SIMPLE MINDS return this week from a 30 date sell-out tour of Europe. The band release a new single, Promised You A Miracle (VS 488) on April 2nd. Produced by Pete Walsh, who in the past has worked with Stevie Wonder and Heaven 17, the single is available in 7" and 12" format. Both versions have Theme For Great Cities, a track culled from the album Sons And Fascination, on the B-side. The 12", however, also sports a new remixed instrumental version of Seeing Out The Angel, a track which can also be found, in a different form, on Sons And Fascination.

The band will be returning to their native Scotland to rehearse material for their next album which they will record during April and May.

Meanwhile the band's road crew, and in particular Johnny Ramsey and Steve Pollard will be recovering from a van crash which occurred in Belgium last week. The van in which Ramsey and Pollard were travelling skidded off the road and overturned in a field before bursting into flames. The pair escaped by kicking in the van's windscreen and refused to be seen by a doctor until the band's equipment was seen safely on its way to that night's show in Brussells. True troupers!

As regards live appearances the band have no plans for a full-scale tour of the UK until nearer the end of the year. They will, however, be playing some sporadic dates before and around the September release of the album. Between now and then the band will be embarking on their second round the globe trek in a blatant attempt to capitalise on the success of Sons And Fascination in Europe, Canada and Australia.