocals and keyboards. The band notably performed Walk Between Worlds in its entirety during the eight Spring concerts that occurred from 13 February at the Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK to 22 February 2018 in Berlin, Germany. After a unique show in Mexico City on 20 September 2018, the band extensively toured North America (now minus Catherine AD) from 24 September in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania up to 11 November 2018 in Orlando, Florida as part of the Walk Between Worlds tour.
In 2019, Simple Minds released Live in the City of Angels, a snapshot from the band's 2018 North American tour, their biggest ever to date. The live album was made available on multiple formats; the standard CD and vinyl versions feature 25 songs, mostly recorded on 24 October 2018 at the Orpheum Theatre, whereas the Deluxe CD and digital formats contain an additional 15 tracks recorded during sound checks and rehearsals, yielding a 40-song collection to mark the band's 40-year career.<ref name="facebook Live In The City Of Angels">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="simpleminds.com Live In The City Of Angels">Template:Cite web</ref> The same year, the band also released a new compilation album entitled 40: The Best Of 1979-2019, a retrospective of the band's 40-year long recording career. It includes as a new track the band's cover of "For One Night Only" by King Creosote.<ref name="simpleminds.com 40 The Best Of 1979-2019">Template:Cite web</ref> The first Europe & UK (Winter–Spring) leg of the 40 Years Of Hits world tour 2020 kicked off on 28 February 2020 in Stavanger, Norway but was interrupted with the cancellation of the show due to take place on 11 March 2020 in Herning, Denmark and the cancellation of the rest of the tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rescheduled tour and Direction of the Heart (2022–present)
The cancelled world tour was rescheduled to 2022 with over 80 dates across more than 20 countries in spring/summer 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 17 January 2022, Simple Minds released the single "Act of Love" to mark the anniversary of the band's first performance on 17 January 1978 at Glasgow's Satellite City. In a statement from the band, the track had ended up shelved in the process of recording Simple Minds' debut album, though it had a lasting life during various live performances. Kerr and other band members still enjoyed the demo recording so much that they vowed to officially release an alternate version eventually.<ref name="simpleminds.com Act Of Love">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 21 October 2022, the band released their studio album Direction of the Heart via BMG. The very same day, they released the lead single "Vision Thing" for free. COVID-19 quarantine restrictions prevented Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, who both resided in Sicily, from traveling to the UK, so the new album had been recorded in Hamburg, with most tracks written, created and demoed in Sicily.<ref name="simpleminds.com Direction of the Heart release announcement">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nme.com Direction of the Heart release announcement">Template:Cite web</ref> On 9 July 2022, Simple Minds released a lyric video for "Vision Thing" on YouTube.<ref name="youtube Simple Minds Vision Thing">Template:Cite web</ref> A fourth single from the album, "Solstice Kiss", released in October 2023, became a hit in the UK, reaching No. 2 on the UK Vinyl Singles Chart and entering the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart for one week at No. 31.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Former member John Giblin died on 14 May 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 27 October 2023, Simple Minds released the live album New Gold Dream – Live From Paisley Abbey, a recording of the one-off performance of their 1982 album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) for Sky TV's Greatest Albums Live series, held at Paisley Abbey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 29 December 2023, Charlie Burchill announced that Erik Ljunggren would be joining the group on keyboards for the band's 2024 tour.<ref>Simple Minds Facebook Page > post on 29 December 2023</ref> On 10 December 2024, Simple Minds released a brand new single entitled "Your Name in Lights" also featured on the soundtrack of the career-spanning documentary Simple Minds: Everything is Possible, directed by Joss Crowley, also available the same day to stream and download on BBC iPlayer.<ref>Simple Minds Official Facebook page > post "Simple Minds today release a brand new single "Your Name in Lights"!" on 10 December 2024</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 21 February 2025, Simple Minds announced the upcoming release on 25 April 2025 on multiple formatsTemplate:Refn of Live in The City of Diamonds, a new live album recorded at a sold out Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome on 6 April 2024Template:Refn that completes the triptych of the "Live in The City" series dating back to 1987.Template:Refn<ref name="simpleminds.com Live in The City of Diamonds">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="facebook new album Live in The City of Diamonds">Template:Cite web</ref>
