17th december
december electrosets, hamburg (electroset), classic album selection, mainz (electroset), classic album selection classic pop review
Simple Minds performed at several German radio stations in December 2013 to promote the
Greatest Hits + Tour of Germany. It was the stripped-down
four-piece band (Jim, Charlie,
Simon and Sarah), playing
Electroset arrangements.
"36 hours after leaving the stage at the "huge" 02 arena, we were back on stage today in Germany. Quite a
difference, it was for a private concert for about 50 people who had won tix from the local radio station. We are
happy to perform wherever, always a delight to see the look on the faces whenever people hear their fave Minds
songs. In any case, a great band should be able to perform as well in stadiums as they do in the smallest of stages.
Am I right?" - Jim, 2nd December 2013
The idea of releasing a box-set of standard albums, just in time for Christmas, has been part of the record company's
strategy since 1990's Simple Minds box. Such boxes have been useful
ploys in getting rid of unwanted stock under an umbrella reissue campaign, usually encapsulating several artists,
and have become standard faire by many labels.
Hence the appearance of Classic Album Selection by Universal
shouldn't raise too many eyebrows. Furthermore the selection of those albums deemed "classic" was further simplified by
the release of Virgin's superior X5 or the cheap-and-cheerful
Five Album Set it wouldnt have done to put the first five out yet again,
so Universal pumped for the next five.
But gone are the days where old stock was simply pulled off the shelves and shoved into glossy clam-shell boxes. Albums
are now repackaged and thats where Classic Album Selection falls flat on its
face. It's the same-old 2002 remasters, and the same old story of no bonus material, but the artwork has suffered greatly.
The odd new dimensions of this set's glossy gatefold sleeves, and the poorly cropped and panned artwork of the remasters
(which were used as the primary resource for the graphic designer*), has resulted in a case of visual Chinese whispers. Only
Sparkle In The Rain emerges with any graphic dignity intact; all the
other sleeves are missing graphics, are badly cropped or are inexpertly cloned.
Furthermore the inexplicable decision was made to remove all album credits thus relegating the CD label's helpful advice to
"See Booklet For Details" to a downright misdirection. So band credits, producer acknowledgements, studio set-ups and lyrics
have all been expunged. I am at a loss as to explain why this would be.
As my local HMV verified with its Simple Minds selection groaning under the weight of this
box and the out-of-date
Best of,
Classic Album Selection is aimed for the casual Christmas purchaser.
That said, its inexcusable that all the care and detail the original graphic designers put into their art (including
industry names such as Malcolm Garrett,
Mick Haggerty and Rob O'Conner) have been wilfully neglected and compromised.
It simply does not look good.
*Virgin supplies the poorly executed "mini-LP" remaster artwork for new projects. These should be
filed in the "Delete" bin as soon as possible. In the meantime, projects such as
X5 and
Celebrate: The Greatest Hits+
used the original LPs for their source and look infinitely better for it.
James Blunt and Birdy pay tribute to Nelson Mandela with this
familar song: youtu.be/JhJ-jvw55zQ.
9th december
the real mccoy, paris, glasgow, manchester, birmingham, london
The Real McCoy DVD/Big Music Interview
MH: How are you this morning? JK: Great. Ive been here about a week amongst getting some work done in fact, this morning
I was working on a new song. You and I know each other really well and you know how when sometimes a thought
just pops up you have to case it so it messed up my plan. My plan was to get up really early which I did and
go jogging. But, as I was having my coffee, this idea loose idea for a song popped up so I've been chasing
it for the last couple of hours. Im getting ready to pack I will go for a jog and then head for the airport.
And as you know Simple Mindsbegin touring again
in the middle of this week in Europe and really looking forward to that. MH: So are you going to tell me what the title of this song is? Or is it not there yet? JK:Signal And The Noise. MH:Signal And The Noise? Nice... nice.
Is it from a piece of music you've had for a while? Or is this just an initial idea of a lyric? JK: It is. It's a piece of music from someone you introduced me to Owen Parker
who co-wrote Broken Glass Park. He intermittently sends me some pieces
and I've had this for a while. I was enchanted by it but I never thought or thought maybe it's an instrumental. It was very
cinematic and when you get these pieces they already sound sometimes complete. You think "Why would I put a voice on this? It would detract? or it wouldn't
live up. But the great thing about the whole MP3 thing and of course with iTunes and stuff is that I've got
thousands of songs and stuff just pops up randomly. And it's amazing sometimes, a month later, two months later,
that you thought I'll never have an idea for that and the music comes on and you're right there and I'm harmonizing
with it and that was the case this morning.
MH: Fantastic. It was great having you here and we hung out for a week. It was nice to have a
friend from Glasgow in sunny Laguna but you're going back to do a European tour and one thing I wanted to talk
to you about is you're going to do a live DVD which you haven't done
since Verona way back in 1989 or something.
So, what's the plans for the live DVD where is it and anything you want to reveal? JK: You're right. I think it's fair to say that for a lot of Simple Minds fans through the last
two decades since we released Verona which as you say is 1989 it was some while ago and it was our "In Concert" I
guess it was for the Street Fighting Years tour. We've never released an
"In Concert" film since Verona we've been filming constantly since then and
always had the intention of release but for one reason or another sometimes we
would go off the idea completely. We'd no "No matter what it is, you've got to come to the gigs because the films don't
really capture it how good they are. Although having said that we were so pleased with Verona
we also felt that perhaps we
could never beat that. I think it's fair to say that the last couple of years particularly now the band is so good the
band is so good and the set we've put together has been giving such a reaction that just the feeling of "we better get this
down, and we better get it out and although we've been touring around this year, we've been to America, we've been to Canada,
we've been to Australia, but we've only done half-a-dozen dates in these places essentially what I'm trying to say is that
there's a lot of people who are interested in our music, particularly live shows, haven't had the chance to see us for the
longest time and so we thought "Let's get this show down but where? And of course Glasgow our home town not only is
it always amazing when we play there and that goes way back to the early days and the Waterfront videos and all that stuff,
but this brand new venue is a landmark for the city and Glasgow where you're from and where I'm from is a city that's
always trying to reinvent itself. The new venue, the Hydro, is spectacular. I saw it when it was almost completed I haven't
seen a gig in it yet but, by all accounts, it's as good as we thought it was going to be. We're expecting an amazing night
and just as Glasgow is always having to reinvent itself so are Simple Minds. And that's been the story since day one.
So with all of those things, we thought, it's got to be Glasgow. It's on the 27th because it happens on
Charlie Burchill's birthday. MH: There you go. Double celebration.
MH: We talked about big shows Live Aid you debuted there
Don't You (Forget About Me) but also opened
with Ghostdancing which no-one had ever heard of you hadn't
even recorded yet. And then at Barrowland, you opened again after
all those years where you debuted Waterfront which wasn't even out yet
so can I ask "Is anything going to happen in this show in Glasgow? JK: I may as well point this out but the people who really know Simple Minds will be on your case
will say "No, no! They debuted Waterfront at
Phoenix Park." MH: Yeah, of course, yeah. JK: When U2 played. In fact, although we played it, the song wasn't... never mind recorded, the song
wasn't even fully written. It partly come together the previous day. It sounded so good as a sound thing that we played it.
"Let's just play it as an intro thing" though technically one could say we did it as a video
once it was recorded, we did the video for it at Barrowland. But Live Aid we
started with Ghostdancing, which hadn't been recorded yet, so it wasn't a
complete song, ... To have a new song and slot it in anywhere is always a good thing but sometime you think "Is there a special
thing? and is there a special occasion coming up where we can debut a song. Well, Glasgow is going to be a special occasion:
it's our home town and the fact that we're going to film the show and lo-and-behold we have a brand new song well, we have
a number of brand new songs but there's one in particular called Big Music
which I think is destined to become one of
the great Simple Minds live anthems, and the plan is to debut Big Music that
night at Glagsow and we'll take a few minutes to explain what's going on. MH: So, that's a big song, big title. So, I know you like these challenges, and are not scared
of them but, so the song lives up to the title of the song? JK: The song really does live up to the title. Sometimes I think: what inspired what? I went to see
Prince this year, and I saw him at a particular show in Switzerland, Montrose Jazz Fest, and of course he's
Prince,
he's amazing, but it was one of those ones where he never played anything anyone knew [laughs] and it's all these
funky jams and stuff. The band were amazing, and he was amazing, but I was a bit miffed. And I'm standing thinking
"Give me the stuff" just give me it. In fact, I was peeved I won't use the other word. And the next day on the plane,
flying back to the studio in Ireland, I had the music for Big Music and I thought all that frustration came out in the
song: "Give me the music, give me the groove, give me the sentiment, give me the feeling." You know, jams are good
but you need to deliver and so lo-and-behold... MH:Big Music. JK: And Andy Gillispie was playing around on a melody that
Charlie Burchill had worked on a long time ago
and we just couldn't find a lyric and there it was! And so this Big Music I think if you've got a title like that, it
already tells you what the song's going to sound like. Hopefully it'll live up to the expectations people may have
after listening to me rave about it. MH: Fantastic. So recently we've had Broken Glass Park
and also Blood Diamonds. So Blood Diamonds was
co-written between you and the guy from Chvrches called
Iain Cook and you, Charlie and
Owen Parker wrote Broken Glass Park.
So is this a Kerr/Burchill title? JK: It is indeed. The melody's ten years old and it had been lost in the midst of time. We were frustrated
way back then because we always thought it was a great melody but I guess we weren't quite sure where to take it next. And
there's many ideas, they go on the back burner and sometimes when it's meant to be, it's meant to be. It was actually
Simon Hayward who works with us on our Electrosets and stuff, he started badgering
me about it: "There's this tune and you
have to do it. It's so good. And so as we were coming to the last stage of the recordings, we were doing in Dublin, I brought
it up again to Charlie and
Andy Gilliespie who was in the room at the time and we put it on and the melody was startlingly
good and we thought it would be great if we could crack this. JK: It's amazing sometimes. You put in the work and sometimes it adds up and sometimes you're disappointed
but rarely does anything go to waste if it's that good, it usually announces itself in some way at some point later on in the future.
MH: So it's Glasgow on November 27th... JK: Glasgow is November 27th... We start this week actually. We start in
Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp and Paris it's
going to be an amazing week, all those places who have supported Simple Minds for decades always great nights. But then the
following week we start mid-week in Glasgow on the 27th, MH:Charlie Burchill's birthday. And also you have Ultravox opening. JK: We do. And people are really excited about that. You know, it's a really special band Ultravox. MH: Of course, Midge is from Glasgow as well so that'll be a great night for him. JK:Midge Ure is from Glasgow and I saw him recently. He's a good man. As for the band itself,
it's pretty poignant, because Charlie and I remember hitch-hiking to Edinburgh and indeed
London to see Ultravox when John Foxx was in the band who, coincidentally, has just done a
remix of our Blood Diamonds track the one that you just mentioned written by
Iain Cook of the Chvrches who play in LA tomorrow night they're from Glasgow so go and see them!
I'm really disappointed that I'm leaving today otherwise I would be there. MH: I'm going to go and see them so I'll give them your best. I was really hoping they'd get to see you JK: But, you see, that's like a whole circle there. MH: I remember when we first started working with Iain and writing together and I said have
you listened to
the early Simple Minds? And also have you listened to their influences? And I played him a couple of tracks from
very early Ultravox
stuff Systems Of Romance specifically and he was just blown away. You're right a big circle.
Iain Cook writes Blood Diamonds,
John Foxx mixes Blood Diamonds, and you're there at the core.
But I hate to do this, but I think it's amazing I've had you around for a week, but you're about to get on a plane... thank
you once again for your time. JK: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our people in the States, in America, who came to see us.
It really made us feel wonderful every night and looking forward to getting back hopefully the summer, end of summer, next year.
Paris will always be special to Simple Minds, it is where we recorded our
Live In The City Of Light album, great memories and alot
bit of history. Looking for more when we play in Paris tomorrow tonight!" - Jim, 23rd November 2013
"Tonight will be the 5th show in five successive nights. Feeling tired? Not at all! Our audiences give us all the
energy needed. See you tonight at Le Zenith." - Jim, 24th November 2013
"Thanks to all! The Zenith and the City of Paris will always have a place in our hearts. Thanks for tonight! Special
thanks to our crew, after five concerts in five successive nights they are due some sleep. Their energy and enthusiasm is
very much appreciated - and now everyone needs to be fresh for this week's UK shows." - Jim, 24th November 2013
"In the end it had to be Glasgow! I am of course talking about where we have decided to shoot the
Simple Minds in concert film that is due to be released next year. Our first filmed concert release
incidentally, since our quite famous Verona concert,
which was itself released in 1990. Yes, that long, a whole lifetime away in someways."
"But why Glasgow, and even more so, why now in particular?"
"Well, among those with the experience to judge, many would probably agree with the notion that
Simple Minds shows are currently hitting a new kind of peak. Put it down to the present band line - up,
the vast selection of songs, the quality of sound and lights, and never forgetting of course, the involvement of our
energetic audiences that play such a part wherever we perform. It is the amazing consistency of all of this that
has pushed us into deciding that this would be the right moment to capture these hot and sweaty, but still magical nights,
that we are in the midst of experiencing."
"And why Glasgow? No, it is not only sentimental reasoning that has made us commit to choosing our
"Dear Hometown". Although that obviously figures somewhere. And why not? We are a Scottish band after all,
and Glasgow not only gave birth to Simple Minds, but has nourished and encouraged us throughout our
careers. Scotland itself, has and will always be intrinsic to who we are, and how we sound. It is our "alma mater",
let's never forget! Like the place itself, we are made out of the same "rock and rain", therefore what could be
a more relevant situation?"
"But why in that case, you might ask, having read my bluster. Have we never filmed a Glasgow show prior to
this? Well, Barrowlands apart, where we did after all film the Waterfront clip,
we feel that Glasgow has in the past suffered in terms of having the most desirable venues. In other words, we never
felt that we had a venue that we could show off to the world, one that matches the impressiveness of a Scottish audience.
Until now that is."
"Because finally change has - a - come, in the form of the newly built and recently opened SSE Hydro arena.
And by all accounts we are now all set to film in a venue that can provide the kind of environment that
Simple Minds live in Glasgow probably deserve, and we now have building that merits showing off."
"So please wish us luck on Wednesday 27th of November. Given that it is also the birthday of
Charlie Burchill, such a date will always play a part in the history of
Simple Minds. Nevertheless, in Glasgow next Wednesday, Simple Minds will be trying to
add a little more history to our as yet never ending story." - Jim, 24th November 2013.
"Looking forward to bringing our BIG MUSIC to Glasgow, Manchester,
Midlands, and finally London. A great way to end this great year. - Jim, 24th November 2013.
"Glasgow - We need you! I wonder how many were there in Barrowland Ballroom back in '83
when we made the clip for Waterfront? The audience made that clip special. Likewise
tomorrow night when we blast our new song Big Music, we will film a clip for the song,
due to be released early next year. Once again we will need our fans, and the Scottish audience in particular, to create
the kind of unique atmosphere that they are famous for. I know we will not be let down. Thanks to all!" - Jim, 26th November 2013.
"Our fans never let us down! Thanks to all in Glasgow tonight. Special thanks for helping us out with our Big Music.
Looking forward so much to the rest of the UK." - Jim, 27th November 2013.
"Thanks to everyone in Glasgow last night. Including, staff, technicians, cameras, director/producers,
promoter etc. I am sure the film of the concert - to be released next year - will truly capture what was for us a
very memorable night." - Jim, 28th November 2013.
"Always great nights for Simple Minds in Manchester. Looking to continue with that tradition tonight." - Jim, 28th November 2013.
"Always feel great after playing in Manchester. Tonight was more of the same. Great crowd, great venue... the band weren't
bad either!" - Jim, 28th November 2013.
"As you can see - when our audience sings it makes us happy! I am sure they will sing plenty tonight.
We have had great past shows at the NIA. Seen some amazing gigs there also - including Prince - Sign Of The Times tour
- U2 Joshua Tree tour. Phenomenal both!" - Jim, 28th November 2013.
"Birmingham is another city that never lets us down. Thank you for last night - you know how to make a band feel good!" - Jim, 29th November 2013.
"O2 tomorrow night...Not including festivals, this will be the biggest crowd we have played to in the UK
for a very long time. Looking forward very much." - Jim, 29th November 2013.
"Beginning in Melbourne exactly a year ago today - ending last night at 02 in London. A huge and genuine thanks to
all who came to see us throughout our shows in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UK + Ireland, North America, South America
and South Africa. We are looking forward to more of the same, plus the release of a lot of new music
from Simple Minds next year." - Jim, 1st December 2013.
1st december
german electroset, 9.30 review, virgin 40th, koko, glasgow 2014, amsterdam, icon promo, who sampled who?, antwerp
Simple Minds will be performing a number of small electroset gigs
at various German radio stations next week to promote the forthcoming European Tour.
The gigs will be streamed live but there's also the chance of winning tickets by completing a form on the websites:
As Jim would say about half-way through the first set, "What could be better
than Simple Minds on a Friday night?" So, so true! A sold out show at the "world famous" 9:30 club with
Simple Minds on a beautiful October evening and being there with my oldest friend, who I went to my only
show with back in 1991.
So maybe it being the early show at the club meant a slightly shorter set list, but the band made the night
special and were so gracious as to cut the interval extremely short so they could give us everything they could. Yes
we missed Blood Diamonds in the first set, but we did get the 3-song encore with
the amazing Ghost Dancing - Gloria -
Take Me To The River medley that I have been hoping to hear since I
bought the live at Hampton Court CDs. A trade I would make any day!
