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Simple Minds  

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Zénith D'auvergne - Clermont-ferrand

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Widely popular Scottish art rock outfit, Simple Minds found huge fame in the 1980s, best known for their breakthrough hit single, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" which established the act on both sides of the Atlantic.

Finding influence from the likes of Roxy Music and U2, Simple Minds formed out of the remnants of Glaswegian punk group, Johnny and the Self-Abusers, with guitarist Charlie Burchill and singer Jim Kerr joining forces with bassist Derek Frobes, drummer Brian McGee and keyboardist Mick McNeil in 1978. The band's initial releases moved between dense art-pop ("Life in a Day") to the experimental-leaning "Reel to Real Cacophony," to Euro-disco influenced "Empires and Dance." With "Sons and Fascination" and "Sister Feelings Call," they streamlined their sound into more accessible pop, before finding significant chart success with "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)."

However, it was with the 1985 hit single, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" that Simple Minds found international success. Despite its success, topping the American charts, Simple Minds decided not to feature the single on their next album, "Once Upon a Time," due to Kerr's dislike of the song's lyrics. The album was still a success, breaking into the US Top Ten and becoming certified Gold.

Simple Minds failed to build on the momentum of their last album, with the overtly political "Street Fighting Years' failing to meet its success. Personnel changes after the more straightforward "Real Life" threw the band's future into question yet Kerr and Burchill managed to persevere and breathe new life into the act. 1995's "Good News From The Next World" gained moderate airplay support, with a short North American tour shortly after yet they were unable to restore their previous energies.

Into the new millennium, Simple Minds had found a new enthusiasm of sorts, releasing the cover album, "Neon Lights," which covered the likes of Patti Smith, Neil Young and David Bowie. New material appeared a year later with "Cry," followed by "Our Secrets Are the Same" in 2003, which helped to reignite interest in the band. Several reissues and two more albums of new material, "Black and White" (2005) and "Graffiti Soul" (2009) maintained the band's relevance, prompting a global tour and festival appearances. 2014's "Big Music" found critical acclaim with their well-crafted pop, debuting at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart.

Live reviews

I had to see Simple Minds in concert just because their song "Don't You Forget About Me" from "The Breakfast Club" was such a pivotal point in my young life. I heard that song as a child, and bought their albums throughout the years listening hard for the next lesson that I needed to learn from them.

I enjoyed their brand of 80s music just because it wasn't the typical bubble gum pop type stuff that was out at the time. Their music was more timeless, like a progressive rock that could stand along side Tears for Fears and Depeche Mode. The concert was something I will be forever grateful for having the opportunity to attend. The audience had a fair representation for all walks of life and all ages. The music was well appreciated by everyone in attendance and there as much dancing and singing to accompany the performance. While some of their music may have a moody feel, the overall emotion the audience got was enjoyment and happiness.

The music of Simple Minds has a purity to it that allows for some of the derogatory subjects that they address in their songs. Hopefully Simple Minds will continue to inspire future generations.

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Scottish rockers Simple Minds first formed almost forty years ago. After struggling to achieve commerciality during their first releases, they scored a string of number one albums in the UK during the 80's and recorded a huge international hit entitled 'Don't You Forget About Me' for the soundtrack to cult film 'The Breakfast Club'.

This took the band touring around the world and the lessons they learned during this time are still evident in their stage show. Now a frequenter of the UK festival circuit, Simple Minds hold a great notion of nostalgia and their music really resonates with a great deal of the audience. They still choose to delight fans with the favourites such as 'Glittering Prize' and 'Promised You A Miracle' which cause huge singalong from the baying crowds.

Great showmen to this day, the band are able to conduct their instruments whilst still whipping the crowds into frenzy before perfect renditions of 'Alive And Kicking'. The crowd erupts in cheers for 'Don't You Forget About Me' and the anthemic 80's tones sound just as wonderful as you would imagine.

Just saw Simple Minds at the Beacon, NYC, 10/2/18. What a thrill!!! I had waited so long (too long) to see the group who I have LOVED since the early 1980's. They were FANTASTIC!!! They performed all of my favorites (Promised You a Miracle, Love Song, New Gold Dream 81,82,83,84 and many others). I was lucky to be in the 3rd row (wish I had purchased tix for the 1st row!), and could see how wonderful Jim Kerr was interacting with the audience.

It is great to see when musicians actually show how they enjoy doing what they do and appreciate their fans.

Although I am not so healthy, and my feet go painfully numb after a half hour of standing, I forced myself to stand and dance for the whole show. It was worth it!!

I'm thinking of calling out sick tomorrow and going up to Boston to catch them again! Or maybe D.C. this weekend! I am so happy I got to have seen them now but I'm also sad because I don't know when it will happen again. I really hope they return to NYC again soon, or that I will be in Europe whenever they are touring again.

The Simple Minds concert in Barcelona was simply sensational.

I was dubious around how they could translate their rock/pop hits into an acoustic set, but it was extremely well done.

The band played the majority of their hits and even did some covers of David Bowie and Prince, which were excellent.

KT Tunstall as support was a great fit, and I'm also a fan. Her set was short, but she later joined the band for a couple of encore songs.

I have seen the band several times in Barcelona at different venues and the acoustic venue was pretty special. It was relatively intimate with around 1200-1500 and all with great views of the stage.

I travelled from Mallorca for the gig and wasn't disappointed.

Had waited so many years to see Simple Minds, so was excited to see them at the SF Masonic. Venue was great, perfect sightlines from nearly every seat.

Sadly, was soo, so disappointed that the drummer did not play original drum lines ("Promised You a Miracle" was really drab without its signature drumming), and most of the songs were just, well, flat. Don't think it was the acoustics in the venue, but rather a very muddy mix, and few songs had the clean/clear/punchy sound of the originals.

Showman Jim Kerr was enjoying himself, and the backup singer was perfect, but we ended up leaving before New Gold Dream (my favorite), preferring to listen to it on Spotify so as not to hear an inert, live version...

My 12th concert with Simple Minds and it was nice to see them live again. Had a little problem with hearing Jim Kerr's voice at the beginning of the concert but it became better. I'm always pleased to see simple minds but this concert was not among the best ones, not only because of the "sound problems" but also because the setlist was a bit confusing in my opinion. I will still rate this concert 7/10, i love Jim Kerr's energy on the stage, Mel Gaynor's awesome sound on the drums and Charlie Burchill's amazing repertoire in ways of playing the guitar.... I'm allready looking foward to see them again....

Simply put,it was one of the best nights for my daughter, wife and myself at a concert. Jim Kerr put it all out there for us. The band played great. We had a meet and greet as well and the band was so down to earth. They signed a Setlist special for my daughter for her birthday. They played all their big hits from old to new. Not only did Jim hold our hands during a few songs, they put the mic to me during Sanctify Yourself for me to sing.. It was purely amazing the performance and connection they have with their fans.

What an amazing show! These guys know how to party! Simple Minds played two sets that equaled out to about 23 songs. There was a good mix of old and new. They had us screaming and dancing along with them. They were really great. The venue was nice too. Not too big and not too small. Staff st venue were really helpful too! Casey was the guy who told us what to do and where to go during the meet and greet and he was really pleasant..! Great job simple Minds

Simple Minds last night @ Coventry Butts Park. You can't beat the good old 80's songs from them.Don't you forget about me. My stepson brought us the tickets for his Dad's 50th birthday,as he knew how much we like Simple Minds. I've now seen Simple Minds twice & my husband Simon Harris 3 times. Well worth seeing. Pretenders is another great group from our generation. Get them to Peterborough Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire.

I’ve loved Simple Minds for over 30 years, had Sister feelings call in vinyl & last nights show was a big deal for me, I still listen to them at work all the time.

Loved the show! Good for them for being so generous with a 3 hour show! Got guitar picks from the band so I’m super excited.

The drummer is a beast! All musicians were top! Had a blast & will always remember it.

