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timeline

November 1977: Saints And Sinners released February-November 1977: Johnny And The Self Abusers tour February 1977: Johnny And The Self Abusers form November 1977: Simple Minds #1 form December 1978: Simple Minds #2 form April 1977: Johnny And The Self Abusers cut their first demo tape November 1977: Simple Minds #1 cut their first demo tape
January-December 1978: Simple Minds tour January 1978: Simple Minds #3 form March 1978: Simple Minds #4 form May 1978: Simple Minds #5 form December 1978: Simple Minds #6 form January 1978: Simple Minds play their first gig at Satellite City. April 1978: The band now have a Sunday night residency at The Mars Bar. May 1978: Simple Minds #5 cut a demo tape, which is the genesis of Life In A Day July 1978: The first Simple Minds bootleg is recorded at The Mars Bar. August 1978: The first Simple Minds fanzine review is published in Cripes. November 1978: Simple Minds sign to Zoom Records. December 1978: Simple Minds #6 cut a demo tape of extra ideas for their forthcoming album
April 1979: Life In A Day album released March 1979: Life In A Day single released June 1979: Chelsea Girl single released June 1979: Chelsea Girl promo video released March 1979: Simple Minds perform a series of warm-up gigs April-May 1979: Simple Minds support Magazine on a UK tour June-August 1979: Simple Minds' first UK tour September 1979: Simple Minds live performance at the Paris Theatre is broadcast by the BBC. January 1979: The band rehearse, select and reject material for the forthcoming album. February 1979: Life In A Day is recorded with John Leckie producing. March 1979: They record their first session on Radio One. They also appear on national TV on The Old Grey Whistle Test. April 1979: After some warm-up gigs, the band go on the road with Magazine. June 1979: During a brief break, the band write more material, some of which is recorded for Piccidilly Radio 261. July 1979: Chelsea Girl is released and the band start their own UK tour. September 1979: After recording a concert for the BBC, the band get back into the studio to record a new album. November 1979: Real To Real Cacophony album released. October 1979: Simple Minds start their first European tour with a quick trip to Europe. November 1979: The band tour the mainland Europe and the UK. December 1979: The first leg of the tour winds up with a gig on New Years Eve. October 1979: The band are recorded in New York for the Old Grey Whistle Test. November 1979: The band start their third tour of the UK for this year. December 1979: The band return to Radio One to record a session for John Peel.
January 1980: Changeling single released January-June 1980: The second half of the Real To Real Cacophony tour found Simple Minds again touring mainland Europe. January 1980: The Changeling single is released to promote the second leg of the Real To Real Cacophony tour. March 1980: The Paradisco gig in Amsterdam is bootlegged and eventually becomes one of the band's earliest vinyl bootlegs. September 1980: Empires And Dance is released September 1980: I Travel single released August-October 1980: Simple Minds tour, first as support for Peter Gabriel, and then in their own right. August 1980: Simple Minds #7 form. October 1980: Simple Minds #8 form. July 1980: The recording sessions for Empires And Dance start. August 1980: The album is finished but Arista seem reluctant to issue it. Simple Minds go on tour with Peter Gabriel. September 1980: The album is finally released, but in small numbers, causing it to stall at #41 in the charts. November 1980: The tour winds up with some small dates in the UK.
August 1981: Sons And Fascination twinned pack released September 1981: Sons And Fascination and Sister Feelings Call release as separate albums August 1981: Love Song single released November 1981: Sweat In Bullet single released August 1981: Love Song video released November 1981: Sweat In Bullet video released August-December 1981: The band tour Canada, USA, Europe, Australia and the UK. August 1981: Simple Minds #9 form. April 1981: Celebrate single released March 1981: The band tour Canada and the USA January 1981: Frustrations grow as the situation with Arista looks hopeless. February 1981: Simple Minds leave Arista and join Virgin. Several new songs are demoed including Love Song and The American. March 1981: As Brian is suffering from nervous exhaustion, the concerts are cut short. April 1981: As they enter the studio to begin work on the new album, Arista issue the Celebrate single. May 1981: The American is hurriedly released as a single. June 1981: Work continues on the new album, but the sessions have become chaotic. August 1981: With Love Song released, and the albums almost in the bag, the band take on a new drummer and get straight on tour. September 1981: Sons And Fascination and Sister Feelings Call are split. The band are recorded at Hammersmith Odeon. November 1981: As the band tour North America and Australia, Sweat In Bullet is released and features the live songs from Hammersmith. December 1981: They return to Scotland for a series of Christmas gigs in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
February 1982: Celebration compilation album is released. January 1982: I Travel (Second Issue) released. April 1982: Promised You A Miracle single released. April 1982: Promised You A Miracle video released. February 1982 - August 1982: The band toured mainland Europe and played at many of the summer festivals. February 1982: Simple Minds #10 form January 1982: Whilst the band worked on new material, Arista attempted to make a hit of I Travel a second time. February 1982: Arista released a compilation album called Celebration. At the same time, Mike Ogletree joined the band as their third drummer, and they hit the road. April 1982: Promised You A Miracle became their first Top 20 single and the band appeared on Top Of The Pops. June 1982: Both Promised You A Miracle and King Is White And In The Crowd became live favourites. July 1982: And Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) had appeared in the set.