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news 2008
29th december
2009 tour, new family tree
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Dates are now starting to appear for the forthcoming
2009 World Tour.
The family tree section has been rewritten, reformated and expanded to
include all the major line-ups of Simple Minds over the years.
(I've tried to find pictures of each of the various line-ups but in some cases this has proved too difficult.
Therefore some of the line-ups have no pictures).
JohnnyBGood continues his quest to remix the entire back catalogue:
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14th december
news archives
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The news archives from the old Dream Giver site have all been reformatted, tidied up and added to
this new site. You'll be able to access them via the links at the top (and bottom) of this page or via
the news index.
For a summary of Simple Minds' entire career with albums, singles and tours marked on a per-month
basis, then take a look at the timeline. This is a handy way of
navigating to single, album and/or tour pages, and provides a handy recap of their history.
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9th december
30 years live tour, alternative tour diary, sunday herald, remixes
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Many thanks to all those who sent in set-lists - the tour (so far) is complete.
An alternative tour diary
By Martin Charles Burchill Valentine
(yes, really)
Jim Kerr’s diaries are always a great read – but what’s it like to be
fan on tour? This is my description of an amazing 11 days – when my life really did change forever...
Summer 2008
Oh my god – really? Back in the arenas where we belong? This is going to be wonderful.
Five seconds later: Decide I must do the whole tour. I book tickets for all the shows as quickly as my mouse will allow me.
Five seconds after that: Realise that if there’s ever going to be a perfect moment to propose to Gill, then
it will be in the SECC on December 4 – by the waterfront, as they play Waterfront.
Month later: Shows announced for Newcastle, Belfast... yep, we’ll go to those too...
Work out that, due to work commitments, I can only get three days off. Hatch a plan to travel to Newcastle and then
to Glasgow by train, then fly to Belfast and then home to Nottingham.
Cash for kids show announced: Damn, travel plans in chaos. Too late – sold out anyway.
Thursday: Manchester
Sounds stupid to say ‘I don’t know what to expect’ – but, I don’t. It’s been two years and three months since
I witnessed the end of the Black and White tour in Edinburgh.
A lot has happened to me then – an awful lot, and for the better. (To cut a long story short let’s say that
Simple Minds quite literally saved my life in 2006).
This time Gill is with me. What a wonderful experience to be able to share the two great loves of your life in one place.
We walk up the steps to the MEN arena – wow, this place is huge. We’re back in the big time! I see the programme
and merchandise on sale – this is really happening!
What will they start with? Is it going to be lost on the people who’ve come for the 80s hits?
At 8.50pm we get our answer. And what a start – the song that changed my life forever back in 1983, a mere 13 years old.
Waterfront is a brutally beautiful now as it was then. Is that really
Factory they’re playing? How will they do
Someone up there likes you? Oh, like that – brilliant.
30 seconds in and I’m in floods of tears. This is stunning. Drunk and annoying man next to me solves
the problem of how to get past the unnecessarily aggressive stewards by climbing over the eight rows of
seats to get to the front. With two beers in his hands.
Friday: Birmingham
Gill’s not been well and struggled through yesterday, so end up taking Tom – who doesn’t even like
Simple Minds. He does by the end.
Not quite as incendiary a show as Manchester, but very, very good. It even sounds good in this horrible building, where nothing
has ever sounded good. I’m already at the point of exhaustion having worked 15 hour days for the last six months. But nothing
will stop this tour.
Saturday: Wembley
Meet up with my dear old friend Mat – we’ve been playing music together since 1986, and our Simple Minds
jams are stuff of legend.
We almost miss the start – both stuck on the north circular after an accident. Again right down near the front. And
it’s very, very LOUD! I turn around during the end bit of Don’t You (Forget About Me)
to see everyone right to the back going completely mental. A brilliant show, a wonderful night. I get home at 2.30am and am
still wide awake at the majesty of it all.
Sunday: Day off
Am now right in the zone. I don’t know what to do with myself. Gives me time to think about the small issue of
buying a ring for Thursday – typical man, still haven’t done it.
Am also hoping to conclude the deal to buy us a house tomorrow. It’s all going to happen this week!
Monday: Sheffield
Monumental versions of Catwalk,
New Gold Dream,
Glittering Prize and a couple of others – but otherwise this isn’t
the greatest show. Charlie in particular seems to be having difficulties – his amps
are on stage and he seems to be struggling to hear things properly. Takes until about half way through to get it
all sorted out, but the crowd seems quiet as well.
During Alive and Kicking
Jim wanders over our way and gives us a hearty wave – he must recognise
us from when we met at his hotel in July (a whole other story!)
Tuesday: Cardiff
Finally agree a price for the house – at the exact moment I chose the ring in the jewellers. What are the odds of that? It’s a good omen.
The boss lets me leave early to make the long drive – nearly made longer by a car on the verge of breakdown, but nothing
will stop me. This is the only show I’m seeing alone.
Get there in time to catch most of the excellent Deacon Blue, and am again down the front near
Eddie, and near the fellow travellers who are becoming more familiar
to me each night. I meet a family from Southampton – all Simple Minds fans and Nottingham Forest fans. So much
so their kid is called Pearce, and he sings along with gusto. He gets a drumstick and one of Eddie’s plectrums
for his efforts – and a reminder from Jim that’s it’s long past his bedtime.
Everyone’s right up for it, and the place goes up like a bomb. By the end it’s so hot the heat generated coats the hall
like a thick fog – and promptly sets all the fire alarms off, leading to a hasty evacuation!
I’m home and in bed by 3.30am.
Wednesday: Newcastle
Up at 7.30am to make the train. Get to the hotel, then over to the Baltic for a dose of art and culture. Fall asleep and
miss Deacon Blue. This is the first show we’ve seen from the back. Will we be surrounded by the people there for a bit
of 80s nostalgia? Will they like it?
Yes and yes – and that’s great. Hopefully they’ll all come back for the proper tour and buy the album. The show works well
from this distance and people are into it, despite the vast majority of the set being from 1984 or earlier. I dance
like an idiot to I Travel, making its second appearance this tour.
Thursday: Glasgow
Today’s the day then. What if she says no?
No Deacon Blue tonight – the Alarm instead. We arrive at our hotel to find Mike Peters
in the lobby, telling us we’ve just missed Jim. What’s he doing here – he can’t be staying here,
surely? He lives in this town!
Five minutes to show time: For the first time I’m really nervous about what I’m about to do. It’s the opening song – decide
to go for it as the intro music fades. Get down on one knee. She looks stunned but says yes. That throbbing intro starts
and I’ve done it.
What a moment. I couldn’t have imagined it could have gone any better. I spend the rest of
Waterfront screaming at the top of my voice in celebration.
The show is a stormer. We’re 10 rows from the front and right in the middle. Home makes its debut in the encore – appropriately
enough – and I go completely mental, much to the amusement of the woman next to me.
We get back to the hotel – only to find a certain Mr Jim Kerr in
the lobby! He becomes the first person we tell about our engagement and is absolutely thrilled for us. We get a picture
taken that we will cherish forever. Jim remembers us from the summer and tells us he saw
us in Sheffield. He asked Gill to send him some of the art she was drawing out in Sicily.
At this point, I am freaked out beyond anything I have ever known. This is the greatest day of my life.
Friday: Statues, Parks and Galleries
Spend the day in Glasgow doing the museums, modern art galleries and stuff. The day flies by in a blur.
Saturday: Belfast
Get to Glasgow airport to find Deacon Blue and Simple Minds on the same plane as us! Grab a quick chat with
Charlie in Belfast airport – I thank him for the tour and for the last 25 years. I don’t
remind him of my 1992 name change (but have told him before – he must think I’m mad).
Get to the hotel to find Simple Minds checking in at the same time. Are we accidently stalking them or the other way around?!
Walk to the show and can’t believe this experience is about to end.
We get to the last song of the main set – how will it go down? I needn’t have worried – the familiar refrain of
Belfast Child drifts out and the noise from the crowd is terrifyingly loud.
Belfast Child has never sounded better than on this tour – and never better than tonight.
And then – is that really? It is – it’s Let there be love, making its debut. A long, long time
ago I adopted its pay off line ‘love will conquer anything’ as my personal motto. Gill’s here with me as living proof
of that. It’s all too beautiful for words.
I shed a fair few tears at the end of Alive and Kicking, but for all the right reasons.
The past 11 days have been truly life changing. I’ve never felt more proud and overjoyed to be a fan of the greatest band in the world.
Sunday: Check Out
I interrupt my breakfast to grab a few words with the band as they check out. Talk technical with
Andy (want to know how to recreate the blippy bit in
Love Song), tell
Eddie
he nearly deafened me a few times, and get a very positive and thankful goodbye from
Jim.
He’s thanking me? Ridiculous! There are no words that can express my love and gratitude to him and his fellow band members
for the last 25 years. I wish them all the best for tonight and Jim
starts taking requests from other fans just to wind me up. Genius!
Monday: The best is yet to come...
Make up my mind to write the book. This band and my connection to it is a story that must be told. Book tickets
for hotels and flights to Edinburgh for July 18 2009. It’s going to be wonderful.
Martin Valentine
29th November 2008
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Jim's track by track description of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
for the Sunday Herald has now been transcribed. You'll find each transcription on each song's page.
JohhnyBGood has put together some more remixes:
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8th december
30 years live tour, black and white thailand promo
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The 30 Years Live Tour bowed out (for the time being) at Glasgow's Cash For Kids
last night. A stripped down New Gold Dream allowed the band to include
some extra surprises into the set:
Home (which was first played at the SECC),
Premonition,
Factory (a welcome return to the set-list) and
Let There Be Love.
Billy Sloan introduced the band, but his show wasn't broadcast from the
venue (see the news from the 3rd October). I hope his two Chrismas shows with Jim still
go ahead.
The final 30 Years Live show will be at Edinburgh Castle on the 18th July; don't forget that tickets can be ordered from
the official site at 9:00 AM on Wednesday morning.
(And does anyone have a set-list for the Belfast gig?).
Information about a rare Black And White 050505 Thailand Promo has now been
added to the discography.
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5th december
edinburgh castle gig, 5:30 show apperance, reviews, discography update
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Following the success of their sold out UK tour this December, Scottish rock legends,
Simple Minds have announced a very special out-door show at Edinburgh Castle on 18th July 2009.
The '30 Years Live' show celebrates the band's longevity in the business as well as marking
Jim Kerr's 50th Birthday; and will be the band's first Scottish
date to be filmed for a DVD release.
Simple Minds' frontman, Jim Kerr says
"To play at Edinburgh Castle is more than a dream come true, and particularly since we have been looking for a sensational
backdrop in which to film and record this tour where we play our landmark
album New Gold Dream in its entirety. The concert
next July is bound to be among the highlights of 30th year anniversary and I am sure that many of our
legions of fans will be traveling from all over the world to be with us on this very proud occasion."
There will be a pre-sale of tickets for members at 9:00am on Wednesday 10th December, in the member's area at www.simpleminds.com.
The tickets will go on general release at 9:00am on Friday 12th December at seetickets.com / hotline: 0871 220 0260
"Thirty years of Simple Minds with Jim Kerr, we hunt for that perfect black dress". I'm not sure if the two are connected,
but Jim's interview on The 5:30 Show (where he announced the Edinburgh gig) can
be seen here (fast forward to 1:20 for
Jim and fast forward to 6:20 for all-important black dress information. UK only).
The Coventry Telegraph give Simple Minds a stirling 5/5 for the Birmingham NEC gig:
Whilst the Evening Chronicle reviews the newcastle gig.
To keep track of what's in my collection, I've finally
inventoried the albums and singles. This is also a handy
list of what's going to appear in the main part of the discography over time.
This list is far from complete and will be updated with videos, bootlegs, radio shows and artwork in due course.
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4th december
set-lists, sanctify yourself, alive in rotterdam, cardiff review
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Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield, UK
1st December, 2008
Support: Deacon Blue
Main Set: Intro /
Waterfront /
Speed Your Love To Me /
Mandela Day /
Love Song /
The American /
See The Lights /
Chelsea Girl /
Ghostdancing -
Gloria /
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) /
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel /
Promised You A Miracle /
Big Sleep /
Somebody Up There Likes You /
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) /
Hunter and The Hunted /
Glittering Prize /
King Is White And In The Crowd /
Up On The Catwalk /
Don't You (Forget About Me) /
Belfast Child
Encore:
She's A River /
Sanctify Yourself /
Alive And Kicking
The Ghostdancing -
Gloria combo returns (replacing Hypnotised
in the set-list).
International Arena, Cardiff, UK
2nd December, 2008
Support: Deacon Blue
Main Set: Intro /
Waterfront /
I Travel /
Mandela Day /
Love Song /
The American /
See The Lights /
Chelsea Girl /
Ghostdancing -
Gloria /
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) /
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel /
Promised You A Miracle /
Big Sleep /
Somebody Up There Likes You /
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) /
Hunter and The Hunted /
Glittering Prize /
King Is White And In The Crowd /
Up On The Catwalk /
Don't You (Forget About Me) /
Belfast Child
Encore:
She's A River /
Sanctify Yourself /
Alive And Kicking
And I Travel makes a welcome return.
Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, UK
3rd December, 2008
Support: Deacon Blue
Main Set: Intro /
Waterfront /
I Travel /
Mandela Day /
Love Song /
The American /
See The Lights /
Chelsea Girl /
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) /
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel /
Promised You A Miracle /
Big Sleep /
Somebody Up There Likes You /
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) /
Hunter and The Hunted /
Glittering Prize /
King Is White And In The Crowd /
Ghostdancing -
Gloria /
Up On The Catwalk /
Don't You (Forget About Me) /
Belfast Child
Encore:
She's A River /
Sanctify Yourself /
Alive And Kicking
All set-lists from this tour can be found on the 30 Year Live Tour page.
I've now finished the pages dealing with the Sanctify Yourself single.
The main page gives all the background behind the release, whilst separate pages detail the UK formats, US formats and various
promotional variants of the single. There's also links to the single's press release and a description of the video. And for
the hardcore collectors, the acetates and test pressings are also covered.
Whilst finishing off Sanctify Yourself, it made sense to document one of the rarer videos in the band's back
catalogue: Alive In Rotterdam. Alas, this has yet to be released commerically.
The South Wales Echo have reviewed the Cardiff gig.
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1st december
vip trip to europe, triple mp3 gift, reviews
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All registered members of the official site who have
successfully entered and viewed or downloaded items in the Members Area (at any time before the end of 2008)
will be entered into a competition to win a VIP TRIP for two people to see Simple Minds in Europe next year.
This is the same competition being run in the back of the tour programme. In this case, you can either vist the
Members Area of the official site, or text 'SIMPLE' and your e-mail address to 60300. (Each text cost 25p plus
your network charge).
Of course, this confirms Simple Minds will be playing Europe next year.
The band have also given away three live tracks recorded at Werchter Classic 8, Werchter, Belgium on
the 8th July 2006 as "thank you" to all registered members of the official site.
30 Years Live - Triple MP3 Gift Download (not has a title been so literal since
1981's Urban Sampler) includes
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84),
See The Lights and
Stay Visible.
Go to the Members Area of the official site and you'll find
the download in the Welcome Gifts section.
The Guardian – Simple Minds Manchester MEN review (Monday December 1st)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/dec/01/pop-review-simple-minds
Daily Telegraph – Simple Minds London Wembley gig review (Monday December 1st)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/12/01/bmsimple101.xml
Birmingham Evening Mail – Simple Minds Birmingham gig review (December 1st)
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/12/01/simple-minds-97319-22377560/
Manchester Evening News – Simple Minds Manchester gig review (Saturday November 29)
http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/rock_pop/event_review/28843_simple_minds
On A Clear Day You Can See Nebraska - London Wembley Arena gig review (Sunday November 30)
http://cleardaynebraska.blogspot.com/2008/11/simple-minds-wows-sold-out-london.html
My Reviewer - Manchester MEN gig review by Si Wooldridge (Saturday November 29)
http://www.myreviewer.com/default.asp?a=110682
Wolverhampton Express & Star - Winning Formula is Simple (Saturday November 29)
Birmingham NEC Gig Review
http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/11/29/winning-formula-is-simple/
News of the World Online - Kerr's Son changes mind: Jim's boy joins the tartan army (Saturday November 29)
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_showbiz/88350/Kerr-son-changes-his-Mind.html
Gigwise - Simple Minds Wows Crowds at 30th Anniversary Manchester Show (Friday November 28)
Review by Jason Gregory, Photos: Shirlainne Forrest
http://www.gigwise.com/news/47852/Simple-Minds-Wow-Crowds-At-30th-Anniversary-Manchester-Show
Mirror.co.uk - Simple Minds celebrate 30 year anniversary with Manchester gig (Friday November 28)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/11/28/simple-minds-celebrate-30-year-anniversary-with-manchester-gig-115875-20932123/
Touring & Tenting Caravan Forums - Hilarious comments from fans who attended the Manchester MEN show (Friday November 28)
http://www.touringandtenting.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32147
WireImage photos of Simple Minds live at Manchester MEN Arena (Friday November 28)
http://www.wireimage.com/gallerylisting.asp?navtyp=gls====344528&source=rss&nbc=1
Celebrity, Gossip and News - Simple Minds celebrate 30 year anniversary with Manchester gig (Saturday November 29)
http://www.gelinlik21.com/celebrities/celebs-news-simple-minds-celebrate-30-year-anniversary-with-manchester-gig.html
Side Line (Belgium) - Simple Minds 30th Anniversary Tour news story (Wednesday November 26)
http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=37662_0_2_0_C
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30th november
birmingham nec gig review, manchester men set-list, tour merchandise, tour programme, wembley set-list
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Birmingham NEC, 28th November 2008
Main Set: Intro /
Waterfront /
Speed Your Love To Me /
Mandela Day /
Love Song /
The American /
See The Lights /
Chelsea Girl /
Hypnotised /
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) /
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel /
Promised You A Miracle /
Big Sleep /
Somebody Up There Likes You /
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) /
Hunter and The Hunted /
Glittering Prize /
King Is White And In The Crowd /
Up On The Catwalk /
Don't You (Forget About Me) /
All The Things She Said /
Belfast Child
Encore:
Sanctify Yourself /
Alive And Kicking
Early in 1986 (23rd February to be exact) I attended my first concert as a wide-eyed innocent teenager.