Artistry
Influences
Simple Minds' name was derived from a lyric in the David Bowie song "The Jean Genie".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kerr cited Bowie, Genesis, and Roxy Music as major early influences on the band.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Style
Early in their career, Simple Minds' musical genres ranged from post-punk, new wave, art rock, and synth-pop.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "Mitchell 2023">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Breihan 2020">Template:Cite web</ref> The Guardian described their third album Empires and Dance (1980) as a "Mitteleuropean psychodrama", whilst Kerr described the album as a "travelogue with spiky dance music".<ref name="‘A nuclear reactor of music’: the story of Simple Minds’ classic album Empires and Dance"/> By the release of their fourth album New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) in 1982, their musical style had switched to new pop,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whilst still incorporating styles of new wave,<ref name= "Heller-Nicholas 2016">Template:Cite book</ref> art pop,<ref name="AllMusic1">Template:Cite web</ref> and synth-pop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During Simple Minds' early-to-mid-1980s period, Burchill's guitar had a distinctive and atmospheric sound. Making heavy use of effects such as delay and chorus, his playing often provided subtle textures behind the band's more drum- and bass-propelled songs. This style was most apparent on New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84).<ref name="RS_NGDRev">Template:Cite magazine</ref> From 1983's album Sparkle in the Rain onwards the group evolved a different style, bringing Burchill's playing more into the foreground.<ref>[[[:Template:Allmusic]] allmusic ((( Sparkle in the Rain > Overview )))]</ref> With their 1985 album Once Upon a Time, the band were being described as "grand, expansive arena-rock".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Legacy
James Dean Bradfield, lead singer and guitarist of the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers, cited Empires and Dance as a "massive influence" on his music, saying that the album was "like learning a new language; it’s a nuclear reactor of musical orchestration from five working-class Glasgow boys".<ref name="‘A nuclear reactor of music’: the story of Simple Minds’ classic album Empires and Dance">Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, the band have been said to have played an influence on fellow Scottish rock band Primal Scream.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Concert tours
Awards and nominations
Personnel
Current members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:CSS image crop | Jim Kerr | 1977–present | lead vocals | all releases |
| Template:CSS image crop | Charlie Burchill | Template:Hlist |
Former members
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian McGee | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist | |
| Tony Donald | 1977–1978 (Died 2019) | bass | none | |
| Duncan Barnwell | 1978 | rhythm guitar | ||
| Mick MacNeil | 1978–1990 | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Derek Forbes | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist |
| Kenny Hyslop | 1981–1982 Template:Small | drums | Template:Flatlist | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Mike Ogletree | 1982 | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist |
| Template:CSS image crop | Mel Gaynor | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist |
| Template:CSS image crop | John Giblin | 1985–1989 Template:Small | bass guitar | Template:Flatlist |
Current guest musicians
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:CSS image crop | Gordy Goudie | 2001–present | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist |
| Template:CSS image crop | Sarah Brown | 2009–present | backing vocals | all releases from Big Music (2014) onwards |
| Template:CSS image crop | Ged Grimes | 2010–present | Template:Hlist | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Cherisse Osei | 2017–present | drums | all releases from Acoustic in Concert (2017) onwards |
| Template:CSS image crop | Erik Ljunggren | 2023–present | keyboards | none to date |