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Zénith de Paris - La Villette

Zénith De Nantes Métropole

Zénith de Dijon

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Simple Minds tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Simple Minds in concert? Find information on all of Simple Minds’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Simple Minds is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 27 concerts across 6 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Simple Minds share details of 2024 global tour

By Classic Pop | September 4, 2023

The Scottish group have lined up arena shows in Leeds, Dublin, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Glasgow Cardiff and London, where they’ll headline The O2, during March.

Support will come from Del Amitri. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday (8 September).

Prior to their UK and Ireland tour, Simple Minds will headline the Summer Concert Tour in New Zealand – performing in Taupo, Hamilton and Gibbston – and Australia’s Red Hot Summer Tour, playing Mornington, Rochford Winery, Sandstone and Kings Park.

More shows throughout the rest of the world will be announced soon.

“Concerts are the life blood of Simple Minds,” says frontman Jim Kerr. “It’s where we and our audience come alive and energised through music. Four decades on from when we first set out, this global tour will demonstrate that Simple Minds are still alive and kicking!”

• Read more: Simple Minds interview: “We wanted to be underground and alternative but we just couldn’t help ourselves”

Simple Minds – Global Tour 2024 dates March

15           Leeds                First Direct Arena

16           Manchester      AO Arena

18           Dublin               3Arena

19           Belfast               SSE Arena

21           London              The O2 Arena

23           Birmingham     Utilita Arena Birmingham

24           Nottingham      Motorpoint Arena Nottingham

26           Bournemouth  Bournemouth International Centre

27           Cardiff              Utilita Arena Cardiff

29           Glasgow           The OVO Hydro

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Simple Minds announces dates for most extensive North American tour in 30 years

As hinted at over the weekend,  Simple Minds  today announced a rare North American tour that will hit 24 cities in September and October, the most extensive touring the band has done in the U.S. and Canada in more than 30 years.

The tour — the band’s first since a seven-date run in 2013 — opens Sept. 24 in Bethlehem, Pa., and runs through Oct. 29 in Vancouver, B.C. All told the trek includes 20 dates in the U.S. and four in Canada.

The general on-sale for all shows begins 10 a.m. local time on Friday, though Simple Minds’ website lists pre-sales and other meet-and-greet and soundcheck ticketing options.

The band, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, promises to play two full sets each night “featuring iconic songs spanning their whole career and including tracks from the new album  Walk Between Worlds .”

Having released their first album in four years, earlier this year, Simple Minds currently have dates scheduled in the U.K. in August and September with The Pretenders. The North American tour will be the band’s most extensive since 1985’s Once Upon a Time trek.

Check out full tour dates below.

Simple Minds North American tour dates:

Sept. 24: Sands Casino, Bethlehem, PA Sept. 26: Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ Sept. 28: M Telus, Montreal, QC Sept. 29: Budweiser Gardens, London, ON Sept. 30: Sony Centre, Toronto, ON Oct. 2: Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY Oct. 3: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA Oct. 5: Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA Oct. 6: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. Oct. 8: Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA Oct. 9: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN Oct. 11: Hard Rock, Cleveland, OH Oct. 13: Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI Oct. 14: Fillmore, Detroit, MI Oct. 15: Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL Oct. 18: Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO Oct. 20: Grand Sierra, Reno, NV Oct. 21: Pearl Theater, Las Vegas, NV Oct. 22: Humprehy’s Concerts, San Diego, CA Oct. 24: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA Oct. 25: Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA Oct. 27: Roseland Theater, Portland, OR Oct. 28: Moore Theater, Seattle, WA Oct. 29: Orpheum, Vancouver, B.C.

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• Listen: Simple Minds debut ‘Magic’ — first single off upcoming ‘Walk Between Worlds’
• Simple Minds and The Pretenders team up for joint 13-date U.K. tour next summer
• Simple Minds announce new album ‘Walk Between Worlds,’ special 3-part concerts
• Simple Minds’ ‘Sparkle in the Rain’ to be reissued as hugely expanded 5-disc box set

10 Comments

Why’d they forget about us? Indy’s alone. Passed by, you know it baby. Tell me, the tour dates about. Four dates in the Midwest, Indy’s left out. Bay-bay! Why are they not playing Indy? Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t you forget about us.

they’re a bore

They ought to bring Shriekback along for the ride. I recall they toured the States together around 1986 or so, and the Shrieks have been trying to back over here too.

That’s totally what I was thinking! Shriekback wants to tour here but they’re having trouble raising the money. Simple Minds should totally help out. Shriekback is in the same era/ genre and I think they’re seriously underrated. The two bands together would make a killer show.

That’s a beautiful thought, since I pledged [to no avail] on both the successful Shriekback UK KickStarter [which I could in no way attend] and the US one, which fizzled mightily. Too bad SM would be reluctant to pay for an opener over here, as I would be in orbit to finally see Shriekback. The last two SM tours had no opener, and none are put forth for this one.

Living in the USA I also pledged support for the European tour, and I’m gutted they couldn’t put together a tour in North America (I’d like to see them in Montreal, maybe Boston).

That being said, Shriekback are releasing a new album May 25.

Why Anything? Why This?

I can’t wait, as I love their more recent output, back as far as Cormorant.

I’ve always wanted to see them but worried that this could be a dud, especially if they do that interview in between (not listed though). I’ll have to check the Euro reviews.

Pabst theater isn’t great for this. Beautiful theater well over 100 years old but really short and steep, especially the balcony. I used to usher there a bit in college and no way we went up and down those ladders, I mean stairs.

“Street Fighting Years” remains one of the most underrated albums of the 80’s.

Well, the TicketMobster fiasco was the most painful yet. When presale started, I was in and watched in horror as the blue dots disappeared at the rate of dozens per second until less than 90s seconds in there were hardly any seats left for and certainly not a 5-seat block for my friends. Panicking, I opted for the band-reserve low-tier VIP. $160 each, plus fees. Ouch. But 3rd row center aisle. Within the hour all of those tickets were on StubHub for $222-9999. Most of then nowhere near as prime as what I ended up getting. I don’t think I can buy from TM any more. It’s far too nerve wracking.

On the brighter side, I did not in a million years imagine a SM tour over here. The 2013 show was my most exciting show ever. The current setlists from the last leg look amazing. Hopefully, they will be similar to what’s in store for The States. Copenhagen opened with two from “Empires + Dance” followed by two from “Sons + Fascination [including a deep cut] leading into the entire new album played in the middle, in sequence. If I ever wanted to hear a Minds album post 1983 played in its entirety, it’s the new one, so color me happy.

Sigh… fourth most populated city in the nation and the closest show will be 800 miles away!

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• Live Review Simple Minds Walk Between Worlds Tour Sands Bethlehem Event Center

LIVE REVIEW: Simple Minds – Walk Between Worlds Tour, Sands Bethlehem Event Center

On September 24th legendary New Wave artisans Simple Minds kicked off the North American leg of their Walk Between Worlds tour at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, PA. The US tour is proof of the resurgence in popularity enjoyed by Simple Minds with their last two studio releases. Those who have been lucky enough to catch the band throughout the years know that a spectacular celebration was in store. At the concert, Simple Minds not only met expectations but exceeded them delivering a transcendent performance. During the evening the band effortlessly jumped back and forth within the 41 years of their discography. The setlist was an inspired combination of songs off of their splendid new release, their unforgettable greatest hits and beloved deep track selections. It was a setlist that thrilled their hardcore fans and beguiles newer acolytes of the band. The performance evinced the uplift and exuberance that Simple Minds has always had in spades, as they once again swung for the fences.

It has been 32 years since Simple Minds played in Bethlehem, PA. The last time they blew the roof off Stabler Arena with their verve and heartfelt earnest. Three decades might have passed since, but frontman Jim Kerr can still hold the crowd in the palm of his hand. He along with longtime co-band founder, guitarist Charlie Burchill, and frequent band bassist Ged Grimes recruited a stellar tour line up. Those recruits, drummer Cherisse Osei, vocalist Sarah Brown and Gordy Goudie continuously impressed the crowd with their seemingly effortless artistry. Their efforts fulfil Kerr’s stated desire to provide a Sly and the Family Stones vibe for the tour and he has succeeded in achieving that goal. To manifest this vibe the band members were frequently mobile and often times shared or took centre stage with their performances. Not to be forgotten is guitarist Charlie Burchill who is stunning every time he straps on a guitar, to witness his virtuosity is a thing of beauty, and I still think he is one of the most underrated guitarists in rock.

