These flyers were produced for the tour (which mentioned that the band
were on tour with Gary Numan).
A page from the tour itinerary of the October
dates.
Handwritten dates for March. © Alwa Glebe 1979
|
The band ventured abroad for the first time with dates in Germany and Belgium. For many years, their first mainland European
concert was given as the Kant-Kino in Berlin. However, more recently, Jim has mentioned
a previously unknown show in Hamburg before that date.
???, Hamburg, Germany
October ??, 1979
Main Set: ...
Premonition ...
Factory ...
Changeling ...
Premonition ...
Calling Your Name ...
"I love Hamburg. I love Germany. And I like reminiscing about our first ever trip to
perform outside of the UK. That was back in October 1979 (I've told you till I’m blue in the face -
Simple Minds are not an '80s act', we hail proudly from the 70s - and it was in Hamburg we arrived,
off the overnight ferry from the UK, fresh faced and full of excitement, not quite believing that we were getting
the chance to perform in mainland Europe."
"Charlie and I had as teenagers, hitch-hiked through Germany a few
years earlier. From then on in we identified ourselves as Europeans first and foremost."
"Naive in all manner of other ways, but already bright enough to consider ourselves believers in the wisdom that 'The
world and all that it has to offer, begins at the bottom of your street.'
And as proof of that as a belief, there we were not that much later, standing on the deck of a passenger/cargo boat as
it almost silently made its way in early morning sunshine into the port of Hamburg.
Meanwhile on the deck below, a single box shaped vehicle, registered as on hire from a company in Scotland, was jam
packed with all our recently purchased equipment. Happy days! Very happy days, when young dreams get converted to reality."
"Who cared if almost no one in that city had heard of us back then?
Who cared that the audience at our first German gig was embarrassingly sparse?
Premonition.
Factory.
Changeling.
Calling Your Name.
All rang out that night - as we lit the room up."
"It just felt magic to be in Hamburg. Magical to be bringing our music to mainland Europe.
Then and now!" - Jim, 8th March 2019
"I'm back in Hamburg."
"The sun shone as the flight descended through the clouds, much as it did October '79 when Simple Minds first visited. On
that occasion the boat we came in on arrived through the early morning mist into the third biggest port in Europe, and I
remember the excitement as we stood on the deck contemplating what might unfold over the next weeks."
"How could we not be excited with the prospect of playing live for the first time outside the UK, particularly so in
knowing that after that night's Hamburg show we were set to then drive through what was then called East Germany enroute for
West Berlin? Although the ominous and tragic Berlin Wall was destined to stand for another decade before eventually crumbling - no one
was to know that back then. Meanwhile we were just buzzin' to be in the country that had produced so much music that had held influence
over us, and still does. (Neu!, Can, Amon Dull, Kraftwerk etc.)"
"Excitement was not the only thing we were full of. If asked to describe the character of our unit as we set foot
on the area around the Hamburg docks on that crisp autumn morning. It is only fair to say that collectively we
were full of ambition."
"Ambitious for what you ask?"
"The reply being that we were determinedly ambitious to continue down the path we had set out for ourselves when we
started the band eighteen months or so earlier. The remit being then, as it is now - to take our music around the world and
in doing so garner the reputation of being 'a great live band.'"
"I'm sure you would agree that having that kind of attitude was a positive attribute, necessary even when
starting out. After all, without ambition and the drive to succeed we would never have dared dream of putting a band
together, or strategising our way to the brink of a worldwide record deal. Most of which incidentally was done by ourselves,
still teenagers, and without help from managers, agents, or any kind of mentors. (All of those came later thankfully.)"
"It was ambition however that gave fuel to all of that, and so much else that ensued over the decades that followed."
"And yet so often 'ambition' as a quality is used almost as a dirty word. Derogatory, full of negative connotations, more than
often twinned with the word 'ruthless.'"
"Well, not so in my book - where 'unambitious' is considered a much more unsavoury term."
"For although it remains to be seen whether 'The meek shall inherit the earth.' (Matthew 5.5) I can guarantee you that the meek
and unambitious will never find their way to forming a great rock band - least not one that anyone will get to hear
of." - Jim, 16th October 2021
Kant-Kino, Berlin, Germany
October 11th, 1979
"Our first ever gig outside of the UK was in the arthouse cinema on Kant Strasse in October '79.
