Jim Kerr: Lead Vocals
Charlie Burchill: Lead Guitar; Violin
Mick McNeill: Keyboards
Derek Forbes: Bass and Backing Vocals
Brian McGee: Drums and Backing Vocals

The beginnings of Simple Minds date back to February 1977 and the forming, in Glasgow, of Johnny And The Self Abusers. Jim Kerr, Brian McGee and Charlie Burchill were the founding part of that group, who evolved from being "a living jukebox" (to quote Jim), into one of Scotland's better and more distinctive new-wave groups. But the Abusers were to split over differences on musical direction; a split held back a little by the release of a "one-off" single for Chiswick Records. To quote Jim again, "If it hadn't been for the single, we would have split up after two months. From July to November (1977) it became apparent that we had nothing in common with the others apart from wanting to be in a band."

Saints And Sinners c/w Dead Vandals was issued on the same day that the Abusers split, and desipte its obvious 1977-ness, the roots of Simple Minds can be heard there, especially on the flip. And as the final live date with the Self Abusers was billed as Simple Minds, then the changes are perhaps described as an evolution, rather than something new. Jim, Charlie and Brian added Mick McNeill on keyboards and Derek Forbes on bass.

Derek had been part of another Glasgow group, The Subhumans (or Subs), who recorded Gimme Your Heart c/w Party Clothes for Stiff. A second guitarist came and dropped out.

The first gig with the 'real' group was on January 17th, 1978, in Glasgow, and for the first few months, Simple Minds concentrated their work on the west coast of Scotland, slowly building up both a following and a positive reputation. A residency (at the excellently named Mars Bar) gave them the security to build up a live set and a stage presence as the group developed the useful, older songs (such as Wasteland) alongside the new (Cocteau Twins and Pleasantly Disturbed for example.)

Their Edinburgh debut, in August '78, was a mixture of mystery for those who didn't know the band, confirmation for those who did and excitement for both. By now Murder Story and Chelsea Girl had appeared in the set, and a string of excellent live gigs followed. Newer songs such as Someone, Rosemary's Baby, Special View and Life In A Day, gradually appeared as the group's individuality and distinctiveness took its firm hold. Simple Minds' music is progressive, a music for the 1980s, both menacing and exciting and always evolving.

Simple Minds' signed to Zoom Records in December, 1978, and almost immediately began work on the recording of an album and single, produced by John Leckie, who'd previously worked with Magazine and Be Bop Deluxe. The album, titled Life In A Day was completed at the beginning of March and is set for release on April 13th. A single, Life In A Day, will be released before then, with Special View as its flipside, to co-incide with a television appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test on March 27th. A nationwide tour is currently being finalised, with dates streching into May.

March 1979