To the band, when Jim asked during the opening
Broken Glass Park "Do you still remember me?", I hope you took the
thundering applause and cheers as proof that not only were you guys remembered here in the States,
YOU WERE ALL TERRIBLY MISSED! I am not sure why the band decided to stop playing Moscow Underground
as their opener, it is such an attack of energy and sound, I guess they wanted to remind the audience that they
do have some new songs out there, so they opened with Broken Glass Park.
It was however a great set up for my all time favorite, Waterfront. That first riff from
Charlie picking you and carrying you along as Ged's
bass line hits you in the guts like a sledge hammer. I hope they keep it in the 2-spot, it really works there! I have always
thought that a sign of a great band is the ability to transition from one song to the next without having to stop (why break the
energy chain) and the band showed us they were ready to jam as they did this with the first two songs and then did it again with
Once Upon A Time and All The Things She Said.
These two really showcased how well Jim and
Sarah Brown work together trading lyrics back and forth.
The band must pay attention to the polls on the website since the one showed that the fan favorite is
New Gold Dream! It was awesome to hear the crowd singing the lyrics to
Prize with
Jim It seemed only fitting that the band introduced
Let the Day Begin as a Michael Been song, I hope he was up
there in heaven watching, gone too soon!
A quick break after the closing New Gold Dream had the band minus
Jim and
Sarah coming back out to do
Theme For Great Cities and then
Sarah came out to sing
Neon Lights.
Themes really showcasing
Andy's keyboards and Ged's bass lines.
This Fear Of Gods was a great surprise, so eerie sounding with the lyrics,
guitars and Andy's effects, reaching all the way back to the early 80s.
Someone Somewhere In Summertime was great with the audience joining
Jim for the final lyrics. It was cool to hear how many people around us
recognized it and knew the lyrics. I am a huge Good News fan
so I was really happy to hear She's A River, one of the best versions ever!
Again that huge stadium-filling sound that carries you along like Waterfront.
How about resurrecting Great Leap Forward guys?
It was then that we really saw Jim breaking out all of his old moves on the stage,
even going so far as to do his old leaning all the way back while kneeling move. It may have taken him a little longer to get
back up but he laughed it off saying "Don't try that at home!" It started a hot run of songs where the band never let up
and the audience never stopped singing. The American was great and
Love Song was even better (that cool stutter start letting us know it was on!)
See the Lights was huge with Jim seeming
to sing it to the entire crowd, but each one of us individually at the same time, that closing bass line seeming to sum
up everything great about the night.
I know a lot of people came to see Don't You and the band gave it new energy with
Jim really getting into having the crowd sing it to him, telling us we were sounding
good despite having the difficult songs to sing. It was nice to see that they still have fun playing it and
Jim asking the crowd to sing the closing "LA LA LA LAs" in English, Spanish, Japanese
and Italian. The crowd kept the lead lyric role as the band closed the set with
Promised You a Miracle.
Coming back out to Sanctify was a great way to say thank you to the crowd, and
Alive And Kicking showed us what a great singer
Sarah Brown is. As soon as I saw Jim sneak over to
Ged near the end of the song I knew we would get
Ghost Dancing and I was not disappointed.
I have read other reviews where fans express that the medley with Gloria and
Take Me To The River is not all that, but I really like it. I think it is
awesome that the band does medleys. I would love to someday hear the medley they did years ago with
Roadhouse Blues and
On the Road Again by Canned Heat with
Waterfront.
So 21 awesome songs, just about two hours all together. It seemed to go so quick, but it all still stands out in
my memory so well. This version of the band sounds incredible; you can really tell they have been playing together
for a while now and really enjoying being on stage with each other. I hope the line up stays this way.
Jim really seemed to enjoy interacting with the crowd, posing for pictures after each song,
Charlie was amazing, a mad man with his guitars,
Mel showed us why he is still the best drummer in the world and
Ged and
Andy both really brought it as well. Can't wait for you guys to come back,
please make it soon!!!!! We need you guys!!!!! Thank you so much for a night I will always remember as one of the best
of my life. My friend Tony and I both agree that this show was 10 times better than the show we saw in 1991. A show that
included many favorites and hits, but that could not stand up to the energy the band brought this night! How about another
5X5 tour with Sparkle In The Rain,
Once Upon A Time,
Street Fighting Years,
Real Life and
Good News From The Next World?
Bob S.
Simple Minds Fan PA.
USA
I noticed that the five compilation albums, issued by
Virgin to celebrate their 40th anniversary,
include some 7" rarities never before released.
The triple-CD album 40 Years Of Disruptions features Don't You (Forget About Me)
whilst New Gold Dreams (Post Punk And New Wave: '76-'83) includes The American
and Love Song. Checking all reveals the standard 7" edits - so nothing new
sneaked out.
This gig was part of Virgin's 40th anniversary celebrations.
A special T-shirt was designed for the event and was for sale at the gig. It was based on the
Dream Giver design of the 25 Theme Volume CDs -
a nice historical footnote given the occasion. It was then made available through the Simple Minds Shop.
"It is always special to play in London, a city where we have fans, family and friends. The show tomorrow,
is a Virgin Records event, tying in with a celebration of Virgin Records
through the years. It is impossible to convey how happy we were on the day in 1981 when we signed to
Virgin, starting a relationship continues to this day. Virgin, and many who worked for
them, "put their neck on the line" for Simple Minds. We will never forget their efforts on our behalf.
Neither will we forget the fun we had throughout it all" - Jim, 6th November 2013
"A lot of familiar faces at tonight's gig in Koko, London. Many great supporters, people who repeatedly travel from
far and wide. We appreciate everybody who comes to see us, those who welcome us and encourage us night after night.
It was a pleasure to be part of Virgin Records' 40th celebrations, always feel good to play our
music wherever we are."- Jim, 8th November 2013
Jim was recently interviewed by
Glasgow 2014 where he outlined the city's vibrant musical history.
The interview is peppered with archive shots of old Glasgow haunts and snaps of
Simple Minds playing at these historic venues.
"From their first gig in the Mars Bar to the
brand new Hydro where Simple Minds are soon to play,
lead singer Jim Kerr describes the iconic Glasgow venues that charted the band's
rise to fame and why the Commonwealth Games will be a great catalyst for change in the city." - Glasgow 2014.
"Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp and Paris... all of them cities where we have had past legendary shows.
All cities that have supported Simple Minds for decades. We can't wait, hoping for more of the
same. Desperate to be better than ever" - Jim, 17th November 2013
"A big thank you to everyone who came to hear our big music in Amsterdam last night. You made us feel good, more than good.
One more, same time, same place tonight, thanks for supporting Simple Minds" - Jim, 20th November 2013
Collectors will be interested in the Icon Promo CD which has just surfaced.
"Amsterdam Thank You! Antwerp coming up later today." - Jim, 21st November 2013
Who Sampled Who is a great collaborative website which is constructing
a database of songs and the samples which were used to produce them. The Simple Minds section is starting to grow and
there were a number there which I was previously unaware of. A particular favourite of mine in Cappella's
Move Your Body which turns the 1985's classic Once Upon A Time
into a Euro-pop dance-floor classic.
"Belgium has stayed with Simple Minds and encouraged us throughout our career. We owe
our fans there so much, always will. Looking forward to tonight in Antwerp followed by Brussels tomorrow." - Jim, 22nd November 2013
"The audience at last night's Antwerp Show knocked us off our feet. I am sure they will do the same tonight
in Brussels. Thank you" - Jim, 22nd November 2013
"The most noise I have heard from a crowd ever! Thanks to all who came to the shows in Belgium, you made us feel incredibly happy. - Jim, 23rd November 2013
11th november
blood diamonds remix, koko, dvd director
John Foxx And The Maths has given Blood Diamonds
a stream-driven analogue-synth strip-down. Assembled from Jim's lyrics by ex-Ultravox lead singer
and analogue synth guru, John Foxx, the track now bubbles along on a seabed of sparkling ancient electronics.
Don't believe my word on it. It's an Internet-freebie so can be downloaded right now. Full details
on the download page.
This gig was part of Virgin's 40th anniversary celebrations.
"It is always special to play in London, a city where we have fans, family and friends. The show tomorrow,
is a Virgin Records event, tying in with a celebration of Virgin Records
through the years. It is impossible to convey how happy we were on the day in 1981 when we signed to
Virgin, starting a relationship continues to this day. Virgin, and many who worked for
them, "put their neck on the line" for Simple Minds. We will never forget their efforts on our behalf.
Neither will we forget the fun we had throughout it all" - Jim, 6th November 2013
"A lot of familiar faces at tonight's gig in Koko, London. Many great supporters, people who repeatedly travel from
far and wide. We appreciate everybody who comes to see us, those who welcome us and encourage us night after night.
It was a pleasure to be part of Virgin Records' 40th celebrations, always feel good to play our
music wherever we are."- Jim, 8th November 2013
As well as topping the charts on both side of the Atlantic, Simple Minds were hailed by
Bob Geldof as one of the best acts at 1985's Live Aid
and filled stadiums all over the world.
Now an award-winning filmmaker from Leicestershire is to document their homecoming concert in Glasgow this month.
Danny O'Connor is overseeing the job of catching the band on stage at the £125 million, 13,000 capacity
Hydro venue built for next year's Commonwealth Games.
A crew of between 25 and 50 will be involved in capturing the concert on November 27, and the film will
be released next year.
Danny, from Medbourne, near Market Harborough, said it was a big coup for his company,
Document Media, which he runs with Karen Craig.
He said: "This news is somewhat monumental as the band's last 'live in concert' film,
recorded in Verona way back in 1989, is now regarded as a rock classic.
"Simple Minds don't make a DVD every day or even every decade so the Glasgow Hydro is in for a real treat.
"To get them is beyond significant and it's contextual because this film will be about a brand new Glasgow
and a brand new tour.
"The city has been reborn that's what the band are keen to convey and I share that with them all the way."
Danny has brought in Matt Askem to direct filming.
Matt has filmed some of the world's biggest bands and filmed the opening and closing of the last
year's London Olympics. Danny will oversee the editing.
One of his biggest successes was Upside Down: The Creation Records Story, a documentary telling
the story of the influential indie record label, its founder Alan McGee and bands such as the
Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and Oasis.
That film, directed by Danny, was released in 2011 and won a Mojo
magazine vision award and NME music critics' award.
Other projects have included radio documentaries on Billie Holiday,
Kasabian and disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder, and concert films for
Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs.
Simple Minds' frontman Jim Kerr
said it was a privilege to be playing the new venue in their home town of Glasgow.
He recently blogged: "To say that we were impressed with what we saw would be a massive understatement.
"In fact, we were initially quite speechless, such was the impact.
"We agreed that what we saw has the makings of what may well be the perfect arena venue.
"Of course, Simple Minds fans can have the opportunity to decide for themselves the true
merits of this venue when we perform there.
"As for those who cannot be there, well you will still have the chance to experience the
atmosphere of that night due to our decision to film the show."
8th november
jamie sinclair, washington, australian cds, boston, don't you (forget about me) limited edition, montreal, toronto, new york, discography updates,
barcelona, johannesburg, koko, classic album selection
What links Jamie Sinclair with Eddie Duffy? Both greet me with the
shout of "Updates? Updates! Will you UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE."
Virgin: 40 Years Of Distruptions. Dream Giver: Almost 20 years of
delayed updates.
"After such a long absence we had no idea what kind of reaction we get at these shows in North America?
What a thrill to witness the warmth and enthusiasm that has been thrown our way from the first minute,
and lasting throughout the entire show. How lucky we are in that wherever we go in the world, we have these
audiences who come along to not only listen and observe - but to actually engage with our performance. In
doing so you feed us that extra energy, and with it a determination to make every single show as good as
it can possibly be. Thank you!" - Jim, 18th October 2013
"I think maybe that was our best ever gig in Washington. To look out at the end of the set
and see so many people - looking so happy - is a truly great feeling. Thanks for coming to see Simple Minds." - Jim, 18th October 2013
Is this a rallying call? Yes. Yes it is. Let me explain!
When these current dates were first announced back in early summer,
I explained that after such along absence from North America we really
needed our supporters here to "come out" to these gigs and show the local
promoters that "there is an audience for Simple Minds"
in this part of the world - and in doing so secure the possibility of many
return visits in the future. Well, our fans here have done that and we thank
all of you immensely.
However, re Thursday's upcoming show in New York City. Uh... maybe with a capacity
of 3,300, that was a little adventurous, or putting it frankly, we still need to
have a lot more people to turn up in order to make the kind of red hot atmosphere we
all would want to ensure a great last night in North America - and a great way to end this
fantastic series of dates.
Therefore if any of your friends "are thinking of coming down", try and get them to seal
the deal and come down. We want as many as possible to witness Sarah Brown
and all of Simple Minds in this current form. In the meantime re everyone already with
tickets to Roseland, including those who are traveling from far and wide. THANK YOU! See you there. - Jim, 19th October 2013
Many thanks to Alberto who sent in all the track times, and extra information, about
the DiscLive Network Australian CDs. This section is now,
thankfully, complete.
"Not only looking forward to tomorrow's show, but also looking forward to catching up with
bassist Eddie Duffy. As many know, Ed played with SM from '02 to '10,
bringing so much to our shows during that period. That apart he also grew up in the same Glasgow
street as both Charlie Burchill and myself. He is one of us alright - and
always will be! A great Simple Mind - Eddie Duffy." - Jim, 20th October 2013
"Boston - the penultimate American show - went so well. Thanks to everyone for coming to see us, thanks
for the reception above all. Amazing really, the people who have travelled from all over, to come to our gigs
over this last week. Thanks from the heart!" - Jim, 20th October 2013
"Canada: Coming your way in the next 24 hours, first up Montreal and then Toronto on Tuesday. Many memories
of all those shows in the early days, never forgetting the gigs in Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, Winnipeg, Hamilton,
Calgary, Edmonton etc. We will get to you next time for sure." - Jim, 20th October 2013
Don't You (Forget About Me) has been reissued as a very limited
edition 7" disc as part of the celebrations surrounding Virgin's 40 Years Of Disruptions.
More details about this release can be found here.
"It has been so long that I had trouble recognising the city at first. Montreal always had something
unique about it however, and rather quickly I started to get a familiar feeling. This is one of the first
places in the world to embrace the music of Simple Minds. We owe our fans here our very best
tonight. We owe all our fans the best every night in fact. But one night at a time and tonight it feels
great to be back in Montreal. To be back in Canada!" - Jim, 21st October 2013
"What a reception these people gave us tonight! I am ashamed that we have waited so long to return.
Hopefully our show tonight was the beginning of a new relationship with our fans here. We will be back - hopefully
sooner than you might think. Thank you so much!" - Jim, 21st October 2013
Many thanks to Paola for the set-list and to Mike (his Flickr set)
and Paola for the pictures.
"Last show of the North American tour, it was important to go out on a high. Thanks to the audience in
New York for giving us more than we had hoped for. I put out a message/rallying cry here on FaceBook last week asking
for support at this gig. We got it! No doubt about that. Noticed familiar faces in the crowd, people came from far and wide.
Across the ocean even. How amazing indeed. Also great to see so many of our old friends in the cities. We have missed you. Thank You!" - Jim, 24th October 2013
"Less than 24 hours after the last gig of the tour, there are already discussions taking place to
hopefully bring Simple Minds back for more shows next summer. Fingers crossed that happens, nothing would
make us happier. Meanwhile huge thanks to all who made us feel so good during this tour. Until next time!" - Jim, 24th October 2013
"And the beat goes on. One tour finishes tonight, but in a matter of days we will be back in South Africa - and
desperately looking forward to that. Make sure the sun is shining please. We will also bring
"our own heat."" - Jim, 24th October 2013
"The last few days in New York have been magical, albeit in a low key way. But the last couple of
weeks have been magical in a way we never thought would happen. Los Angeles, New Jersey, Washington DC,
Boston, Montreal, Toronto and New York, treated us more like long lost family, than puffed up rock stars.
How good is that? Take care all, see you soon!" - Jim, 26th October 2013
This was a private gig and wasn't advertised. I believe it's the first time the whole
band have played a private gig - usually it's the Electroset line-up.
"Last time we visited was to make the clip for our song
War Babies. We spent a few glorious days in Cape Town and the
memories of that trip live on to this day. The upcoming shows in both Johannesburg and Cape Town
will hopefully give us the chance to reconnect with our fans in that very beautiful country. You can
expect us to give 100% over two sets played each night. So much to give. See you there!" - Jim, 27th October 2013
"A lot of travelling over these days. New York, London, Barcelona, and finally Johannesburg. Yeah!
Weather is fine and we are determined to do great shows here, especially as it has been so long since we
last visited Johannesburg. A real thrill to be back in South Africa. See you Friday and Saturday night!" - Jim, 1st November 2013
"6AM and the sun has shot up like a fireball. There is always a different crackle in the air when you
wake on the day of a gig. Yes, even this early! Johannesburg first, tonight and tomorrow. Cape Town on Sunday,
they both deserve the best from us. Everyone, everywhere, who comes to see us does" - Jim, 1st November 2013
"Great to be back playing in South Africa after such a long absence. As with North America - we really wanted
to make it up to those who had remained interested in Simple Minds throughout all these years.