Ever the ringmaster Jim Kerr conducted the concert like a maestro allowing his contagious effervescence to rub off on even the most jaded concert attendee. He is transparent in his love for what he does and the music the band performs. At the beginning of the evening, Kerr shared that Simple Minds had prepared for the opening night with days of rehearsal at the venue before the debut. The reason for the intense rehearsal sessions was two-fold, first to bring back into the mix songs that had wandered from the setlist and secondly to wow the fans on this long-awaited North American tour. It was quickly apparent the rehearsal had paid off and the evening’s performance was faultless.

The concert kicked off with the Walk Between Worlds track The Signal and the Noise a perfect amalgam of glam synth and soaring vocals. The band then reached back to Sparkle in the Rain for the crowd pleaser Waterfront . The song with its classic throbbing bass and explosive vocals added roil to the boil that had begun in the crowd. Another classic Love Song maintained the energy level while the beloved Let There Be Love off Real Life spotlighted Kerr’s vocal chops. Simple Minds then unloaded the first stunning addition to the setlist with the always breathtaking Up on the Catwalk again from Sparkle in the Rain . The track, which had not been played throughout the tour this year, was breathtaking. Leaping forward in their discography Simple Minds unreeled one of my favourites off of the latest release the song Sense of Discovery which is even more spinetingling performed live. The band again time travelled to 1982’s Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Calling  letting loose The American delighting the hardcore fans and they follow up with a sizzling version of Hunter and the Hunted . Another concert staple Stand by Love had the concert-goers dancing in the aisles. The band brought the first set to a close with a cover of Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town . Vocalist Sarah Brown brought down the house with her luminous duet with Kerr on the selection.

Returning from the break Charlie Burchill led the charge on synths with a transcendent version of Theme for Great Cities . As an old campaigner fan of Simple Minds I was ecstatic about the addition of this song and hope they keep it on the setlist. This deep track is even more impressive today and displays how far ahead and visionary the band was with their instrumental compositions back in the day. It was a definite high point in a concert loaded with them. The band would impress again and again with spot-on renditions of She’s a River , Walk Between Worlds and Hypnotized .

I was constantly impressed by the quality of the presentation. Often times on an opening night, bands have apparent glitches and things to iron out. This was not the case for Simple Minds, the setlist and the band’s performance came off as if they were a band that had been on the road for months and they were totally comfortable with performing the setlist.

The band played on presenting the luminous Someone Somewhere in the Summertime which was as fresh as the first time I saw it performed back in 1985. Now as ever Jim Kerr beautifully conveyed all the wistful yearning represented in the song’s lyrics. Additionally, it was fantastic to see the stellar All the Things She Said in the setlist as it is another of my personal favourites. A show stopper for me was Dolphins , a track I was relatively unfamiliar with, I had known it was in the set list and I was somewhat indifferent about its inclusion. However, Mr Kerr changed my mind with the band’s arresting rendition and I hope it stays on the setlist throughout the tour. The juxtapositioning of that lesser known track with Simple Mind’s trademark song Don’t You ( Forget About Me) was almost neck snapping as a changeup but provided a jolt of electricity that brought the enthusiasm in the concert hall to fever pitch. It was nice to see the band come to peace with this song; as they had a love/ hate relationship with it at one point. It was exciting to see that Kerr and Co. have come to peace with the song and it is a pleasure to see them have fun playing the selection. As if to remind the concert goers that “Don’t You” does not define their legacy they continued on with New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84) the title track from that 1982 classic. When unveiled the song almost topped the enthusiasm of the crowd for “Don’t You”. New Gold Dream brought the second set to a close.

The encore began with a reverent and inspired version of Book of Brilliant Things which was led off by Sarah Brown. The song built and built the drama until the final explosive ending. This segued into the corker Alive and Kicking from 1985’s heavyweight album Once Upon a Time . The song had the crowd on their feet emanating love back and forth between the floor and the stage. The last song placed the final exclamation mark on a spectacular night with another hit selection from Once Upon a Time , Sanctify Yourself . The band brought an ecstatic and fairly sweaty night to a close leaving a smile on every face.

For those who think the glory days of Simple Minds are over, I suggest you avail yourself of one of the band’s concerts. The experience can be best compared to entering an ersatz time machine where the band delivers the same punch they deliver every time they grace the stage. The new selections from the latest release fit perfectly with the classics. The resurgence of the band’s popularity certainly continues. Jim Kerr does not miss a beat and is a consummate frontman who insists that you join in his merriment if only for a space of two hours. Simple Minds live have always delivered the goods, providing uplift and ebullience in every performance, they never hold back and put it all on the stage. Some have belittled them for wearing their hearts on their sleeves but I wouldn’t want them any other way. Credit goes to Kerr and Burchill for their excellent touring member additions and the fantastically inspired setlist. I recommend wholeheartedly that if Simple Minds comes anywhere near where you live do not hesitate to catch them in the act of weaving their musical spell.

• Charlie Burchill
• Simple Minds

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Simple Minds Announce North American Tour

They'll play Montreal, London, Toronto and Vancouver

BY Josiah Hughes Published Apr 23, 2018

More Simple Minds

• This 'Stranger Things'/Simple Minds Mashup Is Next-Level Bad
• Simple Minds Plot North American Tour with Stops in Montreal, Toronto

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Simple Minds

Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band that released eleven studio albums between 1979 and 1995. They first achieved fame in the UK, Europe, and Australia with the 1981–83 hits “Love Song,” “Promised You a Miracle,” “Glittering Prize,” and “Waterfront.” In 1985, they scored a global hit with “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”

Simple Minds emerged in 1979 on Zoom–Arista with the punk-inspired Life in a Day and its experimental followup Real to Real Cacophony . They embraced electro-rock and avant-garde on the 1980 release Empires and Dance and signed to Virgin for the paired 1981 albums Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call , comprised of ethereal jams produced by Steve Hillage . Their first five albums feature the same lineup: singer Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill, keyboardist Michael MacNeil, bassist Derek Forbes, and drummer Brian McGee, who departed in 1981 for Endgames .

Members : Jim Kerr (vocals), Charlie Burchill (guitar), Brian McGee (drums, 1977-81), Tony Donald (bass, 1977-78), John Milarky (vocals, guitar, saxophone, 1977), Alan McNeil (guitar, 1977), Derek Forbes (bass, 1978-85, 1997-98), Michael MacNeil (keyboards, 1978-89), Duncan Barnwell (guitar, 1978), Kenny Hyslop (drums, 1981-82), Mike Ogletree (drums, 1982), Mel Gaynor (drums, 1983-94, 1998-present), John Giblin (bass, 1985-88), Malcolm Foster (bass, 1989-95)

In early 1978, Simple Minds added keyboardist Mick MacNeil and second guitarist Duncan Barnwell, though the latter only lasted ten months. That summer, Donald cleared way for bassist Derek Forbes, a friend of Barnwell’s. The lineup of Kerr, Burchill, McGee, MacNeil, and Forbes established a following on the Scottish club circuit and impressed Zoom Records owner Bruce Findlay, who became their manager and secured a contract with Zoom’s parent label Arista.

Simple Minds recorded their first album during the winter of 1979 with John Leckie, a soundman on recent albums by The Adverts ( Crossing the Red Sea With The Adverts ), Be-Bop Deluxe ( Drastic Plastic ), Magazine ( Real Life ), and the first two albums by XTC : White Music and Go 2 . They first requested musician–producer (and onetime Velvet Underground ) violinist John Cale but Arista vetoed this suggestion (possibly due to Cale’s erratic nature, which Squeeze experienced during sessions for their first album ).

Life in a Day

Musically, Life in a Day covers riff-based hard rock (“All for You” “Wasteland”) and harmonized pop–rock (“Chelsea Girl”) with forays into sax-driven soul rock (“Sad Affair”) and electro-rock (the synth-laden title track). Each side opens with an uptempo new wave cut (“Someone,” “No Cure”) and ends with a maximalist neo-psych epic: the slow, reverberating “Pleasantly Disturbed” and the multi-movement “Murder Story.”