Real to Real Cacophony was just released and we started the set
with Premonition... still feel the shivers!" - Jim
"How could I forget that we played Hamburg night before? Had taken the overnight ferry from Harwich arriving on beautiful
morning at Hamburg docks. After we traveled by mini bus through the "corridor" into Berlin. I played non stop with my new toy.
It was called a Sony Walkman and I had only one cassette. Fortunately the cassette had been given to me by
Mick MacNeil. Featured an idea, I called it
I Travel thinking we needed a tune that reflected all this sudden mobility
within our lives. A sonic postcard to send back home!" - Jim
Rotation Club, Hannover, Germany
October 12th, 1979
Some photos from this gig by Alwa Glebe are published here.
© Alwa Glebe 1979
© Alwa Glebe 1979
Hyde Park, Osnabruck, Germany
October 13th, 1979
Alternatively this gig was dropped, and Simple Minds played the Rotation again,
at the request of the headlining band Golden Earring.
Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany
October 14th, 1979
Tickets cost 5 DM and the band came on at 20:30.
Alladin Club, Bremen, Germany
October 15th, 1979
Ruhrer Saal, Nurnburg, Germany
October 16th, 1979
Auderghen Canotier, Brussels, Belgium
October 18th, 1979
The gig was initially planned for the Klaccick, in Ukkel, where journalist Gilles Verlant with others, organised showcase gigs
for up-and-coming bands in a small venue of around 400. OMD, The Human League and The Cure had
already played, but the venue was subsequently refused a performance certificate by the local council. Therefore the gig was held at the Catonier in Brussels instead.
Brian McGee was the only person in the band who could drive and, in addition
to his drumming duties, he had to drive the band from gig to gig in their battered old "tour bus" (read van). En-route to
this gig, he scrapped the side of the van. Distrught he got out of the driver's cab, sat in the road and announced he wouldn't be
playing. He didn't get much sympathy from the rest of the band.
Many thanks to Clive for the poster photograph.
The band originally planned a rest period from the 18th October through to the 29th October. However, they were offered the
opportunity to perform at Hurrah's in New York and be filmed by the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test. They
jumped at the chance, and one hour after getting work permits, the band were flying to America.
Hurrah's, New York, USA
October 24th, 1979
Main Set: ...Factory /
Changeling /
Premonition...
The band played a limited midnight set. It's possible that they only played three songs.
All their equipment was hired and Mick was unable to find replacements for his synths. Unhappy
with the sound, he re-recorded his parts at CaVa back in Glasgow, using his own synths.
This gig was recorded by The Old Grey Whistle Test and broadcast on the 27th November. Premonition was subsequently mixed and appeared as the B-side of
Changeling. But it wasn't until 2003, and the Seen The Lights DVD release, that the footage
was officially released.
Derek Forbes occasionally smiles at the audience during the gig. He was actually smiling
at Iggy Pop who stood/danced in front of him for the entire show.
Trax, New York, USA
October 25th, 1979
After their successful night at Hurrah's, the band were invited to play at Trax the next night.
As soon as they finished the gig, they were on the plane back to Heathrow, London, and after a dash to Harwich, immediately got the ferry to
Scandinavia.
"Scandinavian countries were among the first to embrace the sound of Simple Minds and for that we will always be grateful.
As far back as 1979 we made our first trip to Denmark. Followed by a
visit to Sweden some months later, before then getting our chance to perform in Norway a couple of years later again.
The excitement of those trips resonate vividly with us to this day, never forgetting the intensity of those first sweat
soaked nights, performing to packed club audiences in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Malmo, Copenhagen and Oslo.
Two weeks from today, and four decades later from first stepping foot in Scandinavia, we will begin our latest world tour.
Every bit excited now as we were back then!" - Jim, 14th February 2020
Errol's, Gothenburg, Sweden
October 29th, 1979
Main Set: ...Wasteland /
Scar /
Here Comes The Fool /
Changeling /
Factory /
White Light/White Heat /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
Someone /
Pablo Picasso
Music Palais, Stockholm, Sweden
October 31st, 1979
Main Set: ... Premonition /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Factory /
Wasteland /
Scar /
Here Comes The Fool /
White Light/White Heat /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
Someone /
Pablo Picasso
Högskolerestaurangen, Orebro, Sweden
November 1st, 1979
Main Set: ... Premonition /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Factory /
Wasteland /
Scar /
Here Comes The Fool /
White Light/White Heat /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
Someone /
Pablo Picasso
"I attended that concert but it was not at Magasinet. It was a long time ago but I don’t
recall that it was a concert at Magasinet at all. The location was Högskolerestaurangen
(Örebro University restaurant) as you can see from the attached pictures of the poster.