The audience last night were exceptionally generous particularly during the second set. We will of course do it all
again tonight, same time, same place! Thanks to all for the welcome back in this beautiful country" - Jim, 1st November 2013
"We thank you Johannesburgh! Tonight had something magic about it. Actually, it was magic to have had the
opportunity to come back and play for you. Thanks for coming to see Simple Minds. Until next time." - Jim, 1st November 2013
"Recovered from last night's show and ready to do it all again tonight. Or at least we will be once show
time come around. How great to be out playing live music for audiences that appreciate it all so much. We are on
stage at 8PM - see you there!" - Jim, 2nd November 2013
Koko, Camden, London, UK 7th November, 2013
This gig was part of Virgin's 40th anniversary celebrations.
"It is always special to play in London, a city where we have fans, family and friends. The show tomorrow,
is a Virgin Records event, tying in with a celebration of Virgin Records
through the years. It is impossible to convey how happy we were on the day in 1981 when we signed to
Virgin, starting a relationship continues to this day. Virgin, and many who worked for
them, "put their neck on the line" for Simple Minds. We will never forget their efforts on our behalf.
Neither will we forget the fun we had throughout it all" - Jim, 6th November 2013
What an excellent gig. Personal highlights were Today I Died Again,
Sweat In Bullet and
Pleasantly Disturbed which all found their way back into the set-list. And
as Jim quipped, Simple Minds should be called a 'seventies-band'
as they last played Koko, or as it was then, The Music Machine, back in 1979.
Kudos to Steve Pollard
who put on a great light show despite having a handful of LED clusters to play with; and thanks to
Malcolm Garrett for the drink at half-time.
The question is: why? Obviously released with an eye on the lucrative Christmas market, the compilers of this box-set have done
a minimum amount of homework, but have missed the obvious. Anyone who wanted the vanilla remasters of 2002 (with their
cropped and botched artwork and no bonus material) would've purchased them in 2002. In fact, the lack of any bonus
material is especially irksome given how good X5 is. The final insult is
the price which, again, compares badly with the releases of 2012.
I flipped through Record Collector on the train on the way back from the Koko gig. It's full of adverts for
impressive and desirable box-sets and retrospectives by other artists, put together with style, integrety and respect. So, come on
Virgin and Universal - you can do better than this!
"Next up is New Jersey - tomorrow night. I have been told that is a wonderful venue, and to expect
a great crowd. I am still getting over the experience of last night's LA Orpheum, but a day off today will
make us refreshed and ready to do it all again - in New Jersey." - Jim, 16th October 2013
"Hang in with us North America! Re: setlists, sorry if you don't hear one or two of your fave songs. We try to
do whatever possible, including chopping and changing a few here and there each night. But we have literally
hundreds of songs and it is not possible to play them all. Hopefully this tour works out and we will get
the chance to comeback in the near future to your neck of the woods - then you'll get the chance once
more to hear "your song."" - Jim, 17th October 2013
"Crowd were loud, and made us feel proud. Thank You! Both sets flew in so fast - but we had a ball." - Jim, 17th October 2013
17th october
curitiba, newly discovered edits, gfa v, los angeles
"Curitiba next! The current trip to Brazil has had us reminiscing over those days back in January '88
when after much deliberation we accepted a promoter's offer to take part in two festivals
that were set for Rio Di Janeiro and Sao Paulo respectively."
"As much a holiday as it was work, considering that we only did two shows within a week long stay,
there is a similar comparison to the present were we have three performances during a ten day visit. That
means that just as it was on our first trip, there has been plenty of time for relaxing and sightseeing
also over these last days, most of it having been spent on a beach front hotel in Rio. I know, I know...
it is a tough life!"
"Unlike the first time however, there has been no challenging the local media to football matches
during our spare time. Well, that was 25 years ago after all, and perhaps it is true that we are not as
energetic as we used to be. But neither would it be wise to risk broken limbs or invite any other injuries
either, least not when when we have two months of touring in front of us. On the other hand though, most
of the band do visit the gym each day, as well as doing some (slow) running not long after sunrise.
That is definitely something that would never have happened back in '88 when sunrise more often meant
that it might be time to go to bed. After a night of clubbing that is!"
"There is however no doubt that Brazil, just as it was back then, is a joy to perform in. The
Sao Paulo show that we did a couple of nights ago, had an "electricity" about it, that all the most
special gigs have. The net result has me already looking forward to the next time. Before that though,
we have our third and last show, and this time it is a festival that is taking place in a city called Curitiba.
Our first time in the city, and an audience of around 20,00 are expected. I am hoping that it all works out well,
and if so there will a strong chance of coming back to appear in other festivals in Brazil. And while
we are at it, why not Chile, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, all next time?" - Jim, 10th October 2013
"Thanks to everyone who has been travelling round to see us in these Brazil gigs. Curitiba next - it
will be the last one. Till next time! - Jim, 11th October 2013
Some newly discovered edits (and slight remixes) have recently turned up on SoundCloud:
This edit was either prepared for the aborted release or was an alternative mix for the album. The Virgin Vault listing,
which gives details of all the tapes held by the record company, doesn't include any information about a Tears Of A Guy single
suggesting it was cancelled early.
I'm not sure how much provenance can be given to the Dave Bascombe credit as Steve Lipson was originally
pencilled in to remix the song. Likewise, I'm not sure about the artwork either.
This Is It [Edit] This Is It was considered as the third single from Graffiti Soul
and a short video clip and promo were issued but that was as far as it got; this edit is further evidence that work was done
on this potential release before it was pulled.
Video games event of the year was the long awaited release of Grand Theft Auto V. Whilst players are busy robbing stores,
stealing cars and getting up to all sorts of virtual mischief, they can switch to Los Santos Rock Radio where
All The Things She Said is part of the playlist of this virtual radio station.
"I must admit to having my doubts as to whether we would ever get the chance to return to America/Canada.
More than frustrating, it was a saddening thought. But what is meant to be, is meant to be, and a packed out show at
LA Orpheum this coming Tuesday (15th) is a dream opportunity - the perfect way to begin to reignite the relationship
with our fans in North America. Thank you so much for your patience. When the dates were announced, I asked all to
turn out and support our efforts, in doing so I felt sure that would be asked back by more promoters - giving a chance
to return for a more extensive tour of Canada/America next year perhaps.You have done your part with regards to that.
Now, all we have to do is be great. I think this band can live up to that challenge." - Jim, 11th October 2013
"Amazing audience, you gave us such a welcome! What a great way to start this series of dates. Thanks to all of you!" - Jim, 16th October 2013
13th october
brazil, don't you (forget about me) reissue, live 2012 cds, broken glass park cd, rob brian interview, sao paulo
"If you had told us as kids, that one day we would get to go to Brazil, we would never have believed you.
Even more so if you had said that we would be going there to play our music. How could that ever be? But our lives,
thanks to our music, has taken us to some destinations beyond our imagination, and Brazil is one of them. We are
so looking forward to visiting once again, starting of course this Saturday in Porto Alegre. It will be a pleasure and an
honour. See you there" - Jim, 1st October 2013
"Only mid-morning here but all are keen to get on with our first gig of the tour - tonight
in Porto Alegre. The weather was better back in London than it is here, but we are all adjusted
after two days rest. Unfortunately a few within the camp are suffering with slight colds and flus - me included.
That won't get in the way of the gig tonight, guaranteed! I have a good feeling about these gigs
that will start tonight and take us up till December. A very good feeling in fact." - Jim, 5th October 2013
"Thanks for the welcome in Porto Alegre. Our first "full gig" in five months and as always it felt
good to be playing our songs live to an enthusiastic audience.
Theme For Great Cities,
Hunter And The Hunted,
Big Sleep,
This Fear Of Gods,
Let The Day Begin and Neon Lights
all featured - as well as so many other songs that you would expect to hear
on a Hits set. Thanks to everyone who came to see us." - Jim, 6th October 2013
Part of Virgin's 40 Years Of Distruptions now includes the dusting down and reissuing of the
Don't You (Forget About Me) picture disc. This was originally released as one of
the band's more memorable limited editions back in April 1985 and was the only shaped vinyl ever released by the band.
It still remains the only shaped vinyl ever released by the band as the
as this new version
simply appears to be a round picture disc.
It isn't known yet is it's a straight reissue or if includes different material.
Another release is also bound to catch the eye of any Simple Minds fan but isn't what it initially appears
to be. New Gold Dreams is a compilation album of various post-punk Virgin artists from 1976 through
to 1983 and not a tasty compilation of Simple Minds material (although they are represented twice by
The American and Love Song).
One of the big recent omissions in the discography has finally been sorted out. The eight
DiscLive Network Australian CDs have now been
documented along with the Redbeard interview CD.
Unfortunately I don't have the track timings for several of the CDs. If you have one of these sets and
are able to help by sending in the timings then that would be most appreciated - many thanks in advance.
Collectors will also want to look out for the Broken Glass Park US Promo CDs
which have been pressed up to promote the current US tour. Unfortunately there
was a typo on the tour listing on the back so most have been withdrawn - leaving only a few circulating.
It is also the only source of the horribly named Radio Compressed Mix of the title track.
As many will know, the drumming on Broken Glass Park and
Blood Diamonds was by Rob Brian. In the September 2013 issue
of Rhythm magazine, he describes his experiences with Simple Minds:
What was your experience working with Simple Minds?
"People kept asking, what happened to Mel Gaynor?
I never found out myself but obviously he is still the main guy and rightly so. I got the call, 'They're here
at Real World looking for a drummer.' They said,'We've been to your website, we've seen the solo from your DVD,
we don't want that but we can tell that if you can do that, you can play four-on-the floor really well and keep a
good groove. We've seen you with Siouxsie, would you come down and do these tracks?' So I did
seven or eight tracks, one of which was Broken Glass Park which is the single. I
played on the tracks over a two-month period or so. I think I'm going to be used as guide tracks for Mel
to come in and do what he likes over the top. He doesn't like the studio very much, I was told by the lads. It's
not his favourite environment, whereas I love it. They're in the studio at the moment and I suspect when the album comes out I'll
find some of my tracks have become Mel's tracks but that's fine. It was lovely to hear my
bass and snare part on Broken Glass Park because we recorded it in two or
three sections, really 80s style bass and snare first, then hi-hats, then crashes. It was quite a buzz hearing that."
"Fans have written to me saying, 'What's happened to Mel?' I'm like, 'Don't panic, I'm just a
session guy. It's Mel's gig.' The last thing I wanted was Mel
to come knocking on my door. He's a big guy! It was a great experience and I really hope there is more because the band is amazing.
The guys have been in the business a long time. When you're in the studio and see them play, you think, that's why because they can
do what they do so well. People moan at me: 'Eighties bands why are they still going?' Because there is an audience and actually
they are musicians, they enjoy playing. They don't just rock up for a single and disappear. What are they supposed to do stop?
They want to make music. No one is going to tell me to stop playing drums. I'll be in an old people's home playing a kit in my bedroom.
I'm not going to stop so why should they?"
"Thank you to Sao Paulo: Cool venue and a really great audience, thanks for last night. Thanks also
to those who travelled from elsewhere in Brazil to see Simple Minds on this tour. Nice to meet fans
from Chile and Argentina at last night's show. We never made it to your country on this tour, but we
will next time. Promise." - Jim, 9th October 2013
19th september
some sweet day 2013, classic pop magazine, blood diamonds single, new gold dream reworkings, mel gaynor interview, the european urbanism of simple minds
(I've been on holiday hence the lack of updates recently.)
Todd and Jim did not disappoint with their interview....
TR: It's always a pleasure to feature such a wonderful band as Simple Minds. We were just joking before
we got started here I think that it's been about fifteen years since the first time I put together a marathon that was later nicknamed
by the fans Some Sweet Day taking a line from many of the songs in the catalogue of Simple Minds I guess but
it's a real joy to touch base with the band themselves and catch up on everything and since 2009 when we last talked about
Graffiti Soul, a lot of things have happened in this band's world including a solo career
(which Jim was nice enough to help promote a song here in the States from
Lostboy!) that was the last time we got to chat at least for radio and
Jim Kerr joins us here on Some Sweet Day 2013. Hard to believe its even that.
Jim, thanks for joining us sir.
JK: A pleasure as always Todd. Thank you very much.
TR: I cant believe its been this long. Its been fifteen years of course. But youre staring down almost thirty-five years of
Simple Minds history so Im sure its no shock to you.
JK: Well yeah, before we blink its actually more than that as we see it because we started in 77. But blink and it will be
forty years and were already thinking about the years ahead the next tour, two or three and leading up to that, but meantime as you suggest
weve had a lot on our plate. And indeed we have a lot on our plate and it always feels good when its that way.
TR: The most exciting news most recently of course was finally after all these years and Ive been bugging you when is
the band going to return to North America? Its been since 2002 and now its actually happened you have tickets on sale even as well speak
and shows are selling for a small number of dates here in the Fall but really an introduction to possibly more next year?
JK: Were still happy about that. As you said, its a decade, a little more, since we were last there and that has been
a huge disappointment and a huge frustration and an embarrassment as well for our fans and supporters in North America who are wondering
what is going on. Have the band turned their back on us? Will the band ever come etc? It got very close a couple of times, but as everyone
knows, the last five years have been especially with the economic crisis and stuff - it really wasnt easy for us. We were also holding
out for a while trying to get a good package together with other bands and such and that came close but didnt happen. Anyway, were going to
be there now, and the good news I think I can say confidently is that the band is all the better for this delay we havent stood still,
weve kept playing, Im confident that Simple Minds since their inception have always been a good live band but right
now were really going places and I think the American audiences will get the benefit of that time in-between.
TR: Ive had the great opportunity to see both the 30 Years Live tour and the
5X5 Tour which also had a little band change in there because
Eddie Duffy departed and you now have Ged in there playing bass but
the energy never faltered and I was so I think it goes without saying that if Im on air playing your music all day that the band isnt playing
the United States and filling halls and all that other stuff so it really is come to fruition. Its just very exciting. I know the audience
is going to get rewarded here.
JK: They are. Weve going to give everything. We always do. We really feel it and we want to do all we can in terms of
getting a career going there again, in the sense that every time we play, we should be in the States, we should be in Canada, and Ive
got a confidence for the first time that that is now possible. And hopefully these first dates will be the very first step in that new realisation.
TR: I want to turn over a little bit to the Celebrate collection which
has just been released in two and three CD forms. Its continuing on a great thing youve had going on for the last couple of years of these
collections of live work and also your first five albums the actual 5X5 product that put together
all the B-sides and lost tracks of the early, early albums and really put them in a format that made then accessible once again to a lot of old
fans and new fans alike. But this collection career spanning and the third disc for me is a real joy because its almost like the
greatest hits of the songs that here in America as we were just saying not many people know yet.
JK: Oh, thats good, thats great. Ive got to give credit to people, of course, like Virgin who put those
things together but I have to give credit to Charlie Burchill. Hes the one from the band who presides
over those box packages and such and I think hes done a good job with this one and its great to hear you say that it works particularly well.
TR: Were giving them away all day on the show today so some of the listeners if they havent picked it up yet will walk
away pretty happy from this. But one of the things I started really talking about to my friends was that there was this momentum you can feel
the travel through the history of the band and see the connectivity of all the songs and how the evolution works. Is that parlaying now into new
studio work because since we talked about Lostboy and these other tours over the last couple of years, youve had some serious
studio sessions and Im wondering what about this new album now? Im wondering about some of these tracks. Youve worked at RealWorld, you just
left a beautiful place Im forgetting the name Grouse Lodge?
JK: In Ireland. Grouse Lodge. Charlie and I started in earnest almost two years ago and
we built up a body of work: were recording, but were writing, but we go back to ideas there are ideas that have been lost and found again
from ten years ago... even more. Anyway, the current update is the last time I looked there were seventeen new songs and three re-workings:
some of the re-workings have been Space,
War Babies and
Swimming Towards The Sun which is the opening track on our great lost album
Our Secrets Are The Same. So theres about twenty songs cut now.
JK: Im speaking to you just now from our last day in Sicily. In fact Charlies here with me.
Not only do we work together but we go on holiday together! The wives and girlfriends come along as well dont worry! And the kids.
But we both love Sicily so were here and its the last few days and then we turn up next week in RealWorld studios but weve kind of got
two studios going on just now because we really want to finish this thing off. We wont finish it off before we leave for Brazil and the States - Brazil
first, which is early October but between next month, September, and hopefully December when we get back from the States then we will wrap
this thing up and... whisper it, theres even talk of a double album but I wouldnt want to be responsible for spreading that rumour.
TR: Yeah, and Graffiti Soul turned in to a double album really quick.
JK: Yeah, exactly.
TR: Oh boy, here we go again. I cant wait. Thats fantastic. Im blown away buy that. Older songs been reworked you said?
You have three songs in there and some of those have become pretty popular. War Babies wasnt exactly
a non-hit: it was a single. I know it very well from Neapolis, way back in the day. What was the
inspiration to go back and take another take at that? Just because you hadnt gone back to it for a while in the live set or something?
JK: We got it right. Weve got a much better arrangement I think. We played them live and we put non-big songs. Youre right.