My memories are still vivid of that night: the spectacle of the Once Upon A Time
era Simple Minds on-stage, the vastness of the hall, being swept away by
the sheer volume and exiting the arena vowing to see them again.
I’d hoped the band would play New Gold Dream, my favourite track, but it was
not to be. That was the one slight disappointment from my initiation into the world of live concerts. Although
we instantly made plans to see the band again later that summer (at Milton Keynes Bowl where they did play my favourite),
I had no idea I’d be back at the same venue over twenty years later to see Simple Minds again.
The band took to the stage in darkness backed by a heady new gutsy instrumental which heralded the dipping of the lights
and furtive activity on stage. The opening chords of Waterfront brought the
crowd to their feet, the stage lights flared up, and Simple Minds were off. All were dressed in black
sporting various Claddagh motifs with the exception of Andy's plain red T-shirt;
all looked fit, lean and well. Since the last major tour, Eddie had plumped
for the "old testament" look and now sported a wild looking beard.
Three cameramen occupied the no man’s land between band and crowd, keeping cameras trained on
various band members, the images relayed to viewing screens either side of the stage. Alternating
between band and screen, you could now appreciate the sheer workmanship involved whether it was a gesture
from Jim, furious finger work from
Charlie or the bearded concentration of
Eddie.
Waterfront, the perfect opener, got the crowd up on its feet instantly.
The Sparkle In The Rain theme continued with
Speed Your Love To Me before the band dipped into their catalogue
and picked crowd favourites: the reflective Mandela Day, foot stomping
Love Song, a rousing
The American (everyone in the arena seemed to know the chorus),
See The Lights, a dramatically changed
Chelsea Girl and
Hypnotised.
For the die-hards, the new arrangement of Chelsea Girl
(first unveiled during the Floating World Tour of 2002)
had further evolved, leaving much of the original song behind until Charlie
hit the riff during the chorus. Whilst it was customary for the drummer to handle the backing vocals
(witness Brian McGee's dying vocal chords on the demo),
Mel threw custom to the wind and left the protection of his drumming
booth to join Jim at the front of the stage to share vocal duties.
Sans drums in this new stripped down arrangement, Chelsea Girl
became an acoustic lament, miles away from its poppier original guise.
After Hypnotised,
Jim smiled, announced "we’re ready" and the unmistakable opening
chords of Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) echoed around the
arena. Most of the songs from the album had been played many times in previous years but it was magical
to hear the album in complete form. The highlight was the neglected instrumental Somebody Up There Likes You;
its ethereal form was transmuted by the acoustics of the NEC and a stripped down new arrangement,
into a haunting, visceral punch. The live rendition remained true to its instrumental roots,
Jim remaining on stage, motionless and eyes closed for the duration.
(Interestingly, Glittering Prize and
Hunter And The Hunted swapped positions in the running order,
wrong-footing many fans who obviously knew the album well.)
Steve Pollard exceeded himself with the lights, decorating the back of the stage with a
vertical array of tubes augmented with coloured floods to the sides. Initially I thought we were due a
repeat of the Floating World's strong fluorescent backdrop, but
Pollard used LED tubes, allowing a spectrum of colours and ambient effects to wash the band. From
strong blasts of light to match the headier Sparkle material, he knocked down the illumination for the
New Gold Dream album, producing a spectrum of warm effects. The
visual chatter marking the keyboard cycles of Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel
was particularly striking.
The ending drone of King Is White And In The Crowd
had barely faded before they exploded into Up On The Catwalk
(a nice touch which meant the entire play of New Gold Dream
was followed by the first track of the subsequent album). This third and final act tied up the loose ends
and polished off the performance with live favourites, amongst them Belfast Child,
Sanctify Yourself and
Alive And Kicking (the final two tracks being performed as the encore).
Aside from the new instrumental opening track, long term fans will know all these songs and their live arrangements
(with, perhaps, the exception of Chelsea Girl). That didn’t matter to me; this tour was
about New Gold Dream in its entirety, peppered with a selection of hits
from the back catalogue. The only criticism was the lack of any material post 1995's Good News From The Next World.
Twenty years later, I returned to the same arena, to again watch Simple Minds.
For over two hours, I was that wide-eyed teenager again, mesmerised by the band's muse. And not only did
they play my favourite song, they played the whole damn album. Fantastic.
Simon Cornwell
29th November 2008
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Manchester MEN, 27th November 2008
Main Set: Intro /
Waterfront /
Speed Your Love To Me /
Mandela Day /
Love Song /
Factory /
See The Lights /
Chelsea Girl /
Hypnotised /
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) /
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel /
Promised You A Miracle /
Big Sleep /
Somebody Up There Likes You /
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) /
Hunter and The Hunted /
Glittering Prize /
King Is White And In The Crowd /
Up On The Catwalk /
Don't You (Forget About Me) /
All The Things She Said /
Belfast Child
Encore:
Sanctify Yourself /
Alive And Kicking
Opening night technical issues meant the gig started slightly later than planned. Owing to the MEN's strict curfew policy,
the band had to finish at 11PM, so The American and
Ghostdancing were both dropped from the set.
Factory was played (it was dropped from the NEC's set-list the next day) and was
dedicated to Tony Wilson and Factory Records.
Charlie also got a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday (which I'm sure
he was chuffed to bits with).
The tour merchandise has been designed by de-lux and has a strong retro feel (which obviously ties in
with the 30 years live celebrations).
Various T-shirts and hoodies are available, which range from the latest Claddagh designs through to more
retro Once Upon A Time style graphics with doves and the old logo.
And Jim's Prom's T-shirt is also available.
Whilst most of this is available at the gigs (some items weren't available at the NEC for example), everyone will be
able to purchase the tour merchandise from the Official Simple Minds Shop
(which has just launched).
The tour programme is probably one of the most lavish produced yet. Weighing in at 32 pages, the programme is packed with
live pictures (from 1978 through to 2006), text and memorabilia.
A lengthy Q&A with the band occupies the centre section of the programme, with additional contributions from
Jim,
Bruce Findlay,
Alessia Bighi (fan),
Pauk Kerr,
Rosy Giuffre (fan),
Pete Walsh (on the recording of New Gold Dream),
Michelle Armour (fan),
Kay Melrose (Simple Minds' PA),
Jaine Henderson (early lighting),
Barry Wright (promoter),
John Ramsey (EFX Audio),
Frank X Gallagher,
Steve Pollard (lighting and set design),
Steve Robinson (fan),
Billy Sloan and
Simon Cornwell (on the Dream Giver website). I also supplied memorabilia scans
and wrote the discography and tour histories.
It is also available from the gigs and the Official Simple Minds Shop.
Wembley Arena, 29th November 2008
Main Set: Intro /
Waterfront /
Speed Your Love To Me /
Mandela Day /
Love Song /
The American /
See The Lights /
Chelsea Girl /
Hypnotised /
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) /
Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel /
Promised You A Miracle /
Big Sleep /
Somebody Up There Likes You /
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) /
Hunter and The Hunted /
Glittering Prize /
King Is White And In The Crowd /
Up On The Catwalk /
Don't You (Forget About Me) /
Belfast Child
Encore:
She's A River /
Sanctify Yourself /
Alive And Kicking
There were a few sound problems when Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) started as
Charlie's guitar couldn't be heard. Jim restarted
the song: "Hold on, hold on, how can we start this without the guitar?
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27th November
Sunday Herald Jim Kerr Interview, 30 Years Live, Dream Giver
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Here are the pictures from Jim's Sunday Herald interview. This feature was published
on Sunday November 23rd. This was the only major Scottish newspaper interview that Simple Minds did
for the sold out Glasgow SECC concert on December 4th.
(Click on the image for the full-sized version).
The 30 Years Live tour kicks off tonight
at the Manchester MEN Arena.
I'll be seeing the band at the Birmingham NEC tomorrow. Because I don't want to spoil the surprise, I won't be updating
Dream Giver tonight with any set-lists or news - expect that all on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
The old Dream Giver website has completely blown its quota allocation and has been temporarily shut down by
Demon. I was going to merge both sites together in the forthcoming week anyway, so I'm having to work
faster than I originally intended. But, I'll get it sorted out over the next couple of days.
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26th November
Century FM Manchester
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Jim will be interviewed live from the backstage of the MEN Arena by
Century FM Manchester tomorrow (27th November). You will be able to hear the broadcast
via the radio station's website.
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25th November
30 Years Live
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As part of the celebration surrounding the band's forthcoming 30th anniversary gigs, I will be gradually updating the tour sections of
Dream Giver Redux.
The first section published lists all the various tour programmes issued by the band over the years.
(Many thanks to Daniel Albarran for drawing the new Claddagh logo from Jim's Proms shirt).
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23rd November
Sunday Herald Simple Pleasures, Sunday Herald Jim Kerr Interview, Igudesman & Joo
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The Sunday Herald have put together a slide-show of various images of Simple Minds
over which Jim gives a track by track anaylsis of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84).
Not only does he reveal some details about the album which I didn't know, but the slideshow includes some images
(including two of Johnny And The Self Abusers) which I've never seen before.
You must see this! You must listen to this! It can be viewed here.
The Herald also interviewed Jim on Tuesday in London. He's on the front cover of the Sunday magazine and
the full interview has been published online.
And so the Minds have finished their last Proms gig. However, unfortunately,
Charlie didn't escape the clutches of
Igudesman & Joo.
(Burst couch?)
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18th November
Loose Women
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Jim will be appearing on the TV show Loose Women tomorrow (19th November).
The show is broadcast on ITV1 at 12:30.
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14th November
The Proms, Proms Tour Diary, All80s Radio
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A full performance of Night Of The Proms from Belgium will be broadcast
on Belgian National Television (www.een.be) on the 28th December and again on
the 4th January.
And then there's Igudesman & Joo's Tour Diaries...
Jim's has also appeared on All80s Radio. A recent interview with
him can be heard here.
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13th November
Jim's Interview With Ben Jones (Absolute Radio), Remixes
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Jim's interview with Ben Jones (on Absolute Radio) filled the last hour of
the show from 11:00 through to 12:00.
- Simple Minds will be touring again next summer.
- The new album doesn't yet have a title, but there are four or five choices.
- It will be released spring 2009.
Music: Alive And Kicking
JK: We're always saying to people that Simple Minds are foremost a live band, a good live band, a great live band, which allows us to get through thick and thin. However, we're not very good at looking back to the past. We're taking a trip down memory lane with this tour. But we've always been reluctant to dip into the past too much as we're far more interested in future work.
BJ: So it's nice to be retrospective for a while?
JK: We're taking a couple of weeks, ten dates, to celebrate the last thirty years. People are coming from all over the world to see us. So we’re celebrating the thirty years and then we have the next chapter up our sleeve...
BJ: So is doing a tour like riding a bicycle? Do you just all 'click' back into it?
JK: Yes, that's true. Although the first night is interesting as the set is still being bolted together, but a week later it's like "grease lighting". However, as we say, 'it's only music' and if there's a cock-up, you can always start again.
BJ: What has the fan's reaction been to these gigs?
JK: They are well up for it. People have made up their minds and they're going to have a ball. We then added Deacon Blue, another great live band, so it's a great deal. It's gone down a storm. There was a temptation to add second nights but we're going to play again in the summer.
Music: Sanctify Yourself
BJ: Simple Minds are still relevant. Tom Chaplin from Keane said Spiraling is completely lifted from Simple Minds. So you're still relevant in 2008 - new bands are citing you as inspiration.
JK: I followed Keane through their difficult third album (not their difficult second album) and I thought thirty seconds into the album that "they've still got it." It sounded really good. Billy Sloan said when you listen to something you know instantly when it's really good. We were in Wales, on the last day recording our new album, and the Manic Street Preachers turned up at Rockfield. James Dean Bradfield knew more about us than I did -
BJ: Does that make you feel proud or old?
JK: It makes us feel part of a line. People inspired us, we took from them. People who influenced you, they're your genetics. But you grow something out of it. For example on the new album we'd say "use that Roxy Music piano" or "Velvet Underground feedback." The influences are still there.
Music: Love Song
Music: Glittering Prize
BJ: I'd like to talk about the 1980s. Can you try and tell me about becoming the biggest band on the planet?
JK: We loved the journey which took us to a level of success we could never have dreamed of.
JK: It's great to see a band like Elbow make it because it's taken a long time coming. In other cases, bands like Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Moneys came out of nowhere, but their music has this great impact. I'm happy, in our case, that it took a long time to come. It took four or five albums. We were learning our trade. Although you're never fully prepared for the big time, you're more prepared for it - you can feel the momentum building.
JK: We were a little too tight arsed for our own good to begin with. For example, Don't You (Forget About Me) - we didn't write it ourselves and we'd knocked it back a couple of times. We thought the demo was alright but not as good as the demos for Alive And Kicking and Sanctify Yourself which we were working on at the time. We did end up doing it, after knocking it back, when Keith Forsey (the producer and writer) came over from America off his own back, came to our rehearsal studio and refused to budge. We liked him. He said it would only take a couple of hours and would get the record company off our backs. So we did it.
Music: Don't You (Forget About Me)
JK: The record company spent a fortune promoting it [Don't You (Forget About Me)]. We were really nonchalant about it. It kept climbing the charts. I was in the south of France, alone, and I got the call: Don't You (Forget About Me) is going to ne number one in America. And I'm a Scotsman who doesn't drink(!) so I thought - I've got to go to the bar. Which was empty. So I ordered a magnum of champagne from the lone barman and said "Whoever comes in this door gets a glass of champagne." I told him I'm in this band and we're number one in America. He looked at me as if I was a fruitcake. But I'm not a drinker, so after a couple of sips, with everyone walking in I was like Elvis. "You will have a drink with me, buddy!"
BJ: The music on the tour is going to be the hits and you're working on new stuff.
JK: The new album will be out in the spring 2009. As for a title, we go from day to day, but the artwork has to be done, so currently there are four or five different songs [which could be album titles].
JK: We only did the 30th anniversary tour as we had a new chapter coming and this new chapter is vibrant, energetic, noisy,...
BJ: You sound very excited by it.
JK: We added another three weeks of recording. Because it was better than we thought it would be. So we added the time, not because it was going badly, but so we could think about these songs a bit more.
Music: Waterfront
Music: Belfast Child
BJ: Does politics and rock music mix?
JK: I’d never heard of Biko before Peter Gabriel and wanted to check it out and read about it. But it was a great song, great melody, so engaging. Does it mix? It's still music. Mandela Day still sounds like a great standalone record. We're still singing "Mandela Day, Mandela's free” as the legend goes through the walls, through the prison gates. It was amazing to be playing 20 years later to him. Similarly Belfast Child - when we wrote Belfast Child, there was a ban on songs on the BBC mentioning Northern Ireland. When we did that song, we were going out on the limb - plus it was an 8 minute, Irish Ballard.
Music: Mandela Day
Ben Jones then wound up the interview by stating Jim Kerr was the nicest guy he’d
interviewed – well, Jim and Dave Grohl.
And without further introduction...
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8th November
Absolute Radio, Celebrate 30 Years Tour
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Simple Minds on Ben Jones’ Wednesday Night Live
Wednesday 12th November, 8:00PM – Midnight
"Ben Jones chats to Jim Kerr as we play back one hour of classic
Simple Minds. It’s 30 years since the band first started out and Ben
will be finding out more about the eagerly awaited 16th album which is due for release early next year.
Absolute Radio listeners can also win tickets to see the band perform live on their UK Tour."
The interview with Jim will go out between 8PM and 10PM; and between 10PM and Midnight the station
will broadcast their selection of Simple Minds songs.
Absolute Radio (formally Virgin Radio) have their own website
(www.absoluteradio.co.uk) through which you can listen to the show.
Belfast, London, Glasgow and Cardiff are now completely sold out.
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7th November
The Proms, FourGoodMen, Mel In Rhythm Magazine, Absolute Radio, JohnnyBGood Remixes, Daily Mail CD
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Those attending the winter leg of The Proms gigs are in for more surprises. Unfortunately the
Simple Minds Medley has now been replaced by the more topical James Bond Medley but
this Proms sees the debut of an orchestral Waterfront and a version of
Belfast Child
with Sinead O'Conner singing the second verse. (She opens the song with the original lines from
She Moved Through The Fair).
The full set list is:
All the dates of these final 2008 Proms Concerts can be found here.
Various recordings of Simple Minds' appearances at the 2008 Proms can be found on
www.youtube.com.
"Could you make sure everyone knows about our aftershow party at the Classic Grand in Jamaica Street,
Glasgow. We are performing a lot of old Minds songs, that we have never attempted before, I have been
in touch with Jim and Charlie recently, and I will be sending out their
invitations to come along for a 'swally' with the lads and lassies of FourGoodMen. We will
be onstage after the SECC show is done and dusted, and the venue and club is opened for our use until 3am.
So, all come along for a party, and meet us. The date, as you all know, is the 4th of December. Tickets
at the door, or through our website and ticket Scotland." - Derek
After the Simple Minds gig at the SECC on the 4th December, why not pop down to the Classic Grand
in Jamaica Street where Derek and friends will provide the perfect aftershow with a choice selection
of Simple Minds and FourGoodMen tracks.
Tickets are available through FourGoodMen's offical site (http://www.fourgoodmen.com)
and cost £15 plus £1.50 booking/admin charges.
FourGoodMen will also be playing a Christmas show at the same venue on the 28th December. For more details
see their website.
Mel's been featured in this month's Rhythm magazine. Here he reveals his favourite
Simple Minds drumming track as Up On The Catwalk:
Apparently Jim will be interviewed on Absolute Radio
on Wednesday night (12th November). This would be the Ben Jones show which airs from 8-11 PM.