Even though it was the Real To Real Cacophony Tour the poster said Life In A Day as the new
record wasn’t released yet. I’m still a bit crossed that Derek Forbes
left the party before signing the poster…" - Stellan
Erols, Gothenberg, Sweden
November 2nd, 1979
Musikteatret, Aarhus, Denmark
November 4th, 1979
Support: The Lost Kids
During this pause in the tour, Mick returned to CaVa Studios in Glasgow to re-record
and mix the live material recorded at Hurrah's. The final mix was created on November 9th.
Simple Minds then embarked on their third UK tour. This leg, which lasted four weeks, began in Scotland and culminated with
two gigs at The Marquee in London.
University, Stirling, UK
November 15th, 1979
Main Set: Capital City /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Naked Eye /
Life In A Day /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
Room /
Pablo Picasso
"In 1979 I finished with Rosetta Stone and was working as resident sound engineer in a bar in Edinburgh -
Eric Brown's - when Dougie asked me to help out at a rehearsal for Simple Minds
in The Odeon in Edinburgh and, after that, I joined the crew starting at the University of Stirling (15th November 1979)
doing, if I remember correctly, the monitor mix (which Big Dougie made
his speciality later)." - Eddie Cairns
This gig was a late addition to the tour schedule as it didn't appear in the press releases.
University, Aberdeen, UK
November 16th, 1979
Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow, UK
November 17th, 1979
University, St. Andrews, UK
November 18th, 1979
Tiffany's, Edinburgh, UK
November 19th, 1979
Main Set:
...Scar/...
...Real To Real/...
...Destiny/...
...Life In A Day/...
...Factory/...
...Chelsea Girl/...
...Pleasantly Disturbed/...
...White Light/White Heat
Support: Those French Girls
"...Once the headliners occupy the stage, though, the difference is as obvious as it is striking. No longer do the Minds
sulk in the shadows amid accusations of Roxy/Magazine cloning, and their own new-found direction
and maturity asserts itslef through the music and its presentation. The impressive array of equipment has
Mick MacNeil banked up high within his keyboard console and
Brian McGee set aside behind his kit to the far left, leaving a visual attack of bass, vocals
and guitar at the front.
Material-wise, the new songs took pride (and I mean pride) of place, with eight selections from the forthcoming
Real To Real Cacophony album forming the basis of the set, which lasted over an
hour by hardly seemed to flag. Established favourites such as Life In A Day and
the triumphant closing Pleasantly Disturbed were deservedly greeted by roars of approval,
but Destiny seemed oddly dated and even worse,
Chelsea Girl appeared as their willing albatross with
Jim Kerr singing like an uneasy and unhappy Ancient Mariner.
By contrast, more recent compositions explored a greater range of emotions, utilitsing different rhythms and experimenting with
various styles and tempos. Accordingly,
Factory featured a hypnotic bass/keyboard melody under a bubbling guitar line plus
a quasi-Iggy chorus that I sang all the way home! Elsewhere Scar and
Real To Real are positive deliberate steps towards a composure that fits them well. Gone
are the frantic attempts at catchy, jerky tunes which prompted much early criticism, to be replaced by a blending of all
that is best from Ultravox and Talking Heads.
It was a pity therefore, that because of time restrictions the encore was their version of
White Light/White Heat - I'd rather have heard some more chilling film themse
from the Minds' own repertoire than a spirited rehash from the past. I'm looking to the future and I want it
now! "
Johnny Waller
Sounds
01/12/79
Tiffany, Hull, UK
November 20th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
This concert was cancelled according to a later press release.
Polytechnic, Wolverhampton, UK
November 21st, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Troubadour, Port Talbot, UK
November 22nd, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Originally scheduled for this date, this show was moved to the 29th November.
Aston University, Birmingham, UK
November 23rd, 1979
Support: The Portraits
University, Newcastle, UK
November 24th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Main Set:
Veldt [Intro Tape] /
Premonition /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Naked Eye /
Wasteland [curtailed due to a fight] /
Someone /
White Light/White Heat /
Factory /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed
"The gig was unique in as much as that half way through
Wasteland (about the 4th track) the band
have a fight with a few members of the audience and walk off for about 15 minutes. They
do return but only to play another five or so songs. I may also still have a photo or
two from the gig. I remember taking one of Jim Kerr
as he stormed past me on his way to the dressing room! - Steve
The planned set-list was:
Main Set:
Veldt [Intro Tape] /
Premonition /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Naked Eye /
Wasteland /
Scar /
Here Comes The Fool /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed
Encore:
Someone /
White Light/White Heat
Music Hall, Shrewsbury, UK
November 27th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Essex University, Colchester, UK
November 28th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
This gig was a late addition to the tour schedule as it didn't appear in the original press releases.