In terms of Simple Minds fans, they know that song but it wouldnt be in our top-ten most known well-known songs. You can stick
them in a set of live classics and they really hold their own. Anyway we found new versions of these songs not new version in the sense theyre
unrecognisable, but theyre just more full-bloodied and theres more to them maybe they have better intro and maybe better outros, maybe we know
how to make the choruses work or something, and its something weve done from time to time. Some people might scratch their head and say "Youve got
all these songs, why would you rework stuff? but sometimes a song is a work in progress, its always a work in progress and you record it, then you
go back to it five or six years after live version twelve years later, and sometimes you think "You know what? We finally got this song as its
meant to be. Or else it could be that you think youre disappointed with it, its a great song but youre disappointed in hindsight with the initial
recordings so sometimes we go back. And indeed, in the case of the three songs Ive mentioned there, we played them in the
Celebrate tour that weve just done in the spring time in the UK and they went down a storm
and they really felt like "now Its another big term but they really felt like now so we got to the studio and banged them down and they
have to be heard.
JK: Likewise we recorded band versions of Broken Glass Park and
Blood Diamonds because although theyve been released on the package that you mentioned and
have gone over very well theyre almost electro in the way they were put together because they were what Charlie
and I did with Steve Osborne and with those songs we wanted to try something different with the band. Weve done that did it but
again we went to play them live and there was something else going on so weve captured them as well. You know, the more versions the merrier,
especially if theyre great, great songs in my opinion.
TR: Wow. Thats very well put. Because I was going to go back and mention that at least
Broken Glass Park has been around for a couple of years. In fact, it started as a
Lostboy track. Is that right?
JK: Thats right. It started off as a Lostboy track that I thought was a Simple Minds song but
really it wasnt until Charlie said "Hey. What are you doing? Its one for us. In sporting terms, someone
goes along to the reserve games and says "Thats one for the future. Anyway, Charlie liked
Broken Glass Park so we played it live a bit and it was one of those ones that even though
audiences hadnt heard it in many cases, or they were hearing it for the first time as it was coming out of the speakers, by the end of the
track, they were singing along to the song which is not something that happens often. So we knew that we had something going on with
Broken Glass Park. And actually it made so much more sense for it to be a
Simple Minds song, as the subject matter itself is actually about when Charlie
and I would hang out as kids in this place it was actually called Queens Park in Glasgow and we would hang out all night
there and invent worlds inside our heads. Anyway the song is about us as well.
[Audio: Broken Glass Park]
TR: The "Electro" version maybe the first of many versions well hear of that track. From
Celebrate the anthology were giving away all day today. Jim Kerr
is on the phone with us as our guest on the programme and were just talking about some of the other new tracks on the box set.
Mr Kerr whats next?
JK:Blood Diamonds. Theres a Scottish band just now getting some of the heat in
the States youll tell me whether thats true or not called Chvrches.
TR: Yup.
JK: Well, one of the main guys in there is a fellow called Iain Cook and Iain was introduced to me by
Martin Hanlin people who know about Simple Minds know he was in The Silencers
and hes been a great supporter of Simple Minds part producer in some ways, executive producer over the years. Anyway,
Martin hooked me up in Glasgow with Iain Cook, whos also from our city. It was a period
unfortunately where my mum was... it was the last few months of her life and I wanted to be in Glasgow. She didnt want me sitting around
the house moping and so I went along to Iains and we starting writing some songs one of which was
Blood Diamonds. And, again, Charlie and
Steve Osborne felt that this could come into the Minds category were very glad that it did because its
another one People will hear it in the States when we come there. These are songs that you only need to hear one time theyre that strong
that you kind of get them.
TR: This is really exciting news. Im scrambling my notes going What song to play next. Always cool to hear these stories
behind the songs.
JK: I should mention Todd, just in case someones come in and thinking Are they only doing re-recordings? The
reason we re-recorded these four or five songs is that weve got sixteen or seventeen brand new songs that makes it all right. If it was like
we were just cutting from the same cloth then it would be Whats going on? But I should say that, as much as Im enthusiastic about
[the older songs] were really enthusiastic about the whole bunch of new songs we have.
[Audio: Blood Diamonds]
TR: You were talking about how you recorded the songs electronically and formulated them for a while. In this last
decade you were writing over the e-mail, you were sending parts, and we talked about the difference between the band energy being
together in a room recording things at Rockfield with the band family you get up, you go to the studio, you go and have dinner. Whats
really the process going here because it sounds like its a whole mixture. Are you trying both at the same time?
JK: Yeah. A bit of both really. Were working really in three set-ups. Weve been working with a fellow called
Steve Osborne who people can check out hes done a lot of stuff over the years. When we work with him, Steve
plays keyboards and he can play a bit of drums as well and its usually within that setup, its usually just
Charlie, myself and Steve. And then, when we got to the likes of Grouse Lodge, as weve
just been, its such a wonderful band feeling live that we booked some studio time during the last two weeks of the tour: Lets just get off
the tour and capture this feel weve got going on just now. So we went with full band set-up to Grouse Lodge in Ireland. Its really a farm its
a working farm but it happens to have a studio in it, but you do your livage: you roll out of bed, some of the guys will already be down there,
Andy Gillespie is already sitting playing (and hasnt had a shower yet, Ive got to say... and he should!)
But hes already sitting there with half a bowl of Corn Flakes and hes working on a melody and the days pass and everything just merges
and you really get lost in the music and a lot of songs and work came out of that.
Ged and Mel will be there as well. Ive got to mention
Ged Grimes has contributed the music to a couple of songs within the bunch I mentioned and were really
excited about that. So thats more engine power. In the early days of Simple Minds, everyone would write.
Andy Gilliespie has written a tune that so far the record company promo people have heard and are
shouting and bawling about the most, a track called Midnight Walking. And again, apart from
Charlie and I, the guys are writing as well. Thats also led to this tsunami of music that weve been
working on.
JK: And then theres a fellow called Andy Wright who is a very well known producer in London and
Charlie and I sometimes work with him as well. Hes more of a programmer producer type and again
thats not such a bad thing but sort of sounds like a bad thing. Its complex to describe why that is but it just is. So we work within all
of those formats and there is no one way.
TR: It also allows for different interpretations and artistic expression rather than just being confined.
JK: Yeah, and again, you can through the time, through the box-sets, you can release two or three versions of the songs.
There was when Broken Glass Park was released to radio in Europe in February it got a reaction
from the main station in the UK BBC Radio Two its actually the biggest station in Europe in terms of numbers and we got such a level
of play from them that we havent had for maybe twenty years. That was a success. However, a few fans said But we miss
Mel, we miss this and it doesnt have the power of the live thing but its just a different thing.
However, now we are about to release, as some point, a version with Mel and
Ged and the whole thing. So, what Im saying is that if its a great song you can never go wrong with
having a few versions.
TR: We keep mentioning Ged a couple of times because of the new energy he brought to
the band and I met him briefly last year during a couple of times during the 5X5 shows.
He just has a great energy about him lack of better terminology but theres such levity, he was having a fun time, the whole band feel
just positive and up and obviously its a boutique type of show so youre going to get a lot of the old fans in there. But what really made me
encapture that, and remember that feeling so much, was that raw power in the band and whats there now. Perhaps now that youre touring
once again this fall and into next year, are we going to finally see that lost idea of a concert video from you guys?
JK: We spoke about it today in fact. Actually the chats been going on for some weeks now. Im reluctant to give you
the whole details until its signed off and done but yeah, its very much in the pipework, its a done deal and were due to film some of
the shows from the UK Arena gigs that are due to happen in November and that will be a long-form concert film.
TR: Oh fantastic. Thats very exciting. So after the States, I took note that you mentioned Brazil, and then the States
shows which are obviously going to be very exciting, and then returning to South Africa and I can only imagine what thats going to be
like having the history when you guys played there before, but after the health scare of former President Mandela its going to be one
heck of a song to play Mandela Day down there.
JK: Well yeah, thats very true and likewise with North America its been a long time since weve been to South Africa.
In fact, weve only been there once. But we have a great, great history through that song
Mandela Day and again, desperately looking forward to the shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Its going to be a real highlight.
[Audio: Mandela Day]
JK: Looking forward to a couple of different things here on this tour. In the set youve reinvigorated some songs which
weve talked about already but some things that blew my mind recently was that a band of a group of collaborators and former band members
recreated Book Of Brilliant Things and then you guys took it upon yourself to play it the way
it was recreated. Did you honestly go back into the audience and watch that performance and shoot it was that you said it on FaceBook?
JK: No, it wasnt me but I thought it was great what I saw it gave me the chance to see it from the front it was great footage.
That was an interesting thing as we were saying about going back. The version that we played, as I understood because it was
Andy Gillespie: there were demos on YouTube of the original writing of
Book Of Brilliant Things back in 1983 and we were working on a version for live and it wasnt quite
cutting it. And we said lets look at all the versions weve played through the years meaning in the last ten years or fifteen years - but we
came across these demos from when the song was being written. Of course that was just
Michael MacNeil, Charlie Burchill and a drum box and got very
excited about it. And lo and behold that was the basis of the live version that both Charlie and
Andy played. But no I cant take the credit for the film thats on YouTube but I definitely
enjoyed seeing it.
TR: Its those sort of things that really grab my attention. Reinvigorating songs or rediscovering songs, maybe even re-recording songs.
Promised You A Miracle, for me, was never a single from
its original release it was always a single from
Live In The City Of Light and then, most recently, for
Record Store Day last year, the fabulous Promised U A Remix, almost as a double A side with
Broken Glass Park.
JK: Its always good. The last two or three years, certainly the last two but it might be three, weve put out things for
Record Store Day and its great to have these rarities and its great how theyre appreciated by people like yourself and others.
TR: And one more thing I get to play on shows like today.
JK: Sure, exactly.
TR: It works out very well.
[Audio: Promised U A Remix]
TR: Its always a pleasure catching up with you and appreciate that youve taken the time on holiday here to catch us
all up on the air and talk about the upcoming gigs in the States and were very excited really great to have you back and we
knew it was going to happen. We just wanted to keep the faith going here on the air.
JK: Well we thank you and we thank all the supporters especially in North America and Canada that have stood by us these years
when theres been a drought as far as our live appearances go. We owe it to you all I mean we were mentioning off-air before we came on,
up in Canada as well, people like Leslie Millthorpe and stuff. Were still look forward to not only playing but seeing
people as well seeing people that have been supporting and promoting our band throughout it all and its going to be a real,
real pleasure and a real good fun.
TR: Cant wait. We cant wait to see it and its going to be a real great time. Im definitely going to catch some shows
myself and I know a few people going to as we say in the States road trip to go and see this band once again in the hopes that 2014 brings
and even bigger tour and more.
JK: Im mean look as far as people are concerned people in the States and Canada we havent fixed completely what were
going to play its based around the Celebrate set but having played the
5x5 recently and those early songs theres no reason that we cant stick a few of them
in as well so if theres anything people really wanna hear and think that theyre not going to get to hear then get on FaceBook and shout
and bawl youll never know whatll happen.
TR: Here we go! Here comes the list now this is going to be great. Fantastic sir. I, for one, put in a little later on of a song,
from Sparkle In The Rain, The Kick Inside Of Me.
JK: Oh right, well we havent done that for a long time! Trust you to send us back to the rehearsal studio.
TR: Why not? Double it up with Kick It In were going to have a good time.
Jim Kerr of Simple Minds joining us on Some Sweet Day 2013, we thank you so
much for the time Sir. Safe travel, enjoy your holiday and well see you on the road.
JK: Enjoy the day. Bye bye.
Todd Richards interviewing Jim Kerr Some Sweet Day 2013
15th August 2013
I finally tracked down a copy of Classic Pop Magazine (issue #6) at the terminal of the Channel Tunnel a
pain if I ever want to purchase future issues. It's a good read but lacks the gravitas and depth of sister publications.
Jim's interview is part of a lengthy history of Virgin Records.
The interviewer concentrates on the oft-told story surrounding the band's signing to the label and the release of
Sons And Fascination; but there is nothing about the band's success,
their departure or their resigning. By rigidly constraining themselves to their "Eighties" remit, the magazine has boxed
itself in and missed some of the story.
The Malcolm Garrett section also leaves one wanting more. They never interviewed
him and no Simple Minds sleeves are featured; if they had spoken to him, then they would've reversed that decision.
Having interviewed Malcolm last year, I'm aware of how sketchy some of the article is.
("The company's flexible yet familiar, recurring lexicon of visual elements included grids and charts, dotted lines, boxes,
bold circles, primary colours, random numbers and exotic symbols." Almost underpinning this statement is an illustration of
Culture Clubs Colour By Numbers and the number "53" appears in the bottom-left corner. Random? No.)
So, Classic Pop Magazine is worth a read (and I particularly enjoyed the 50 Best 12"s Of The 1980s)
but don't expect too much of it.
The Blood Diamonds single was released this Monday (16th September) but there's been
little sign of it in any of the physical or download listings.
However, two collectable promo CDs are circulating. These feature the familar RFC officer but
now stained red to reflect the single's title. The single track promo is the rarer of the two and just features the familar album version
of the song. The two track promo couples this with the live version recorded at Wolverhampton which was taken from the
Concert Live CD.
Fan -1 has recently started a blog devoted to New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84).
In this project, he has stripped down, reworked, re-edited and published different versions of each of the songs from the album using the
standard album, edits, extended versions, remixes and the DVD-Audio version as his source. The results have brought out many new facets of
the recordings that I had not previously noticed before.
"Im a big fan of Simple Minds. This is just some musical experiments done with their music for other
fans that are interested also. Hope you enjoy it." - -1.
An interview between Mel and Spike Webb has recently been published on
YouTube:
"To this retrospective, I want to propose the importance of Simple Minds urban aesthetic. It seems to me, and now
Im wondering why, those of us who came of age with UK music in the early 80s intuitively recognized Simple Minds
as an urban group, whatever that might have meant decades ago a synth-based sound, their reign on nightclub sound systems, the pretensions
of the new romantics and new Europeans, their penchant for pleated trousers. Yet I think theres something more important to this question
than just a long-standing obsession. As Ill argue, today we all inhabit, to some extent, the urban world envisioned in Simple Minds
early work.Urban music essay."
13th august
some sweet day 2013, universal you, classic pop magazine, new single, virgin's 40th
Don't forget about Some Sweet Day 2013 which is broadcast this Thursday.
Jim will be on the show along with one or two other special guests - plus the
usual mix of well known, not-so-well-known and obscure Simple Minds tracks from their entire career.
Jim will be talking about the forthcoming tours and the new album.
The somewhat difficut to find Classic Pop magazine Issue 6 (August 2013) features a lengthy interview with
Malcolm Garrett about Assorted iMaGes and a retrospective
of Virgin Records which includes an interview with Jim.
The new Simple Minds' single is Blood Diamonds which is set for release on the 16th September.
It received its first play on Ken Bruce'sRadio Two show yesterday (12th August). Two
track CD promos are already circulating (which include the album and live versions of the track) with blood-red artwork.
Simple Minds will be playing Koko in London on the 7th November as part of Virgin's 40th Anniversary
celebrations. More information can be found on their annoyingly "horizontal" website
but Adrian Thrills' book will be well worth getting.
2nd august
new tour dates, concert live cds, johnnybgood, ba inflight entertainment, discography updates, simple minded, one step closer, some sweet day 2013
I don't normally repeat the diary entries from the official site here, but this one is worth repeating...
GREATEST HITS + TOUR
Everyone connected with Simple Minds was more than delighted to finally see the announcement
of a series of live dates for us in United States and Canada. It has been a long time coming. Way too
ong to be honest, and although this is by no means an extensive tour, it could mean a new beginning
for us in that part of the world.
But that depends on more than just us, you should understand. Because more than ever we need as many people
as possible to come support us at these dates, to make sure that the shows are well attended of course,
and in doing so demonstrating to the local promoters in other cities and states that there is a demand for
live shows from Simple Minds.
Putting it plainly, if these shows are a success both artistically and commercially, there is no doubt that
we will be able return soon for a much more extensive tour, a tour that we can genuinely build on, a foundation
for future tours. Alternately, should these shows be less than well attended, it is most unlikely that we will
get another opportunity to return. So there you have it, such are the facts!
And really, you have no idea how much we would like the chance to go to work in a serious fashion,
throughout Canada and USA, just like we did in the earlier days of our careers. Reality is, we have
been dreaming of getting the opportunity to do so, just as many of our supporters in North America
might well have been dreaming of getting the chance to see Simple Minds turn up in their hometown.
Well, that little dream is on for LA, Boston, New Jersey, Montreal, Canada, Washington and New York. And in turn
we thank all who have supported us in in those parts, thanks to them for hanging in with us and not giving up on
Simple Minds. We will do all to make it well worth the wait. A promise!
The release of a commerical version of Concert Live'sThe Greatest Hits + Tour 2013 completes
the series of seven CD releases (for now).
The first set of three, released in generic packaging with venue stickers, featured
the raw concert recordings which were sold at the gigs (Carlisle, Wolverhampton and
Bournemouth) with remaining stock sent out to fulfil the first mail orders.
The three recordings were then "remastered", reindexed and the sold in specific venue
packaging. There was also a small amount of editing in the case of the Wolverhampton gig where
Jim's rebuking of a section of the crowd
was removed. (There hasn't been that amount of swearing on a Simple Minds CD since the
Form Phallus Function bootleg).
The seventh CD set was a repackaged version of the Bournemouth gig. This is the version
available through commercial retailers.
Remixer JohnnyBGood (aka John Proven) was recently
highlighted by Nieuwsblad as the "ultimate Simple Minds fan." The paper
noticed that his video footage of Broken Glass Park
at Dundee - then edited by Martin Poschinger to include various band interviews -
won the recent competition on the official site.