Select tracks have unique input by Burchill (violin on “Pleasantly Disturbed”) and keyboardist Michael MacNeil (harpsichord on “Someone” and “Chelsea Girl”).

1. “ Someone ” (3:42) 2. “ Life in a Day ” (4:05) 3. “ Sad Affair ” (2:45) 4. “ All for You ” (2:51) 5. “ Pleasantly Disturbed ” (7:59)

6. “ No Cure ” (3:34) originated as the early setlist number “Cocteau Twins,” inspired by French surrealist Jean Cocteau (who also inspired Be-Bop Deluxe frontman Bill Nelson ). 7. “ Chelsea Girl ” (4:34) takes its title from the 1967 John Cale-produced debut solo album by German model–singer Nico ; recorded after her stint in the Velvet Underground and romance with VU frontman Lou Reed . The riff comes from “Temporary Thing,” the closing track on Reed’s 1976 Arista release Rock and Roll Heart . 8. “ Wasteland ” (3:45) 9. “ Destiny ” (3:38) 10. “ Murder Story ” (6:17)

Sessions took place between December 1978 and February 1979 inside the Rolling Stones Mobile Unit, which producer–engineer John Leckie placed on the grounds of Farmyard Studios in Little Chalfont, where owner Rupert Hine worked on 1978–79 albums by Anthony Phillips ( Wise After the Event , Sides ), Camel ( I Can See Your House From Here ), and fellow Scots Cafe Jacques ( International ). The Mobile itself facilitated 1979 recordings by No Dice, Whitesnake , and ex-Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. (Leckie used it for Drastic Plastic on the grounds of Chateau Saint Georges in France.)

Additional Life In a Day sessions occurred at Abbey Road Studios. Leckie produced and engineered the album after the February 1979 Harvest release Sound-On-Sound , the singular album by Bill Nelson’s post Be-Bop band Red Noise. The tape op, George Chambers, gained concurrent credits on albums by Fischer-Z ( Word Salad ), The Jam ( Setting Sons ), The Ruts , and Jane Aire & The Belvederes .

Simple Minds intended to name the album after the 1955 Jean Cocteau novel Children of the Game but reconsidered after the completion of “Life in a Day,” a song written late in the sessions. An unfinished track titled “Children of the Game” is one of two session outtakes along with “Rosemary’s Baby,” inspired by the 1968 Roman Polanski film starring Mia Farrow.

Leckie’s friend Carole Moss photographed the cover image: a low aerial view of the salt marshes at Morecambe Bay, an estuary in northwest England (rendered under red skies). Simple Minds appear on the back cover (color group photo) and inner-sleeve (monochrome profile pics).

Three weeks ahead of the album, Zoom lifted “Life in a Day” on March 30 as the first single, backed with the non-album “Special View.”

B. “ Special View ” ()

Simple Minds performed “Life in a Day” and “Chelsea Girl” on the March 27, 1979, broadcast of the BBC music program The Old Grey Whistle Test .

In the “Chelsea Girl” video, Simple Minds perform black clad in a white studio (saturated) with full-scale and multi-view scenes.

B. “ Garden of Hate ” ()

Simple Minds performed both sides and two new songs (“Here Comes the Fool,” “The Naked Eye”) on June 7 for a Piccadilly Radio broadcast.

Life in a Day reached No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart. Simple Minds promoted the album as the opening act for Magazine (then touring their second Virgin longplayer, Secondhand Daylight ). The twenty-date tour commenced on April 16 at Malvern’s Winter Gardens and wrapped on May 6 at Liverpool’s Empire. On the penultimate night (5/5: Leeds University), they welcomed a third act: Sheffield Virgin signees The Human League . On August 12, Simple Minds played London’s Lyceum, supporting Squeeze and The Yachts.

Real to Real Cacophony

Real to Real Cacophony takes experimental turns in stark contrast to Life in a Day . Select tracks advance recent outside innovations like the kinetic quirks of XTC and Red Noise (“Naked Eye”), the rhythmic sonic treatments of Berlin-era David Bowie (“Carnival (Shelter in a Suitcase)”), the drama–suspense of Ultravox (“Factory”), the martial intensity of Joy Division (“Premonition”), and the epic structures of Magazine (“Calling Your Name”). The titular opening track forecasts the lucid touches of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark .

1. “ Real to Real ” (2:47) 2. “ Naked Eye ” (2:21) 3. “ Citizen (Dance of Youth) ” (2:53) 4. “ Carnival (Shelter in a Suitcase) ” (2:49) 5. “ Factory ” (4:13) 6. “ Cacophony ” (1:40) 7. “ Veldt ” (3:20)

8. “ Premonition ” (5:29) 9. “ Changeling ” (4:11) 10. “ Film Theme ” (2:27) 11. “ Calling Your Name ” (5:05) 12. “ Scar ” (3:31)

John Leckie produced and engineered the album in September 1979 between singles by The Skids (“Masquerade”) and The Doll (“Cinderella With a Husky Voice”), plus one track (“Check It Out”) on Laser Love , the second album by After the Fire (otherwise handled by Muff Winwood). He recorded and mixed Real to Real in five weeks at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales. Anglo-Norwegian studio assistant Mariella Sometimes (then-wife of Skids frontman Richard Jobson) earned her only technical credit as the tape operator on this album.

Real to Real Cacophony is housed in a matte navy blue cover with textured bars by the design firm Graphyk and art director Paul Henry — both credited with visuals on 1979 Arista titles by Chorale, Iggy Pop ( New Values ), Peter Bardens , and The Zones . The inner-sleeve features a grid layout with credit boxes and assorted imagery (coils, tenements) amid band and member pics by Stranglers photographer Trevor Rodgers ( Rattus Norvegicus , No More Heroes ) and Sheila Rock, wife of rock photojournalist Mick Rock.

Arista issued “Changeling” (b/w “Premonition”) as the only single. Simple Minds promoted Real to Real Cacophony on an eight-month tour that commenced six weeks prior to the album’s release with an October 11 show in Berlin, where they opened the set with “Premonition.” On the 13th, they opened for Golden Earring at the Hannover Rotation Club.

Simple Minds made their US debut with October 24–25 shows at the New York clubs Hurrah and Trax, followed by a fifteen-date late-autumn tour of northern England with openers The Portraits, a precursor to The Fixx . On December 12, Simple Minds played a Christmas show at Keele University as the opening act for Hawkwind .

On January 9, 1980, Simple Minds played London’s Paris Theatre for a live broadcast as part of the BBC’s In Concert series. On February 24, they played the Lyceum Ballroom with The Only Ones and Martha & The Muffins.

Simple Minds played Day 3 (March 9) of Europe Rock 1980, a week-long event at the Pavillion Espace Baltard in Paris with sets by Joe Jackson , The Revillos , and the French band Marquis de Sade . In late March, they played three German dates with Gary Numan , followed by a 3/29 show in Amsterdam with Dutch post-punks Mecano .

After sessions wrapped on their third album, Simple Minds supported The Skids on August 26 at the Hammersmith Palais with fellow openers Pink Military.

Empires and Dance

Dance beats propel “I Travel” (a hypnotic groove with a plunging chorus) and “Celebrate” (a lurching clap-strut with an angular refrain). “This Fear of Gods” and “Capital City” (both ostinato-driven jams with minimal key changes) build momentum with swelling textures and remote, echoing sounds.

“Constantinople Line” and “Thirty Frames a Second” anticipate future experiments with searing layers and abrupt rhythmic patterns. “Twist/Run/Repulsion” is a spoken-word call-and-response with random sounds set to a galloping compound rhythm. “Kant-Kino” is a hissing drone that foreshadows “Room,” the lucid, minimal closing track.

Empires and Dance is the third of three Simple Minds albums with producer John Leckie.