Troubadour, Port Talbot, UK
November 29th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
This was a rescheduled date from the 22nd November.
Eric's, Liverpool, UK
November 30th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
"Wow! Joy Division, OMD and Simple Minds, when ticket prices were £1:50. Now less than the price
of a small packet of crisps? I still have memories of turning up at Eric's in Liverpool, 1979, and seeing that poster
on the wall. Realising that most of the bands were already in my record collection and feeling frustrated that I could
not see them as we were always out on tour ourselves, and rarely crossing paths.
No matter how friendly and how enthusiastic the audiences are, I still get momentarily intimidated when turning up to
perform in cities that historically have produced the greatest music.
Liverpool is certainly one of those cities!
Always feel honoured to play in those kind of places.
Always want to go beyond when you walk on stage" - Jim, 14th June 2020
Student Union, Manchester Poly, Manchester, UK
December 1st, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Tickets cost £1 in advance. The Student Union was on Cavendish Street hence the poster.
Fforde Grene Hotel, Leeds, UK
December 2nd, 1979
Support: The Portraits
The set-list for this gig is still unknown. Some other lists document one, but it turns out to be the set-list from their
appearance here during the Life In A Day tour.
University Of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
December 5th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
The Limit, Sheffield, UK
December 6th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
North Staffs Polytechnic, Stafford, UK
December 7th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Sandpiper, Nottingham, UK
December 8th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
University, Exeter, UK
December 10th, 1979
Support: The Portraits
Main Set: Veldt /
Scar /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Naked Eye /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
White Light/White Heat
University, Keele, UK
December 12th, 1979
Supporting: Hawkwind
Billed as a Christmas concert with Hawkwind.
"I did the next few gigs - up to Keele University as I recall (if I remember rightly once we had finished that
gig we got back to the hotel which was right next to the motorway and the band decided that they all wanted to go
home - there and then - so I had to drive them - God knows how I made it and who I stayed with when we arrived but
I was completely knackered - got them home safe though!) and then back to the day job - Eric's. I
was then basically on call as one of their roadies. I cannot remember any London gigs (Marquee etc) but I might
have just forgotten." - Eddie Cairns
The Marquee, London, UK
December 13th, 1979
Adverts for both the Simple Minds tour and
the Marquee state the 13th and 14th December, whilst other adverts for The Marquee
give dates of the 17th and 18th. A press releases also gives these
dates and suggests they're the conclusion of this UK tour.
The Marquee, London, UK
December 14th, 1979
Adverts for both the Simple Minds tour and
the Marquee state the 13th and 14th December, whilst other adverts for The Marquee
give dates of the 17th and 18th. However the gig was on this date.
"I've been to it before but I just bumped into your gigography again and re: the debate over the band's London Marquee dates in
December 1979 I can state that I was most definitely at the Marquee watching them on Friday, December 14th. Part of my diary for that
date reads 'Simple Minds/Portraits great, Marquee.' For a lot of years I thought I'd seen them two night running
(which my diary confirms I didn't) but given I was there on the 14th I would safely assume that they played the 13th
as well, as per the press listings." - Dec Hickey
|
The audience at the Marquee was composed one-third of college kids, one-third Simple Minds fans and one-third club regulars - the surprise was
finding something in the music and its performance which drew everybody stageward. The most compelling something was the vocal work of
Jim Kerr. He interprets each song, giving it a distinct dramatic character. His lyrics evoke an
emotional landscape of high contrasts - from Arctic desolation to tropical lushness - the stark imagery brought to life by
Kerr's intense presence.
There wasn't a single beat played that didn't grab the heart, mind or body. Pivoting around
Kerr,
Charles Burchill (lead guitar),
Mick McNeil (keyboards),
Derek Forbes (bass) and
Brian McGee (drums) each laid down a ply of melody or rhythm.
Burchill's range is impressive (extending to violin), distant, mineral lead work sculpted out of the air.
