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Simple Minds Information
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In the 1980s, 'Simple Minds' was considered one of the dominant "alternative", "new wave" or "college radio" bands. The band, which hails from Glasgow, Scotland, is still making music today.
Founding members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill are the core of the band, with Andy Gillespie (keyboards), Mel Gaynor (drums) and Eddie Duffy (bass) supporting. In spite of great commercial success in Europe, they were never able to break into mainstream United States, where they are known primarily for one song, "Don't You (Forget About Me)", a song that they didn't even write.
Summary
Beginning as a band heavily influenced by electronic music (then a rising force in UK pop - see the Human League), this band from Glasgow's South Side went on to produce two critically highly acclaimed albums in the early 1980s, and then reached their peak of commercial success with an appearance on Live Aid and an album of unashamedly stadium rock (Once Upon a Time) before producing some politically inspired and critically praised work that sold in declining numbers. The band is still active and touring; some of their earlier electronic tracks are now being remixed for the dancefloor.
History
After one unsuccessful single as Johnny & The Self Abusers, Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr formed the band in 1978 (1978 in music), along with Brian McGee and Tony Donald who was quickly replaced by Derek Forbes on bass guitar. Keyboard and synthesizer player, Mick MacNeil, was also recruited at this time. Drummer Mel Gaynor replaced McGee in 1984. The band's name was taken from a line in the David Bowie track Jean Genie: "...so simple-minded, he can't drive his module".
Their initial recordings, such as Reel to Real Cacophony and Empires and Dance were critically acclaimed, though sales were slow until the band moved towards a more pop-oriented sound, beginning with the Steve Hillage-produced double album Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981 in music). Their early work and a number of experimental pieces subsequently were heavily inspired by Kraftwerk.
By 1984 (1984 in music), due to their much more accessible and critically acclaimed releases New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) and Sparkle in the Rain, as well as a number of UK charting singles, Simple Minds had gained a widespread fanbase, setting the stage for their breakthrough "Don't You (Forget About Me)". This song, written by Keith Forsey, was originally offered to Bryan Ferry, but he declined. As the only Simple Minds single release not to have been written by Kerr and Burchill, it is ironic that this became their biggest and most memorable hit. The song quickly became an American chart-topper, the only one Simple Minds would ever achieve there, as a result of its use in the popular film The Breakfast Club. It was initially less popular outside of the U.S., but soon became a top-selling hit across the world, as was the next album, Once Upon aTime, which did not include that song, but did include other hit singles "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself". During this period, which probably marked the high point of their popularity, Simple Minds were often compared by the music press and listeners alike to U2, though subsequently both bands headed in different musical directions.
After a live album (In The City of Light, 1987 Virgin Records Ltd), Simple Minds, in an attempt to regain critical acceptance, released the unabashedly political and un-pop Street Fighting Years to positive reviews but relatively poor sales. The album included a cover of Peter Gabriel's song Biko, as well as guest vocals by Lou Reed on the single This is your Land. However the band did score their only number one UK singles hit from this album with The Ballad of the Streets EP containing the double A-sides of Belfast Child, a reworking of the folk song She Moved Through The Fair, and "Mandela Day". By the time the band returned with Real Life (1991 in music), synth-pop was no longer popular and they have since released albums to a dwindling audience, despite embarking on a major stadium tour in 1991. Mick MacNeil left the group in 1989.
In 1995 they released Good News from the Next World, not really popular but revealing a quite different style they would follow for the next years. The limited edition Néapolis appeared across Europe in 1998 (EMI Music Publishing for the first time), and featured Glitterball, and War Babies, the two singles from the album, and demonstrated a return to their electronic, pop-inspired roots. Our Secrets Are The Same, originally slated for release in 1999, became mired in lawsuits when EMI declined to release it, and became further compromised after it got leaked onto the Internet. It was finally released in 2003 as the last CD in a five disc compilation entitled Silver Box (EMI International), composed of previously unreleased demo tracks of early material, and live recordings from 1978 to 2003.
Most recently (June 2002), they released Cry in 2002 (2002 in music). Their latest release, Black & White 050505, whose official publishing date is 12 September 2005 had already weeks before circulated the Internet via radio station previews. This album has received notably good reviews but sales are unlikely to match, although the first single from the album, "Home," has gotten airplay on alternative rock radio stations in the U.S.
The band is touring in Europe during the first quarter of 2006 and Australia and New Zealand in May 2006.
Former members = Mick MacNeil / Brian McGee / Derek Forbes / Malcolm Foster / John Giblin / Mark Taylor / Tony Donald
Discography of Albums
*Life in a Day (1979)
*Real to Real Cacophony (1979)
*Empires and Dance (1980)
*Sons and Fascination (1981)
*Sister Feelings Call (1981)
*Themes for Great Cities (1981)
*Celebration (1982)
*New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982)
*Sparkle in the Rain (1984)
*Once Upon a Time (1985)
*In the City of Light (1987) (live)
*Street Fighting Years (1989)
*Real Life (1991)
*Glittering Prize 81/92 (1992) (Greatest Hits compilation)
*Good News from the Next World (1995)
*The Promised (1997)
*Neapolis (1998)
*The Early Years (1998) (compilation)
*Neon Lights (2001)
*The Best of Simple Minds (2001) (compilation)
*Cry (2002)
*Silver Box (2003) (Compilation, includes Our Secrets are the Same)
*Black & White 050505 September (2005) UK and Feb (2006) in the U.S.
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