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neapolis tour

The Neapolis Tour was mostly a European jaunt with Simple Minds putting in an appearance at most festivals around the mainland. Unfortunately it will also be remembered for Simple Minds absence at two UK events: Party In The Park (with the band pulling out after suffering food poisoning) and The Fleadh (Simple Minds were replaced by James).

The set-list featured key tracks from Neapolis, the usual live favourites and some older tracks that’d been forgotten for years. The new Neapolis material fitted in well with the older tracks and saw Glitterball and Tears Of A Guy rubbing shoulders with Thirty Frames A Second.

The tour began with a secret, invitation-only gig at VH1’s studios in Camden, preparation for Simple Minds' tenue as Artists Of The Month. The other key events were two gigs at the Brussels Cybertheatre: the first to launch the MotionPixel’s version of the official site and the second to start the tour proper and provide the opportunity for a second webcast.

It was a short tour as the band was anxious to get back in the recording studio and record the follow-up to Neapolis.

The tour itinerary featured a colour picture of cheering Celtic fans - along with a picture of Derek added (badly) to the crowd. (He's top centre).

VH1 Uncut, Camden, London, UK
11th Feb, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / She's A River / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Waterfront / Alive And Kicking / See The Lights
This concert was invitation only and was shot by VH1.

Amnesty International Concert, Palaeur, Rome, Italy
14th Feb, 1998
Main Set: Glitterball / Belfast Child / See The Lights

CyberTheatre, Brussels, Belgium
25th Feb, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / She's A River / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Waterfront / Alive And Kicking / See The Lights

This concert, called "Live Online", was invitation only and launched the official website (produced by Motionpixels) with a webcast.

Before the show, Mark Mitchinson (from Motion Pixels) came on stage and gave a brief presentation of the new website. It wasn't without problems as the site initially refused to load - but after the initial glitches, he was able to give a tour of its major sections.

C: It will be broadcast live on the Internet so please behave accordingly because the whole world will be watching you. So no picking your nose and that kind of thing. Then after the Simple Minds show, Jim Kerr will be answering a couple of questions that we have selected. Let me welcome Mark Mitchinson from the company Motion Pixels who will give you a demonstration of the new official, and first, Simple Minds website. Thank you.

MM: Thank you. Bear with us if it goes terrible wrong. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Before I start, let me say a very big thank you to all those working in this fantastic venue - they've been absolutely brilliant today, especially Rudi, Francois, Baptiste, Guillaume... there's a load [cut]

MM: I'd also like to thank Mark Touson, Miles Keller (EMI) for their unequivable belief in this project. It's taken a lot of hard work to get it off the ground, believe me.

MM: It's stopped already. [Refering to the website demo]

MM: So once we got a feel of where the band were going musically, we decided to compliment this new direction with the technology at our fingertips. We've used Macromedia's Flash software: Flash offers the web designer flexibility to build complicated graphics which download very, very quickly. I don't think actually there's a better example than one of the trailers that we've used to exploit that kind of Flash technology.

[Starts trailer: War Babies audio]

MM: Believe me, it sounds a lot better up here than it does around the room.

MM: So, working with the band, we encompassed all the areas that they wanted to actually involve themselves with. So there's the band "History" [Hovers over a title]. The "Band". [Hovers again] One of the things about the band that's important, because what we're saying, if you've got a modern site, you've got a design that's fresh, you've got the music that's also fresh, you have to have the ability for the content of that site to be fresh as well ...

[Site doesn't work]

MM: There's a great feeling that I'm dying up here. [Laughs] I'm going to go on, OK.

MM: Basically within "The Band" there's a section ... if we look in "History" perhaps ... [site still doesn't work] ... Working all day and this is the [first] glitches we've had. ... [Cut]

[Page loads, audience cheers]

MM: Before I drown in the sweat that's pouring off my body, did I say anything about quick downloading? The great thing about Flash is that it downloads so quickly. [Laughs] The nice thing about Jim is that he's been very involved in this band - we wanted to do something that's very different with the profile and biography - we didn't just want to push it out. What we've actually done is that Jim has given us his diary over the last 20 years, and what we've got is an incredible journey that Jim has recorded through year to year.

MM: Certainly most people's response to the trailers that we had, and we've had over half-a-million hits already, and just to tell you tonight, there's 500,000 people trying to get in to this event. So it's quite extraordinary the kind of response we've had.

MM: What we've really decided to do with the "History" section is to look at it in a way that tells the relevant story for the band today. And in the "Almanac" we wanted to put their musical history in the context of world history. Seeing that they were very big instigators and being involved in the Nelson Mandela release - it was nice to put them in 1990 and see what they were doing at that time.

MM: One of the ideas of the site was to create and harness a musical community. Charlie's been involved in - and very eager - to get people to drop their websites in, to be involved in an online chat that will develop awareness of music on the web. In Charlie's section, which is aptly named "Virtual Burchill" - it was a very drunk evening with Jim and Charlie saying 'Let's come up with some names'. Charlie's keen to develop a global community of musicians and individuals interested in using the web to get their message across. The emphasis of this site is about their music. It's a music site.