1. “ I Travel ” (4:00) concerns Jim’s impressions of Europe and the contrast between the Eastern and Western blocs. 2. “ Today I Died Again ” (4:36) 3. “ Celebrate ” (5:03) 4. “ This Fear of Gods ” (7:03) Jim based the lyrics on a short story in Labyrinths , a 1962 collection of works by Argentine author Jorge Luis Borge.

5. “ Capital City ” (6:15) 6. “ Constantinople Line ” (4:43) 7. “ Twist/Run/Repulsion ” (4:31) features a spoken-work part by Simple Minds entourage member Chantalle Jeunet, who reads “La Perspective Nevski,” a French translation of the 1831 short story “Nevsky Prospekt” by Russian novelist Nikolai Gogol. 8. “ Thirty Frames a Second ” (5:02) 9. “ Kant-Kino ” (1:52) 10. “ Room ” (2:28)

Simple Minds recorded the album between May and July 1980 at Rockfield Studios and did additional work inside the Rolling Stones Mobile. This marked the end of their collaborations with Leckie, who subsequently produced two albums by Norwegian post-punks De Press and the 1981 Virgin release Work Our Way to Heaven , the singular album by The Cuban Heels. Veteran soundman Hugh Jones engineered Empires and Dance in succession with 1980 albums by Adam & The Ants ( Kings of the Wild Frontier ), Dalek I ( Compass Kum’pas ), The Damned ( The Black Album ), Echo & The Bunnymen , and The Teardrop Explodes .

Artifex Studio designed the Empires and Dance cover, which shows a statue of WWII German field marshal Erwin Rommel by photographer Michael Ruetz. Leckie’s friend Richard Coward photographed Simple Minds on a TV screen for the back cover (group) and inner-sleeve (Kerr), which also features monochrome profile pics (lyrics side) shot at New Crane Wharf.

B. “ New Warm Skin ” (4:35)

Zoom issued a 12″ version with an extended “I Travel” (6:13) and with two different b-sides: “Kaleidoscope ” and the Real to Real track “Film One.”

B1. “ Kaleidoscope ” (4:15) is an outtake from the Real to Real Cacophony sessions.

Empires and Dance peaked just outside the UK Top 40, in part because Arista printed the album in small quantities. In New Zealand, the album peaked within the Top 50.

The album dropped two weeks into a 32-date European tour with Peter Gabriel . For these shows, Simple Minds performed as a sextet with Glaswegian saxophonist Paul Wishart of the yet-unsigned Endgames .

On October 14, Simple Minds embarked on a fourteen-date UK Headlining tour at Town Hall, Kidderminster, supported by Leeds group Music for Pleasure. Scottish new wavers Positive Noise joined on the final eight dates of the tour, which wrapped on November 5 at Glasgow’s City Hall.

Simple Minds left Arista and signed with Virgin Records, a label more adept at marketing the new music ( The Human League , Magazine, The Members , The Skids, XTC). They embarked on a six-date US–Canadian tour that included a March 18 show at the Edge Club in Toronto, one of the first North American cities where Simple Minds gained traction thanks to support by the local station CFNY. On March 27, Simple Minds performed their final show with drummer Brian McGee at the Ritz in New York City.

Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call

Simple Minds released their fourth album, Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call , as a two-record set on September 4, 1981, on Virgin. The first 10,000 copies of the two records appeared in separate sleeves that were joint-shrink-wrapped and sold for the price of a single album. Virgin later issued the two records as individual titles. Combined, the paired records approach eighty minutes (78:59 = 43:50 + 35:09).

The joint release is the first of six Simple Minds studio-album projects on Virgin. Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call are the productions of guitarist–soundman and Gong alumnus Steve Hillage (a Virgin roster vet), whose space-rock sensibilities mesh with the band’s ethereal-jam style across the two records.

Side Two opens with “Love Song,” a precision-fueled mix of psychedelic guitar and percussion rattle over a snapping bass ostinato. Lucid textures coarse through the pinging, distant “This Earth That You Walk Upon” and the swelling, ethereal “Seeing Out the Angel,” the album’s epic closing track.

1. “ In Trance as Mission ” (6:50) 2. “ Sweat in Bullet ” (4:30) 3. “ 70 Cities as Love Brings the Fall ” (4:48) 4. “ Boys from Brazil ” (5:30) takes its title from the 1976 thriller novel by Rosemary’s Baby author Ira Levin (1929–2007).

5. “ Love Song ” (5:03) 6. “ This Earth That You Walk Upon ” (5:26) 7. “ Sons and Fascination ” (5:23) 8. “ Seeing Out the Angel ” (6:11)

Textures swell with minimal key-changes on “Wonderful in Young Life” (a pounding uptempo jam) and “Careful in Career” (a searing stretch with ghostly vocals).

Rhythmic precision guides “The American” (an echo-laden lyrical cut), “20th Century Promised Land” (a bass-driven dance track), and “League of Nations” (a dark, eerie, jittering number).

1. “ Theme for Great Cities ” (5:50) 2. “ The American ” (3:49) 3. “ 20th Century Promised Land ” (4:53)

4. “ Wonderful in Young Life ” (5:20) 5. “ League of Nations ” (4:55) 6. “ Careful in Career ” (5:08) 7. “ Sound in 70 Cities ” (5:01)

Sessions took place at Farmyard Studios with Empires and Dance engineer Hugh Jones, who worked on the paired records in succession with 1981 post-punk titles by Echo & The Bunnymen ( Heaven Up Here ) and The Sound ( From the Lions Mouth ). Additional sessions occurred at London’s Regent Park Studios with engineer Alan Jakoby, a soundman on the debut album by Classix Nouveaux .

Steve Hillage produced Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call in sequence with The Impossible , the singular solo album by ex- Cowboys International frontman Ken Lockie, who sings backing vocals on unspecified Sons tracks. Kerr, in turn, sings on The Impossible opener “ Dance House ,” which features violin by prior Hillage client Nash the Slash , who also appears on the 1981 Beggars Banquet release Dance by recent Simple Minds roadmate Gary Numan. Sons also credits one Jacqui (possibly Siam frontwoman Jacqui Brookes ) with backing vocals.

The Sons – Sister sessions were the last with Brian McGee, who left Simple Minds upon the project’s completion. He joined Endgames for their 1983 album Building Beauty and subsequently played for the UK–German synth–vocal combo Propaganda . Zones drummer Kenny Hyslop (onetime Slik ) joined for the ensuing tour and appears in the videos of “Sweat in Bullet” and “Love Song.”

The graphics firm Assorted iMaGes ( 999 , Buzzcocks , Magazine, Yachts) designed the Sons – Sister covers with art direction by Malcolm Garrett. The respective covers feature outdoor motion photography in color ( Sons ) and grayscale ( Sister ) by Sheila Rock.

In the “Love Song” video, Jim changes from work to club clothes in an elevator before a bemused onlooker. Simple Minds hit a nightspot, where two women (crimped long blond hair) dance together as Jim takes the DJ booth. Kenny dances up against the women while Derek joins a seated couple with eyes on the female. In the adjacent booth, Michael food-pelts his target’s sugar daddy, who grabs him by the collar. As Michael fights back, Derek slips a sedative on his target’s boyfriend, which prompts a backlash from the couple’s third wheel. Both booths break into mayhem as a man from the opposing entourage assails Kenny on the floor. Jim mimes in a manic state as people clear the club.

“Love Song” became the first Simple Minds Top 20 hit in select markets, including Sweden (No. 16) and Australia (No. 17).

“Sweat in Bullet” reached No. 17 in Sweden and became their first Top 50 hit in New Zealand.

In the “Sweat in Bullet” video, Simple Minds perform amid ivy and palm trees at Kensington Roof Gardens. Jim dons baggy gray sharkskin pants and gesticulates as Charlie (leather jacket), Derek (white tux), and Michael (gray trousers) sway with intense focus on their instruments. Kenny (trench coat and tie) hits a cowbell clipped to a planter.

Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call reached No. 4 in Sweden and No. 7 in New Zealand. The joint albums broke Simple Minds into the UK Top 20 (No. 11) and the Australian Top 40 (No. 31).

On August 28, 1981, Simple Minds launched a nine-date UK tour at Edinburgh’s Odeon Theatre with Australian new wavers Icehouse , who re-released their debut album after a re-brand from their initial name, Flowers.