Former guest musicians
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wishart | 1980 | saxophone | none | |
| Robin Clark | 1985–1986 | vocals | Template:Flatlist | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Sue Hadjopoulos | percussion | Template:Flatlist | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Lisa Germano | 1986–1990 | violin | Template:Flatlist |
| Andy Duncan | 1989 | percussion | Real Life (1991) | |
| Annie McCaig | vocals | none | ||
| Malcolm Foster | 1989–1995 | bass guitar | Template:Flatlist | |
| Peter-John Vettese | 1990 | keyboards | Template:Flatlist | |
| Mark Taylor | Template:Hlist | Silver Box (2004) | ||
| Timothy Scott Bennett | 1993<ref>"Don't Forget" – article by Peter Walsh in 'Q' Magazine, April 1997</ref> | drums | none | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Mark Schulman | 1994–1995 | Template:Flatlist | |
| Eddie Duffy | 1999–2010 | bass guitar | Template:Flatlist | |
| Mark Kerr | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist | |
| Andy Gillespie | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist | |
| Template:CSS image crop | Catherine AD | 2014–2018 | Template:Hlist | Template:Flatlist |
| Template:CSS image crop | Berenice Scott | 2020–2023 | Template:Hlist | none |
Timeline
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bar:Kerr text:"Jim Kerr" bar:Burchill text:"Charlie Burchill" bar:Barnwell text:"Duncan Barnwell" bar:Donald text:"Tony Donald" bar:Forbes text:"Derek Forbes" bar:Giblin text:"John Giblin" bar:McGee text:"Brian McGee" bar:Hyslop text:"Kenny Hyslop" bar:Ogletree text:"Mike Ogletree" bar:Gaynor text:"Mel Gaynor" bar:MacNeil text:"Mick MacNeil"
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width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Kerr from:start till:end color:Vocals bar:Kerr from:start till:04/01/1978 color:Keyboards width:3 bar:Burchill from:start till:end color:Guitar bar:Barnwell from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1979 color:Guitar bar:Burchill from:11/30/1989 till:end color:Keyboards width:3 bar:Donald from:start till:04/01/1978 color:Bass bar:Forbes from:04/01/1978 till:06/30/1985 color:Bass bar:Forbes from:04/01/1978 till:06/30/1985 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Forbes from:06/01/1996 till:12/31/1998 color:Bass bar:Forbes from:06/01/1996 till:12/31/1998 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Giblin from:07/01/1985 till:05/31/1989 color:Bass bar:McGee from:start till:06/30/1981 color:Drums bar:McGee from:start till:06/30/1981 color:BVocals width:3 bar:McGee from:06/01/1996 till:11/30/1996 color:Drums bar:McGee from:06/01/1996 till:11/30/1996 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Hyslop from:07/01/1981 till:04/30/1982 color:Drums bar:Ogletree from:05/01/1982 till:11/30/1982 color:Drums bar:Gaynor from:12/01/1982 till:12/31/1991 color:Drums bar:Gaynor from:12/01/1982 till:12/31/1991 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Gaynor from:01/01/1997 till:12/31/1998 color:Drums bar:Gaynor from:01/01/1997 till:12/31/1998 color:BVocals width:3 bar:Gaynor from:01/01/2002 till:12/31/2016 color:Drums bar:Gaynor from:01/01/2002 till:12/31/2016 color:BVocals width:3 bar:MacNeil from:03/01/1978 till:11/30/1990 color:Keyboards bar:MacNeil from:03/01/1978 till:11/30/1990 color:BVocals width:3
</timeline>
Discography
Template:Main Template:Col div
- Life in a Day (1979)
- Real to Real Cacophony (1979)
- Empires and Dance (1980)
- Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981)
- New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (1982)
- Sparkle in the Rain (1984)
- Once Upon a Time (1985)
- Street Fighting Years (1989)
- Real Life (1991)
- Good News from the Next World (1995)
- Néapolis (1998)
- Our Secrets Are the Same (2000)Template:Refn
- Neon Lights (2001)
- Cry (2002)
- Black & White 050505 (2005)
- Graffiti Soul (2009)
- Big Music (2014)
- Acoustic (2016)
- Walk Between Worlds (2018)
- Direction of the Heart (2022)
Notes
References
External links
- Simple Minds official web site
- Dream Giver Redux, an unofficial (fan) website devoted to the band
- Template:AllMusic
- Template:Discogs artist
- Template:IMDb name
- Pages with broken file links
- 1970s establishments in Scotland
- 1977 establishments in Scotland
- 1977 establishments in the United Kingdom
- A&M Records artists
- Arena rock musical groups
- Arista Records artists
- Articles which contain graphical timelines
- British political music artists
- Chrysalis Records artists
- Eagle Records artists
- Musical groups established in 1977
- Rock music groups from Glasgow
- Scottish art rock groups
- Scottish new wave musical groups
- Scottish post-punk music groups
- Scottish synth-pop new wave groups
- Second British Invasion artists
- Sire Records artists
- Virgin Records artists