18th December 1978
new album, new demos, final gigs of 1978
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Simple Minds will start recording their debut album early next year.
As preparation for the new album, the band have returned to Cava Studios to
demo further material. Whether all these songs
will end up on the album is unsure - they have plenty of songs to chose from.
The band will be playing throughout the Christmas break - check out the
tour dates for more information.
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22nd November 1978
duncan barnwell, zoom records
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Duncan Barnwell has been asked to leave the band - it seems that
two guitars just aren't needed anymore.
Simple Minds will be signing a two-album deal with Zoom Records, managed
by Bruce Findlay. Bruce has been raving about the band
since seeing them in August, has been driving them to gigs, and offering advice.
Zoom is strictly a singles label, but Simple Minds are too good for that.
So, a special deal has been arranged with Arista who will be marketing and distributing the
records.
The press release is here, and an earlier Simple Minds
biography has also been published.
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14th October 1978
nme review
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The band have been written up in the NME by
Ian Cranna.
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15th August 1978
cripes review
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Brian Hogg has written a
rave review of the band in
Cripes fanzine.
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10th August 1978
edinburgh
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The band will be playing Edinburgh tonight supporting Generation X.
Jim and
David Henderson will be taking the opportunity to visit
Bruce Findlay and ask his advice on how to take the band further.
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30th July 1978
bootlegged
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The first Simple Minds bootleg has appeared - a rather
trashy recording of their gig at the Mars Bar.
However, it's a great representation of their set-list, as they seem to write new
songs every week - for example, this tape features great versions of the new songs
Take Me To The Angels,
Caught In A Dream and
You Better Watch Out.
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6th May 1978
new demo, derek forbes stays on
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The band have just finished recording their
new demo tape at
Cava Studios in Glasgow.
The intention is to send copies of these songs around all the major labels
to attempt to get a record deal.
All the live favourites are there, which includes
Act Of Love,
Chelsea Girl and
Pleasantly Disturbed.
All was not well however, as someone stole
Derek's guitar - however, as he's only got
his bass left, he's asked to stay on in the band.
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1st May 1978
tony donald leaves
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For reasons unknown,
Tony Donald has left the group.
Luckily (for Simple Minds), The Subhumans have just
split up - so they've borrowed bass player
Derek Forbes for a set of demos they're thinking of
recording in the next couple of days.
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6th March 1978
new member, mars bar
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Simple Minds are now
six members strong, having finally tracked down a
keyboard player. Mick MacNeil will be adding
the much needed synths to their live and studio work.
The band now have a Sunday night residency at the Mars Bar, but
have starting gigging further and further afield as their reputation grows.
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5th January 1978
new member, live dates
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Their newspaper advertisment for a keyboard player (see the news of
1977) was answered - albeit by another guitarist. But,
Duncan Barnwell has been welcomed into the band.
This new line-up of the band will be appearing live supporting
Steel Pulse at Satellite City on the 17th January. See the
tour page for more information.
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