On the first weekend of September, Simple Minds and Icehouse played the Futurama 3 Festival, a post-punk event at Stafford’s Bingley Hall with sets by A Flock of Seagulls , Bauhaus , Gang of Four , The Lines , The Passions , and The Sound. Simple Minds headlined Day 2 (Sunday Sept. 6), which also featured B-Movie , Bow Wow Wow , Diagram Brothers , Eyeless in Gaza , Ludus , Modern Eon , Section 25 , The Higsons , and UK Decay . The tour with Icehouse wrapped on September 25 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon.

Simple Minds embarked on an October tour of Canada, followed by three nights in California, including a November 7 show at San Francisco’s Cinema Club with New Order . They flew to Australia for eighteen dates, including eight with Icehouse and newcomes The Divinyls. Simple Minds closed out 1981 with shows in Spain and Scotland.

Simple Minds started work on their next studio album in February 1982 at the London’s Townhouse. On Feb. 11, they did a session for BBC Radio 1’s Kid Jenson (aired 2/23), which featured “In Trance as Mission” and two new songs: “Promised You a Miracle” and “King is White and in the Crowd.” After this set, Hyslop formed the electro-funk band Set the Tone, which released the 1983 album Shiftin’ Air Affair on Island Records. Simple Minds hired former Cafe Jacques drummer Mike Ogletree and embarked on a Feb–March European tour.

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

New Gold Dream spawned three general-release singles: “Someone Somewhere in Summertime” and the breakthrough hits “Glittering Prize” and “Promised You a Miracle,” the one cut with Zones drummer Kenny Hyslop, who anchored the preceding tour.

Deep cuts include the hypno-funk “Big Sleep” and the ethereal jams “Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel” and “Somebody Up There Likes You,” an ambient instrumental that closes Side One. Both jams (plus the title track) feature ex-Cafe Jaques drummer Mike Ogletree. Drummer Mel Gaynor joined late in the New Gold Dream sessions and plays on the remaining tracks. American jazz-funk legend Herbie Hancock plays keyboards on “Hunter and the Hunted.”

1. “ Someone Somewhere in Summertime ” (4:36) 2. “ Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel ” (3:49) 3. “ Promised You a Miracle ” (4:28) Kerr wrote the lyrics in response to the band’s unexpected breakout success in Australia and New Zealand. 4. “ Big Sleep ” (5:00) 5. “ Somebody Up There Likes You ” (5:02)

6. “ New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) ” (5:39) 7. “ Glittering Prize ” (4:33) 8. “ Hunter and the Hunted ” (5:55) 9. “ King is White and in the Crowd ” (7:00)

Sessions took place between February and August 1982 at the Townhouse, London, and The Manor, a mansion facility in Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, owned by Virgin co-founder Richard Branson. Simple Minds recorded the album with Peter Walsh, who Burchill requested on the strength of the “Sweat in Bullet” remix. Walsh produced New Gold Dream amid work on 1982 Virgin debuts by China Crisis and The Pale Fountains .

As sessions progressed, Walsh took issued with Ogletree’s light percussive style (a feature of the 1977–78 Cafe Jacques albums Round the Back and International ). Walsh recommended drummer Mel Gaynor, a solid-beat player who recently filled the slot in Samson after the loss of their leather-faced mascot Thunderstick. Upon the completion of New Gold Dream , Gaynor joined Simple Minds on a permanent basis. Ogletree surfaced in the Scottish synthpop band Fiction Factory .

The female voice on “Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel” and “Glittering Prize” is session singer Sharon Campbell, a backing vocalist on 1981–82 albums by The Breakfast Band, Neil Innes, and the debut title by Scottish sensation Sheena Easton .

New Gold Dream credits three tape ops, including Life in a Day participant and Townhouse soundman George Chambers (an engineer on the 1982 Kate Bush release The Dreaming ) and Keith ‘Richard’ Nixon, also credited on 1982 albums by Gil Scott-Heron , Johnny Warman , and the UK Players .

New Gold Dream is the second of three Simple Minds albums with graphics by Malcolm Garrett’s Assorted iMaGes design firm, which devised a gold–maroon scheme on wool with serif fonts beside a flaming-heart Celtic cross. The back cover features a slick-haired group headshot (two Jim’s) by photographer Jamie Morgan, also credited on 1981–82 sleeves by BIM, Delegation , Heaven 17, Leisure Process , and the Oceanic acts Australian Crawl, Mi-Sex , and The Reels.

In the “Promised You a Miracle” video, Simple Minds (grayscale) perform against green screens while Jim (color) dramatizes the words: loosely embodied by a blond female (from the “Love Song” clip) clad in neo-thirties man-chic (flatcap, tie, pleated slacks) who passes through a luggage inspection amid infrared flashes and black-sky beach scenes, where Jim (saturated) does a faux tribal dance. Charlie (guitar, sax), Derek (bass, percussion), and Michael (marimba) flash by recurrently with no account for the transitory drum slot.

“Promised You a Miracle” reached No. 9 in New Zealand and No. 10 in Australia. It peaked at No. 17 in Sweden and No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart.

Simple Minds mimed “Promised You a Miracle” on the April 15 broadcast of the BBC music program Top of the Pops , which thrice aired the clip amid spring hits by Altered Images (“See Those Eyes”), The Associates (“Club Country”), Blondie (“Island of Lost Souls”), Duran Duran (“Hungry Like the Wolf”), Fun Boy Three (“The Telephone Always Rings”), Monsoon (“Ever So Lonely”), Roxy Music (“More Than This”), Spandau Ballet (“Instinction”), Yazoo (“Only You”), and Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (“Ebony and Ivory”). In the Simple Minds segment, Jim Kerr dons a white double-breasted leather jacket and white pants tucked into black knee boots.

Filmmaker Matthew Stonehouse directed the “Glittering Prize” video, in which Jim, Charlie, and Michael perform inside a chamber lined with gold lame. The blond (in her third Simple Minds video appearance) portrays a golden lady who visits the tomb of Tutankhamun and brings the pharaoh to life. She then passes the statue of a gold Adonis (MacNeil), who comes to life in her wake.

“Glittering Prize” reached No. 4 in New Zealand, No. 8 in Norway, and No. 9 in Australia. It peaked at No. 11 in Ireland and Sweden and No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

Simple Minds mimed “Glittering Prize” on the September 9, 1982, broadcast of TotP , which thrice aired the song amid late-summer hits by ABC (“All of My Heart”), Adam Ant (“Friend or Foe”), Bauhaus (“Ziggy Stardust”), Carly Simon (“Why”), Chicago (“Hard to Say I’m Sorry”), Culture Club (“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”), Depeche Mode (“Leave In Silence”), Fat Larry’s Band (“Zoom”), Haircut One Hundred (“Nobody’s Fool”), The Jam (“The Bitterest Pill”), Musical Youth (“Pass the Dutchie”), Survivor (“Eye of the Tiger”), Talk Talk (“Today”), and UB40 (“So Here I Am”). Ogletree appears at a profile view (opposite MacNeil) in the Simple Minds segment, where the band mime on a fag-laden stage amid cages, tube lights, and green rays.

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) , reached No. 2 in New Zealand and No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart. It also went Top 10 in Australia (No. 8) and Sweden (No. 9) and peaked at No. 17 in Norway. Simple Minds also gained stateside traction with New Gold Dream , which climbed to No. 69 on the Billboard 200.

Simple Minds toured New Gold Dream with October–November swings through Australia, New Zealand, and Canada; supported in the latter by Seattle new wavers The Visible Targets. On November 18, they commenced a 27-date UK tour with Virgin labelmates China Crisis.

In March 1983, Virgin Italy issued “New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)” as the album’s fourth and final a-side, backed with “Somebody Up There Likes You.”