Definintely worth a listen just to check as Jim due to be taking about the forcoming tour and
new album.
Here are more remixes from the ever-prolific JohnnyBGood. He's currently setting up his own website which will
include links to all his remixes:
And this is for the hardcore collectors. And I mean the hardcore, completist collectors.
A very slightly different version of the Daily Mail CD is available. This version was issued by
the Daily Irish Mail and differs only by the logo on the album sleeve and CD.
So, if you're a completist then click here.
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30th October
The Proms, More Remixes
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Jim and
Charlie are now performing at The Proms
concerts in Europe. Whilst Waterfront has now joined the set-list, getting a full orchestral backing, everyone seems more taken by
their new Simple Minds T-shirts with new logo design.
(Hopefully this will be appearing as merchandising at the 30th Anniversary Gigs.)
I've still yet to find out exactly what's being played, so if anyone can send in a set-list then that would be
excellent.
Alive And Kicking has now been given the full
Dream Giver Redux treatment.
More remixes from JohnnyBGood:
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14th October
Wolfgang's Vault, Sons And Fascination, Russian Compilation, More Remixes
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Wolfgang's Vault have opened up their King Biscuit Flower Hour archives again
and this week are featuring the Minds' appearance at Newcastle City Hall in 1982.
The tracks are available on their website.
These songs were originally featured on the King Biscuit Flower Hour and most were broadcast on the
24th February 1985 and 21st July 1985. Hunter And The Hunter appeared on the flip of the
Waterfront single release, and various filmed segments turned up on
1992's Glittering Prize 81/92 compilation video, but it wasn't until
Seen The Lights - A Visual History
DVD that these six tracks were commerically released.
Ever wondered where the pictures for the Sons And Fascination sleeve
were taken?
This latest release from Russia claims it features 20 Simple Minds albums
(including Our Secrets Are The Same
and both Glittering Prize 81/92 and the
Best Of). That's 18 hours and 6 minutes of music or
232 tracks.
The music is spread across these 2CDs as MP3 files. The artwork includes shots taken from
Live In The City Of Light,
Street Fighting Years and
Neapolis.
JohhnyBGood's obviously given up sleeping:
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6th October
Sunday Mail Interview, Jim Kerr Interview
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An interview with Jim was published in this week's Sunday Mail to promote the
Cash For Kids concert.
He revealed that Moscow Underground will be
new album's
opening track and also mentioned the song Light Travels (which first appeared during the
Black And White 050505 sessions.)
The full interview can be read here.
In this interview with Jim, Jamie Sinclair catches up with the lead singer at
Rockfield and asks about the new album, the forthcoming 30th annivesary tour and discovers the plans for
2009: the new album and a world tour which includes the UK, Europe and North America.
As Simple Minds come close to finishing their latest studio album I caught up with
Jim Kerr at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales to find out what has been happening and in
some sense of the word a look at the past, present and future. For many years now Simple Minds
have gained the accolade as one of the greatest live bands in the World and the enthusiasm
for the band and the music has never been stronger.
JS: Hi Jim, how’s the new album progressing?
JK: We have been recording the new album at Rockfield Studios in the picturesque town of Monmouth.
The studio is steeped in history and in a lot of ways very inspirational, the recording process has
gone really well and we are all very pleased with the strength of the songs. I take some time out in
the mornings to get some fresh air and exercise and you would be amazed how much comes to you with
the music that we have been working on and I think it is a good thing to get some space and get some air.
Sometimes it is really difficult to get all the answers to all the questions, but sometimes when you
take a step back the answers just naturally come to you and that is one of the great thing about Rockfield.
We have recorded here at various times in our career and every now and again everything seems to come
flooding back, but the album is looking great and the more we get close to completion there is definitely
an excitement and a buzz in the air.
JS: Have you any ideas on a title yet?
JK: No not as yet – There is a lot of thought and care that goes into a title and we like to work
with our graphic designers. They look at the whole feel of the music and a design structure that fits
in well with the songs. We talk about it on a daily basis but nothing is set in stone yet.
JS: How would you best describe the feel of the songs? Also does the selection of songs have
the strength of Black & White? Is there a chance you could be playing the entire album live?
JK: With the collection of songs that we are working on now there is a good feel about the continuity of
the music. Some of the songs flow nicely into each other. Black And White was a strong album that
had that natural flow. Often Charlie will send me a riff or be working on the piano and
develop a frame and this often inspires the lyrics, in some cases I have a bunch of lyrics and with some of
the brilliant melodies Charlie comes up with, like clouds, some great songs just form themselves.
As regards to playing all of the songs live, I would say there is every chance that we will play the new album
but there is a lot of things that this depends upon – for example – how positively the album is received and more
importantly the reaction from the audience. In the past Simple Minds have always tried to play a
few promo gigs for every tour – these are essential in order to get feedback and try to capture the feel for the
set that we are playing.
JS: It seems like Simple Minds is as strong as it ever was, would you agree to that?
JK: I totally agree – the camaraderie that we have experienced as a bunch of friends and musicians at Rockfield
has been totally uplifting – this has definitely filtered down to the music and the band is as tight as ever and
the whole experience at Rockfield has been totally enjoyable. There is a guy here called Kingsley Ward,
he is a huge part of Rockfield Studios and every now and again he will come in and tell us a story about some
band or one of the many things that have happened here over the years – Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody
here and many bands have recorded many many great songs and albums here. This can be a tricky thing – it can be
immensely inspirational but also you can get the opposite and create an immense pressure that you have to keep
up to the exceptional standards that Rockfield has become accustomed to over the years.
JS: Will any new songs be played on the 30th anniversary tour later this year?
JK: Possibly not – we are looking at this collection of dates as a journey from the beginning really with
everything about Simple Minds. We are playing our New Gold Dream album in its
entirety. Even though I am a great believer in looking to the future these concerts are about all the
highs of Simple Minds and in this case it is going to be a musical journey – but on the
other side of the coin it is hard to imagine that at some point we are not going to play a few new songs
and we have a huge back catalogue to choose from. When playing live it is important to keep the momentum
going and sometimes when you throw in a new song between two classics you have got to ask yourself, will
we loose the continuity and take that risk of possibly going through a dip but I can assure you that these
concerts will be a great experience for us and our die hard fans and something special to celebrate all
things Simple Minds.
JS: What kind of plans do you have for the forth coming tour, will it be World wide
and what kind of venues would you be looking at?
JK: We are looking at all options and venues for next year. On the Black And White Tour we kind of
wanted to play smaller venues, clubs etc. Sometimes this can be a really difficult thing to do – you can’t rely
on the big production and you are kind of stripped of all the glamour – along with the big stages.
An audience doesn't care what sort of day you've had or whether you've been touring for weeks. For them,
that show is the one they have been looking forward to for months and that's a magical inspiration. We have
always tried to approach each and every gig as "tonight’s the night" it also raises our game to make every
night the best night on the tour.
We made it as a great live band playing small venues and at this particular time in our career we thought
it would be a great experience to go back and play the smaller circuit gigs. With more intimacy and a
stripped down, more lean production it gave the music a chance to breath and more often than not these
ittle places were absolutely jumping – and I have to be honest we all loved every minutes of it.
JS: After all these years does playing live still feel great? How do you see the music industry
today? If Simple Minds were starting out would you find it easier or harder? What advice would you give
to a young band trying to get their music heard in today’s market?
JK: All of us are getting terribly excited at the moment – we are so looking forward to playing live again.
We built our whole reputation on being a great live band, with talent, enthusiasm and with the determination
to succeed and I think that still transpires for today. The whole structure of releasing a record has changed.
When we first started there was no internet or technology and we would make journalists and representatives
from record companies come and see us. We were very persistent in never taking no for an answer and the same
applies today. I think this also applies to the future as well, regardless of how the industry changes and
trends that follow - enthusiasm and the will to succeed will always be your most powerful attributes in making
any band or musical act succeed.
JS: Finally what does the future hold for Simple Minds?
JK: At the moment we are just putting the finishing touches to the album and then Charlie and I are
off to Belgium and Holland to be featured in the Night of the Proms Concerts which we absolutely love.
We get the chance to play some of our best songs with a full classical orchestra and we get to play our music
to people that wouldn’t normally come to a Simple Minds concert. After the Proms gigs
we start rehearsals for our 30th Anniversary concerts starting on the 26th November at the MEN Arena
in Manchester then after that we have a wee break coming up. 2009 is going to be a very busy year for Simple Minds – the album
is being released in the early part of next year and then we are going to do a World Tour. We will be playing
in the UK and all over Europe and then on to North America and then who knows where our music will take us.
We are all looking forward to getting out on the road and doing what we do best – playing our music live.
In 1984 as a young school boy wondering what to do next - I can vividly remember seeing Ultravox at
Cornwall Coliseum, for those of the same generation the support band was called Zerra One. This was the
first taste of live music which lead to Simple Minds at Milton Keynes Bowl in 1986. It was one of
those pioneering moments in ones life where for the first time I knew that I wanted a career in music – whether
it was being a performer or behind the scenes. The compulsion was overwhelming – to this day I have never
experienced anything as powerful as that. Today, 24 years later as I look around my office which is
littered with posters and memorabilia and with countless gigs and concerts coming up, I can’t imagine
what it would be like not to have that inspiration at some point in your life. - © Jamie Sinclair 2008
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3rd October
Simple Minds Celebrate 30 Years with 'Cash for Kids' Concert
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Scots rock legends, Simple Minds have announced this morning that they are to play
an exclusive, special one-off concert at Glasgow's ABC1 venue in early December with all
proceeds being donated to Radio Clyde's Cash for Kids charity.
The concert will take place at the 1250 capacity venue on Sauchiehall Street on the night of Sunday 7 December
with tickets priced at £35. All profits will go to the charity which launched its Christmas Appeal
yesterday and raised £1.6 Million last year to help under privileged children throughout Scotland.
Anyone who registers on www.simpleminds.com will be eligible for ticket presale from 9am, Wednesday 8th October.
Tickets to the general public will go on sale at 9am, Friday 10th October.
Simple Minds with founding members Jim Kerr and
Charlie Burchill along with
Mel Gaynor have worldwide popularity and secured a string of successful hit singles including
the massive global number one, Don't You (Forget About Me).
The band recently played the 90th Birthday Party tribute to Nelson Mandela on 27th June in London's Hyde Park.
The Minds are about to tour to celebrate their 30th Anniversary and will take in a number of major
UK arenas towards the end of 2008 including Glasgow's SECC on 4th December. During these gigs the band
will perform tracks from their landmark 1982 album New Gold Dream
and will also perform classic songs from their other albums.
Radio Clyde's Billy Sloan who's also good friend of
Jim Kerr will be broadcasting
live from the Cash for Kids gig at the ABC1 and Jim will be hosting two Christmas shows on Clyde 1
and Clyde 2 and playing a lot of his favourite artists. More details on the shows will be announced.
Simple Minds frontman, Jim Kerr said, "As a benefit concert the ABC show presents
us with the opportunity to work with Radio Clyde on their annual's Cash for Kids campaign.
Within that we would like to encourage and congratulate them and their listeners for their continued efforts
that over so many years have raised so much for local children's charities.
Radio Clyde's Programme Director, Paul Saunders said, "We're absolutely thrilled that an iconic band
like Simple Minds who have sold millions of records throughout the world have made this
generous offer of support for Radio Clyde's Cash for Kids. It's a brilliant gesture from
the band. It promises to be a night that none of us will forget and will surely help thousands of disadvantaged
children in the West of Scotland have a better Christmas".
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25th September
Birmingham Post Interview, Night Of The Proms, Nouvelle Vague, Cry Remix
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Jim has been recently interviewed by the Birmingham Post.
Whilst it's mostly promo for the forthcoming 30th anniversary gigs (although there are only 250 tickets left),
Jim often mentions the recording of the new album. There's also a hint they'll play some exclusive new
material: "There’ll be plenty of old favourites and highlights from the band’s new album,
due out early next year."
However, before the 30th anniversary tour, Jim and Charlie will be at the European
Proms. So they've recorded a promo for this (just click on the play button).
Covers band Nouvelle Vague have released a new album called Hollywood, Mon Amour.
Out at the end of the month, it features their interpretations of songs from films. And it isn't known yet how
different their version of Don't You (Forget About Me) will be.
JohhnyBGood's been busy again and put together another remix of Cry. It can be
downloaded here.
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22nd September
Jim on German TV, Swedish Prime Minister
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Jim's appearance on German TV can now be viewed on WDR's website.
On the 16th September, the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt appeared on the Swedish television
show Videokvall Med Luuk. On the show he had to choose three songs that had made a difference in his
life. His final choice at the end of the show, "a really good song in his life" was Simple Minds
with Don't You (Forget About Me).
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14th September
Daily Mail, White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr
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Full details about the Daily Mail free Once Upon A Time album can be
found here (scroll down to the bottom).
The new digital download of White Spaces remixes can also be purchased from
www.itunes.com.
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11th September
Daily Mail, Jim on German TV, White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr, Some Sweet Day 2008 running order
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UK daily paper The Daily Mail are offering a
Greatest 80s CD Collection.
Every day for the next couple of weeks, a free 1980s album can be obtained by collecting the voucher in that day's paper and
taking it to Tescos, WHSmith or Eastons.
Once Upon A Time is being given away as part of the promotion. Whilst I can't believe anyone reading this
site hasn't got a copy of that album, I'm sure collectors will be interested in this version.
It's believed Once Upon A Time will be the featured album this Friday (12th September). So check the
Daily Mail on that date.
However, if you're not in the UK, then don't despair. I suspect many will be offered on eBay, allowing one to be
picked up cheaply.
Jim will be appearing on German TV this Sunday (14th September) on channel WDR. The programme, called
Wunderschön! Fantastisches Schottland,
features Jim showing presenter Tamina Kallert his favourite places in and around
Glasgow.
Rare Mixes From Great Songs is now available as a digital download. This is a compilation of
White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr remixes which were released through Absolutely Records
over the last few years. As many of these tracks only turned up on promo 12" singles, then it's a great opportunity to
finally get the digital versions.
Alongside remixes of Don't You (Forget About Me) and
Alive And Kicking is the rarer
The Man Who Sold The World, the great funked up version of
One Step Closer (originally
released as Biba-Rom) and the ambient White Spaces original composition
Magic Innerworld (originally released as Pascal Life).
The White Spaces remixes are classic eighties styles remixes and are highly recommended. Definintely
worth downloading.
For more information click here.
Some Sweet Day 2008 - The Simple Minds Marathon
* indicates requested material.
7am
When Spirits Rise - SFY
New Sunshine Morning - Cry
Waterfront - Sparkle In The Rain
Chelsea Girl - Life In A Day*
Life In A Day (live) - Silver Box (disc 1)
Love Song (remastered) - Glitering Prize (UK ver)
Someone Somewhere In Summertime - NGD 81828384
All The Things She Said - Glittering Prize (US ver)
Promised You A Miracle - Glittering Prize (US ver)
Book Of Brilliant Things - Sparkle In The Rain*
8am
Home - Black And White 050505
For Your Pleasure - Neon Lights
And The Band Played On/Real Life (live) - Hypnotized cd single #2
Glittering Prize (live'86) - Theme Box 3
Ghostrider (live) - Real Life (cd single)
Speed Your Love To Me - Sparkle In The Rain*
Song For The Tribes - Neapolis
See The Lights - Real Life
Great Leap Forward - Good News From The Next World
9am
BBC Radio One 1990 Special Part 1 - Street Fighting Years Box Set
10am
BBC Radio One 1990 Special Part 2 - Street Fighting Years Box Set
11am
Sanctify Yourself (live) - Real Live '91
----SONS OF DAN INTERVIEW ------ (Mick/Brian/Derek)
I Travel (Bass Solo on You Tube) _ :)
Cuttin it (sample) - SOD sample
Countdown (sample) - SOD sample
Changeling (live John Peel Session)w/Brian McGee on Drums - Silver Box (Disc 1)
Premonition (live John Peel Session)w/Brian McGee on Drums - Silver Box (Disc 1)
Falling (studio demo) - Heart Of Winter 2006
Stand By Love - Real Life
12pm
Don't You (Forget About Me)(HuMate Mix) - Live And Rare
Stranger (London Mix) - Stranger (CD Single)
Cry - Cry (CD Single)
The Kick Inside Of Me - Sparkle In The Rain
Soul Crying Out (live) - See The Lights (etched 12")*
Hello, I Love You - Neon Lights *
Happy The Man - Slver Box :Our Secrets Are The Same Disc
New Warm Skin - 7" floppy disc bonus *
Bird On A Wire - Stranger CD Single
1pm
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) - New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
The American - The American (12")
-----Robin Clark Interview --------
Alive And Kicking - (Todd's Mix for SSD08) (Album/Instrumental combined)
Dance To The Music (live) - Live In The City Of Light
Love, It Ain't Easy - Surrender (Robin Clark)
Once Upon A Time - Once Upon A Time
All The Things She Said - Once Upon A Time
2pm
Belfast Child - Glittering Prize
She's A River Todd's Mix for SSD08) (Album/Instrumental combined)
Disconnected - Cry*
Sweat In Bullet - Sons And Facination/Sisters Feeling Call
Let The Children Speak - Real Life
Capital City - Empires And Dance
Wall Of Love - SFY
Homosapian - Neon Lights
Jeruselem - The Amsterdam EP
3pm
Waterfront (live) - Silver Box Disc 3
----spontaneous interview with Peter Walsh - ---
In Every Heaven (2.0 Mix bonus track) - NGD 5.1
Glitterball - Neapolis
Sweat In Bullet - Sweat In Bullet (12") *
The Man Who Sold The World (remix) - Live And Rare
---- Eddie Duffy Interview!!!! -----
4pm
---- Eddie Duffy Interview!!!! -----
Sanctify Yourself (Iive) - Sunday Express LIVE
For What It's Worth - Cry CD Single
Someone - Life In A Day
Colors Fly And Cathrine Wheel - New Gold Dream*
Big Sleep - New Gold Dream
Night Music - GNFTNW
Death By Chocolate - Silver Box: Our Secrets Are The Same*
Space - Silver Box: Our Secrets Are The Same
5pm
Don't You (Forget About Me) (12") - Theme Box 2
Speed Your Love To Me (12") - Theme Box 2
Come A Long Way - Once Upon A Time*
Street Fighting Years - SFY
New Sunrise - Spaceface CD Single
Dirty Old Town - Dirty Old Town Benefit Single
Dancing Barefoot - Neon Lights
Underneath The Ice - Black And White 050505
Banging On The Door - Real Life
6pm
Ghostdancing (live) - Live In The City Of Light
Up On The Catwalk (live) - Hypnotised CD Single (Box)
Theme For Great Cities - Greatest Hits
Mandela Day (Todd Mix for SSD 05) - SFY
Jeweler To The Stars Part II - Black & White 050505
WarBabies - Neapolis
Saturday Girl - This Is Your Land (CD Single)
Life In A Day - Greatest Hits!