Simple Minds currently feature on British Airway's In Flight Entertainment.
A two-hour interview between Jim and DJ Redbeard can be found on
InTheStudio.Net. (It's assumed this is the same interview included on the bonus discs with the Australian
live recordings released last year).
It's been eleven years since Cry was released but new facts, and new music,
associated with the album keep surfacing. For example, the definitive version of
One Step Closer has turned up along with the published lyrics.
One Step Closer was written by Planet Funk and
Jim. It was quickly recognised as one of the stand out tracks on the album,
became a live favourite, was released as a
single in Europe and was radically remixed for an
underground 12" release by
Phunk Investigation.
However, that's only half the story. Planet Funk opened their oddly named debut album
Non Zero Sumness with a chopped down instrumental version of the song called Where Is The Max.
But it didn't take them long to release One Step Closer as
a single in Italy and include the song on the expanded version of their album
(called Non Zero Sumness Plus One.) And thats where the story seemed to end.
It was only recently realised that Non Zero Sumness Plus One included the lyrics. So,
finally, the correct and final version of the words have been published
(along with those difficult first lines which always escaped transcription.)
And it was only recently that a Simple Minds fan picked up a copy of the self titled
Planet Funk compilation album from 2009 and discovered that
One Step Closer appears in an extended form. Clocking in at 6:43,
it's a lengthened take of the version on Cry and so
fans of the song should look out for this Planet Funk compilation album to complete their collection.
Many thanks to Rob Foekens for the information.
Yes... it's back! Some Sweet Day 2013, the marathon Simple Minds music show hosted
by Todd Richards and Aaron Burke will be broadcast on August 15th (Thursday)
at 7AM (12PM UK) through to 1AM (6AM UK) on 88.3FM wbwc.com.
The show will include the usual marathon of well-known, not-so-well-known and completely obscure Simple Minds
songs. And as an added bonus, Simple Minds are touring the USA again, and its very possible that
Jim will be interviewed for the show.
You'll be able to listen online so be sure to connect to wbwc.com on the 15th.
27th june
newmarket, that doublepack single, discography updates
"I recall back in the day when you could envisage a "gig" being in a pub, club or theatre. I then
recall the excitement when our gigs first took place in arenas and stadiums. These days a gig can
take place in all manner of places. Fields, forests, Roman amphitheatres, parks, castles, city plazas,
under bridges, remote islands and...er... shopping mall forecourts even. Our most unusual performance
surely was when we performed at the top of Eiffel Tower in Paris albeit a play back for the
Top Of The Pops TV show. Most spectacular? Performing in front of the Brandenburg Gate,
Berlin, on the Eve of the World Cup opening ceremony, or possibly in Singapore before the Formula One
night race. In truth I enjoyed each and every one as I am sure I will when we play at Newmarket Racecourse
next month. It will be a first for us in that type of venue, and from what I have heard from the various
bands that have already played, a really quite special event, particularly great on a summer's
night. I cant wait and we hope to see you there!" - Jim, 28th May 2013
"HI AND THANKS - to all involved for. We had no idea what to expect but
really enjoyed being there. A beautiful and memorable evening with an energetic
and generous audience. Great venue indeed. Nothing beats playing live on evenings like that!" - Jim, 22nd June 2013
"Ask anyone what a Simple Minds concert is about and for sure there will
be some common responses. Some of those responses will centre on tunes, words, rhythms,
sounds and atmospheres. Others meanwhile might respond by saying it is all about the crowd,
the lights, the memories and emotions that come through tuning into the music. It is of course
about all of those things and so much more."
"For me, Simple Minds concerts are as much as anything all about the
energy that is transmitted from band to audience, an energy that is both physical
and at the same time belongs or is connected to another kind of energy that is
more difficult to name, one that is certainly not so easy to put a finger on, one that
is altogether more mysterious, as human as it is."
"I cannot describe to you how you feel at a show, but I know for
sure that the kind of energy that surges through all of us on stage, as soon as
the music begins, is unique to performing. It cannot be conjured up or faked elsewhere,
certainly not in rehearsals or sound checks for example."
"Adrenaline is the obvious term some might grasp for in trying to
describe, but that is something else altogether in my view. As I say I have no name
for the energy that takes over the band when playing, it is mental, physical, and
surely as some would have it, most definitely spiritual at heart. As vague and overused
as that beautiful term may well be?"
"What is not up for debate however is the certainty of the energy on display or
indeed the abundance, as it is this very energy that surely drives us on non-stop throughout
our gigs. But as to how it is conjured up or called upon to act at will, or as soon as the
show begins, well, I have no idea to be honest. It seems to answer to a call of duty."
"That there is a remarkable energy to Simple Minds is without doubt however,
and it made itself very apparent from the second we set foot on stage at Newmarket a
couple of nights ago. That it is still present after all these years is almost beyond
belief. That it is somehow growing more than ever is really something wonderful to observe." - Jim, 23rd June 2013
So wrote a recent edition of Record Collector. This release was previously documented here
although I gave it a release date of March 1986 - an educated guess on my part based on the facts that
no limited edition of All The Things She Said had previously
surfaced, the label stated "Limited Edition" and the double-pack set included All The Things She Said.
Therefore I'd be interested to know where Record Collector's date of 1988 came from.
But the facts surrounding this release get murkier still. Massimo sent me pictures of another
double-pack: Don't You (Forget About Me) bundled with
Sanctify Yourself with the same "Two For The Price Of One"
sticker. This is further backed up by the discography published in Simple Minds by
Sir Richard Francis Bourbon (a Spanish biography from 1994) which also lists this
varient.
This suggests the sticker was sent out to record shops and retailers were free to
make up their own double-packs from their own surplus stock. If this was the case, then the actual records
themselves wouldn't be important - and the lone sticker would become the release in its own right.
Icon is exactly the sort of thing which appears when
record companies stop thinking.
Forget the strange A&M-centric track listing and skip the oddly inappropriate
out-of-date black-and-white photos used for the artwork. The real question about this compilation
is why no-one at Virgin Records America talks to anyone else at
Virgin Records America. Surely, if they did, they would've realised that they'd
released a better Simple Minds compilation album only the previous month?
One for the completists only.
Johnson Somerset's name should be familiar to those who collected the
Neapolis singles. He was responsible for the
pulsating extended version of War Babies which
stood head-and-shoulders above most of the other remixes from the same period. I thought
he really brought out something different whilst keeping the ethos of the song intact
and hoped that he'd be use for future songs.
This view was apparently also shared by Chrysalis and they duly commissioned
Somerset to remix the band's next single. Unfortunately this was the then-doomed
Space and the release never saw the light of day.
Somerset's two remixes of the song ended up in the vault and were subsequently forgotten.
The Mercury Mix was a faithfully extended version of the familiar "closet-mix" which
graced the album and would've become a fan favourite
if released. His Moscow Mix was far more dramatic and stripped the song to the bone,
underpinning it with a forceful new propulsive foundation. (It felt like a continuation of his
Desert Dub Remix of War Babies which never
received a mainstream release.)
Unfortunately neither was in contention for
Celebrate: The Greatest Hits+ so they couldn't
be resurrected for that release. Somerset's compositions were intended for the dancefloors
and the clubs, and wouldve sat uneasily on a collection of quick-fire single edits and radio-friendly remixes.
But I always felt that the Mercury Mix deserved greater recognition and would've put it
forward for consideration if a remix retrospective or
Our Secrets Are The Same
reissue were ever planned.
However, all is not lost. Johnson Somerset has just published a portfolio of remixes
on YouTube and included the previously-unreleased Moscow Mix. It's worth a listen and
adds more to the history of this great "lost single." And hopefully the Mercury Mix
will be issued in the future as well.
16th may
belfast, greatest hits + us edition, lincoln, concert live cds, absolute radio q&a, classic rock review, vive le rock review, margate, reading,
record store day, cambridge, sheffield, discography updates
Many thanks to Shaun for the pictures and set-list.
Details of the three recent Concert Live CDs have now been added to the site. Note that
the initial stock of limited edition CDs have now run out and Concert Live
are now shipping slightly different packaged sets - more information on them soon.
Several lucky fans were invited to ask questions at Absolute Radio's recent
Q&A Session with Jim and
Charlie. Unusual questions were given preference
which was good because one gets tired of the "What's your favourite colour?" trivia.
Clive "DVD" Johnson cleverly bucked the trend by managing to get two questions in.
The Q&A took pace at Absolute Radio on the 24th April and the interview was broadcast on the 5th May.
It can be found on Absolute Radio's Simple Minds page. It's well worth
watching as there were some particularly good questions - ranging from which songs Jim and
Charlie would dedicate to each other to what was the weirest thing ever thrown on stage.
Many thanks to Ajay for the set-list and pictures.
Leicester 0 Reading 1
I had no plans to attend any other gigs other than the one in Leicester that I've already talked about on this list...
but then I got a call out of the blue from an old friend who tells me that hes attending the Reading gig on his own
(primarily as none of his work mates like his taste in music!), and
would I fancy joining him, as I hadnt seen him in a while?
I jumped at the chance and found a decently-priced ticket
from a well-known auction site. On my way to the venue, I receive a call from
said friend, saying that his meeting in the north of England is going on for
much longer than anticipated... and that theres more chance of Elvis (Presley,
not Costello) making a comeback than him getting to Reading on time, if at all.
This is interesting I thought... a Minds gig on my own (a
first), with no-one else to bounce thoughts and feelings throughout the gig.
Not a problem really.
A fair few fans were already at the venue, waiting to go
into the main auditorium - its always interesting to ear-wig on certain conversations taking place... the super-fans who seem
to be able to get to every gig, the fans with the great T-shirts (whoever the
guy was with the "Theme For Great Cities" T-shirt nice t-shirt mate!), the fans who left the band sometime in 89 &
are intrigued enough to see them again many, many years down the line, and
then the other halves, that have been dragged along by their partners, with the promise
of a great gig and a few drinks.
A great position at the very front sorted right where I
think Charlie will be, & the venue slowly begins to fill. Ive always found
Minds fans to be a generally friendly bunch over the years, and strike up a
conversation with Joanne and Richard to my left. These two fall into the
category of the super fans without a doubt!
The atmosphere cranks up another notch when the intro music
starts playing, and eventually the lights dim. The immediate feeling for me
is that this is going to be a better gig than the one I attended in Leicester
it just feels that way, its something in the air. The crowd get into the gig
from Broken Glass Park onwards, and pretty much don't
relent from that point onwards.
Waterfront is accompanied by lots of air-punching and some
furious pogoing (much helped by the springy base of the barriers that us in
the front row were stood on!), and the accompanied singing along with
Once Upon A Time not one of my faves at all, but it does sound good.
The good feeling is very much onstage too the wingers (as
I like to call them!) Charlie and Ged
are grinning from ear-to-ear, and switch sides every-so-often, passing comments to each other as they cross.
Jim improvises some of the lyrics during
Up On The Catwalk, but thats not a problem, were
used to that kind of thing, although I do wonder whether he does it deliberately sometimes, as he will look at someone
directly in the front row when hes doing this hes either being forgetful
and trying to lip-read, or being a rascal, by making the gig-goer they're the ones singing the wrong lyrics!
Jims in a playful mood, play-acting pulling a pose of mock backache,
or blowing his cheeks as if hes running out of breath, but then in the next moment, executes his knees-on-the-floor
back arch. Hope I can move half as much as he does when Im in my mid 50s...
All The Things She Said sounds as powerful as ever. I take
a moment to check that Im not just being swept away by things is the sound
good? Is the performance tight? Do the band look like theyre enjoying
themselves and feeding off the crowd? Yes, yes and yes.
Before long, were on to I Travel and it seems like the
venue (and the band) have gone into overdrive that song provides one of
those gig moments where nothing could stop the song. A criticism? Just when
theyve build up this stupendous momentum, they decide to leave the stage for
their half-time oranges.
During the break, in line with what Shaun mentioned in his
review of a few weeks ago, I got a tap on the shoulder from a lady behind me
asking me what the last song was. "Is that one of their new ones, because it
sounds new?" she asked. When I told her how old the song really was, she was a
little surprised!
Break over, Andy and
Charlie take centre-stage for the demo
version of Book Of Brilliant Things again, evidence enough that the
Minds were a little ahead of their time, since it sounds so contemporary.
Neon Lights is a bit of a weak-link
Miss Brown sings it
well, but after the exhilaration of whats gone on before, its the first time
I feel the gig sag a bit. Besides, we heard Kraftwerks version during the
half-time break, so somebody needs to sort that out!
Someone Somewhere sounds as glorious as ever, and mirrors
the feeling of the sunny weather thats finally (finally!) arrived to these
shores. The band go into attack-mode again with She's A River, and this is
probably the first instance I get where the sound is a little fuddled on the
bit just before the song finds another gear (You raise me like a building...),
it sounds as if the levels of all of the instruments are up to 11, and the
sound is just overwhelming (in a bad way) instead of being a knock-out punch.
Let me just get the other negative aspect out of the way
while Im at it there were a couple of songs (cant remember which) that Andy
hit some very audible bum notes on perhaps because it was during more subtle or
relatively quieter parts of those songs, it was just more obvious. Did MacNeil
(or even Mark Taylor) do such a thing when they played keys? Im sure they did,
its just for me at this gig, it was just a bit too evident when this happened.
Tonights highlight for me had to be The American the
crowd were going batsh*t during this, and Jim certainly recognised this,
quoting his To the roof! from the Dortmund 84 performance just as they / we
launched into the ending.
Love Song sounded fresh and contemporary too (bit of a theme
emerging here!) we were now into full-on singalong mode. On See The Lights,
Charlie was able to exhibit his much-underrated guitar-playing and take
centre-stage again for the solo.
For once, Dont You seemed to take the gig to another
level it seemed to go on forever, & I think the band were genuinely
surprised by this. Promised You A Miracle brought things to a majestic end,
& as they left the stage again, the crowd roared for more. And I mean, it
sounded like a roar.
New Gold Dream is
another one of those tracks that just blows the door down, & this time was
no exception. There were moments during this that you felt that the juggernaut
was almost out of control it could have been the sound levels again, but they
managed to bring it towards the sustained power of the song that we know its
capable of.
Sanctify Yourself was another big-throated sing-along
by this point, I think most of us aware that the gig is drawing to a close, so
you can sense the crowd participation becomes that much more willing.
Mel was
in his element during this song.
Space is now one of those pleasant surprises a relatively
newer song that still manages to draw the crowd in, and by the end of it, Im
sure it gets many in the audience thinking that its an older song lurking in
their collections that theyve not given much time towards.
Which leaves us with Alive And Kicking to end things off
with. A celebratory and fitting end.
So this is the story of the score line which in my mind for
a comparison of the two Minds gigs, is Leicester 0 Reading 1 (a score that I
would have been unhappy about if it was a football match, being a Leicester City fan!).
Whilst I loved the Leicester gig, & it had so much
personal significance for me, I have to
say the Reading crowd was definitely more up for it, possibly as a result of
the band being up for it too (yes, it could well have been the band feeding off
the crowd).
So sorry Leicester, my experience of a Friday gig there,
was beaten by a Reading crowd that treated a Thursday night like a Friday
night! Yes, the band had their negative moments too, but overall, the
performance was still a special one, and will rank up there for me with a
number of gigs of theirs Ive been fortunate to be at.
Hope Ive not bored anyone to death with this... for those of
you going to the remainder of the dates, "move on up to the front," because
thats where its at.
Ajay Mistry
Credit is due to Virgin, Simple Minds and their management
for putting more into their record store day releases than many other bands. You get newly commissioned remixes
and sparkling new artwork all packaged up as a glossy 12". This neatly encapsulates the spirit of purchasing new
records in records shops back in the 1980s when you had no idea of the track listing and no concept of the artwork
and only knew that Simple Minds were releasing something that day. And you were never disappointed.
That's what Record Store Day should be about. Just putting out a replica of an 80s single but this time on green vinyl! doesn't
get me excited, but appears to be the option taken by so many other bands.
So, long may this trend of exclusive new Record Store Day releases by Simple Minds continue.
"We loved it, hope you did too!" - Jim, 20th April 2013
Loudery, Derek Forbes And Mick MacNeil's excellent new version of Book Of Brilliant Things
is also available on a promotional six track CD. This also includes
the rare The Piano Orchapella (but, unfortunately, includes the sound glitch which appears around the 1:33 mark.)
A flyer for the 12" release of the The Floating World has further muddied the waters
around this release. It suggests that the track was called Taormina - not the artist as first assumed - and
that a vocal mix would be released later. Of course, releasing the vocal mix would've revealed that the song was a remix
of Homosapien, and not an original song called Taormina.
I'm going to have to rewrite the history of this one.
20th april
record store day
It's Record Store Day and Promised U A Remix is now
available in select record shops.
It looks really great with a stunning glossy sleeve based on the Broken Glass Park
promo artwork. And the familiar version of Broken Glass Park is on
the AA side. However, the Mylo remix of Promised You A Miracle
is new - and is well worth tracking down. It's an excellent updating of this classic with many subtle contemporary
additions and even features a surprise ending.
And some more extra photos from Dublin on the 26th March. Many thanks to Lionello for
sending them in.
16th april
johnnie walker show, empires that dance, an unsung hero (lincoln), bournemouth
It was a different angle from Johnnie Walker. Then again, if you're hosting a Seventies Show, then
it's going to be a slightly different angle and his chat with Jim was both
amusing and informative. Topics touched on the music parties held on Friday and Saturday nights in the
Kerr household, Jim's
influences and first gig - should've been Ziggy Stardust but Jim
had put a nail through his foot so missed the gig - and the first play of Saints And Sinners
on mainstream Radio 2.