On March 1, 1983, Simple Minds launched a 23-date European tour at the Koninklijk La Carre in Amsterdam. They encountered their most impassioned audience during a three-date stop in Italy, where they filled Bologna’s Palasport Arena on March 14. The band’s experience before stadium-sized audiences influenced their subsequent approach to music. The Euro leg wrapped on March 29 at the Konserthuset in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Simple Minds launched a North American tour on August 8 in Seattle at the Eagles Hippodrome. The tour included two nights at San Francisco’s Kabuki Theatre and swings through the South, Midwest, and Canada. It wrapped on May 15 at The Ritz in New York City, where the jealous boyfriend of a female fan assaulted Jim Kerr outside the club.

On May 23, Simple Minds played the penultimate set at the Pinkpop Festival in Geleen, Netherlands, which also featured sets by T.C. Matic, Fun Boy Three, Nena , Men at Work , Gary Moore , and Doe Maar . After a month off the road to write new material, they did a twelve-date European tour that opened on June 24 at the Amsterdam Paradiso and wrapped with a set at the July 16 Elixir Festival in Guehenno, France, which also featured Aswad , Belle Stars , Joe Cocker , Mama’s Boys , and The Stranglers.

On August 14, Simple Minds supported U2 at Pheonix Park in Dublin along with fellow openers Steel Pulse and the Eurythmics . Simple Minds bonded off-stage with U2, who recently conquered the American market with their third album War . The Irish band’s anthemic delivery influenced the subsequent songwriting and stage mannerisms of Simple Minds, which commenced work on their upcoming album with War producer Steve Lillywhite.

After sessions wrapped on their sixth studio album, Simple Minds rounded out 1983 with seasonal three-nighters in London (December 17–19: Strand Lyceum Theatre) and Glasgow (Dec. 21–23: Barrowland Ballroom).

A fortnight before their new album hit shelves, Simple Minds played its contents in full to 45,000 fans in Sommersby, Australia, on the opening day (Friday, January 27, 1984) of the Narara Festival, a four-day event with sets by Def Leppard , Eurogliders , INXS , Kids in the Kitchen , The Models , Mondo Rock , Real Life , The Pretenders , and Talking Heads . Simple Minds’ Oceanic leg covered two-nighters in Melbourne and Sydney and two shows in New Zealand, including a February 5 appearance in Ngaruawahia for the Sweetwaters Festival, which featured most of the Narara acts. Backstage, Kerr met Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, who recently split from Kinks frontman Ray Davies.

Sparkle in the Rain

Kerr penned the lyrics to the eight vocal originals, including the advance singles “Waterfront” and “Speed Your Love to Me” and the followup “Up on the Catwalk.” Side Two opens with a cover of the Lou Reed chestnut “Street Hassle” and closes with the instrumental “Shake Off the Ghosts.”

Sparkle in the Rain is the only Simple Minds studio album produced by U2 soundman Steve Lillywhite, who renders the band with a lavish sound geared for their new scale as a stadium act. Lillywhite’s wife, singer Kirsty MacColl, adds vocals to “Speed Your Love to Me” and “Street Hassle.”

1. “ Up on the Catwalk ” (4:45) 2. “ Book of Brilliant Things ” (4:21) 3. “ Speed Your Love to Me ” (4:24) 4. “ Waterfront ” (4:49) 5. “ East at Easter ” (3:32)

6. “ Street Hassle ” (5:14) 7. “ White Hot Day ” (4:32) The chorus line (“On a quiet night of a white hot day”) is the source of the album’s initial working title: Quiet Night of the White Hot Day . 8. “ ‘C’ Moon Cry Like a Baby ” (4:19) 9. “ The Kick Inside of Me ” (4:48) 10. “ Shake Off the Ghosts ” (3:57)

Sessions took place in September–October 1983 at Monnow Valley Studios, the converted rehearsal space of nearby Rockfield Studios, the Real to Real Cacophony recording site in Monmouth, Wales. Additional sessions occurred at London’s Townhouse with Steve Lillywhite, who produced Sparkle in the Rain in succession with War and The Crossing , the 1983 debut album by Skids-spinoff Big Country .

Lillywhite’s list of production credits included late-seventies classics by Ultravox ( Ultravox! , Ha! Ha! Ha! ), Eddie & The Hot Rods ( Life on the Line ), Siouxsie & The Banshees ( The Scream ), and XTC ( Drums and Wires ). He ushered Peter Gabriel into the post-punk realm on the ex- Genesis singer’s 1980 third solo album (colloquially known as Melt ) and produced early eighties titles by Joan Armatrading , The Psychedelic Furs , Sector 27 , Thompson Twins , Urban Verbs , and chief client U2, who Lillywhite produced for a limit-defying three albums. His sequential work with U2, Big Country, and Simple Minds — three bands grouped by Celt-rock associations — made him an architect of a rock sound later dubbed ‘Big Music.’

Lillywhite refined each Sparkle in the Rain song through multiple takes. He encouraged spontaneity to capture ideas in the formative stage. As new songs took shape, he urged Kerr to write lyrics attuned to the melodies. Townhouse soundman Howard Gray engineered Sparkle in sequence with 1983–84 titles by Europeans , Frida , UB40, Waitresses, and The Armoury Show (another Skids spinoff). Assistant engineer Gavin McKillop has credits on concurrent albums by General Public, The Human League, Public Image Ltd ., The Room, and Scott Walker .

Sparkle in the Rain is housed in a gold-lined cover with a coat of arms designed by Assorted Images. The inner-sleeve has a fullscale checker–stripe optical illusion (recreated on the LP label). Original UK copies appeared on white vinyl. In Canada, Virgin pressed Sparkle on transparent vinyl.

The “Waterfront” video consists of footage from a free show before invited fans on November 20, 1983, at the Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom . Kerr sports a baggy blue suit with white socks and shirt.

“Waterfront” reached No. 1 in New Zealand, No. 5 in Ireland, and No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. It also went Top 20 in Sweden (No. 16) and Australia (No. 19). Simple Minds mimed it before flashing ring diamonds on the November 11, 1983 broadcast of TotP , which also featured autumn hits by Billy Joel (“Uptown Girl”), Paul Young (“Love of the Common People”), The Smiths (“This Charming Man”), The Style Council (“A Solid Bond In Your Heart”), Thompson Twins (“Hold Me Now”), and Tina Turner (“Let’s Stay Together”).

In the “Speed Your Love” video, Simple Minds perform in a black-walled, gold-columned studio where Jim sports a brown double-breated leather jacket with gray slacks. The camera zooms on Kerr as the background cuts to high-speed green-screen footage of driver views and aerial footage of the Scottish highlands.

“Speed Your Love to Me” reached No. 9 in Ireland, No. 18 in Sweden, and No. 20 in the UK.

In the song’s video, Simple Minds perform on a catwalk in a white-draped room flanked with pastel lights, fire columns, and side levels with strutting masked females. Kerr sports a red leather bolero jacket with black pleat–peg slacks.

B. “ A Brass Band In Africa ” (5:10) The 12″ contains an extended mix titled “A Brass Band in African Chimes” (9:22).

Sparkle In the Rain reached No. 1 in New Zealand and peaked at No. 2 in Sweden and the Netherlands. In the UK, Sparkle In the Rain became their first of three consecutive No. 1 studio albums. The album went Top 20 in Australia (No. 15), Switzerland (No. 19), and Germany and Norway (both No. 14). In North America, Sparkle In the Rain reached No. 14 in Canada and No. 64 on the US Billboard 200.

Simple Minds promoted Sparkle In the Rain with a five-date swing through Ireland, including a February 22 show at Belfast’s Ulster Hall with Silent Running, where high demand prompted a late-evening second set. In March, Simple Minds played eight shows in Scotland and seventeen in England, culminating with six straight nights at London’s Hammersmith Odeon (two added due to high demand).

On March 24, Simple Minds played Stockholm’s Johanneshov Isstadion: the launch of the 31-date European leg, which wrapped on April 27 at Le Zenith in Paris. They launched a second (mini) UK tour on May 7 that culminated with eight nights (May 12–19) at Hammersmith.

Simple Minds opened 1985 with a three-night engagement (January 3–5) at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom. They scored their first US hit single, which marked the end of bassist Derek Forbes’ tenure (barring a 1998 return). Simple Minds hired bassist John Giblin, a veteran sessionist ( Metro , Duncan Browne , Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Phil Collins , Chris De Burgh ) who played in the 1979–80 Brand X lineup.

