Simple Minds are pleased to announce a very rare and exciting opportunity to see them perform material from their first five albums at four intimate UK venues, in February and March 2012. These landmark shows, lasting over two and half hours, will be part of a 16-date European tour beginning in Portugal on 14th February with the first UK shows taking place at Birmingham Academy and in the band’s hometown of Glasgow, at Barrowland, on 24th and 25th February respectively, with the final two shows at London’s Roundhouse (3rd March) and the Manchester Ritz the following evening.

The band will exclusively play five songs from each of their first five albums – Life In A Day, Real To Real Cacophony, Empires and Dance, Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call and New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84), which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year – which were released in a prolific period from 1979 to 1982. These five albums have had a massive cultural impact from the time of their release during the birth of the new wave electro scene in the late 1970s, through the dance revolution of the '80s and '90s, to the music of the Manic Street Preachers and the recent sound of The Horrors' Skying album, making them five of the most vital albums of the post-punk period and the last 35 years.

"This is the set that so many who appreciate Simple Minds have been begging us to play and finally this is that one-off chance to see it." Jim Kerr.

5 X 5 LIVE, TOUR DATES:

March
2nd London Roundhouse
3rd Manchester Ritz
4th Olympia Theatre, Dublin

Tickets will go on sale at 9am on 25th November

To coincide with 5x5 Live, on 13th February, EMI Music will release the box set Simple Minds X5. The box will feature all five of the albums over six discs - with Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call as separate discs in a gatefold sleeve – as well as bonus material on each disc including rare and previously unavailable b-sides and remixes.