7pm
The American 12" - Theme Box 1
Real Life - Best OF (01)
Street Hassle - Sparkle In The Rain (LR cover)
This Is Your Land - SFY (feat. LR)
Whilte Light White Heat - Live And Rare (VU cover)
Love Song - Glittering Prize (UK Ver)
King Is White And In The Crowd (5.1/2.0 Mix exteneded) - NGD
Spaceface - Cry
One Step Closer (alt mix) - Cry Sampler
8pm
----Mick MacNeil redo :) ----
Countdown - (Sons Of Dan)
Someone Somewhere In Summertime (live) - Heart Of Winter 2006 4GM
Dream To Sleep (live) - Heart Of Winter 2006 4GM
Glittering Prize - Glittering Prize
Hypnotised (Malfunction mix) - Hypnotized (CD Single)
Take A Step Back - SFY
She's A River (Duo Mix) - SAR CD Single
Kissed The Ground - Black And White
Dolphins - Black And White
9pm
All The Things She Said (live) - Sunday Express Live
A Life Shot In Black And White (live) - Sunday Express Live
Too Much Television - Stranger (CD single)
Sign Of The Times - Amsterdam EP
Gloria - Neon Lights
Someone Somewhere In Summertime (live) - Real Life Aus. Tour Ed.
Theme For Great Cities - Best Of 01 *
And The Band Played On - GNFTNW*
Homosapian (Malcolm Duffy Mix) - Homosapian CD Single
10pm
Alive & Kicking ( Todd's SSD Mix) - OUAT and inst. mix
Oh Jungleland (12" mix) - Ghostdancing (theme box disc)
Stay Visable - Black And White 050505
All the Things She Said (live) - Sunday Express Live *
Disconnected (live) - Sunday Express Live
C Moon Cry Like A Baby - Sparkle In The Rain
Kissed The Ground - Black And White 050505
11pm
Waterfront (Union Jack Mix) - Glitterball Cd Single
Theme For Great Cities 98 (Fluke's Atlantis Mix ) - Warbabies CD Single
My Life - GNFTNW
A Life Shot In Black And White - Black And White 050505
Sweat In Bullet (demo) - Silver Box disc 2
Someone Somewhere In Summertime (session) - Silver Box disc 2)
Stranger - Black & White 050505
Home - Black & White 050505
12am
See The LIghts (12" mix) - See The Lights (promo cd 5)
Up On The Catwalk (live) - Alive And Kicking (theme 3 box)
She'a A River (Todd's SSD Mix) - GNFTNW, Inst. Mix combined
Kick It In - Street Fighting Years
I Travel (Bass intro by Derek Forbes via YouTube) :)
I Travel - Best Of (01)
Waterfront - The Best Of (01)
Sanctify Yourself - The Best Of (01)
Belfast Child - Glittering Prize (UK Ver)
|
29th August
Some Sweet Day 2008 continued
|
Mick returned to the air after a rehearsal with FourGoodMen and a curry.
Apparently the previous interview with Mick, Derek
and Brian sounded
fine transmitted over the air but was completely garbled over the Internet streaming. Although Mick pointed
out that any technical problems could’ve been caused by all members of the band using separate phones on one phone line and
there was a gale blowing outside.
The Simple Minds reunion was mentioned, which Mick said lasted 20 minutes. They all
had a week pencilled in, but it didn’t pan out as expected and it all went pear shaped. Because they all had the time
booked, Mick, Derek and
Brian carried on without
Jim and
Charlie. And they got really excited by the result.
They had great press coverage, it worked out well and they all got on really well. It was just a pity
the reunion didn’t work out this time.
The Sons And Fascination era sound came naturally. They were not the best musicians: Brian wasn’t Phil Collins and
Mick wasn’t Vangelis, they hadn’t improved, so the noise they made today was the same
as the noise they made then. The guitarist they booked for the sessions was a bit of a Charlie fan, so he
did what he thought Charlie would do.
The demos still need to be developed, and need vocals – they’re looking into getting a lead singer. But they felt they
had five great ideas which could be made into something special at the end of the day.
FourGoodMen were currently rehearsing for Retrofest which is a festival featuring bands
from the 1980s, which they’ve played at for the last couple of years. They were also looking into writing songs with Ian – but it
was a problem finding the time as they’d all got kids, wives and girlfriends. But they were definintely also developing
FourGoodMen and keeping it alive.
There were some ideas to play a Sons Of Dan gig in Glasgow on the same day as the Simple Minds’ 30th anniversary
gig in the city. Brian was going to be back for that one. They felt after doing the Rotherham gig last year
and doing the short set, it was really great having Brian at the back, there was something really special
about it, so they wanted to keep that. So they wanted to do something around the time of the Simple Minds show – not
to hang on the coattails of Simple Minds – but for people to see Sons Of Dan. But if there was
genuine interest, they’d be interested in doing something.
Mick signed off by confirming the rehearsals for Retrofest had gone very well – but were
rather short as they all wanted to get to the curry house before closing time.
|
28th August
Some Sweet Day 2008
|
So far Sons Of Dan, Robin Clark and
Eddie Duffy have
been interviewed along with surprise guest Pete ‘Big-Dream-Sound’ Walsh.
Unfortunately the Sons Of Dan interview wasn’t clear (the phone lines were terrible)
and I won’t comment in fear of misquoting someone. Todd’s aware of the fault and
hopefully this technical issue will be sorted out, and a clearer version of the interview will be repeated later.
Thankfully, Robin Clark was loud and clear, and was great. At first, apologies were made,
because Todd has been trying to get her on the show for two years, but it hadn’t worked
out in the past for a multitude of reasons.
Todd asked her what she’d been working on for the last few years. She’d been keeping busy
by travelling, recording (material with Aretha Franklin and Beyonce) and recording jingles.
She was enjoying a multifaceted career: record career, jingle career and theatre work. She joked she was heard
all the time but you just didn’t know it.
Her work with Simple Minds came through her friendships with Frank Simms (one of the
backing singers on Once Upon A Time) and
Bob Clearmountain (co-producer and mixer of Once Upon A Time).
Looking for a female backing singer, Clearmountain wondered aloud where Robin Clark was – and
Frank Simms knew exactly where to find her. So she was called up, and invited to the studio, where a
song was thrown at her, and she was asked to sing backing vocals. She originally thought she’d be singing with Simms, but
they said it was just going to be her. That song was Alive And Kicking.
She initially thought it was going to just be one song, but she ended up singing on several for the album.
And then they asked her to go on the road with them. Which turned into a wonderful moment in her career, and
she really enjoyed her time with them.
It was all a happy accident. She related how a lot of things in the record industry occurred by word of
mouth and happy accidents. Her work with David Bowie on the Young Americans was also a happy accident.
But Once Upon A Time was an album she was very proud to have worked on.
The next step was tour. She wasn’t involved in the early rehearsals as her participation was very specific and limited to
just the Once Upon A Time tracks she’d be singing on. Her initial rehearsals were one-to-one with Jim.
But she had a fantastic time – both at the rehearsals and on tour. They all clicked – it was like kindred spirits, and they
shared the same sense of humour. There was a lot of joking and playing around which they though she (as an American) wasn’t
getting – but she was – and this set the stage for a great relationship.
The Sly And The Family Stone track (Dance To The Music)
was Jim’s idea after talking with Robin about
how she got into the music industry. She was originally in a group with Luther Vandross and one of their
first shows was as the opening act for Sly And The Family Stone at the Apollo Theatre. Jim said he
loved Sly And The Family Stone's music and that’s how the song ended up being played during the
Once Upon A Time gigs. During rehearsals
it was decided to have Robin close the show with
Dance To The Music - again Jim’s idea.
It was total fun.
Todd mentioned finding Robin via her Myspace webpage.
Robin related how her
daughter put the site up for her, as she thought people would want to get in touch. She was then contacted by old friends from
school, people from the Apollo, and so was very grateful her daughter put the page up. She also mentioned getting lots of mails
from Simple Minds fans, especially since the forthcoming 30th anniversary tour, with over one hundred e-mails
asking if she’d be involved and including wonderful comments.
Todd asked about the videos shot for the Once Upon A Time period [Robin appears in
the videos for Alive And Kicking and
All The Things She Said]. She said the videos were crazy, and the
longest days of their lives – and the longer it went on for, the crazier it got. They were absolute fun. And she had no idea
they were going to feature her as they did. The Alive And Kicking video director kept asking her to move closer to
the edge of the cliff, which she was concerned about. (Which prompted more joking about not falling over the cliff). And even though
it was shot in upstate New York she didn’t know it would be so remote – so she had to deal with high heels in mud and a dressing room
in a field. But making those videos was a real highlight.
She closed by stating she’d love to do a guest appearance for the forthcoming anniversary tours. And she hoped she’d see
everyone there. It would be wonderful.
This year’s surprise guest was Pete Walsh. He originally just e-mailed in to say he was
listening to the show, but Todd had to get him on the phone!
Todd asked about the drummers on the New Gold Dream album.
Pete said they’d
recorded the drumming [with Mike Ogletree] but found it lacking so he asked his old friend Mel Gaynor
to step in to help with the recordings. Pete mentioned how he met Mel when he was an engineer
at a previous studio.
When the recording of New Gold Dream started, the basic instrumentals were quite complete, but
no vocals had been recorded. The band had previously spent a couple of weeks in Fife, and decided to go more for
the vibe rather than anything. So the recording was a matter of putting it into shape, arranging it and tacking on the vocals.
A lot of the material recorded at Fife was riffs - New Gold Dream
was originally called Festival Riff
and was just the first part of the song and several other separate pieces. It was a matter of putting it in the right order
and finding the vocals.
When asked about the 5:1 surround sound version, Pete Walsh said he hadn’t heard it(!) but there was a reason
for the original edits. When producing a vinyl album, level is an important problem during the mastering process. Therefore
they shortened the songs, so they could spend more time working on the level and therefore improving the quality of the album.
Pete Walsh remembered King Is White And In The Crowd
being edited down specifically.
They were working at Townhouse and Herbie Hancock was working in the other studio. Bruce Findlay knew
his management and made the connection. Before they knew it, Herbie walked into the studio and wanted to know what to do.
They’d planned a keyboard solo for the end of Hunter And The Hunted, so it was absolutely perfect for him to work on that track.
After New Gold Dream he hoped they’d work together again. He’d done some live recordings and live mixes for the band (such
as the Rotterdam concert) but when Neapolis came around, he thought it was going to be quite daunting to live up to
the success of New Gold Dream. It was a very different to make – initially it was just Jim and Charlie
alone, with Derek coming in on bass later. But it was a different unit, not like working with a band. However
it was brilliant, technology was moving on, it was a challenge, but it was very enjoyable.
It was a very transitional album for the band as they were moving away from the major stadium label approach.
Pete Walsh then requested In Every Heaven
from the DVD-Audio of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84).
Eddie was on next, speaking from his home in USA. The three weeks recording had gone very well. They’d done
parts individually for the previous albums but for this one, they wanted to capture the live feel in the studio. The demos
which Jim and Charlie had put together were left quite open; some tracks were just vocal,
guitar and perhaps a drum machine. (For Black And White 050505 the demos were more structured). So it was good
to get into a room to see what would happen. That was the initial plan and it really worked.
It had been two years since the last major tour, people had been doing other things in other places, so could they do this? And
because the demos were left so open, could he do it justice? Come up with the bass lines to fill them? And it all turned out
extremely well. The original plan was to do ten songs. And after an initial slow start, they really got into it, and did between
two and three tracks per day. And they worked off each other. Your interpretation of an idea might be different from everyone else’s
and inspire them to do something different. And so you get a lot more done that way.
It all really worked and they ended up getting thirteen tracks down.
Rockfield was somewhere the band could escape. They were associated with that studio for three albums; they recorded
two there and wrote one there. So this will be the fourth Simple Minds album associated with it. It was a
real pleasure to be there. It had so much history attached to it: Iggy Pop, Oasis and Queen. You couldn’t go
wrong in that environment.
Todd asked if any of the material was shot for any potential new bundles. Eddie confirmed that
the guy who worked on the bundles [Kit] had been down at the studio; he was in the recording room, the control
room and had interviewed everyone. Kit had got some good stuff and Eddie was looking forward to checking it out.
Todd asked how the new album would be released (downloads, digital release, physical record etc.) Eddie
said he wasn’t sure if any decisions had been made yet. As for gigs, they had the 30th anniversary gigs coming up in England and
Ireland and some planned for the next year; the USA was a possibility. The last time the band played the USA was in 2002, and as
he now lived there, he’d love to play there. The crowds they got during the 2002 shows were amazing and they had an incredible time.
For concerts before 2002, the band typically rehearsed 14-15 songs. It was Eddie and Andy who
expanded this – with Jim and Charlie so close to their own material, they had to
say ‘this is a great song’ and remind them how good some of their back catalogue is. Therefore they built up to
60 songs which they could play on a particular tour. It was really great to get the chance, because he grew up with these songs.
It was great to be able to go back and readdress them, mix them up and come at it from a different angle.
It wasn’t really difficult learning the 60 songs as he didn’t view it was work. You have to do the new album and the crowd
pleasers. But if you really enjoy the songs and enjoy playing them then it becomes fun. This also happened recently in Wales.
They got the backing for the new songs done so fast they realised they were finished after two weeks. So they went into the
live room and played: Simple Minds songs, covers, and enjoyed being back together again. It was a pleasure
having so many songs from a back catalogue to mess with and play.
After Todd raved about Eddie's performance on Sanctify Yourself (given away on the Sunday Express CDs)
Eddie admitted that he’d not heard it. But when you play one something, you find it hard to sit and listen
to them back because you become too critical. However, he’d heard some live material which sounded absolutely incredible
(especially a live version of East At Easter recorded at the first Liverpool Docks gig).
The world of Eddie now involved him resting at home in Colorado for a couple of months otherwise
his wife was going to choke him. He’d catch up with Simple Minds when they started rehearsals for the
30th anniversary tour in November.
|
27th August
Some Sweet Day 2008, White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr, Sample Minds
|
Some Sweet Day 2008 kicks off tomorrow. Todd and Aaron will be playing
an entire day of Simple Minds music, ranging from their most well known tracks through to obscure remixes and
B-sides.
Highlights this year will be inteviews with Sons Of Dan (all three members),
Robin Clark and
(fresh out of the new recording sessions)
Eddie Duffy. And, perhaps, the possibility of other special guests?
Be sure to tune in. The show can be heard via WBWC's website.
Abolutely Records have put together a new release by White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr
called Rare Mixes From Great Songs. The package includes
Don't You (Forget About Me) [Gerret's Mix] and
One Step Closer [White Spaces Investigation Mix].
It's being released exclusively to iTunes on the 2nd September with
a worldwide release on the 30th September.
It isn't known if this is a digital only release.
Remixes of One Step Closer were originally issued under the Biba-Rom name. Is the
White Spaces Investigation Mix the same as the Phunk Investigation indaMix? - only time will tell.
Sample Minds - SUMMERTIME IN DRIFFIELD – Tribfest 17/08/08
Coming off stage in Beckum, Germany the night before - and then getting to South Yorkshire in the UK was always
going to be logistically challenging for Sample Minds, though a brick thrown through the
train window in transit to Dortmund Airport was something not factored into the travel time! With only
5 minutes to spare the band made the only connecting flight of the day and arrived in the UK at approx 8am.
Following the long drive ‘up North’, they finally arrived at the Driffield Showground where Tribfest 08 was in full swing.
What a tremendous event! With some of the World’s leading tribute acts the band felt really privileged to be involved.
“It was quite surreal rubbing shoulders backstage with Mick Jagger, Phil Collins,
Bryan Ferry and quite strangely Johnny Depp in ‘Captain Jack Sparrow’ mode!” said frontman
Steve. “The calibre of the acts was simply awesome and it was with some trepidation that we took to the stage.”
The set was:
WATERFRONT
LOVE SONG
SOMEONE SOMEWHERE IN SUMMERTIME
DON’T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME
GHOSTDANCING / GLORIA
BELFAST CHILD
ALIVE AND KICKING
NEW GOLD DREAM / MEDLEY (featuring Bono!)
Steve should not have worried. From the opening bars of Waterfront to the finale of
New Gold Dream the crowd showed a great reaction – even continuing to support the band through a
brief down pour (the only one of the day – typical!)
The finale was something special. For Simple Minds fans, one of the most iconic live moments came
from when Bono dueted with the band in Glasgow 1985. At Tribfest the moment was recreated
featuring the amazing Andy Bagnell (Bono) from Achtung Baby – arguable
one of the best U2 tributes in the world! Blasting through the classics Take Me to The River and
Light My Fire this could have been one of the festival highlights.
The band would like to say a HUGE thank you to Ed Faulkner for organising such a spectacular event,
the stage crew - who without doubt were the FINEST the band have EVER worked with in the UK, the support staff,
the caterers – especially the Indian trailer, Alicia for sorting out the camper van (and a tent to isolate Simon’s snoring!)
and finally all the bands on the bill – it was a genuine privilege for the guys to share the stage with such talent.