“Don’t You (Forget About Me)”

Forsey (a Munich disco vet and recent Billy Idol soundman) conceived the song with Schiff ( 1994 , Nina Hagen ) as the two worked on score music for the Breakfast Club soundtrack. They pitched the song to several artists (Idol, Bryan Ferry , Fixx frontman Cy Curnin) who turned it down before Simple Minds (with some persuading) accepted. Forsey produced the song, recorded in November 1984 in a single afternoon session.

“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” appeared as a single on February 20, 1985, on A&M in the US. On April 8, the single appeared on UK Virgin. This is the last Simple Minds recording for thirteen years with bassist Derek Forbes, who left after the song’s completion.

The video takes place inside the Knebworth House, a 15th-century Late Gothic manor in Hertfordshire on the grounds of the annual Knebworth Festival. It opens with a pan-down from the foyer chandelier onto Jim Kerr, who reappears in a ring of TV screens tuned to his bandmates. They reappear in a room littered with toys, where Jim pounds a jukebox as strewn screens air scenes from The Breakfast Club . The camera zooms on members and recurrently pans the circumference  of the room, where Jim (loose gray suit) appears perched by the hearth before piles of furnishings.

The “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” video is an early directorial credit by Daniel Kleinman, a onetime member of Bazooka Joe, an unrecorded London seventies act with a revolving-door lineup that included Adam Ant and future Vibrators guitarist John Ellis.

MTV placed the video in high rotation in the US, where “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” marked Simple Minds’ debut on the Billboard Hot 100. On the week of May 18, it displaced “Crazy for You” by Madonna as the No. 1 song in America and bowed the following week to “Everything She Wants” by Wham! “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” also reached No. 1 in Canada and the Netherlands and went Top 5 in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, and West Germany. It peaked at No. 7 in the UK but remained on the chart for a record-breaking two years.

On Saturday, July 13, 1985, Simple Minds performed “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia as part of the US portion of Live Aid, a bi-national concert event transmitted to 1.9 billion viewers in 150 nations for Ethiopian famine relief. Simple Minds wanted to play the London concert at Wembley Stadium but organizer Bob Geldof insisted they play the stateside concert due to their recent US success. Their fifteen-minute set (14:05 EST) featured three songs, including “Promised You a Miracle” and a new composition, “Ghost Dancing,” written two days before the event. Simple Minds’ slot occurred between afternoon sets by George Thorogood & the Destroyers (with Bo Diddley and Albert Collins) and The Pretenders.

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time is the first of two Simple Minds studio albums with bassist John Giblin. American soul singer Robin Clark sings background vocals on multiple songs and appears in the videos to “Alive and Kicking,” “Sanctify Yourself,” and “All the Things She Said.”

1. “ Once Upon a Time ” (5:45) 2. “ All the Things She Said ” (4:15) features guest percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos of Joe Jackson ‘s backing band. The lyrics allude to statements made by the wives of Polish political prisoners. 3. “ Ghost Dancing ” (4:45) 4. “ Alive and Kicking ” (5:26)

5. “ Oh Jungleland ” (5:14) 6. “ I Wish You Were Here ” (4:42) 7. “ Sanctify Yourself ” (4:57) 8. “ Come a Long Way ” (5:07)

Sessions rook place at London’s Townhouse Studio with Brooklyn-born producer Jimmy Iovine, the hit-making soundman on recent albums by Dan Hartman , Face to Face , Rod Stewart , and Stevie Nicks . His ‘big’ production style expands on the lavishness of Simple Minds’ prior album Sparkle In the Rain . Iovine’s opportunity to work with Simple Minds came one year after U2 (who employed him for their 1983 live album Under a Blood Red Sky ) revoked an invitation to produce their 1984 fourth studio album The Unforgettable Fire , which they recorded instead with Brian Eno . (Iovine would ultimately produce U2’s 1988 live–studio double-album Rattle and Hum ).

Bob Clearmountain co-produced Once Upon a Time in sequence with 1984–85 titles by Bryan Adams, ‘Til Tuesday, and Hall & Oates . The album was co-engineered by Mark McKenna and Moira Marquis, a soundwoman whose 1985 credits include Mick Jagger’s solo debut She’s the Boss and Aretha Franklin ‘s comback album Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

Once Upon a Time was the highest-profile credit in ten years for backing vocalist Robin Clark, who sings on David Bowie’s 1975 album Young Americans . In tandem with her Simple Minds commitments, she recorded her only solo album, Surrender , for the New York HME label with liner notes by Bowie. Her recent session credits include albums by Change , High Fashion , Melissa Manchester , and Bowie’s 1984 album Tonight . She appears on Once Upon a Time with another Bowie backer: guitarist Carlos Alomar, who sings backing vocals along with Call frontman Michael Been and the Simms Brothers.

The Once Upon a Time cover shows overlapped grayscale member pics by Dutch photojournalist Anton Corbijn; arranged with graphic illustrations by Mick Haggerty. Corbijn’s imagery also appears on 1985–86 sleeves for Clannad , Peter Hammill , Propaganda , and Sting.

The video to “Alive and Kicking” opens under a full moon on the Catskill Mountains of New York State, where the camera pans down on Simple Minds, who lie positioned on a grassy plain beside North–South Lake. Jim leans into the lens for the first verse as the band stands before Kaaterskill Falls at the crack of dawn. They perform most of the song on a precipice beside the waterfall, where the camera pans between the band, Kerr, and Robin Clark as day gives way to sunset. The final moments pan outward from an aerial view of an archipelago where Simple Minds perform the closing bars.

Polish filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczyński directed the “Alive and Kicking” video in sequence with clips for Blancmange (“Lose Your Love”), Propaganda (“P-Machinery”), and the Larry Fast -involved dance project Iam Siam (“She Went Pop”).

“Alive and Kicking” reached No. 1 in Italy and No. 2 in Ireland and Benelux. It also went Top 5 in Canada, Norway, and New Zealand and matched the No. 7 peak of its predecessor on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, “Alive and Kicking” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks the song No. 17 on the 1986 year-end chart.

In the video for “Sanctify Yourself,” Simple Minds perform before a live audience on a blinds-decked stage, where Jim dons a belted white batwing top with a black beret and stretch pants. The pink-lit performance footage intercuts with grainy monochrome scenes of the band in Brussels, where Kerr hold a white dove and walks under the Atomium, a stainless steel structure of linked spheres constructed for Expo 58 (the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair).

“Sanctify Yourself” reached No. 3 in the Netherlands, No. 4 in Ireland, and No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart and the US Cashbox Top 100.

In the Rybczyński-directed “All the Things She Said” video, multiple iterations of Kerr, Burchill, and Robin Clark flash by with subtle variations (different jackets, guitar colors) before an outer-space green screen.

“All the Things She Said” reached No. 4 in Ireland, No. 6 in Netherlands, and No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/ Club Play chart and No. 9 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. All three Once Upo n a Time videos received high rotation on MTV.

Once Upon a Time reached No. 1 in the Netherlands and became their second straight No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. It peaked at No. 3 in Canada, Germany, and New Zealand and also went Top 10 in Sweden (No. 4), Norway (No. 6), Australia and Switzerland (both No. 7). In the US, Once Upon a Time reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200.

Street Fighting Years

Street Fighting Years involved twelve months of sessions with producer and Art of Noise mastermind Trevor Horn. As their first album conceived for the CD format, the ten-track LP version runs nearly one hour (59:10). They close the album with the Peter Gabriel cover “Biko,” a song about martyred South African freedom fighter Steve Biko. The CD version (61:13) contains a bonus eleventh track, “When Spirits Rise.”

Discography:

• Life in a Day (1979)
• Real to Real Cacophony (1979)
• Empires and Dance (1980)
• Sister Feelings Call (1981)
• Sons and Fascination (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)
• Discogs: Simple Minds
• 45worlds: Simple Minds
• 45cat: Simple Minds
• Scottish Albums Directory (page 6)
• SimpleMinds.org

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