And Johnnie stuck to his 70s brief, so final topics included the total punk ethic of
Saints And Sinners with the band splitting up on the day of the single's release,
the sheer terror of recording Life In A Day and being influenced and
touring with Magazine.
Empires That Dance have now officially released their cover of the
Simple Minds classic Room. Called
Another Room, the song is an updating of the original by Andy Inniss,
George Porter and Gordy Goudie (who has remastered
the track for extra sparkle).
"Empires That Dance: Andy Inniss. Vocals by George Porter
who has worked with XSM, Derek Forbes and
Simple Minded (UK tribute band). Produced by Gordy Goudie
who has worked on the Simple Minds albums:
Neon Lights,
Cry,
Black & White and
Grafitti Soul.
Uber fan Andy Inniss is the catalyst behind this brilliant re-work of
the Simple Minds song Room. Originally released in
1980 on the Empires And Dance album the recent
Simple Minds5x5 tour really opened our
ears to how current some of these early songs sound.
"This was my inspiration," Andy said, "I didn't want to replicate
Room nor did I want to tinker with it that much... I'm really
happy with the outcome."
Hope you all like Another Room....."
For a (rather short) preview, check out the following video:
An Unsung Hero
Having missed out on last years tour to say I was looking forward to the Lincoln gig is putting it politely.
With the feedback that people have been giving from the shows from last year and from the start
of this tour I was hoping it wouldnt turn into a damp squib, and it most certainly didn`t.
Lights down and we are in to Broken Glass Park
and what a great way to open a show. Waterfront then filled the
Engine Shed and the place was rocking. I was then taken back to 85/86 with
Once Upon A Time and Sarah Brown`s
voice filled the air. That lady has a great set of lungs on her. Straight into
Up On The Catwalk great to hear this track again. Then followed
Let There Be Love and
All The Things She Said.
War Babies then filled the Lincoln air one of my personal favourites
then Im thinking please don`t play Glitterball
as personally that was one of the worst first singles from an album ever.
Thankfully we went back to Glittering Prize and then the iconic
I Travel which as Ive said before was a track way before its time.
The band goes for tea break and I get a tap on the shoulder from this lady who says "You knew the words to that
song what was the song?" "It was I Travel" I replied "God it was amazing when was that released?" So I gave the
lady a quick minds history.
Tea break over and we get Book Of Brilliant Things not with full band but
just Charlie and Andy and
an instrumental version quality or what.
Tea break then over for everyone and Sarah gets those lungs going for
Neon Lights. Someone Somewhere In Sumertime and
She's A River get the Engine Shed going again. We then
slow it down to This Is Your Land personally I hate this track but
Im only one in approx 1800 people and Ill live with it. I purposely havent listened to
Blood Diamonds on the basis I wanted to hear it live first.
For years Jim has always gone on about being better song writers
and a better live band we`ll you`ve done both.
We`re then rocking again with The American and Love Song
live favs that stand the test of time. We slow down a bit for See The Lights
before the roof comes off the Engine Shed with Don`t You (Forget About Me)
and everyones hands are in the air. The crowd take the vocals to a new level sounded in tune!!
Two more live favs Promised You A Miracle and the mega iconic
New Gold Dream brings what some people thought was the end of the show.
Don`t go yet there`s still some more.
Sanctify Yourself starts the encore and we then drift into
Space. Great to hear this track again get a tap on the shoulder from the
lady wanting to know what the track was again she`d never heard it and was impressed.
Lincoln is then wrapped up with Alive & Kicking
everyones arms raised waving left to right. Then as the band take their well deserved applause and bows
Bowie's Gene Genie comes on over the PA quite ironic as thats where the band
got the name Simple Minds from. This was the first time Id seen the current band line up live with
Ged playing bass. Well what a bass player you can hear some subtle
differences in some songs as they have been Gedded, well done that man. Hats off to the entire band.
You may wonder why I titled this review An Unsung Hero. Unless you were there during sound check you wouldn`t
be aware of the graft a certain lighting man had to do. I was lucky enough to get into the Engine Shed
at 4pm to interview Stephen Pollard the lighting man, the interview with
Stephen didnt take place as he had to basically re do the entire light
settings due to the Engine Shed having such a low roof. This man worked from 2PM to just before
doors opened at 7PM to make sure the light show was as good in Lincoln as it is for the bigger venues.
While Stephen was still working with the lights the band and road
crew had their pre gig meals. What did Stephen do? Kept grafting to get it
right and just had a couple or sarnies and a bit of cake.
Hats off to Stephen Pollard top job well done. Then had the pleasure of
seeing the gig from lighting desk and to watch Stephen
work was a real pleasure after he had grafted to get the lights right for the Lincoln Simple Minds
massive. Its those things that the masses don`t normally hear about but praise most defo where its due.
Stephen Pollard the Unsung Hero.
14th april
liz kershaw show, houkago tea-time, johnnie walker show
The fact that Liz was late having dealt with London traffic found her in a rather frantic mood. She fired off questions
left, right and centre and it was refreshing having an interview conducted at such speed. She covered the
history of Broken Glass Park, stumbled over the band line-up (thinking it was the original members),
played Broken Glass Park, promoted the tour, reeled off her memories of
her favourite Simple Minds gig, questioned Jim on his
highlight performance, and finished off with a 13-year-old Jim Kerr
remembering seeing Bowie in Glasgow... in about three minutes.
I was pleased for two reasons. Firstly, she didn't mention the Columbia Hotel which had been the mainstay of their
previous two conversations, and she confirmed that
Broken Glass Park and
Blood Diamonds are a clue of what's coming
for the new album next year.
"I only just noticed what you wrote about me in the news section for 2012 (11th December),
and I am extremely honored!
I'm a self-proclaimed scholar of Simple Minds album and single artwork, and take a lot of
influence from them when I design my own. See: the-h-person.deviantart.com."
"The whole idea behind the parody project came from the cover art of the first
Houkago Tea-Time album (which was to promote the anime.) The heart/crown motif reminded me of the
Minds' claddagh, and the shield I found somewhat similar to
Sparkle In The Rain!" - Hugo
And Jim will be on the Johnnie Walker Show on
BBC Radio Two later today.
13th april
the balearic sound of simple minds, liz kershaw show
The first of three new 12" releases featuring the band,
The Balearic Sound Of Simple Minds
includes three tracks from their early career.
It's part of a series of 12" releases, all called The Balearic Sound Of, and all
packaged as 12" singles with picture labels in die-cut plain-white sleeves.
I've been unable to find out more about Sunkissed Records so have put this
12" in the bootleg section for the time being. One for the completists only as it only features
the standard album takes of This Fear Of Gods and
Theme For Great Cities and the original extended
remix of I Travel.
Jim will be a special guest on the Liz Kershaw Show
which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music today at 13:00. The show will be available on the
BBC's iPlayer service once it's been aired.
10th april
wolverhampton, bedgebury reissue, the real mccoy interview #3, brighton, plymouth
Don't trust the packaging though. The track listing on the back of the CD appears to be the Hampton Court listing.
Otherwise it's a good way to pick up one of the 2011 live recording again.
The Real McCoy Interview #3
MH: I'm going to jump forward a little bit not much, only a year into 1980 and the album
Empires And Dance. And also you were talking about incessantly
touring, I remember you talked to me at this time about your relationship with Peter Gabriel and that tour.
If you could mention both the record and that tour then that would be great.
JK: Well I think by the time we got to our third album, Empires And Dance,
we still weren't selling any quantities if fact after our debut which I mentioned featured in the UK top 30 the
next album didn't, it was just too weird, and then when we came to our third album, Empires And Dance,
the hipper press and all that were really turning onto the band but we weren't getting anything remotely top 40ish radio
and as you know, you don't get that you don't sell records. Well, you don't in the UK anyway because unlike America
the numbers are just not there.
JK: That shouldve been a concern. [Laughs] It would be a concern for our accountants and managers
because the band was deeply in debt. But we liked the way things were going artistically whereas we weren't
happy with the debut, we were much more pleased with the second album. And we were pretty delighted with the third
album, the album in hand we're discussing now, Empires And Dance. Not
only did we like it, it was a great honour to find out that Peter Gabriel did who himself was
breaking through with his own third solo album. And to put it in context, the first band I ever saw live was
Genesis and Gabriel was in the band at the time and they opened the tour the
Foxtrot tour again in the history of British Music... It was such a... Even as I'm talking just now I can feel
the hair on the back of my neck, the feeling of being a fourteen year old and seeing Gabriel
any time it's your first gig it's really going to impress you but to see Peter Gabriel on stage!
And Ive been a fan ever since.
JK: The reason I say it's an honour is he heard Empires And Dance, our third album,
and we got the invite to tour with him throughout Europe. We'd done quite a lot of touring in Europe but the scale
we were on it was pubs and clubs and little art houses and stuff which was cool, but Peter
was playing in arenas and it was our first chance to go out and see if our music could work in those spaces and,
more than that, it was a chance to watch someone like Peter Gabriel up close, and see that and
this is going to sound corny that you could be a rock star but you could, let's just say, you could keep things
real as well. And it was such a pleasure because we... [Laughs] Actually Simple Minds most nights
we got slaughtered and the audiences didn't like us. But even Peter was having a hard time because
a lot of them were ex-Genesis fans and they wanting wanting to hear that kind of music, and they
certainly didnt want to hear that post-punk, new-wave thing that we were coming up with.
JK: But again, that still toughened us up and even if we felt we'd made twenty fans that night,
or thirty fans, we thought it was still something to work with, a great learning experience.
MH: We're going to move on to the next album you did which ended up being a double album,
and not only that, you actually changed labels. And you actually changed producers as well. So it was a major
change for you when you went from Arista onto Virgin, and you also moved on from
John Leckie to
Steve Hillage which, for me, is an amazing album that sounds like
some cross between a disco thats in Jim Kerr's head as well as German
influences of Kraftwerk. Which was Sons And Fascination
and the second album which is Sister Feelings Call. Well that's
my take on it, what's your take on it Jim?
JK: Certainly the geography you mention there is right because one of the things leading up to
the album we're now discussing Sons And Fascination the album
preceeding that, Empires And Dance, one of the things was it got
enough buzz to let us tour a lot, constantly, mostly Europe but Im talking three or four European tours
in the space of a year one of which was also with Peter Gabriel. And one of the places we played
was Germany, the biggest country in Europe. Germany then was the Germany of the Berlin Wall and it was the
Cold War and it was east and west and it's hard to tell you the atmosphere of what that was like but it was
fascinating it was also very sad but who wants to see a country, a world ripped apart with something as brutal
as a wall keeping things... it was like a scar going through the world really, but there was still something as
an artist who just takes stuff in I was just scribbling stuff down in my notebook, every day I was listening to
stuff, even of course then it was just to be in the mode of the music, we were listening to a lot of Krautrock,
obviously of Kraftwerk, Neu and Can all these art rockers and
all that really informed the album which was to come.
JK: But that time we were changing. We were changing our approaches from album to album they
were all different but the good thing was however that we somehow forged our own identity when you heard it,
you knew it was Simple Minds, but it was new Simple Minds, and touching on a thing
I said earlier about the band's voracious appetite for work and writing and recording for me,
Sons And Fascination is my favourite of the albums, it's my favourite
period, and, again, it was before we had any major success but it took us to the doors of mainstream success.
But there was something about it, something about the expansiveness, something about the imagination in the band,
it was so calm and we knew we were on our way, so everything from the artwork to the production to the sound,
I think you could see that it was a band with a true mission and we were going to get wherever we wanted to go.
JK: Yeah, lets go with The American. I'm glad you chose
that song as well 70 Cities because we've been playing it
recently and we didn't play it back then because we couldn't play it I think we only played it one night
and made a complete hash of it and we didn't dare try it again. Back then technology was different and monitoring
and all that was awful, but now, obviously, we do know how to play it so it's been one of the stand-out tracks live.
"Thanks to all for making us feel so good. When I saw that the venue was all seated I originally thought
that the atmosphere might be a little low key. Stiff. Formal. But not at all, we had a party - audience sang and
danced all night. Magic." - Jim, 10th April 2013
3rd april
newcastle, massimo, phantom 105.2fm, dundee, simply minds
There were problems with the sound during War Babies and
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel so the band took a break
whilst the issues were sorted out. THis lead to the re-ordering of the tracks for the second half
of the set.
Massimo Babini, a fellow collector who often contributes scans to Dream Giver,
was recently interviewed for an Italian paper about his passion.
The Phantom 105.2FM interview between Jim and
John Caddell - which took place just before the gig started - is
now available online.
It's hard to take in that it is over five years now since a few guys from Cork and a blowin from Dundee who were keen Simple Minds fans got together to do a
one-off tribute gig. After great support and some massive gigs Ireland's only tribute to the scottish rock giants, SIMPLY MINDS took a year off to do their
other projects etc. in 2012. Out of the blue they have been asked to reform and play one of the best, if not the best, venues in the Munster region. Crane Lane Theatre is the
host venue on Saturday April 20th 2013.
With over 10,000 hits on youtube now (simplyminds01) things could not have gone much better for a hobby band. Having seen the vids and hearing the good vibes from fans
the members were invited backstage at the Marquee gig by Simple Minds themselves and had a great meeting and a few bevs with their idols. If things could not
get any better John (lead singer) was invited to support Jim Kerr on his Lostboy date in Cyprus Ave
last year which must be a claim to fame for a fan who started listening to Simple Minds in 1978 and then supports his idol over 30 years later,
as they say dreams do come true. SIMPLY MINDS have done so well because they try and copy the songs as close to the original versions as possible
as it should be, as they know it is not their own material and so they should respect and do the songs justice.
There are too many hits to name but the band cover most of the big ones, but also because they are a tribute, play some album tracks etc. to keep the fans happy.
Don't You (Forget About Me),
Alive And Kicking,
Belfast Child will keep peoples' attention but also some new material will keep the interest in
Simple Minds' music going as they keep pumping some great tunes to this day.
This is a free gig on behalf of Crane Lane Theatre so many thanks to the venue.
Saturday April 20th.
9PM doors.
Admission FREE.
Band on stage 10PM.
Many thanks to Jamie Sinclair for the following interview which will
be published in What's On Magazine shortly.
The Real McCoy Interview #2
MH: And just a second ago you mentioned about making your dreams come true and there was a programme we used to watch called The Old Grey Whistle Test
which we grew up with along with Top Of The Pops. And I remember tuning in and seeing you appear on The Old Grey Whistle Test and to me it was just
like a dream come true that a band from Glasgow that I knew and grew up with managed to get on such an iconic show. Can you remember that moment? JK: Yes I certainly can. I have no idea how it wouldve seemed from your perspective because I know how iconic that show was to you, and how iconic
it was to all of us, and for you to see these guys who you watched rehearsing and grew up with suddenly appear on... it was mind-blowing for us, it mustve
been equally mind-blowing for all the people that we grew up with. Because it all seemed so unlikely. JK: There came a period in music, maybe around the eighties, any Tom, Dick or Harry could just get a band together and lo-and-behold youd be on
Top Of The Pops, youd go on whatever big deal. But it really was a big deal. And I get that impression from the way you described watching us as a
viewer. For us, it was terrifying it was absolutely terrifying. We all know how it was like in school when you had to go in for exam day and
the pressure of that well if you could imagine that times a hundred. Because here was us, first time ever, we hadnt played in London we hadnt even
played in England so we were coming right out of Scotland onto national TV and we felt... Deep down we were thinking how were going to live up to this opportunity? JK: We didnt think that we did actually afterwards. None of us actually came out and said We sucked and I dont think we did suck. But we kind
of froze, as you would do, because youve never had any experience and I dont think we really put ourselves across in the way that we were doing at gigs
then. But it was all part and parcel of the learning process. But we couldnt have done that bad actually because a few weeks later our debut album Life In A Day
came out and it debuted in the UK Top 30 which was no mean feat. MH: Absolutely. And I remember it coming out and it was produced by the great John Leckie. And not only was it the
first time youd been on TV, suddenly youd released an album. So, off that album I was going to give you a choice of two tracks that I love:
Life In A Day or Chelsea Girl. So can you make the choice? JK: I think Ill go for Life In A Day. Why I say that was because it probably although
Chelsea Girls a good pop song, I think Life In A Day
more sums up the sound of the band at that time, or the sound we were going for which was if we had prototypes then definitely the great Magazine from Manchester
and John FoxxsUltravox were big influences on us, and in the Life In A Day track you can hear that.