His tense lines keep the atmosphere serious but never heavy. He can kick back into trad rock 'n' roll whenever the numbers need lightening,
a technique which points up the real strength of Simple Minds' material: however other-worldly the verse, the refrains tend to be
simple and memorable, like Beach Boys riffs. And like Beach Boys' harmonies -
Mick McNeil's lucid movement on organ, piano and synth remained solid without ever sounding mechanical.
His playing moved music that was already extraordinary into a unique dimension.
Underneath it all Brian McGee and Derek Forbes formed the ribs not
only of each tune but of the performance. Their reassuring steadiness, following the intricate contours of vocals and lead work, maintained
a basic contact with the audience. Forbes' back up vocals were as dependable as his bass playing, giving
just the right edge to Kerr's evocative singing.
Answering a crowd who couldn't believe it was all over. Simple Minds obliged with two well-deserved encores. Exhausted, they gave more than they
had strength to give. Such commitment, along with the skill to combine the basic energies of rock with mature musical scope deserves to be
rewarded with a much wider audience.
Jon Fink
Musicians Only
12th January 1980
|
Thanks to Robert Struthers for the review.
University, Exeter, UK
December 20th, 1979
Main Set:
Scar /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Naked Eye /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
White Light/White Heat
A second gig at Exeter seems unlikely (after 10th December) so one of these would appear
to be an error.
Technical College, Glasgow, UK
December 31st, 1979
Tiffany's, Glasgow, UK
January 7th, 1980
Main Set:
Bells /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Destiny /
Naked Eye /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Chelsea Girl /
Room /
Pleasantly Disturbed
Paris Theatre, London, UK
January 9th, 1980
Main Set: .../Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Factory /
Changeling /
Room
Recorded and broadcast live by the BBC as part of their In Concert series.
Theatre De Palace, Paris, France
January 12th, 1980
Main Set: Scar /
Here Comes The Fool /
Life In A Day /
White Light/White Heat /
Chelsea Girl /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
Room
University, Stirling, UK
February 15th, 1980
Support: FK9
"As far as I can remember the next gig was the Stirling University one and, after
that, my job was back line, drums and driver for the band. I remember I got the train through to Glasgow and was
met by Brian and we set off to pick up the band and go to London for the
YMCA gig and then on to Europe. The band had very kindly got together in between the last gig and when I picked
them up to make a nice little welcome tape for me!"
"As we were heading down the A74, Jim asked me to put on a tape - they
were all in the back of the minibus and were having a chat and the tape had some Beatles tracks
on it and, all of a sudden, there was this conversation over the music which started off along the lines of
"Who is that baldy bastard that's driving anyway?" with a reply of "I don't know but if he doesn't watch out he'll
be getting a clip round the ear" (or words to that effect) and so it continued for at least a good few minutes with
many insults and threats. Now, I knew them but I honestly didn't know where to put my face that day - until I got
up the courage to look in the rear view mirror - to find the lot of them almost pissing themselves with laughter
at the look on my face - bastards one and all - but it certainly broke the ice! And so it carried on!"
"When we got to London we checked into the hotel and some of us went out for a bite to eat -
Jim,
Charlie,
Mick and I think
Big D was there as well. On the way back we
were walking towards the hotel and a couple of lads were coming the other way - all dressed up for
a good night out when all of a sudden two buckets of water hit them
right between the eyes - an absolute bull's eye. I had seen something out of the corner of my eye and
looked up - guess who? - Brian and
Derek - there is certainly something about them and water, especially when drunk!
The poor guys were soaking wet and were as mad as hell and wanted to kill - of course muggins here had to say that
it couldn't have been our crowd as the window they thought the water had come from was mine and I couldn't have done it
because I was watching it happen - must have been some other rotters - anyway, they left and, needless to say, we found
Brian and Dan almost pissing
themselves with laughter." - Eddie Cairns
YMCA, London, UK
February 23rd, 1980
Strand Lyceum Ballroom, London, UK
February 24th, 1980
With: The Only Ones and Martha And The Muffins
Ross Stapleton saw the band this night after hearing Premonition being played at a German club almost
three weeks before. This performance convinced him that he had to sign the band to Virgin Records.
Stratosphaere, Oberhausen, Germany
March 2th, 1980
Kant-Kino, Berlin, Germany
March 3rd, 1980
Aladin, Bremen, Germany
March 4th, 1980
Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany
March 5th, 1980
Main Set: Capital City /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
White Light/White Heat /
Room
Rotation, Hannover, Germany
March 6th, 1980
To Act, Nurnberg, Germany
March 7th, 1980
Some photos from this gig by Alwa Glebe are published here. The
gig was originally supposed to be at the Nuremburg Art Centre.