MM: In the "Quiet Place" - it's named the "Quiet Place" because we also wanted to look at where Charlie and Jim's influences came from. And I think the quote says it all really "These pages are as personal as playing live or talking to us face to face." They've really involved themselves in not just the music, not just their history but what really drives the band. And I think that's what makes it different to other band sites.

MM: And finally - you'll be pleased to know - "The News". The Neapolis album, I think is a terrific album, we've got a track by track interview with Jim and Charlie where they talk about the album and go through it. In "The Forum", it's an opportunity for the fans to go in and criticize, say things about the site, ideas, put things down - again it's interactive. In the "Latest", we've kept the trailers by popular demand really and also on this site will be the news, the latest tour details, things like that.

MM: We wanted to say, in as powerful way possible, that the Internet really is a global village and as much as there are technical hitches and things like that, the band are part of that global village. And it's going to be very exciting to see where it goes from here. So thanks very much and enjoy the show.

Piazza San Giovanni, Rome, Italy
1st May, 1998
Opening: War Babies / Glitterball / Don't You (Forget About Me)
Closing: Belfast Child
This Labour Day concert was organised every year by the Italian trade unions. Simple Minds opened the concert with a brief set, and then came on again at the end to close the show.

Thanks to David for the information.

Festivalbar, Padova, Italy
22nd May, 1998

CyberTheatre, Brussels, Belgium
25th May, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Thirty Frames A Second / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love
Encore: Waterfront / Love Song / Alive And Kicking
Encore: Belfast Child / Don't You (Forget About Me)
This concert was invitation only, was the second official site webcast, and launched the summer tour.

Hippodrome, Zagreb, Croatia
28th May, 1998
Supporting: The Rolling Stones

This show was a last minute addition to the schedule and wasn't included in the itinerary.

Palasport, Pesaro, Italy
30th May, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Thirty Frames A Second / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love
Encore: Waterfront / Don't You (Forget About Me)
Encore: Love Song / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

This show was a last minute addition to the schedule and wasn't included in the itinerary.

Thanks to Francesco for the ticket scan.

Forum De Assago, Milan, Italy
2nd June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Thirty Frames A Second / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love / Waterfront / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Karlshamn Festival, Karlshamn, Sweden
5th June, 1998

Guinness Fleadh Festival, London, UK
6th June, 1998
Originally advertised with Simple Minds as the headliners, ensuing contractural problems saw James playing the gig instead.

"Power of Non-Violence" Concert, Freibad, Münster-Hiltrup, Germany
7th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / She's A River / Superman v. Supersoul / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hypnotised / Waterfront / Let There Be Love / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Many thanks to Dieter and Paul for the scans.

Stadio Alexandro, Biella, Italy
8th June, 1998

This show was a last minute addition to the schedule and wasn't included in the itinerary.

Stadio, Portici, Italy
10th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Thirty Frames A Second / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love / Waterfront / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Palasport, Pescara, Italy
12th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Thirty Frames A Second / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love / Waterfront / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Many thanks to Gerd Van Poucke for the setlist.

Stadio, Rosa, Italy
13th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Thirty Frames A Second / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Maggiore, Bologna, Italy
14th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Superman v. Supersoul / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / Hypnotised / Let There Be Love / Waterfront / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Many thanks to Gerd Van Poucke for the setlist.

Luz De Gas, Barcelona, Spain
16th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Superman v. Supersoul / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hypnotised / Waterfront / Let There Be Love / Alive And Kicking

Vieja Estacion, Madrid, Spain
18th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Superman v. Supersoul / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hypnotised / Waterfront / Let There Be Love / Alive And Kicking

Werchter Festival, Werchter, Belgium
20th June, 1998
Supporting: The Rolling Stones
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Waterfront / Alive And Kicking

Thanks to Gerd Van Poucke for the set-list.

Werchter Festival, Werchter, Belgium
21st June, 1998
Supporting: The Rolling Stones
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Waterfront / Alive And Kicking

Thanks to Gerd Van Poucke for the set-list.

Stadio Grezar, Trieste, Italy
23rd June, 1998

Sava Centar, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
24th June, 1998

Donau Festival, Vienna, Austria
26th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Superman v. Supersoul / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Hypnotised / Waterfront / Let There Be Love / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Huntenpop Festival, Varsselder, The Netherlands
27th June, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Superman v. Supersoul / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Hypnotised / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Waterfront / Let There Be Love / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Sala Kongresowa, Warsaw, Poland
1st July, 1998

Beach House, Siofok, Hungary
2nd July, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / She's A River / Superman v. Supersoul / Glitterball / See The Lights / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Love Song / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Waterfront / Let There Be Love / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking

Midtyfen Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
4th July, 1998
This show was a last minute addition to the schedule and wasn't originally included in the itinerary. (Copies have handwritten notes to add this date).

Party In The Park, London, UK
5th July, 1998
Simple Minds didn't play due to illness.

Olympia, Dublin, Ireland
6th July, 1998
Main Set: War Babies / Up On The Catwalk / Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel / She's A River / See The Lights / Glitterball / Tears Of A Guy / Don't You (Forget About Me) / Superman v. Supersoul / Hypnotised / Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) / Big Sleep / New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) / Let There Be Love
Encore: Waterfront / Belfast Child / Alive And Kicking