On Friday 16th November Simple Minds appear at the University of Aberdeen in the opening concert of a four week UK tour which climaxes in London with two concerts at the Marquee on 13th and 14th December. A week into the tour, on Friday 23rd November, Simple Minds' second album Real To Real Cacophony (SPART 1109) is released on Zoom Records and is marketed and distributed through Arista Records.

Since completing their new album at Rockfield Studios with John Leckie again producing, Simple Minds have been touring extensively abroad. Their first ever live appearance on foreign soil was in Berlin, followed by six further sellout shows in Germany and Belgium.

During a planned rest period following these dates, Simple Minds were offered the chance to perform at New York's famed Hurrah's club. Only one hour after US work permits were granted the group were airborne for the USA and the following day played a midnight set at Hurrah's. Despite playing after the minimum of rehearsal and with mostly hired equipment - none of keyboardist Mick MacNeil's instruments were the same as his regular set-up - the group turned in a memorable set which immediately led to a booking the following night at New York's Trax club and the promise of a booking earlier next year.

The Hurrah's concert was filmed and part of this film will be screened on BBC TV's Old Grey Whistle Test on Tuesday 27th November.

Simple Minds were flying back to London within hours of coming off stage at Trax and after a dash from Heathrow to Harwich, sailed to Scandinavia where they are now touring.

The UK dates are :-

2nd November 1979

Many thanks to Martin for the scan