Did the band have a favourite act ?
“All the bands were simply amazing,” commented keyboard player Simon. ‘Badness’ deservedly
headlined the night with a show stopping performance (if you looked closely you might have spotted Steve and
I on stage with them!). However, we have to say that we loved ‘Achtung Baby’ – what a gig and what a great
bunch of guys (band and crew) – we made lots of notes! And as for Andy, well – thank you for making our 'dream' come true.”
Sample Minds next perform a headlining appearance - Saturday 30th August 2008 - Fiesta City, Verviers , Belgium.
www.fiestacity.be
www.sampleminds.co.uk
|
14th August
Some Sweet Day 2008, Mind2Mode (Sample Minds), Presentation Gold Disc For Sale
|
Some Sweet Day 2008 hits the airwaves on the 28th August, another day of Simple Minds
records and exclusives back-to-back. One special guest already confirmed is Robin Clark - she'll be talking
about her career (including her time with Bowie), how she came into the sessions for
Once Upon A Time and her tour experiences on the
Once Upon A Time tour etc.
(And I know Todd's talking to FourGoodMen and Simple Minds about the possibility
of appearing on the show as well - but nothing definite yet.)
I'll publish more here once it's been confirmed.
But the date to tune in is the 28th August - and it's also streamed over the Internet, so you can listen whereever you are.
MiND2MODE / SAMPLE MINDS - AUGUST 2008 TOUR DATES
Next week will be a busy week for MiND2MODE – beginning with a gig at THE TEMPLE BAR, HANNOVER – Wednesday 13th
August, through to CITYFEST, BECKUM, GERMANY – Saturday 16th August and then back to the UK for
TRIBFEST, DRIFFIELD, SOUTH YORKSHIRE – Sunday 17th August, performing as sample MINDS.
"Playing a gig in Germany and then the UK the following day has presented many logistical challenges," commented frontman
Steve Hempton. "There is only one flight that fits into our schedule so it will be a nervous time for all."
Wednesday and Saturday’s M2M shows will be back to back hits from Simple Minds,
U2 and Depeche Mode. "The set keeps getting stronger as we rotate songs and find
out what gets the best reaction," said drummer Thorsten Ortmann. "We are really enjoying playing these
songs and I think that comes across in our performance."
Then on Sunday the band switch to sample MINDS – performing what is sure to be a memorable
Simple Minds show. Keyboard player Simon Hayward let out the following tantalising
details as to what to expect, “We have an hour set and have to follow one of the top Rolling Stones tributes in the
world, so we have to pull out all the stops and be at the top of our game. There’s a fabulous song selection and we
have an ace up our sleeves – a VERY special guest. If you’re a Simple Minds fan you won’t want to miss this – a
clue? Think Barrowlands, Glasgow 1985! – one of Simple Minds most iconic live performances."
Tribfest features many of the UK’s top tribute acts and promises to be a spectacular event.
More details at:
www.mind2mode.com
www.sampleminds.co.uk
Dave Kelly is selling a gold presentation disk on eBay. (See Ebay No. 220266791317.)
It's a Once Upon A Time award, presented to Schoolhouse Management, for sales in Switzerland.
Whilst there are many fake presentation disks on eBay, this one is definintely genuine and comes with a letter of authenticity from
Bruce Findlay himself. So, if you ever wanted to treat yourself ...
|
7th August
Don't You (Forget ABout Me), Mandela Concert Photos, Theme For Great Cities Remix
|
Don't You (Forget About Me) has been recorded by Hawk Nelson for a new JC Penney advertisement. The advert recreates
key, iconic scenes from the movie with all the actors appropriately dressed in Penney's garb.
Further information can be found here and
the advertisement is also available on YouTube.
(And it sounds like exactly what you'd expect a band called Hawk Nelson to sound like.)
Some great pictures of Jim and
Charlie at the recent
Mandela Gig can be found
on contact music.
JohnnyBGood has found a remix of Theme For Great Cities which he's added to Rapidshare:
Theme For Great Cities Kreed Inc. Remix.
|
28th July
Jim Interview And Pictures, Coldplay
|
Oliver Tanson® has recently interviewed Jim. Exclusive pictures and several snippets from
the interview can be found on his website.
(I've asked when the full interview will be available).
For more information (in Italian) about the day Coldplay stayed at
Villa Angela (Jim's Sicilian hotel) then
click here.
(Coldplay were in Siciliy to shoot their Violet Hill video).
|
24th July
Mind2Mode
|
MIND2MODE - Kurparkfest, Hamm, Germany
Saturday 26th July 2008
MIND2MODE present the music of U2, Simple Minds and Depeche Mode in one
spectacular show. Featuring all the iconic hits from 3 of the greatest live acts
on the planet, including Pride (in the Name of Love), Don't You (Forget About Me),
Just Can't Get Enough and many, many more, MIND2MODE take you on a
roller-coaster ride celebrating 3 decades of outstanding music.
This Saturday 26th July 2008 the band will perform a landmark headlining
performance at the Kurparkfest, Hamm, Germany. Taking to the stage at 22:50 and
then performing for a staggering 4 hours this is sure to be a special event.
"We've never played anything like this before," commented keyboard player
Simon Hayward. "It's going to be a real test of endurance to get through the 45
songs we plan to perform. While we have a repertoire of about 50 Simple
Minds songs we can draw upon, this gig also gives us the opportunity to lengthen
the U2 and Depeche Mode sets and try some tracks we've to date only played in
rehearsals. All the songs are very up tempo and noisy, so if you're local and
are thinking of getting an early night - forget it!!!"
To make things even more interesting, bass player Dirk Schulte will stand in
for Jacky Biermann who is currently 'on tour' in the USA!!!
"We've played with Dirk before and we have complete confidence in his
ability and leather trousers!" said frontman Steve Hempton. "Hamm has always held a
special place in the bands history and as Jacky would say, 'we will rock the
house down!'"
Further details can be found at:
www.kurparkfest.de
www.mind2mode.com
|
18th July
New Album, Glasgow Gig Support, Derek Forbes, Collection For Sale (1), Collection For Sale (2), Nelson Mandela 90th Tribute Concert, Themes
|
Simple Minds will record the tracks for their new album in Rockfield Studios, Wales,
throughout the month of August 2008.
It is bound to be a rather emotional return as Rockfield is where the band recorded some of their
fledgling and most innovative work, specifically both their second and third albums -
Real to Real Cacophony and
Empires and Dance.
With Jez Coad who co-produced the band's last album
Black and White 050505 returning to fulfill
the same duties, drummer Mel Gaynor and bassist
Eddie Duffy will join founder members
Charlie Burchill and
Jim Kerr - both of whom have spent the last few months writing
the set of new songs that are due to be recorded. Andy Gillespie
will add additional keyboards.
Legendary mixer Bob Clearmountain is set to complete the finishing work at his own Mix This
studios in Los Angeles and the album when completed will be ready for international release within the early months of 2009.
Click here for details about Simple Minds' 30th Anniversary Tour - www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/kennedy_street/simple_minds_2008_tour.htm.
And I've just noticed The Alarm are the support for the Glasgow gig.
Virtual legend Derek Forbes continues his bass-line masterclass with a video of
him performing Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel.
Do you want an instant, entire Simple Minds collection?
Kurt Meuleman is selling his entire collection as one lot. His collection consists of:
- Nearly 200 different vinyls
- More then 200 different CDs
- Includes promos, rare and very rare stuff
- Plus lots of videos, cassettes, books, tourbooks and memorabilia
This collection was started my collection in 1983 and 90% of the items are impeccable, 9% mint and 1% very slightly damaged.
He's asking 10,000 euro for the entire collection (nothing will be split) and the whole collection has to be collected from
him in Belgium.
E-mail kurt.meuleman@telenet.be for further information.
(The images below show his collection of items from the New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) era.)
David Johnson has been selling items from his collection on eBay over the last few months. He's now going to start selling the vinyl.
"with regret I will be selling the vast majority of my Simple Minds vinyl collection from 1977 - 2008.
I'm keeping some of the choice bootlegs and some 1980 - 82 autographed stuff but the rest will be appearing
on eBay or you can email me for the vinyl-only list and make some offers."
"It includes promos, bootlegs, 12" remixes, 7" singles, doublepacks, pic disks and rare items from around the world."
"The band are still 'the best live band in the world' but I no longer see the point in hoarding my
collection so I'm sure it will find good home(s) amongst other Simple Minds fans & collectors."
"Items up for grabs will be:
- Jungleland 12" test pressing
- Live In The City Of Light 5 track Canadian vinyl promo
- Catch A Wave 2x10" punk compilation 1978
- Street Fighting Years Spanish version
- Biba Rom - One Step Closer 12" remix
For serious collectors:
- New Gold Dream Class Remix - one of only 20 pressed on blue vinyl
- Gold Dream - Zimbabwe LP
- She's a River 12" promo France
- East at Easter / Alive And Kicking 7" from the Philipines
- Simplemente peru 12"
And the top rarity is the All The Things She Said/Alive And Kicking 2 x 7" UK doublepack - which is still sealed!"
Email him (prescot98@blueyonder.co.uk) for a full list of 250 vinyl
items or keep your eyes on Ebay from late August.
Videos of both Mandela Day and
Don't You (Forget About Me) from the 46664 Concert can
be found on Stuart's site.
The section on the Themes Volumes has been updated with a press review,
detals of the promo versions and further documentation.
|
4th July
Birmingham Mail Interview, Nelson Mandela 90th Tribute Concert
|
We will delight our fans with a blast from past
SCOTTISH superstars Simple Minds have a Birmingham band to thank for giving them
their big showbiz break 30 years ago.
The group's first gig was supporting Handsworth's Steel Pulse at Glasgow's Satellite
City Club on January 17, 1978.
Recalls Simple Minds' frontman Jim Kerr: "For us to get any kind of gig was a big thing.
We'd been writing and rehearsing for a few weeks and this was a chance for us to play in front of a couple
of thousand people. It set us on the right road. We went down a storm."
"Not many reggae bands played in Glasgow back then but we knew about Steel Pulse because
John Peel had been playing their Handsworth Revolution album."
"In fact, Steel Pulse were the first Rastas we'd seen - there was no West Indian community
in Glasgow." Jim, aged 47, says they got the gig, their first as Simple Minds,
because they already had a local following as a punk band.
"We'd built up a bit of a reputation as Johnny and the Self Abusers and I suppose the promoter
thought we'd sell a few extra tickets," Jim grins.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the formation of Simple Minds there are plans to make
their show at Birmingham NEC on November 28 extra special.
"We wanted to do something a wee bit different so we thought we'd pick a complete album to play in concert," explains Jim.
"New Gold Dream was our landmark album, our break-through record, so we'll be playing that from start to
finish. But there are a few songs on it that we've never played live so we need to start rehearsing!"
"It will be quite special for those who like the album but it's only a 38 minute record - and it's
a two and a half hour show, so fans will get to hear plenty of other songs."
And there may even be a song we've never heard before slipped in.
"The shows are about the past but we may put in a new one for the hell of it."
So new material is on the way but there will still be a link with the past.
Tracks are being written by Jim and guitarist Charlie Burchill with former
Simple Minds members Brian McGee, Mick McNeil and Derek Forbes.
"I don't know if they'll be on stage with us in Birmingham. What would I like to happen? I'd like the best to happen!"
*Ticket info
Simple Minds Nov 28: NEC Arena Tickets: £35, plus booking and transaction fee, from
www.theticketfactory.com or 0871 945 6000
Andy Coleman
Birmingham Mail
4th July
|
A Queen fan has prepared a torrent of the entire Nelson Mandela 90th Tribute Concert which
was recorded from the Dutch digital channel Nederland 3 (who showed the whole gig).
It's available as four separate 'DVDs' and Simple Minds are available on the third DVD.
You will need Torrent software on your computer to view it. The address of the torrent is
http://members.home.nl/mvanbokhoven/torrent/complete_46664_27-06-2008_london_concert.torrent
|
2nd July
Sons Of Dan Sampler, Themes on iTunes
|
Samples of three of the tracks Sons Of Dan (Mick,
Derek and
Brian)
have been working on have been posted to Derek's Myspace (click on
Simple Sampler) and also to Sons Of Dan Myspace.
They're just rough demos at the moment (no vocals etc.) but definintely show promise (especially the last one which has an
The American feel).
You can also hear their chilling new version of Pleasantly Disturbed.
The Themes Volumes are now available on iTunes. Be wary though: although the correct version of
This Earth That You Walk Upon is present,
the wrong version of Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) is included
(it's the album version instead of the extended version).
|
29th June
Themes
|
So far this decade, Simple Minds have done us proud. There’s been a constant stream of new albums
(Neon Lights,
Cry,
Live And Rare and
Black And White) and singles;
the band have been touring every year taking in small clubs through to arenas; remixes and oddities have surfaced from
hip Italian record companies; and they’ve even given away freebie live albums through Sunday papers.
Plus, there’s the forthcoming tour and albums to look forward to. It’s been a great time to be a fan.
Virgin Records, on the other hand, haven’t done us proud. They’ve been grappling with the Mind’s
back catalogue in a most unimaginative way, repeatedly issuing the same material in all manner of guises, and repeatedly
failing to approach their library of recordings in any intelligent way.
Silver Box and
Seen The Lights
are the exceptions, but they had their own problems.
(Incidentally the DVD-Audio remixes of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and
Once Upon A Time were completely down to
Charlie Burchill and Ronald Prent -
Virgin didn't even seen to notice they'd got something special, and the new versions were only discovered by
accident by completist die-hards like myself.)
The new Themes box set and Themes Volume Five are, unfortunately, another example of
Virgin falling wide of the mark. The bottom line is I don’t have to purchase it if I don’t want it
and I should stop moaning about it. And yet, if I don’t raise my objections and point out why such releases aren’t
desirable, then I suspect Virgin will continue issuing remasters without bonuses, worthless compilations
and endless reissues on a theme. In the end, fans will stop buying this material; not because the market for Simple Minds
isn’t there, but because the product has been so repeatedly offered.
Virgin should mark the band’s 30th anniversary by releasing a CD box set of the first ten
singles, thus clearing up a constantly ignored section of the discography and releasing several exclusive B-sides
and live tracks from vinyl purgatory. Or release a deluxe edition of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) to tie-in
with the forthcoming 30th anniversary tour. Just two ideas which would be worthy additions to fan’s collections
and would be snapped up making Virgin a tidy profit.
Virgin still have time to do us proud this decade. So, let’s hope the era of the reissues
and compilations without bonuses, exclusives, good packaging and intelligent sleeve notes is well and truly over.
Themes Volume Five
The release of the original Themes Volumes in 1990 caused quite a stir. Not only were they intelligently
compiled, beautifully packaged and well informed (through authoritative sleeve notes), they were an absolutely
necessity - as the majority of material released on 12" singles through the 1980s was still languishing on vinyl.
Fans relished the opportunity to own them on CD and many bankrupted themselves to purchase all four sets.
Whilst many of the remixes, B-sides and live recordings were appearing on this format for the first time, the CD
revolution had gradually crept into the single’s discography as the singles from Street Fighting Years
had been issued on CD. This made Volume Four a redundant reissue rather than a must-have proposition. The carrot
in this case was The Verona EP, the jewel in the Theme’s crown; an acknowledgement by
Virgin that Volume Four was lacking and needed spicing up. The tasty, unedited live versions of
three tracks catapulted Theme Four from completist-only purchase to absolute necessity.
The Themes Volumes then paused (although promising a return) as Real Life and its
associated single campaign swung into action, a set of singles completely different from its predecessors.
The lavish single packages saw multiple format releases spreading the tracks across all the formats; no longer
did we get a cheap-and-cheerful 7", some limited edition gizmo of the 7" and bonus material collected
exclusively on the 12". Virgin now saw the value in spreading the wealth ensuring almost
every format featured something different.
If Themes Volume Five was ever compiled, it would have to take that into account. Furthermore,
the dominance of the 12" was over, usurped by the CD, and both formats often shared track listings; therefore
'CD firsts' for Volume Five would be extremely rare. A dogmatic approach to the volume would’ve replicated a
series of CDs which most fans would already have. Themes Volume Five, if ever issued, was going to be tricky.
Unfortunately this is exactly what Virgin has now done. Themes Volume Five is no more than
a narrow adherence to the 12" only rule, creating a box set of incomplete recordings from the Real Life singles,
all bar one (Soul Crying Out [Live]) which fans will already have on CD. Additionally the previously abundant and informative
sleeve notes have collapsed to brief factoids, barely covering half the page. One wonders if more descriptive text would've
revealed how much was missing.
A CD of unissued material (in the same vein as the original Verona EP) would’ve transformed this set’s appeal;
but Themes Volume Five is exemplar of Virgin’s abject refusal to cater for long term fans
(witness Best Of, the album reissues,
Early Gold, Gift Pack etc.).
Silver Box
showed what the company were capable of when they set their minds to it, but such generosity (when compared with almost any
other artist on any other record company) is extremely rare when it comes to Simple Minds and Virgin.
The failure to include other bonus material from the Real Life singles means the new fan’s more likely
to search out the original CDs and pressings rather than buy an incomplete box set; the lack of any new material won’t
appeal to the long term fans who already supported the record company by purchasing everything when it was first issued.
The Virgin Records of the late 1980s was savvy enough to bend the 12" only rule, and include exclusive
material when required; it’s a pity the Virgin Records of the late 2000s is unable, or unwilling, to do
the same. Themes Volume Five is a disappointing conclusion to what started out as an extremely
desirable and interesting set of releases.
Themes Volumes One - Five Box
The lavishly packaged box with its deep lid opens to reveal the newly issued Themes Volume One through Four
and the new Volume Five. The original Themes have been lovingly replicated; the mistakes on the
original issues have been fixed (namely This Earth That You Walk Upon and
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
and the graphics on the CDs are clearer and sharper than the originals. Oddly the sleeve notes are rendered in different
colours but that’s a minor difference.