[Audio: Life In A Day]
MH: Were talking about the first album Life In A Day and heres a strange thing when
I looked at this, and didnt realise it at the time: you managed
to do two in the one year and there was a drastic shift in influences between Life In A Day and, of course, the next album that you recorded a few months later,
Real To Real Cacophony. Why did the change happen and how did it feel to go back into the recording studio that quickly? JK: If there was a fault with the debut album and some bands made glorious debuts and you hear about them all; I thinking of Patti Smith, Im thinking of
The Ramones, some people make glorious debuts [but] in general people dont though - you have to learn your trade. But one of the things you can come a cropper on your
first album is that theyre songs youve been playing for months, maybe years in some peoples cases, youre playing them live, youre honing them and you can maybe just
hone them too much but you dont know it but youre kind of bored with them before youve even got to the studio. JK: And in our case the demos of early songs, they just had a kind of bite or edge to them that for all the good, polished sounds in the debut, we
missed that bite and we missed that edge and therefore we were keen to readdress that as soon as possible. We were keen to get in Simple Minds back then, we could be
very poppy, but we could strike out with more maybe avent garde is pushing it but much more art rock and that art rock thing didnt really come through on the first
album it was all a bit generic. And we were keen to readdress that. And we were writing non-stop as well. One of the things and Im going to have to hand it to the guys
in the band who all through my career Ive worked with fantastic people but I mean there was a voratious appetite to learn about music and know about music and we had such
a wide band of musical tastes. There was people in the band who loved Krautrock and people in the band who loved ELO if you saying what we were playing in the van to the gig,
youd be playing The Velvet Underground and then youd be playing Barry White. We were one of these bands it was just wide therefore our influences were wide and our approach
to music was wide... I guess what Im trying to say is that there was no shortage of ideas and that enabled us to make the second album so quick. JK: But actually it goes way beyond that. Simple Minds made five albums, one of which was a double, in five years and yet we seemed to be touring all the
time as well. And if you said how is that possible, it was all we wanted to do every minute when we were awake was be playing music: either performing or writing or recording. MH: So normally Id let you choose a track but Im going to be selfish here and pick a track off of Real To Real Cacophony
called Factory, The reason Id like
to play this is that weve talked about seeing you on The Old Grey Whistle Test and you never really get a band having more than one appearance in a year on there, but there we
were, maybe five months later, I turn on the TV again and youre on The Old Grey Whistle Test. But this time youre in New York playing in a club and youre playing
Factory. And I go OK, youve gone and lifted the bar again.
Many thanks to Martin for the pictures of the set-list and concert photos.
Further to the press release below, the five remixes of Loudry, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil versions of
Book Of Brilliant Things can be heard, and also purchased, from
www.beatport.com.
They are very, very good.
Is it coincidence that Simple Minds have also unveiled a live reworking of this classic which also involves
the distinctive bass-line of the "demo" version?
Concert Live is thrilled to announce we'll be teaming up with Scottish legends Simple Minds for
exclusive recordings of their upcoming Greatest Hits+ Live Tour at 3 select dates:
29/03/2013 in Carlisle; 06/04/2013 in Wolverhampton and 15/04/2013 in Bournemouth!
These limited edition 2 Disc sets will be available for you to pick up
minutes after the show and can be found at all other live non-recorded shows around the UK. Can't make any of the gigs? Don't fear,
these live albums are also available for worldwide home delivery!
Loudery, Derek Forbes & Mick MacNeil
Nang Records - NANG100
Release Date: 01 Apr 2013
It just seems like yesterday when we released our first Nang record with the following statement: "Early 2009, great time to start a record label; we're doing it for
love, thats for sure." Four years later and here we are. NANG100. We definitely arent doing it for the silver, because running a money-losing record label is the sweetest
of labours. As for the "love" we have that in bucketfuls. We have been blessed to release a slew of amazing music and have worked with a parade of astounding friends,
heroes, legends, villains, amazers & troubadors. We still cant believe we got this far. Just check the names listed in the Nang 100 Parade of honor below.
For the 100th release we have come up with possibly the most bonkers of an idea since we started: Take the coolest Simple Minds song, two (ex) members of
Simple Minds, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and plenty of Nang flavour. Label head honcho Loudery evokes the
"double O privilege" card for the to lead the players in a cover version of Book Of Brilliant Things from 1984.
The original version is a melting pot of splendiferous ingredients. Prague Orchestral strings, Chic bass grooves, analogue keys, plucky
guitars and the vocals of soul princess Tahamene Park. She moulds the head-on Jim Kerr vocal lines into a slick,
sultry, laidback treat. As with past Loudery releases the big orchestral break down is there, this time taking inspiration from the
Live In THe City Of LightSimple Minds version. The release features vocal and instrumental versions.
Highlight of the package are the collaborations with Mick MacNeil (keyboard player and former musical beating heart of the Minds)
and Derek Forbes ("Scotland's Favorite Bass player" and composer of a generation of awe inspiring basslines such as
The American, Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel and
Promised You A Miracle). It is not often that legends say yes, but we are so thankful that Mick
and Derek did. Simple Minds from 79 to 84 were incredibly influential to electronic music fans. A fact not lost on
Simple Minds themselves who just toured their 5x5 show made entirely from their pre-stadium-rock
song catalogue.
Our track comes from the tail end of that period. You can find the "full" version on the 1984 Sparkle In The Rain album, but if
you search the Internet hard enough you may find the original TB303-originating demo bootleg version of The Book. We did, and we loved it so much we just had to a
secondary cover version. "Wan" (as in Glasgae, that's the "wan") has it all. Great Cities synth pads from the man Mick himself,
Sare Havlicek twiddling the TB303 knobs, orchestras, a parade of analogue Rolands, a tinkling CP80 electric piano and to top it all off
Derek slapping out the (previously unheard) groover of a bassline. For those vinyl dance floor moments the Wan Dub
strips it all back to its core 606 drums, bass and TB303.
New Nang cosmonaut recruit James Bright takes his shot at the remix in the package and goes for bags of synthy swing. More big
dancefloor grooves. To round the package off we finish with the Piano Orchapella perfect for the Scottish wedding march moments. Just as you would expect,
it is full of the splendour and power of 30 beating Czech hearts with their violins and Mick MacNeil on the ivories.
As for Nang, its onwards and forwards. We have albums and singles scheduled approaching to NANG150 and dont bet against the 200 See you soon.
1. Book Of Brilliant Things
2. Book Of Brilliant Things [Wan Remix]
3. Book Of Brilliant Things [James Bright Remix]
4. Book Of Brilliant Things [Wan Dub]
5. Book Of Brilliant Things [Instrumental]
6. Book Of Brilliant Things [The Piano Orchapella]
Nang Records Press Release
March 2013
I can highly recommend this released having heard samples of all the remixes - it's really great stuff. Remixes can deviate terribly, but these all remain true to the
original and demo versions of the song.
Many thanks to Martin for the pictures of the poster, set-list and concert photos.
The tour poster for the gig is notable as it used an early version of the statue and graffiti. You should be able to pick out song titles and lyrics - but the quality of the
poster and colour scheme is pretty dreadful. Still, it did its job... the gig sold out!
25th march
greatest hits +, phantom 105.2fm, tour adverts, one direction, the real mccoy interview #1, promised u a remix
"Tour starting now... Recording in summer... Hopefully US/Canada to follow... Arena tour to finish the year... New album next spring. - snapshot across the ether...
The podcast of Friday's Phantom 105.2FM interview with Jim will be up on Monday. In the meantime, here's some of the main points
from DJ John Caddell:
Jim said that the band are on fire at the moment, and that he's particularly pleased with how
She's A River is sounding in rehearsal. They're rehearsing 10 hours a day for the tour.
They rehearsed in Dublin for the Street Fighting Years tour in 1989, and said that this was was an
unhappy time for the band, in that "the wheels were falling off." I asked him was he specifically talking about Mick's
unhappiness in the band, and he said yes, he was.
He said that new blood in the band (Ged, Andy), who were huge fans of
Simple Minds before joining, allowed him and Charlie not to be jaded, that the new guys' enthusaiasm
for the older songs led in part to the 5X5 tour last year.
There are at least a half-dozen strong contenders for the next album.
Many thanks to John Caddell for the info.
"Greetings from Dublin were things are about to get in a blur! Well they would wouldn't they given that Paddy's Day is tomorrow. Rehearsals however are strait laced
Oh Jungleland,
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel,
Home and
War Babies... all in the bag. Nearly." - Jim, 16th March 2013.
As I mentioned in the last update, the radio interviews really worth listening to were those by Billy Sloan and Martin Hanlin.
Both podcasts from Martin's lengthy interview with Jim are now on
KX 93.5's website but it's such a great interview that I thought it would be worth transcribing it and publishing it here
in installments.
MH: This is Martin Hanlin on KX 93.5 and kx935.com. Special guest today, good friend,
great artist, please welcome James Kerr from Simple Minds. How are you doing Jim? JK: Im doing great Martin. Great to hear you on the radio and Ive enjoyed your shows so far. So good luck with it. Hopefully
this will further enhance your reputation. MH: Thank you very much. And where are you and how are you? JK: Im very good, thank you. Im in France I spend a lot of time in France and Italy. Had a bit of a break over Christmas. Simple Minds
had been touring pretty much up until Christmas, we were in Australia, New Zealand and had been very active last year with touring, recording and writing.
It had been a full-on year so I grabbed a chance of a break and from this week on its been back to thinking about music and plotting and planning the rest of the year
of which Im sure well get into as our conversation progresses.
MH: The song Ive just played is New Warm Skin which is my favourite Simple Minds song
of all time. Going back to the 1970s, just to make everybody aware of the history of Simple Minds, and going back how did it begin and how did
you get into this game? JK: Its a classic thing: were really school friends. Youll probably fall asleep listening here Martin because you know my story as much as I do probably
better than me sometimes because for the people listening in who dont know and why would you know? Martin and I grew up together and went to the same
school and went to the same gigs and shared the same friends and all that. We never actually played in bands together but we almost did and Martins also
worked for Simple Minds hes been a great champion of our cause. But as hes asked me to explain we should go back to the very start. JK:Simple Minds were really school-friends, primarily Charlie Burchill my song-writing partner
and the guitar player in Simple Minds. We lived in the same street and we have known each other since... My first recollection of
Charlie Burchill was when I was eight years old when our family moved to a new housing... in Glasgow we called them schemes,
in America you might call them projects. Glasgow itself was a blue-collar industrial city, kind of on its knees in the 1970s as the industrial age
was coming to an end (or starting to come to an end). But there was a lot of things in Glasgow to be proud of and one of the characteristics of Glasgow
was that they loved their music, loved to go and see bands, they loved to create and we grew up within that background and as I said, Charlie
and I knew each other since we were eight, by the time we were twelve and thirteen, we were sharing the same music: people like
David Bowie, Roxy Music, Lou Reed, The Doors are but a few to mention. Anything to do with music,
anything to do with getting our hands on guitars and basses and drums and dreaming that one day that we could make our own noise. That was really the backdrop that
we grew up in. Lo and behold in 1977, it eventually happened.
MH: So, talking about your influences, if you had to play a bit of music or pick a song from back then, you mentioned Roxy and
Bowie, what song would you go for? JK: I must say that everyone growing up in Britain of our generation, going to school at the age of thirteen or fourteen, I would never forget the first
time that both David Bowie and Roxy Music appeared on Top Of The Pops. And Top Of The Pops was like
American Bandstand: everyone watched it every week and discussed the new things that came on and when David Bowie popped up there and
Roxy Music popped up on those shows, the world changed. It changed overnight. It was such a moment in time for our generation. People talk about when Elvis
first appeared on TV and a generation of teenagers was never the same it was similar for us with David Bowie. So youd have to play Starman. MH: This is Jim Kerrs choice of one of his big influences: Bowie and Starman.
The artwork is based on the smart 'glass' statue head which first appeared on the Broken Glass Park CD promos.
Like last year, the record is probably limited to 1000 copies. And if Jim and Charlie
are considering another instore signing, then it would probably be in the Liverpool area as the band are playing the Liverpool Empire that night.
22nd march
vive le rock, simon mayo drivetime show, new tour dates, greatest hits+ 2cd, discography updates, phantom 105.2fm
Please excuse the slight delay in getting the news out. I've just completed some more official work
for the band (the fruits of which will be coming out soon) and I've also been working on my interview with Malcolm Garrett.
As reported a month ago, Vive Le Rock magazine has now hit the newstands with a four-page retrospective
on Simple Minds - plus the all important mention on the front page. Check out the
magazine's website for more information about the magainze and how to get it.
The interview with Simon Mayo was the usual cosy chat one expects from a mainstream, daytime show. A necessary evil of course,
as these shows have massive audiences, but hardcore fans have long learned that nothing substantial or new emerges from them. And Mayo cast the inconsequential asides
into the interview early by asking if Jim was good at art and his view on Justin Bieber's apparent teenage slothfulness.
But, amongst the pap, there was a record to sell and a tour to plug and talk did settle down on the band, their current plans and the future. This is roughly what was said:
What's the state with Simple Minds? New songs?
Weve had a really great couple of years. We were playing the 5X5 Tour this time last year, five songs from the first five albums,
so we played a "non-hits" tour for the true fans. But weve moved on, it's been a long time since the last compilation album and we've put a new greatest hits package
together for the new fans. Were also halfway through a new album and we're always touring. We will begin rehearsing in Dublin
for the new tour starting next week.
Every song has a life of its own? Have old songs been rediscovered?
Songs have a cyclical life. A song like Glittering Prize, which was never a favourite song of mine, was played last year
after not having been played for a while. I remember thinking "Jesus this is a good song." But we have this obligation in a positive sense: there are songs people have grown up with
and we should play them. And that's not a trial.
What's the story behind Broken Glass Park?
We wanted a couple of songs for the greatest hit album. That's easier said than done. We needed something that would fit and had to instantly sound good.
For Broken Glass Park, people thought it sounded the case. It's about nostalgia and growing up and discovering music in Glasgow.
[Audio: Broken Glass Park]
You've described your songs as "spiky pop hits?"
It's our home way of doing it. But we were never acoustic with guitar.
Did you ever turn up two hours late for a gig? [Justin Bieber]
No - not unless there had been a snow blizzard or Celtic were playing.
Do you recognise the music industry now?
So much has gone: papers have gone, record companies have gone, records have gone, shops have gone. Fundamentally what we do hasn't changed. We find a melody, a lyric,
record it and take it around the world. It was really exciting when Broken Glass Park was played on radio - but it's still
exciting. And it sounds different because it's on the radio.
What of the future?
New chapters have to be written. We're half way through a new record. This time next year we might be back here.
Simon Mayo concluded the interview with Glittering Prize. It's always a pleasure to hear Simple Minds
on the radio, but I never expect much from a BBC Radio Two interview now not even with the more serious late night shows. But, for a more in-depth,
and hardcore fan-friendly interview, then Billy Sloan and Martin Hanlin are compulsory listening.
And I've finally found the time to complete part of the discography. Simple Minds only released two commerical videos and both are now documented here:
Verona and (finally!) Glittering Prize 81/92.
Jim will be appearing on Dublin's Phantom 105.2 FMtoday at 12PM. Hopefully
John Caddell will be able to tease out of Jim some background information about the band's recent rehearsals in Dublin in
preparation for the tour.
There's still more news to put up so I'll try and get that published this weekend before the tour kicks off in Dublin on Monday. As always, reviews set-lists and pictures would
be most welcome.
18th february
billy sloan show
As always, Billy Sloan didn't disappoint, and got the world
exclusive when he played Blood Diamonds on the show.
The interview lasted about an hour with Jim and
Billy talking about the
recent 5X5 Tour, the forthcoming
Celebrate compilation and
tour, and the band's future plans.
Billy also played several of his personal favourite
Simple Minds songs and asked Jim for the stories behind them.
Last year's tour was mentioned with Jim mentioning that it set the tone
for many fans, and the media, to come back to Simple Minds. He then touched on the
recent Australian tour and mentioned how
DEVO were both amazing and hilarious with great tunes and great grooves, and that like all Austarlia tours,
they had a lot of fun.
Billy asked why the band were about to start playing smaller venues.
Jim said that theyd only played fourteen dates for the
5x5 tour but the smaller venues played then were loved by the crowd
and band alike so they decided to continue. Jim said the band was in
great form and they wanted to maintain the groundswell and the dates had sold very well. He estimated that they
would potentially have played to 100,000 by the tours conclusion.
Ged Grimes got special mention and was praised for his professionalism and his
input to the band as a joining fan and musician. Jim also spoke about
Eddie Duffy and how he brought energy and youthfulness to the group.
The band has currently about thirty ideas which range from complete through to half finished sketches. Theyll be returning
to the studio after the tour to select twelve, which will have a similar sound or atmosphere or lyrical ideas, and
then start recording. They've decided to write and record as a duo again, with producer Steve Osborne at
the helm, which is a conscious decision to get away from the group writing process of
Black And White 050505 and
Graffiti Soul.
Jim said they had to come up with something different, otherwise what would be
the point?
Billy asked what the earliest ambitions of
Jim and Charlie were and
Jim recalled that it was either to simply get a great review in
NME or get signed to a record company by an A&R guy. He mentioned that it was a
long slow process, but the band were galvanised by audience reactions in the very early days. It was only during the
Sons And Fascination tour that the halls and concerts were full and the
band started to seriously think about having hits or being on the television.
The most memorable events in Simple Minds' history were the first
Mandela Concert (because it was more than just a rock-and-roll concert),
playing their first gig,
playing Ibrox, but mostly the reaction the band got in the early days
playing small halls on the back roads of Australia, Germany, Holland and Japan when they knew they were building something
special.
Little more was given about future plans but hints were given that announcements would be made very soon.
The only additional hint about the forthcoming tour which will be a two half set with intermission and no support was
that they planned to feature Space, and
Jim spoke about rerecording the song so it could reach its full potential.
(Jim also specifically apologised to those in America about the lack of recent
touring but stated that plans were looking good this year).
16th february
billy sloan show, broken glass park, celebrate: the greatest hits +
Jim will be appearing on Billy Sloan's
show this Sunday night. Broadcast on Clyde 2 between 6PM and 10PM,
Billy's interviews with Jim have always been excellent: expect
talk to include news about the forthcoming Celebrate: Greatest Hits +,
the the tour and perhaps news of Simple Minds' plans later
this year.