However, these Themes sets are far more flimsy, and therefore feel more fragile, than their 1990s counterparts.
The sets also unfold in a different order; a small detail but annoying after you’ve tried to fold the box back
together the wrong way several times.
The sleeve notes have been completely reproduced down to references to the original CD issues and the Theme’s fortnightly
release schedule; an opportunity to update them to refer to the remasters and expunge redundant information wasn’t taken.
Fans who missed the original Themes Volumes, and can only purchase costly, scuffed second hand originals
from eBay can now decide if Simple Minds’ most costly commercial release is worth buying. Themes One to
Four still remain as necessary as they were when originally issued, and are the only ways to build a
collection of Simple Minds' extended, remix, and obscure B-side and live material; plus, you also get
Theme Volume Five, the disappointing coda.
Everything you want to know about the Themes
|
28th June
Nelson Mandela 90th Tribute Concert, Sons Of Dan New Album, Simple Minds New Album, I Travel Bassline
|
An official 46664 Interview with Jim can be found
here. And
here's a video of last night's performance.
Meanwhile audio of Simple Minds playing Mandela Day from
yesterday's gig can be found on the
Hungarian Simple Minds website.
Derek posted a reply on his YouTube account (see the I Travel bassline link below) concerning
the band reunion: "Don't worry. Mick, Brian and myself have written 5 tracks already, and
plan to complete another 5 for an album, which should be out late this year or early next year. It is reminiscent of
"Sons and Fascination". Exactly what Simple Minds need."
In the meantime, everything known about Simple Minds' new album (which also sounds like Sons And Fascination)
can be found here (and it's worth keeping an eye on as
I usually quietly update it when snippits of information surface).
Now, this is great.
A Simple Minds fan and bass player posts a video to YouTube of the I Travel bassline:
Simple Minds, I Travel, Bassline.
This comes to the attention of Dan Yer Man who videos himself (whilst a little inebriated but it doesn't show... honest)
playing the real version: Simple Minds I Travel correct bassline.
Wonderful.
|
27th June
Nelson Mandela 90th Tribute Concert, A Message To Our Fans, Simple Minds Press Release, Mind2Mode
|
Jim,
Charlie and
Mel appeared at the Nelson Mandela 90th Concert with
the event's backing band - which was the standard set-up for all the acts as I understand. They performed
Mandela Day, backed by the Soweto Gospel Choir (to a somewhat luke-warm crowd response, but many
probably were only hearing the song for the first time) followed by a rousing performace of
Don't You (Forget About Me)
(which did get everyone up on their feet and singing).
If anyone's made a copy of Simple Minds' set then please let me know and I'll post a link up here.
"Mick MacNeil, Derek Forbes and Brian McGee, 3 of the original
Simple Minds line up, would like to take this opportunity to thank their loyal fans for the overwhelming
support shown to them since it was announced that there was to be a reunion of the former band members. Regrettably, the
lead singer, Jim Kerr, is unable to participate in the reunion. However, inspired by the encouragement
of their fans, Mick, Derek and Brian have written and produced new
material reminiscent of Sons And Fascination."
"Having thoroughly enjoyed working together again, they hope their fans will be equally delighted
with the new tracks."
"Thank you for your continued support!"
Mick MacNeil
Message posted to Mick's Myspace site at www.myspace.com/mickmacneil.
Scottish rockers Simple Minds have been busy writing new songs for their next eagerly
anticipated new studio album, and have enough material for two new albums. The band released their last
studio album Black and White 050505, three years ago but have been so inspired by recent
writing sessions in their native Glasgow, they've got more than enough quality material for a double header.
Front man Jim Kerr promises fans to expect another album after their upcoming 2009 release.
He says, "The writing sessions have somehow taken over our entire lives, but they have worked out perfectly.
I am having difficulty in remembering the last time we had such an abundance of material prior to recording.
We may even have enough songs of sufficient quality for two albums."
Kerr says the raft of new work is similar to the stack of tracks on
Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call - a double LP
set assembled from one session by the band in 1981. However the singer says he's not likely to release a
bumper double album. "There is no plan to come out with a double album as such," says Kerr. It is
entirely possible that we could release two albums within the space of a year, the first hopefully occurring
very early in the New Year. The second release thereafter, who knows?"
Jim Kerr said: "I suspect we will embark on a cycle of work that will be non stop at least
up until Christmas - with a fairly hectic year to follow.
After Simple Minds perform at the 46664 Nelson Mandela 90th birthday concert tonight in London's Hyde
Park, they'll embark on a UK arena tour to celebrate thirty years in the music. Their 30th Anniversary UK Tour
will see the band performing the entirety of their 1982 album New Gold Dream.
Simple Minds 30th Anniversary Tour Dates:
* Manchester MEN Arena - November 27th
* Birmingham NEC - November 28th
* London Wembley Arena - November 29th
* Sheffield Arena - December 1st
* Cardiff International Arena - December 2nd
* Newcastle Metro Arena - December 3rd
* Glasgow SECC -December 4th
* Belfast Odyssey Arena -December 6th
"On the eve of Simple Minds landmark performance at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Concert,
Hyde Park, London we are delighted to make available Live EP2 which topically includes 'Mandela Day'.
All tracks were recorded at the Sample Minds gig in Osnabruck March 2008 and are taken direct from the mixing desk. www.sampleminds.co.uk/audio.php
Tracks are:
LOVE SONG
SPEED YOUR LOVE TO ME
MANDELA DAY
JUNGLELAND
NEW GOLD DREAM
ROOM / CELEBRATE
We'd like to thank everyone here for their continued support and hope to see
you 'on the road' soon. "
Sample Minds
11th July 2008 - Das Parkhaus, Duisburg, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
26th July 2008 - Kurparkfest, Hamm, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
13th August 2008 - Maschseefest, Hanover, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
16th August 2008 - Cityfest, Beckum, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
17th August 2008 - Tribfest, East Yorkshire, UK
Performing as Sample Minds
30th August 2008 - Fiesta City, Verviers , Belgium
Performing as Sample Minds
29th August 2009 - NRW-Tag, Hamm , Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
|
25th June
Nelson Mandela 90th, Themes
|
Please note the last line of this press release from Noble PR (which is in bold):
"Following last week's addition of their Belfast Odyssey Arena concert, Simple Minds
have added another date to their 2008 UK 30th Anniversary Tour. Tickets for their Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
show (December 3rd), goes on sale Friday June 27th at 9am. Ticket Hotline: 0871 424 4444, Book Online: www.ticketline.co.uk.
'Simple Minds Celebrate 30 Years Live' Tour 2008
Thursday 27th November Manchester MEN Arena
Friday 28th November Birmingham NEC
Saturday 29th November Wembley Arena
Monday 1st December Sheffield Arena
Tuesday 2nd December Cardiff Arena
Wednesday 3rd December Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Thursday 4th December Glasgow SECC
Saturday 6th December Belfast Odyssey Arena
For further info about the 30th Anniversary Tour, click here -
www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/kennedy_street/simple_minds_2008_tour.htm
The anniversary tour will see Simple Minds perform the entirety of their landmark 1982 album
New Gold Dream for the very first time.
Jim Kerr will be interviewed about Simple Minds' participation in the forthcoming 46664 Nelson Mandela concert on BBC Breakfast News (BBC1 Television) on Thursday June 26th at 8:50am GMT. Don't miss it.
I'm still working on the new section devoted to the new release of the Themes Volumes. Keep checking back as I hope to get it
all online today... it's currently standing at 358 files and counting... Themes Box Sets, Themes Volumes, indivudal Themes CDs and cassettes,
promos, mispressings, press releases, original Virgin documentation, artwork and more.
|
21st June
Celebrate 30 Years Live, Wolfgang's Vault featuring Simple Minds
|
Two extra dates have been added to the Celebrate 30 Years Live Tour:
the Odyssey Arena, Belfast (on the 6th December) and the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle (on the 3rd December).
There will be a presale offering of Newcastle tickets on the 24th June through the official site. (The tickets go on general sale on
the 27th June).
Wolfgang's Vault have issued part of another Simple Minds concert. This time it's their classic
appearance at Newcastle City Hall on the 20th November 1982 (the details on the Vault site are incorrect).
The three tracks are Hunter And The Hunted
(which was released as the B-side of the Waterfront single),
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) and
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) (with the last two previously available
on the Seen The Lights DVD.)
The concert can be found here.
(The confusion over the dates stems from the original transcription disc of the show. These three tracks from the Newcastle gig
appeared on the King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast on the 24th February 1985. For further details of the broadcast,
see the radio show discography.)
|
20th June
New Version Of Mandela Day, New Gold Dream In The NME
|
A new version of Mandela Day is available in the members area
of the official site. This is the rehearsal version for the forthcoming 46664 Concert and features
Jim,
Charlie
and Mel along with the backing band and female backing vocals.
"As imagined we are immensely looking forward to the Mandela benefit that takes place
next week on the 27th of June. The chance to play our song 'Mandela Day' with the Soweto Gospel
Choir is a one off opportunity and if the recent rehearsals are anything to go by it should be
a spine tingling few minutes that will live long in our memories' - Jim
As part of their Roots (The Influences Of Your Favourite Albums) series, the NME recently reviewed
Kings Of Leon and their Because Of The Times album and suggested how
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) was influencial.
"Since the mid-'80s, of course, Scotland's most commerically successful group have been
a deliriously uncool name to drop. They're best known for that song that appeared in
The Breakfast Club, Don't You (Forget About Me) - a track even
derided by leader Jim Kerr for what he saw as over-simplistic lyrics. On the
albums that precede this one, however, they were better known - and critically acclaimed - for
off-kilter, experimental, art punk. Like the Kings, they decided that, while
being praised in the printed press was all well and good, they wanted to play stadiums, and
New Gold Dream is the tipping point, the point at which they consolidated the music
they had created before and made something more ambitious and widescreen. Whereas on the albums that
followed this they descended into the anonymous, anthemic rock, here the mix is just right - their
ambition and previous sense of adventure working side by side."
|
16th June
Nelson Mandela 90th, Fan Remixes
|
VH1 will air the star-studded concert in celebration of Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday later this month.
The network will broadcast The 46664 Concert Honoring Nelson Mandela At 90 live from Hyde Park in
London on June 27th. Academy Award-nominated actor Will Smith will
serve as VH1's on-site correspondent for the event as artists like Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis
and Annie Lennox take the stage in honor of
the iconic former South African president. The concert will be
streamed live on VH1.com via mandelaconcert.vh1.com.
Be sure to tune into a two-hour special featuring highlights from the big show on June
30th at 9 p.m. on VH1.
The concert (or part of it) will also be broadcast by ITV 1 on June 27th.
Several more fan remixes have been published:
|
7th June
Themes Volume Five, Fan Remixes, Mind2Mode
|
Several new fan remixes have appeared in the last couple of weeks.
Dreamtime has together a great extended version of She's A River which
combines the album and instrumental takes to create a new version which clocks in at 9:37.
And more remixes from JohnnyBGood:
A new 10 minute MIND2MODE promo video is now on-line: http://www.mind2mode.com/video.php.
It features the band performing:
Simple Minds:
Waterfront - Featuring Mick MacNeil!
Alive and Kicking
Depeche Mode:
Personal Jesus
Enjoy the Silence
U2:
Vertigo
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Their summer tour starts this weekend in Munster, Germany.
More stuff at www.mind2mode.com /
www.sampleminds.co.uk.
Tour Dates
1st June 2008 - Euro City Fest, Münster, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
Onstage from 7:30 to 10:00pm Citystage (Drubbel)
www.eurocityfest.de
14th June 2008 - The Highland Games, Hamm, Germany
Performing as Sample Minds
11th July 2008 - Das Parkhaus, Duisburg, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
26th July 2008 - Kurparkfest, Hamm, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
13th August 2008 - Maschseefest, Hanover, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
16th August 2008 - Cityfest, Beckum, Germany
Performing as MIND2MODE
17th August 2008 - Tribfest, East Yorkshire, UK
Performing as Sample Minds
30th August 2008 - Fiesta City, Verviers , Belgium
Performing as Sample Minds
|
28th May
Original Line-Up Reforms, Themes Volume 5
|
The original members of Simple Minds are due to work together for the first time in 27 years
when they enter a recording studio in the middle of June '08. In an event that many never thought would happen
again, Brian McGee,
Derek Forbes,
Mick McNeil,
Jim Kerr and
Charlie Burchill,
have set their aim on producing at least two new tracks that could be released
later this year.
Regarded by both Jim and
Charlie as a 'nice experiment', particularly as it falls
within their 30 year anniversary, the week-long reformation is being viewed as one of many 'let's see what happens'
ideas that they look forward to working on over the course of the next year.
Jim said "Of course I am excited with the prospect of working with the original line - up once more.
I had always believed that the day would come when we would get the opportunity to do so. The last time we worked together
was on our Sons and Fascination /
Sister Feelings Call album, featuring songs like
The American,
Themes for Great Cities,
Love Song etc, and it is still
considered by many as among our best ever work. We have a lot to live up to, but we intend to have some fun
attempting to do just that."
Visit www.simpleminds.com for more news regarding the June recording sessions.
Click on the following link for details of Simple Minds 30th Anniversary UK tour dates:
www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/kennedy_street/simple_minds_2008_tour.htm
VIRGIN/EMI RECORDS NEW CATALOGUE RELEASE
SIMPLE MINDS
'Themes' 25 CD Box Set
Release date: 23 June 2008
"Stunning Box set documenting the band's developing sound, ideas and ideals through the
music and design of their classic 12" single releases.""
Simple Minds – Themes is the sumptuous 25 CD Box set of the 4 x 5 CD original
Themes - Volumes 1-5 : March 79 - September 92 digi boxes, plus
Themes - Volume 5 : March 91 - September 92, an additional 5 CD digi box.
The 5 x 5 CD digi boxes are all packaged together in one 2mm thick lift off lid box.
‘Themes Volumes 1 – 4’ were originally released in 1990 and deleted in 1993 with each Box
containing 5 CDs of the 12" Simple Minds singles with additional tracks from
singles and albums. The newly compiled 5th box contains 5 x CDs of 12" releases post 1990.
The 5th 5CD digi box will also be available individually so fans can buy just the 5th
set if they already own 1-4.
The artwork for sets 1-4 is all re-created from the original ‘Themes’ volumes incorporating
details from the original 12" designs. Volume 5 will be an appropriate new addition
to the Themes artwork scheme.
All classic Simple Minds tracks are included in the series, highlights including I Travel,
Love Song, Waterfront, Alive & Kicking, Don’t You (Forget About Me)...
all fantastic, era-defining extended versions.
Each Themes Volume will also be made available digitally.
Here is the full tracklisting of the 25 CDs:
Themes (Volume 01)
THEME 01
01. I Travel (Extended Remix (6.20)
Originally from the album Empires & Dance
02. Celebrate (5.06)
Taken from the Album Empires & Dance
03. Film Theme (2.25)
Taken from the Album Real To Real Cacophony
THEME 02
01. The American (Extended Remix) (6.59)
Originally from the Album Sister Feelings Call
02. League Of Nations (5.00)
Taken from the Album Sister Feelings Call
03. Sound In 70 Cities (5.04)
Taken from the Album Sister Feelings Call
THEME 03
01. Love Song (5.05)
Taken from the Album Sons & Fascination
02. This Earth That You Walk Upon (5.26) *
Taken from the Album Sons & Fascination
03. Life In A Day (4.00)
Taken from the Album Life In A Day
THEME 04
01. Sweat In Bullet (Extended Remix) (6.59)
Additional Production & Remix By Peter Walsh.
Original Version on the Album Sons & Fascination
02. 20th Century Promised Land (4.55)
Taken from the Album Sister Feelings Call
03. League Of Nations (6.15)
Recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, 25.09.81.
04. In Trance As Mission (7.21)
Recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, 25.09.81.
THEME 05
01. Promised You A Miracle (Extended Version) (4.49)
Originally from the Album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
02. Theme For Great Cities (5.51)
Taken from the Album Sister Feelings Call
03. Seeing Out The Angel (Instrumental Remix) (6.32)
Additional Production & Remix By Ian Caple.
Themes (Volume 02)
THEME 06
01. Glittering Prize (Club Mix) (4.59)
Originally from the Album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
02. New Gold Dream (12" Remix) (6.52)
Originally from the Album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
03. Glittering Prize (Extended Theme) (4.59)
THEME 07
01. Someone Somewhere In Summertime (4.35) *
Taken from the Album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
02. King Is White & In The Crowd (Session Version) 5.12)
Recorded at Maida Vale Studios, London, 11.02.82 for
The David Jensen Radio 1 Show.
03. Soundtrack For Every Heaven (4.57)
THEME 08
01. Waterfront (Extended Version) (5.50)
Originally from the Album Sparkle In The Rain
Additional Production & Remix By Steve Lillywhite.
02. Hunter & The Hunted (6.00)
Recorded Live at the City Hall, Newcastle, 20.11.82.
03. "C" Moon Cry Like A Baby (4.23)
Taken from the Album Sparkle In The Rain
THEME 09
01. Speed Your Love To Me (Extended Version) (7.29)
Originally from the Album Sparkle In The Rain
Additional Production & Remix By Steve Lillywhite.
02. Speed Your Love To Me (Single Edit) (3.59)
Originally from the Album Sparkle In The Rain
03. Bassline (4.35)
THEME 10
01. Don't You Forget About Me (Extended Version) (6.32)
02. Up On The Catwalk (Extended Version) (7.34)
Originally from the Album Sparkle In The Rain
Additional Production & Remix By Steve Lillywhite.
03. A Brass Band In African Chimes (9.22)
Themes (Volume 03)
THEME 11
01. Alive & Kicking (5.25)
Taken from the Album Once Upon A Time
02. Alive & Kicking (Instrumental Version) (6.01)
03. Up On The Catwalk (5.37)
Recorded Live, Barrowlands, Glasgow, 05.01.85
Mixed & Engineered By Frank Filipetti.
THEME 12
01. Sanctify Yourself (Extended Remix) (7.09)
Originally from the Album Once Upon A Time
Additional Production & Remix By Jay Burnett.
02. Sanctify Yourself (Instrumental Remix) (6.10)
Additional Production & Remix By Jay Burnett.
03. Love Song (5.41)
Recorded Live, The Ahoy, Rotterdam, 03.12.85.
04. Street Hassle (Live) (7.25)
Recorded Live, The Ahoy, Rotterdam, 03.12.85.
THEME 13
01. All The Things She Said (Extended Remix) (5.09)
Originally from the Album Once Upon A Time
02. Promised You A Miracle (US Club Mix) (5.57)
Additional Production & Remix By Steve Thompson.
03. Don't You Forget About Me (9.05)
Recorded Live, The Ahoy, Rotterdam, 03.12.85
THEME 14
01. Ghost Dancing (Extended Remix) (6.58)
Additional Production & Remix By Zeus B Held.
Original Version on the Album Once Upon A Time
02. Ghost Dancing (Instrumental Version) (4.55)
03. Jungleland (Extended Remix) (6.55)
Additional Production & Remix By Zeus B Held.
Original Version on the Album Once Upon A Time
04. Jungleland (Instrumental Version) (6.09)
THEME 15
01. Promised You A Miracle (4.55)
Taken from the Album Live In The City Of Light
Recorded Live, Le Zenith, Paris, 12.08.86.
02. Book Of Brilliant Things (4.54)
Taken from the Album Live In The City Of Light
Recorded Live, Le Zenith, Paris, 12.08.86.
03. Glittering Prize (4.34)
Recorded Live, Barrowlands Ballroom, Glasgow, 05.01.85.
04. Celebrate (5.49)
Recorded Live, Barrowlands Ballroom, Glasgow, 05.01.85.
Themes (Volume 04)
THEME 16
01. Belfast Child (6.45)
Taken from the Album Street Fighting Years
02. Mandela Day (5.45)
Taken from the Album Street Fighting Years
03. Biko (7.32)
Taken from the Album Street Fighting Years
THEME 17
01. This Is Your Land (6.17)
Taken from the Album Street Fighting Years
02. Saturday Girl (6.10)
03. Year Of The Dragon (3.05)
THEME 18
01. Kick It In (6.05)
Taken from the Album Street Fighting Years
02. Waterfront (Steve Lillywhite '89 Mix) (5.29)
Additional Production & Remix By Steve Lillywhite.
03. Big Sleep (6.35)
Recorded Live at The Point, Dublin in Rehearsals, April 1989.
04. Kick It In (Unauthorised Mix) (7.04)
Additional Production & Remix By Trevor Horn.
THEME 19
01. Sign O' The Times (5.35)
02. Let It All Come Down (4.58)v
Taken from the Album Street Fighting Years
03. Sign O The Times (CJ MacKintosh Remix) (6.15)
Additional Production & Remix By CJ MacKintosh.
04. Jerusalem (2.59)
THEME 20
01. Street Fighting Years (10.02)
02. Mandela Day (8.15)
03. Kick it In (6.47)
Recorded Live, L'Arena, Verona, 15.09.89.
Featured in the concert film Verona
Themes (Volume 05)
THEME 21
Let There Be Love - Extended Mix
Goodnight
Let There Be Love - 7" Mix
Alive And Kicking - Live
THEME 22
See The Lights - 12" Version
Theme For Great Cities '91
Soul Crying Out - Live
THEME 23
Stand By Love
King Is White And In The Crowd - Live
Let There Be Love - Live
THEME 24
Real Life - Edit
See The Lights - Live
Belfast Child - Live
THEME 25
Love Song - Extended Remix
Love Song - Live
Travelling Man - Live
Oh Jungleland - Live
Alive And Kicking – Live
Cat No: SMTBOX1
"Although this is Virgin press release, the listings for Themes Volumes One to Four are all taken from
simpleminds.com. As simpleminds.com describes the original Themes Volumes as released, it also includes the incorrect versions of
This Earth That You Walk Upon (Theme 3) and Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) (Theme 6). Therefore I have contacted Virgin
to determine whether these reissues feature the correct version or not."
"Themes Volume 5 is a reissue of the band's 12" singles from the Real Life era on CD. It offers nothing new for the fans who've
already collected all the releases from this period." - Simon.
|
26th May
Daily Mirror, Themes Volumes
|
Still Going For Gold
Simple Minds' Jim Kerr Reflects On The Band's 30-Year Career
It is 30 years since Glaswegian teenagers Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill formed Simple Minds.
In the years since, they have scaled the heights of international success with classic albums such as New Gold Dream and anthems
like Belfast Child, Don’t You (Forget About Me) and Promised You A Miracle.
Offstage, Kerr married twice, having one child each with fellow rock star Chrissie Hynde and actress
Patsy Kensit.
Now single and living in Sicily these past 10 years where he runs a hotel, Kerr, 48, recalls that initially,
it wasn’t the fame, money or even the music that attracted him to a life in rock.
“The first gig I saw was Genesis with Peter Gabriel on the Foxtrot tour,” recalls Jim.
“We had a seat right behind the mixing desk and before the band came on we were sitting waiting."
“The crowd was getting ready, the excitement was palpable, but the most impressive thing was that the guy on the mixing desk – who wasn’t
exactly good looking – had this woman with him who had the best ass I’d ever seen." I just thought, ‘If he can get a girl like that, I want
to be involved in this music thing’.”
The punk explosion later gave the young Kerr the confidence to take to the stage.
“Punk almost burned itself out in 1977,” he says, “but the legacy of the great albums, such as those by Magazine, Television
and Patti Smith, lasted."
“We had no idea how long it was going to last. We were living in the moment full of cheap wine and speed.”
On their first tour, supporting Magazine, Simple Minds felt in awe of the headliners.
But by 1982 they had recorded their abiding masterpiece, New Gold Dream.
Featuring the singles Glittering Prize and the classic Promised You A Miracle, the album, which
the band will play in its entirety on their 30th Anniversary winter tour, showed how far they’d travelled in just four years – from
Glasgow street punks to world-beating arena fillers.
“Music was the only thing we wanted to do,” smiles Jim. “I was really lucky to be in a band where everyone had tons of ideas. We
always had a lot of imagination but it wasn’t until New Gold Dream that we really became ourselves."
"It was an album that was poppy enough to be played alongside the great records of that year, yet at the same time it fitted alongside
The Bunnymen and The Cure.”
The album’s striking title was taken from the headline on a magazine review for that year’s hit art-house movie, Fitzcarraldo.
“Our previous albums had a darkness,” Jim admits. “Travelling through Europe at that time there was the Red Brigade in Italy and
the neo-Nazis in Germany. We passed through Paris and a bomb had just gone off in a synagogue – it all made a big impression.
New Gold Dream was a new dawn.”
The Minds had quickly outgrown the primitive ethic of punk, putting a premium on musical excellence.
“I remember one time waiting at the side of the stage while the DJ played Donna Summer’s I Feel Love,” Kerr
continues. “I’d never heard anything like it. It was like The Velvet Underground doing disco and she was singing in an
Arabic scale."
“We went, ‘Punk’s finished!’ and shot off to find the only guy in Glasgow with a synthesiser to join our band. I assume the guys
in New Order had a similar experience.”
Twenty-six years after New Gold Dream, the Minds have survived. They’ve weathered line-up changes and fluctuations
in popularity, although their last album, 2005’s Black And White 050505, received their best reviews in a decade.
“Looking back, there was a sacking of one guy that was harsh,” Jim reflects. “Probably something stupid like he had a
better-looking girlfriend than everyone else. I feel bad about that."
“I probably haven’t been the easiest to work with. Not because I was trying to rule the roost, but I was always pushing. I always thought there
was more there. I was a bit anti-social and I had lead singeritis. You have to, really. In every great band there was always one star.”
Kerr is happy to admit that, for him, the finest period in the band’s career came with the No 1 single Belfast Child in
February 1989.
“I was in Nice the other week,” he recalls, “and I had a flashback passing the pretty cheapskate hotel where we were staying when we got the
call that the song was No 1 in America." [With Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simon.]
“I was alone at the time and wanted to celebrate, but I didn’t know anyone. So I went into the bar and said, ‘Free drinks for everyone’.
"People wondered what this guy was on, but if you don’t celebrate that, what are you going to celebrate?”
Although struggling with the ageing process, Kerr doesn’t regard his old success as a birthright.
“How dare we ask for more?” he says. “We’ve been treated so well. It would be obnoxious to ask for more.
"Of course you can relate when you hear old rockers complain that they can’t get their records on the radio. But you dare not
say the same thing yourself – we’ve had such a good run.”
The Simple Minds 30th Anniversary tour starts on November 27 at Manchester MEN Arena.
Gavin Martin
Daily Mirror
May 23rd 2008
|
I'm currently working on the Themes Volumes for Dream Giver Redux in preparation for the forthcoming release of the
Themes Box Set and Themes Volume Five.
This will include all the cassette single versions of the Themes which were issued in 1991. However, I'm missing a few and need
scans of the sleeves. The ones missing are The American (THEMC 2),
All The Things She Said (THEMC 13),
Promised You A Miracle Live (THEMC 15) and
The Ballad Of The Streets EP (THEMC 16). Any scans of these would be
most welcome for the website. Thanks!
|
22nd May
Wolfgang's Vault featuring Simple Minds
|
Want to hear a great concert by Simple Minds from the Sparkle In The Rain tour?
Wolfgang's Vault, the owners of the King Biscuit Flower Hour archive,
have just released a classic Simple Minds show from the vaults. Recorded in Irvington, New Jersey on the
27th May 1984, this is the 'classic' line-up in full flow, performing tracks from New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and
Sparkle In The Rain with a confident, dynamic punch.
This Simple Minds concert can be heard here in
crystal clear quality (newly restored from the original King Biscuit master tape). Many of the songs have different extended
arrangements and it's a joy to hear again in this form again.
- Track listing:
- Book Of Brilliant Things
- Glittering Prize
- The American
- Speed Your Love To Me
- King Is White And In The Crowd
- Promised You A Miracle
- Waterfront
- New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
Great stuff!
(Take the write-up on the site with a pinch of salt though. This is definintely not a Once Upon A Time gig.)
|
18th May
Jim Kerr Interview, Themes Volume Five, Neon Lights/Cry
|
A major interview with Jim Kerr will be published in the
Daily Mirror newspaper on Friday May 23rd in The Ticket entertainment supplement.
Better news concerning Themes Volume Five. Two versions will be sold: Theme Volume Five (which will be of interest
for those who've already got the other volumes) and the Themes Volumes Boxset (which is all five volumes packaged together in
a large box).
I still don't know the tracklisting but here's hoping Virgin do find something exclusive and new for it.
It looks like Eagle have put together a double-pack release of their two Simple Minds albums.
Neon Lights and
Cry are being released as a double on the 26th May 2008 (Eagle EAGCD 388). Again, no track listing yet,
and it's only appeared on the Scanadinavian music website Playground Music so far.
|
14th May
Deacon Blue
|
Simple Minds confirm very special guests 'Deacon Blue'
To add further excitement to Simple Minds highly anticipated 30th Anniversary tour, the
band has just confirmed Deacon Blue as very special guests. Deacon Blue will
perform all concerts with the exception of the Glasgow SECC on 4th December. Simple Minds will
perform New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) in its entirety for the very first time.
Simple Minds' National Credit Card Hotline: 0871 424 4444, Book Online - www.ticketline.co.uk
Thurs Nov 27th - Manchester MEN Arena
Fri Nov 28th - Birmingham NEC
Sat Nov 29th - London Wembley Arena
Mon Dec 1st - Sheffield Arena Tuesday
Tues Dec 2nd - Cardiff International Arena
Thurs Dec 4th - *Glasgow SECC (*does not include Deacon Blue)
With six million album sales under their belt, Deacon Blue's first album Raintown set the precedent,
spending 77 weeks in the album chart, and with five top 5 UK albums (of which 2 were number 1) under their belts
they have chalked up an impressive 4 years in the British album charts. Their seventeen top 40 singles resided
in the chart for more than 2 years. June 9th sees the band release their new DVD Live, filmed during their
sell-out 2007 European tour and featuring their biggest hits including Dignity, Real Gone Kid,
Wages Day and Chocolate Girl.
For the full Simple Minds Tour press release, click here.
For further information and photos, please contact Tracy Gosling, Will Taylor and Pete Noble @
Noble PR.
|
7th May
Nelson Mandela 90th
|
Simple Minds will be appearing at the
46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela At 90 on the 27th June 2008 in Hyde Park, London.
The three hour concert includes Queen And Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox,
Leona Lewis, Razorlight, The Sugarbabes and others.
The number of tickets is limited to 46,664 and go on general sale on the 9th May. Keep checking the
46664 Website for further information.
|
28th April
Times Online
|
Jim was interviewed by The Times a week ago. The on-line interview can be found
here (Times Online).
|
27th April
The Proms
|
A short video of the first minute of the Don't You (Forget About Me) finale can be
downloaded here.
Photos of the event can also be found on the official Proms website.
|
26th April
Some Sweet Day 2008, The Proms, The Great Big Scottish Songbook
|
"Twenty Years after Simple Minds was first a part of
the WBWC Summer Marathons, and ten years since the
event known as Some Sweet Day took the airwaves....
We're happy to announce that Simple Minds are a part
of the 2008 Summer Marathon Series at WBWC Radio in
Cleveland Ohio. The 18 hour event starts at 7am EST
USA on Thursday August 28th, 2008. Aaron Burke and I
will again host the musical travels of The Minds,
including all the recent live materials, SILVER BOX,
BLACK AND WHITE 050505, and the rest of the great
Minds catalog. We're working on some unique giveaways
and interviews...more information to come.
Listeners away from Cleveland can hear us online (real
audio 8 and above) at the station website www.wbwc.com
The site contains a complete marathons listing, airing
every Thursday starting May 1st.
Please join us as we celebrate (over!) thirty years of
Simple Minds - we'll see you then! " - Todd Richards
Carlos has sent in some pictures from last night's Proms concert:
This new compilation from EMI (released on the 26th May), The Great Big Scottish Songbook is a
celebration of Scottish music. Simple Minds are represented across its five CDs by
Alive And Kicking,
Don't You (Forget About Me),
Promised You A Miracle (twice?),
Belfast Child and
Sanctify Yourself.
For more details, see play.com.
|
23rd April
The Proms, Discography Updates
|
There's been many surprises at this year's Proms.
A special Simple Minds Suite has been composed to mark the band's 30th anniversary. This medley of their
popular single releases is played in the first act before Jim and Charlie
come onstage for the second act. And whilst
Belfast Child and
Alive And Kicking will be familar to the Proms audience,
Sanctify Yourself
and All The Things She Said
have now joined the set for the first time in full orchestrial versions.
The traditional sing-a-long at the end (where all the artists appear together) has also got a Simple Minds' twist;
this year it's Don't You (Forget About Me).
Some photos taken from the first concerts at Charleroi can be seen here (many thanks to Stef).
Clicking on the flyer on the left plays some older Proms footage of Jim and
Charlie performing
Don't You (Forget About Me) (which was recorded during the 1997 shows).
One of the oddest Simple Minds releases has to be a release that doesn't feature Simple Minds.
Original Versions Of Songs Covered By Simple Minds was the bright idea of someone working at Eagle Germany. This
limited CDR promo features the orginal versions of the songs. A numbered run of 25 copies were produced, but the project ran
into trouble with copyright problems.
It's now in the discography but has to be one of the rarest, and oddest, Simple Minds releases out there.
Many thanks to Clif for the scans.
|
18th April
The Proms, Themes, BBC Merseyside Interview, Johnny And The Self Abusers, Simple Minded Part One, Remixes, Discography Updates
|
The Proms kick off tonight in Charleroi, Belgium. Any pictures, set-lists and write-ups for this
news page would be most appreciated.
Some lucky fans already got a sneak preview when they won a competition to see some of the rehearsals.
Competition winners with Charlie
Sheet music for the forthcoming Simple Minds Suite which will be debuted tonight.
More pictures taken at the rehearsals can be found at
www.flickr.com/photos/facesugar and
The Proms website.
Thanks to Jean-Pierre De Mol & Maaike Jacobs.
From the record company that gave you The Best Of,
Early Gold,
Seen The Lights - Live In Verona
and Gift Pack (can you see where this one's going?) Virgin proudly present the Themes 25-CD Box Set
so you can purchase the SAME recordings you originally bought back in 1990, plus a bonus set of discs
you probably ready have.
The blurb issued by Virgin's We-Don't-Have-A-Clue department reads: "Documenting the band's
developing sound, ideas and ideals through the music and design of their classic 12" single releases. Simple Minds - Themes
is the sumptuous 25 CD Box set of the 4 x 5 CD original Themes Volumes Digi boxes plus Themes Volume 5, an additional
5 CD digi box. The 5 x 5 CD digi boxes are all packaged together in one 2mm thick lift off lid box. Themes Volumes 1 - 4
were originally released in 1990 and deleted in 1993 with each Box containing 5 CDs of the 12" Simple Minds
singles with additional tracks from singles and albums. The newly compiled 5th box contains 5 x CDs of 12"
releases post 1990."
This is doubly stupid when you consider how fans are still waiting for the early singles and B-sides to be transferred to CD, a format which is now being
openly discussed by the record industry as "ancient" and "nearing retirement" as DVDs, downloads and memory sticks are being considered
the new big thing.
Meanwhile in the vaults, the original master tapes for the early forgotten singles continue to shed oxide
and quietly disintegrate.
Anyway, this deluxe box of recordings you've already got will be released on the 25th June and cost about £115. Bargain! And
I'm now going to listen to Special View on scratchy old vinyl and long for the day it gets transferred to CD - I've only
been waiting about 23 years so far.
As part of the continuing tour promotion, Jim was interviewed by Bully Butler on BBC Radio Merseyside last
week. Did anyone hear it or grab a copy? He also interviewed on BBC Radio Sheffield so the promo for the tours is
continuing.