Also expect Billy to raid the back catalogue and play some famous, and some not-so-famous,
Simple Minds tracks.
Promos of Broken Glass Park are now circulating. These feature the
same version of the track as heard on Ken Bruce's Show and have custom "glass" artwork. Unfortunately
there are currently no plans to release the track as a single - so collectors will have to get hold of the promos
if they want a physical copy.
Simple Minds have released some great compilation albums.
Celebration and
Glittering Prize 81/92 both show how a
compilation album can please both casual buyers and the die-hards by putting together a package that can appeal to both.
It's actually a simple matter: take care with the track selections, put in a few surprises and then envelope the whole thing
in some great artwork.
It ticks those boxes with a flourish. It is essentially a singles package, drawing on Simple Minds'
releases over the last
35 years. It's got everything the casual purchaser would want, but what about the hard-core fans who have supported the band
over those many decades? For the first time, the early single version and edits have been included on CD: this includes the
edits of Chelsea Girl,
Changeling,
I Travel
and more - including a couple of surprises.
The artwork includes many new pictures of the band and some alternative shots from the archive which never made
it the first time around.
So, for these reasons, I consider Greatest Hits + to be
the definitive compilation of the band's work to date.
Promos of the three CD set set are now circulating. These include all
the tracks from the forthcoming box set packed in three smartly packaged promo CDs.
10th february
broken glass park, celebrate: the greatest hits +
Please excuse the slight delay in getting the news out. I've just completed some official work
for the band.
The track will be premiered between 11AM and midday.
Virgin are pressing up a run of physical promo CDs but it isn't known yet if a download version of
the single will be made available.
SIMPLE MINDS CELEBRATE - THE GREATEST HITS +
Simple Minds will release Celebrate: Greatest Hits +
on 25th March 2013 in 2 and 3 CD collections including two brand new tracks.
"One of the things I'm most proud of is that people say to me what Simple Minds are you
talking about? The avant-garde, the art-rock, the pop, the ambient, the instrumental group, the political,
the folk, the stadium band? We've been on one hell of a journey. To play all those different styles but at
the same time be quintessentially Simple Minds is an amazing thing." - Jim Kerr.
Simple Minds have been many things to many people: sound scapers, sound-shapers, soundtrack makers,
serial chart-toppers. They have influenced acts as diverse as the Manic Street Preachers,
Primal Scream, Moby and The Horrors. They have been sampled by
Nicky Minaj, David Guetta, Joey Negro and Freddy Bastone.
They have provided memorable movie moments for directors Christian Carion (L'Affaire Farewell),
Gregor Jordan (The Informers), Cameron Crowe (Elizabethtown) and, of course,
John Hughes (The Breakfast Club). They have topped the British charts half a dozen times, with
the studio albums Sparkle In The Rain (1984),
Once Upon A Time (1985) and
Street Fighting Years as well as the
Ballad Of The Streets EP (both 1989), the concert recording
Live In The City Of Light (1987), and the compilation
Glittering Prize 81/92, and returned to the UK Top Ten with
Graffiti Soul, their most recent studio album, in 2009.
Named after a lyric 'So simple minded' to be exact from David Bowie's seminal 1972 single
The Jean Genie, Simple Minds evolved out of Johnny And The Self Abusers,
the 'rank and file' punk group Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill
had formed in April 1977. By the time Saints And Sinners, the sole
Abusers' single, was issued on Chiswick six months later, Simple Minds,
featuring bassist Derek Forbes, drummer
Brian McGee and keyboard-player Mick MacNeil,
were already moving towards a darker, broodier sound that owed a debt to the
Velvet Underground but also the Krautrock of Can, Kraftwerk and Neu!.
Following their chart debut with the Life In A Day album in April 1979,
Simple Minds recorded some of the most beguiling, inventive, adventurous music of the post-punk
period and set the standard for the British alternative scene with the albums
Real To Real Cacophony (also 1979),
Empires And Dance (1980) and the pioneering 'twin' releases
Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981).
The most prolific and fast-evolving band of a generation that also included The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs and
Joy Division/New Order, in 1982 they went on to make the landmark
New Gold Dream (81828384), which marked the debut of drummer
Mel Gaynor and served as the template for U2's The Unforgettable Fire two years later.
Celebrate: Greatest Hits + will be available in two formats:
a 2CD version which features 36 songs, spanning 12 albums over 34 years, and a 3CD version which features 50 songs,
spanning 13 albums over 36 years, including the band's interpretation of Patti Smith'sDancing Barefoot from their 2001 covers album,
Neon Lights. Both collections include two new songs:
Broken Glass Park and
Blood Diamonds.
Time to celebrate the majesty of Simple Minds...
Celebrate: Greatest Hits + will be released as a double CD in jewelcase with booklet,
and as a triple CD in clamshell box with double-sided poster and booklet. A single CD edition is being planned for release
in America and Canada in May.
Martin covers the fan's point of view as well as that of a
good friend. There's a few surprises, a few unheard stories, lots of great memories and plenty
of fantastic Simple Minds music.
Martin's all time favourite Simple Minds track
New Warm Skin kicks off the show as the pair trade off song
choices from all the albums.
Part 1 covering Simple Minds 1974 to 1999 will be broadcast this
Sunday February 3rd 2013 at 10AM Laguna Beach time, 6PM UK time.
Part 2 covering Simple Minds 2000 to 2013 will be broadcast next
Sunday February 10th 2013 at 11AM Laguna Beach time, 7PM UK time.
27th january
classic scottish albums #1, classic scottish albums #2, vive le rock, radioland quietus interview, jimi hendrix experience show, charity auction
This week's Classic Scottish Albums featured Meet Danny Wilson.
Davie Scott delved into the story behind the standout debut album of the Dundee band, which included the
timeless and magical song Mary's Prayer, and featured Ged Grimes as one
of the main players.
Vive Le Rock will be running a four-page article
on the early Simple Minds/Glasgow punk scene including Johnny And The Self Abusers.
Jim and Charlie were both interviewed and the feaure
will be appearing in the February issue of the magainze.
The Quietus have just published an interview
with all the key members of
The Dark Flowers (which includes many new quotes from Paul
and Jim).
Mel and Ged joined Alex Britti on stage
in Rome yesterday for his Jimi Hendrix Experience Show.
These two Simple Minds items are up for auction on the 2nd February at the
Back To The 80's charity event on Facebook.
If interested in making a bid for any of these items then contact Shaun Tranter.
18th january
the dark flowers
When American author and playwright Sam Shepard published Motel Chronicles, a collection of
poems and memoirs depicting the first 40 years of his life, little did he know it would end up influencing the subject
matter for a concept album three decades on. However, that's pretty much how the story begins. Acclaimed songwriter
Paul Statham, whose credits include the likes of Kylie Minogue, Dido and
The Saturdays not to mention being a founder member of Mansfield's finest post-punk new wave outfit B-Movie,
came up with the idea for Radioland back in 2009 while reading Shepard's award collection.
All he needed now was to find a group of like-minded artists willing to assist him in making his latest project a reality.
Step forward The Dark Flowers, a supergroup of sorts assembled by Statham. In some cases calling
in favours - Dot Allison, former Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy, ex-Alisha's Attic singer
Shelley Poole and enigmatic folk artist Helicopter Girl having all previously collaborated with
Statham - along with Simple Minds'Jim Kerr,
Norwegian solo artist Kate Havevnik and critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and composer
Catherine A.D. Having taken almost three years to come to fruition, Radioland represents
a bold statement of intent from its creators, a record brimming with enough diverse personalities to draw divine
inspiration of its own from Shephard's celebrated chronicles.
In allowing each contributor a degree of creative licence in how they choose to individually interpret selected
excerpts and passages from Shephard's novel, Statham's project has avoided falling into
the trap where everything feels the same and one size fits all. Instead, governed by a musical backdrop that takes
its inspiration in equal parts from Brian Eno's Another Green World, Bon Iver's For Emma,
Forever Ago and Bruce Langhorne's soundtrack to Peter Fonda's 1971 cult classic
The Hired Hand, Radioland provides a multi-dimensional insight into both its creators and muse's psyche.
Somewhat unfortunately sharing its name with 'York's most respected indie covers band' (their words not ours),
The Dark Flowers is a fitting moniker for such a lavish adventure in melancholy. Musically coerced as a 'dark country record', Statham contributes all kinds of instrumentation, from slide guitar and banjo to the occasional orchestral accompaniment, each of Radioland's twelve pieces inserting their own characteristics upon Shephard's largely autobiographical texts.
The opening title track - one of three contributions Jim Kerr makes to the record - dips
its toe into Bowie-esque waters. "I know a boy who played guitar" narrates the Simple Minds frontman over a
simple acoustic melody, setting the scene impeccably. Shelly Poole - also featured on Radioland three
times - and Charity Hair's luscious harmonies on All The Time Running elevate its maudlin subtext
into one of the album's key moments. Likewise Blue Eyes Are Cheating, another of Jim Kerr's
contributions and arguably the finest four minutes he's put his name to since 1998's Neapolis
long player.
"I hope you'll be waiting for me at the end of the night" coos Kate Havevnik on the delicate Fast Forest Rain
like a lovelorn Kim Deal, while the lilting tones of Catherine A.D. lend a sinister undercurrent
to lines like "I look at you it's hard to focus, I wonder if you ever notice?" on Aim For The Heart,
Radioland's midpoint. The chiming lullaby that is Candle Is The Ring marks Helicopter Girl's
return as one of these isles' most underrated vocal projectionists, while Peter Murphy's charismatic performance on
Clean Break ("Am I Alive Or Dead?") is befitting of his almost legendary status.
At times subtlety infused with sadness can be difficult to bear; Dot Allison's brooding lament
Diamonds On The Snow and the equally tearful Catherine A.D. ballad No Trains Stop Here
suggest Shephard's mostly upbeat novel wasn't just an exercise in self-effacing bravado. Of the
remaining compositions, Shelley Poole's When Stars Fall and Cellophane Girl
brighten the mood somewhat, the latter proving uncannily reminiscent of Natalie Imbruglia's Torn.
By the time Jim Kerr closes Radioland via Where The Wild Things Are
it almost resembles the final scene of a screenplay adaptation, which may well be next on the agenda. What's more befitting
of Radioland is that it immediately persuades the listener to seek out a copy of Motel Chronicles while
basking in the collective back catalogues of some of the finest artists to grace British music over the past 30 years.
The Dark Flowers is a multi-artist collaborative project spearheaded by Paul Statham,
a British songwriter who is best known for his work with Dido, Peter Murphy of
Bauhaus and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.
Described by Statham as "exploring the dark heart of America", debut album
Radioland (January 21, U.K.) is brimming with atmospheric and ethereal textures - think Bon Iver's
For Emma crossed with Brian Eno - that sound like the spectral soundtrack to some moody
lost western. Kerr is one of the project's key vocal recruits, tackling three
of the Radioland's songs (including the title track) while Murphy, Norwegian electronica
songstress Kate Havnevik, Dot Allison, Catherine AD,
Helicopter Girl and Shelley Poole fill out the vocal roster. Like the best conceptual albums,
there's a cohesive dramatic flow throughout Radioland that makes one track meld easily with the next.
We're particularly taken with the lush cinematic elements of No Trains Stop Here featuring
Catherine AD while fine lead single Fast Forest Rain with Kate Havnevik
can be streamed via the link below.
17th january
bruce findlay, simply minds (ireland), uncut, talksport radio
Bruce Findlay's career mirrors that of the pop music
explosion of the late 1950's and 1960's.
Growing up in Edinburgh he was soon working at the record shop his mum managed in Falkirk. Being first to hear
the new releases was to prove inspirational.
After a failed attempted to hitch-hike round the world Bruce was soon selecting the stock for records
stores in Edinburgh and then in London.
Bruce set up and ran the biggest independent record chain in Scotland,
established his own record label and went on to manage the Scottish band Simple Minds.
Bruce reflects on his career and tells Phil Cunningham
that he still keeps a close eye on the music industry in Scotland and delights in hearing new bands emerge.
Phil closes the show with the track Waterfront,
one of Bruce's favourite tracks from Simple Minds.
You can listen to the 30-minute show on the BBC's iPlayer.
Simply Minds
We play our reunion gig this April 20th. Having not played in 2012 due to other musical commitments the members of
Simply Minds have been asked to reform to do a special show at The Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city on Saturday April 20th 2013.
Having achieved great goals and success with the band for nearly five years now including meeting and having a few scoops with
Simple Minds at the Marquee Show, Cork and I playing support to a Lostboy AKA gig date in Cyprus
and Cork, we took a break from the set. However out of the blue we have been asked to reform for this gig which will be
electric as the venue holds over 1000 people. Our YouTube videos (simplyminds01) have surpassed over 5000 hits
now - not bad for a small Irish tribute act.
We wish all the fans a very happy new gold dream of a year.
This month's Uncut includes a three-page spread about the making of
Promised You A Miracle.
Jim,
Charlie,
Derek,
Kenny Hyslop,
Pete Walsh and
Bruce Findlay all trace the genesis
of the track from the recording the demo at Rockfield, playing it for a
John Peel session, working it into the live set, watching it
climb up the charts and the effect it had upon Simple Minds.
Strangely Mick MacNeil wasnt interviewed
but all the other key players are there, and Uncut have found some great new shots of
Simple Minds from the era.
Derek also recalls urging Jim
to change the lyrics to "Promised You A Mackerel." How different things wouldve been....
for both Promised You A Mackerel and the New Gold Fish album.
Talksport Radio have been using an instrumental of Love Song
as part of their regular half-hourly update.
7th january
simple minded
Simple Minded are playing a couple of gigs in February:
Harleys Skybar, Rutherglen, Glasgow
8th February 2013
Tickets £10
A great night of music from the 80's to present from Simple Minded and Scotland's Ultimate
Duran Duran Tribute "Duran an Duran". Tickets on sale from the venue or from
Events For Charities Website.
The Dreadnought, Bathgate, West Lothian
9th February 2013
Tickets £6
A great night of classic Simple Minds music from one of the finest Simple Minds
tribute bands out there. Expect a pulsating set from the early days of Life in a Day
through to the worldwide success of Once Upon a Time.
Tickets available from the venue or via the band, please contact us on Facebook.
Simple Minded
Born late 2008.
Simple Minded's aim is to capture the sound and energy that Simple Minds produced during the
New Gold Dream and Tour du Monde tours.
Simple Minded debuted at the Saltcoats Rock Festival in July 2009, but it wasn't until their first
headlining gig in Falkirk where the fun began with Derek Forbes joining the band on
stage with a version of Changeling that brought the house down.
Further shows including playing an after show to Simple Minds 2009 SECC gig followed.
The band decided to take a hiatus, when singer George Porter was invited to become the new singer of
Ex Simple Minds. During Simple Minded's last show Brian McGee
joined the band on stage to sing backing vocals during Chelsea Girl,
once again bringing the house down.
Simple Minded returned in 2012, with a fantastic gig at Maggie May's, Glasgow sharing the stage
with the best U2 tribute band U2-2. More gigs are confirmed for 2013.
Classic Pop Magazine is new to the sales-racks of your local newsagent, and they've begun in style with
a large Simple Minds feature in their second issue (January/February 2013).
The idea of releasing a box-set of standard albums, just in time for Christmas, has been part of the record company's
strategy since 1990's 
Collectors will be interested in the 
John Foxx And The Maths has given 
Many thanks to Alberto who sent in all the track times, and extra information, about
the 
Updates to the discography:
Part of Virgin's 40 Years Of Distruptions now includes the dusting down and reissuing of the
Another release is also bound to catch the eye of any Simple Minds fan but isn't what it initially appears
to be. 
Collectors will also want to look out for the 
I finally tracked down a copy of Classic Pop Magazine (issue #6) at the terminal of the Channel Tunnel a
pain if I ever want to purchase future issues. It's a good read but lacks the gravitas and depth of sister publications.
The 
It's been eleven years since 
Yes... it's back! Some Sweet Day 2013, the marathon Simple Minds music show hosted
by Todd Richards and Aaron Burke will be broadcast on August 15th (Thursday)
at 7AM (12PM UK) through to 1AM (6AM UK) on 88.3FM 
Updates to the discography include:
Updates to the discography include:
The US version of 
Details of the 
Loudery, Derek Forbes And Mick MacNeil's excellent new version of 
It's Record Store Day and 
Full details of the recent second 12" release, 
It was a different angle from Johnnie Walker. Then again, if you're hosting a Seventies Show, then
it's going to be a slightly different angle and his chat with 
Empires That Dance have now officially released their cover of the
Simple Minds classic 
The fact that Liz was late having dealt with London traffic found her in a rather frantic mood. She fired off questions
left, right and centre and it was refreshing having an interview conducted at such speed. She covered the
history of 
The first of three new 12" releases featuring the band,
Concert Live have, yet again, 
Further to the press release below, the five remixes of Loudry, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil versions of
The interview with Simon Mayo was the usual cosy chat one expects from a mainstream, daytime show. A necessary evil of course,
as these shows have massive audiences, but hardcore fans have long learned that nothing substantial or new emerges from them. And Mayo cast the inconsequential asides
into the interview early by asking if 
The 
As always, 
Promos of 
Simple Minds have released some great compilation albums.
This month's Uncut includes a three-page spread about the making of