The 84 Tigers website published a piece on Johnny And The Self Abusers
at the beginning of the month. Originally an piece in Real Groove Magazine, the article includes one or two quotes I've not read before, so it's definintely worth
a look.
"After taking a break for several months, the Simple Minded blog is now kickstarted again with a fantastic new
version of Someone Somewhere in Summertime. The keyboards / bass / vocals are by Christophe Avril [France] with
guitars from Pete Simcoe [UK]. To download this track please go to http://fascinations.wordpress.com.
There should be more collaborations like this in the near future and Pete Simcoe is bringing out a new collection
of original material with a 'Simple Minds' feel available for download in mid May featuring collaborations with
Simon Hayward of Sample Minds. This will be available from www.simcoe.co.uk".
And JohnnyBGood is still on a roll:
I've added several new bits-and-pieces to the discography. Some are rare, others not so:
|
24th March
Interview And Competition, Remixes, Trace Elements
|
After polling for questions on the Simple Minds Mailing List,
Richard from Remember The Eighties
put them to Jim. His interview can be found here.
You can also win two tickets to see the band at Wembley Arena on November 29th,
meet the band and receive an autographed copy of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84). Three
runners up will received a signed copy of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84). The competition
details can be found here (click on the animated
competition graphic), it closes on the 7th April (and be sure to read the small print!)
JohnnyBGood has put several more remixes together:
Just when you think you've got the Simple Minds discography sorted out, something always turns up to upset the apple cart!
Recently collector Paul picked up an Arabella new release advert for forthcoming Arista
releases in 1982. On the page is an advert for the forthcoming new compilation from Simple Minds called Trace Elements.
Obviously it never quite happened this way, and the eventual release was Celebration.
Does anyone know anything about this? It would be interesting to know if Trace Elements ever made it past a description in
an advert.
For more background, plus a scan of the entire advert, see the Celebration page. I've also
uploaded two previously unpublished photographs from the photo session in the greenhouse which was used on the back of the Celebration sleeve. These
can be seen here (scroll down to the bottom).
Many thanks to Paul for the scan.
|
15th March
Further Media Interviews, American Idol, Remixes, Ashes To Ashes
|
Interviews with Jim have appeared in the following papers:
Simple Minds were briefly represented on American Idol when
Michael Johns sang Don't You (Forget About Me).
His performance can be seen on YouTube.
More remixes from JohnnyBGood for your collection:
Due to the excitment of the tour announcements this one almost slipped through the net. It's definintely noteworthy
as it's not often that Simple Minds' music appears on primetime BBC.
I Travel backed a car case during
epsiode five of Ashes To Ashes. Set in 1981, the programme uses the
contemporary music of the time as a soundtrack. As Dexy's Midnight Runners, OMD
and Roxy Music have all appeared more than once, here's hoping they use another Simple Minds
track in another episode. Love Song perhaps? "Let's fire up the Quattro!."
|
12th March
Further Media Interviews
|
Jim has been interviewed by several local BBC radio stations as part of
the promotion for the new gigs.
BBC Southern Counties: The interview was broadcast yesterday but should
be available as a stream.
BBC Radio Bristol: Jim is due to be on-air this afternoon.
BBC Radio Devon: The interview is due to be broadcast on Friday.
Also an interview is due to be printed with Jim in the Glasgow Evening
Times this Friday.
|
10th March
Further Contact Details, Billy Sloan Interview, Tour Dates 2008, Talk Sport Interview
|
For further ticketline phone numbers and websites, check out the Noble PR
page for the tour. It'll definintely be worth keeping an eye on this site in case of further announcements.
Jim was interviewed by Billy Sloan
on Radio Clyde last night. The interview consisted of two parts: the first with Billy Sloan
asking general questions about the forthing tour and the second part
where Billy asked questions from the audience who'd e-mailed in.
Some new, interesting facts were revealed:
- The line-up for the arena gigs isn't finalised. It's definitely going to be Jim,
Charlie and Mel. The final decision hasn't been made yet as the gigs are still
some time off.
- Writing and rehearsing for the new album has started. However, nothing will appear until next year.
- Someone has been in touch from the organisers of the Mandela 90th Birthday concert. Again, it was early days,
and Jim couldn't confirm whether Simple Minds would appear or not.
Below is a rough summary of the interview:
Audio: Changeling
BS: When Simple Minds started, could you imagine that it would even last six
months, let along thirty years?
JK: We're in two minds about the thirty years (and I wrote about this subject on the official site).
Is it a big deal? If you're Neil Young or David Bowie then they probably still think
we're wet behind the ears! But, on the human side, thirty years is a big deal.
BS: What do you remember of your first gig?
JK: We were fraught. Although Johnny And The Self Abusers had such a short lifespan,
there were quite a few people waiting to see our next move. The last Abusers gig was in November,
then there were six or seven weeks writing and rehearsing in a freezing factory in the Gorbals, Glasgow, which
continued all the way through Christmas. You could tell from day one that it was more cohesive and serious [than
the Abusers) with songs like Pleasantly Distrubed and Someone coming up.
JK: However, the jury's still out on that first gig! But we were so bitten playing live after the
Abusers, we wanted to see the public reaction. I also remember duing the gig thinking
"this is working". It felt really great, the really right things to do.
BS: You always seemed a reluctant performer. Being behind the microphone last place looked like
being the last place you wanted to be.
JK: I disagree. We had a real strong identity. The band were very hypnotic, it drew you in.
There was the "look" and also the determination: how we looked, how we played, there was a confidence. It meant
so much to us. During the day before I'd be fraught, but on stage and listening to the music playing,
the confidence would grow as the set progressed.
BS: What's the line-up for the 30th anniversary?
JK: Charlie and Mel for sure. However, the gigs are still a wee
bit away and Simple Minds have had many line-ups. And we'll get to that. But the set
is unique as we'll play our landmark album, New Gold Dream, in its entirity. I think that will work
really well.
BS: Could've chosen Empires And Dance, Sparkle In The Rain or
Street Fighting Years for instance. Why pick New Gold Dream?
JK: Every time you see that period, or epoch being singled out, New Gold Dream is
mentioned. It lives in its own sphere. Even people who never followed the band closely are fond of, or praise the
album. It was one of the albums of a generation; along with albums by the Bunnymen, The Cure and
of course U2.
Audio: New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
BS: You've played so many gigs in different places. Which are best: the big stadiums or the smaller venues?
JK: We enjoyed them all. The stadium ones bring a different kind of pressure. They're as
much about the audience as about the band. But we also enjoy playing the smaller venues - we played King Tuts recently.
BS: Has any gig stuck out?
JK: So many have stood out. But, some might say its obvious, but the Mandela Concert was
something else. I saw an old interview with Mandela earlier today, recorded just after he'd been
released and it brought it all back. For some reason, that stands out.
BS: You played the first gig before he was released. And you appeared in the second when he was there.
JK: The first show - I don't think anyone would've dreamed he'd be back in such a short space
of time, for another event.
BS: Are you part of new event?
JK: Someone has been in touch. I don't know anything else about it. It's nice that they got
in touch though.
BS: If you could be any front man, and sing one song of another band, what would it be?
JK: Great question! You're not allowed to say The Beatles are you? The Who!
I think The Who get better live every time. We did a couple of gigs with The Rolling Stones -
they are now much better than when we played with them ten years ago. It's no surprise I picked these bands - these
were the bands we grew up with. [Long pause] The Pussycat Dolls? [Laughs]
BS: Is there going to be a new album?
JK: We are working on it. We're in the period of writing and recording. But nothing will appear this year.
BS: Of all the Simple Minds albums, which is your favourite?
JK: You mentioned Empires And Dance - there's a period Empires And Dance,
Sons And Fascination, New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) - the music Charlie,
Mick and Derek were coming up with was so expansive, with so many different styles
... anything from that period is my favourite.
BS: How do you define your bond with Charlie?
JK: There isn't one thing - it's one of the magic things. Often you have best friends at school,
but you grow apart, you move away - but in Charlie and my case, the main thing has been the
music and there is this great friendship. Is it always sweetness and light? By an large it is - (although before the
soundcheck in Glasgow [for the Black And White tour] we were having a row) - but Charlie's been there
for every period of my life. I can't remember the period before Charlie.
BS: What's it going to be like in front of the home audience?
JK: There will be so many there who've waited so long and taken the long journey with us. But we
do have the ability to take a few minutes before a show and treat every gig like it's the only one on the tour;
but for the home gig the human side will take over and it'll be emotional.
Audio: Celebrate
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To recap, these are Simple Minds current tour plans:
Night Of The Proms
18/04/08 Spiroudome, Charleroi, Belgium
19/04/08 Spiroudome, Charleroi, Belgium
25/04/08 Pabellon Fuente de San Luis, Valencia, Spain
26/04/08 Plaza De Toros, Benidorm, Spain
24/10/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
25/10/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
30/10/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
31/10/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
01/11/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
06/11/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
07/11/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
08/11/08 Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium
14/11/08 Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands
15/11/08 Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
19/11/08 Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
20/11/08 Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
21/11/08 Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
22/11/08 Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Celebrate 30 Years Live
27/11/08 Manchester MEN Arena
28/11/08 Birmingham NEC
29/11/08 London Wembley Arena
01/12/08 Sheffield Arena
02/12/08 Cardiff Arena
04/12/08 Glasgow SECC
Jim also appeared on Talk Sport radio chatting to
Alan Brazil. The ten minute interview can be found
online here
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6th March
Virgin Radio Interview
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As part of the tickets promotion, Jim was interviewed by Virgin Radio DJ
Ben Jones last night during his evening show.
Ben was confusing the issue somewhat by repeatedly stating the band were "reforming" for
their 30th anniversary. Therefore was quickly clarified with Jim confirming the band
had played a world tour and released a studio album in the last three years, so these gigs were a celebration
of the group's 30th anniversary.
The importance of having a large back catalogue was stressed: "It's fortunate to have that catalogue,
we need the songs to give us a sense of that journey [through the years]. And a lot of people have come with us.
It would be weird not to play those songs."
Jim outlined the format of the arena shows: "It will be split into two. The first part will be the
whole New Gold Dream album. Then during the second part, we'll
flip through the whole journey playing songs from every album."
Other questions included career highlights, the band's memories of America (Jim cited landing in
New York for the first time, being overhelmed by the views of Manhattan as they drove towards the city, and turning on
the radio to hear their record being played), support acts for the arena shows (so many artists they'd like, but no decision
yet) and the pressures of playing home shows.
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5th March
Simple Minds Celebrate 30 Years Live, Night Of The Proms
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Pre-pre-sale tickets are available NOW through the members area of
simpleminds.com.
Simple Minds are now confirmed for Benidorm, 26th April as part of the
Night Of The Proms.
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3rd March
Simple Minds Celebrate 30 Years Live
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Simple Minds Celebrate 30 Years Live TOUR November & December 2008
Thursday 27th November: Manchester MEN Arena
Friday 28th November: Birmingham NEC
Saturday 29th November: Wembley Arena
Monday 1st December: Sheffield Arena
Tuesday 2nd December: Cardiff Arena
Thursday 4th December: Glasgow SECC
There will be a special simpleminds.com ticket "pre-pre-sale" on Wednesday
the 5th of March. (Time to be announced).
This link will be accessed via the MEMBERS AREA of simpleminds.com, so
you'll need to have registered and have a verified email address to gain
access. Members will be e-mailed regarding this tomorrow if possible.
The TicketLine pre-sale happens on Thursday 6th and general release will be Friday
the 7th.
These will be the only Simple Minds shows this year. (Jim and
Charlie may do other shows e.g. Night of the Proms
but these will not feature the full band).
Note: The one-off Email Verification Process happens when you first try to access
the MEMBERS AREA. It involves receiving an automatic email from
simpleminds.com and then clicking the special link contained in the email to
become verified.
The two most common problems when trying to verify:
- The auto email is caught in the members Spam filter so the member doesn't
receive the mail. [So check your Spam filter!]
- The auto email is delayed so the member trys again. This means more than
one verification mail eventually arrives. [Always click the link in the
latest verification email as the entrance code is reset every time you try!]
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3rd March
Live Bundle 7, Remixes, Don't You (Forget About Me) single, Sample Minds
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Live Bundle 7 continues the themes started
in the previous bundle: it includes three live tracks recoded at Edinburgh at the end of the
Black And White tour along with
two "mini-documentaries" shot as the band prepared for the
Lisbon Lions gig.
The Lisbon Lions video features the entire live uninterrupted version of
Alive And Kicking from the gig itself.
Whilst the Rehearsals Part Two video
features footage of the band rehearsing Dirty Old Town,
Sanctify Yourself and
Alive And Kicking (along with some great
humourous dialogue from Eddie
as he argues who can overrule who in the band rankings!).
It's the usual mix of live material and some very interesting interviews (including the relevation of the
worst live version of Love Song ever).
Available now from simpleminds.com.
JohnnyBGood has put together some more remixes:
Here's something seriously offbeat for the collectors. Whilst Fiat's use of Don't You (Forget About Me) as
backing for their latest Punto advert was mentioned (see the news of 12th September 2006), no-one realised that a limited number of CDs were
pressed up to promote the event.
Full details of this rare (and now extremely sought after) promo can be found here.
Sample Minds recently played the Tatort, Ubach Palenberg, Germany, which included the debut
of Cynical Heart.
The set-list was:
Book Of Brilliant Things
Promised You A Miracle
Home
Up On The Catwalk
Hypnotised
Love Song
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
Ghostdancing - Gloria
Gloria (again by popular demand)
Don't You (Forget About Me)
Theme For Great Cities
Glittering Prize
Speed Your Love To Me
Mandela Day
She's A River
Oh Jungleland
Belfast Child
Waterfront
The American
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) - Light My Fire
Cynical Heart
Let There Be Love
Sanctify Yourself
Alive And Kicking
Room - Celebrate
Don't You (Forget About Me)
The band will next play at the Lagerhalle, Osnabruck on the 7th March and have further dates lined up
over the year. See their website for more details.
Right: Sample Minds frontman Steve is partially obscured by Spanish fans
as he reads the lyrics for Cynical Heart. Chema is on the left with Moisés
on the right. Many hard core Simple Minds fans will know Moisés for his
"Mission In Motion" fanzine.
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25th February
Next Bundle, Night Of The Proms
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Live Bundle 07 will be released on Thursday (28th February). Anyone who hasn't used their Christmas "Buy one get one free" code
can use it with the new bundle.
Another batch of Proms concerts have been announced at the Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium for various
dates between 24th October and the 8th November (see the tour page for the specific dates).
For further information and tickets, check out the Night Of The Proms website.
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15th February
More Proms Concerts, Remixes
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Flyers listing Simple Minds with Alan Parsons,
OMD, Miguel Rios and Galileo in
Valencia on the 25th April have started to appear.
All the Proms gigs so far confirmed can be seen here.
JohnnyBGood has released several new remixes:
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13th February
Further Proms Concerts, Remixes, Further Updates
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Simple Minds will also be playing the following Proms dates:
- 14th November: Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands
- 19th November: Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- 20th November: Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- 21st November: Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- 22nd November: Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
For more information, check out nu.nl/muziek.
JohnnyBGood is back and has put together some more remixes:
Just when you thought the Black And White 050505 discography was complete, something else turns
up:
This one-track Stay Visible promo turned up on Australian eBay where it reached
255.99 Australian dollars(!) Like almost every Sanctuary promo, it's catalogue number is
SANP390X. Yet another item for the hardcore collectors to track down.
Other additions to the discography include:
- Some early artwork prints of the Life In A Day album (which are slightly different to the final design).
- A completely different sleeve for a Peruvian pressing of Don't You (Forget About Me) (scroll down to the bottom).
- Details of the US edition of the Cry album.
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31st january
Further Proms Concerts, Drummer At The Lisbon Lions, Updates
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Websites (such as www.gpeproducciones.com) are starting
to advertise several Night Of The Proms concerts in Spain. It isn't known if Simple Minds will play
all these shows, or just the Valencia show (for which they're already confirmed). The dates are:
- 24th April, Madrid
- 25th April, Valencia
- 26th April, TBA
The rehearsal footage of the band preparing for the Lisbon Lions
(which was included in the latest bundle) prompted one major
question: who was the drummer?
Turns out it was Jim McDermott, who was standing in Mel for this
one-off gig.
I've updated the discography with some releases which are either very rare or have only just surfaced:
- The German CD of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) which features the extended version of the title track. There's nothing on the packaging of
the CD or the sleeve to indicate this.
- An Australian version of the Chelsea Girl single has just turned up, exclusively paired with
Destiny.
- A small number of US Home Promos have started to circulate. Obviously someone at Sanctuary had a
clear out.
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8th january
Live Bundle #6, Dream Giver Redux
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A few last minute technical issues meant it was slightly delayed, but
Live Bundle #6 is now
available from
www.simpleminds.com.
The three live audio tracks are taken from the band's triumphant finale
Black And White gig in
Edinbugh, whilst a live performance video of Mandela Day harks from their earlier
Werchter performance.
Plus there are two new interviews with the band in which they talk about the Edinbugh gig
(backed by a performance video of Ghostdancing) and chat about rehearsing (backed
by video materal of their rehearsals for the Lisbon Lions
gig).
I've added more to the new site:
- Details of all the Cry singles
- Details of the Cry album
- Details of the Best Of Night Of The Proms album
- Expanded the discography (although it's still incomplete but
it now includes the full Absolutely discography including the extremely-hard-to-find-was-it-ever-released
The Man Who Sold The World 12")
- Added details of the Floating World Tour, the
Alive And Kicking Tour and the
Lisbon Lions.
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6th january
SIMPLEMINDS.COM Download Centre
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Those who've registered with SIMPLEMINDS.COM should've received an e-mail with their discount code. And the Paradiso gig has already been
made available through the FREE MEMBERS AREA as a thank you to all fans for their support of the band during 2007.
A brand new bundle will be made available on Monday 7th January.
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