Pavillion Espace Baltard, Paris, France
March 9th, 1980
"As far as our first ever festival appearance goes, I reckon that would have been Sunday, March 9, 1980 at Pavillon Baltard,
Nogent-sur-Marne, France. The festival, indoor, went under the name of Euro Rock, and if I remember well, we shared the bill
with Joe Jackson, Rezillos, Little Bob Story and a wonderful band from Rennes
called Maquis de Sade.
As our first ever French date, I recall that we were delighted to receive such a warm response. But I also recall that as
result of suffering such bad bouts of stage fright, which was common to me during those early days, I somewhat unprofessionally
had had more than a few drinks along with Derek Forbes in the hotel bar prior to our
late afternoon set. Therefore it is safe to say that I was more than half drunk throughout.
He on the other hand was falling all over the place, and yet still manage to seemingly perform flawlessly.
What talent!" - Jim, 22nd June 2017
Cercle, Gent, Belgium
March 12th, 1980
This venue could be wrong as posters exist for a gig at Salle De La Chapelle, Liege for the
same date:
Many thanks to Clive for the picture
De Piek, Vlissingen, The Netherlands
March 14th, 1980
Eksit, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
March 15th, 1980
Vera, Groningen, The Netherlands
March 16th, 1980
Main Set: Capital City /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
I Travel
Uilenstede, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
March 17th, 1980
Stokvishal, Arnhem, The Netherlands
March 20th, 1980
"I saw one incorrect tourdate of Simple Minds. My memory is at times spot on. I knew for sure that the date in the
Stokvishal was at the 20th of March 1980. 20 is my fave number and Simple Minds blew me of my feet that day." - Coen van Hall
Thanks to Peter for the scan.
De Harmonie, Tilbourg, The Netherlands
March 20th, 1980
The date of this gig is now questionable. See above.
Effenaar, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
March 21st, 1980
De Gigant, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
March 22nd, 1980
Main Set: Film Theme /
Capital City /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Pleasantly Disturbed
Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
March 23rd, 1980
Main Set: Capital City /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
White Light-White Heat /
Pablo Picasso /
Sister Midnight -
Room
The entire concert was recorded and broadcast on radio. This accounts for the great recording of this early gig and the number of
bootlegs it spawned. However, most of the bootlegs get the venue wrong, suggesting the recording was from the Paradiso (which took place
on the 29th).
"Europe went well even although we had to get another minibus as that one had broken down, if memory serves
in Paris, and we continued with a left hand drive unit - that was weird - first time for me! They then put us
into a holiday camp in Holland for the duration of the Dutch leg of the tour which was an education - that lot
couped up in a camp. We had two houses and it was chaos all the time! We played some very strange places that
leg of the tour and I remember in Groningen that we were told to help ourselves to some new beer to us - Grolsch - so
we filled the sleeper cab of the truck. Stupid people saying to help ourselves - we took it literally!" - Eddie Cairns
"I think we were meant to be coming home after that little jaunt but we were told to go and support
Gary Numan on his European tour - that was different but there was one really funny part right at the start.
When we were in Amsterdam Derek had met this young lady and they had become good friends - when
we got to Hamburg for the first Numan gig, the first person Derek sees is this
young lady so he goes over to her - thinking she had come to see her - no chance - she had met Numan in
Amsterdam after we had left and he had brought her along as his friend for the rest of the tour - poor Derek - didn't know where
to look so he got pissed!" - Eddie Cairns
"Simple Minds will play to over 15,000 people tonight in Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome.
Amazing, especially when considering that there were less than 15 people in total at our very first gig in
Amsterdam in 1980 - playing in the tiny Melkweg club.
Regardless of how few people were there on that night, those that were encouraged us immensely, and from then
on Simple Minds' Dutch fans have never let us down.
For that our gratitude knows no end!
Expect 100 percent effort from us tonight. Heart and soul!" - Jim, 19th April 2022
March Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
March 24th, 1980
Supporting: Gary Numan
Philipshalle, Dusseldorf, Germany
March 25th, 1980
Supporting: Gary Numan
Deutches Museum, Munich, Germany
March 27th, 1980
Supporting: Gary Numan
Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
March 29th, 1980
Suppor: Mecano
Many thanks to Timothy for the picture.
Les Bains Douches, Paris, France
March 31st, 1980
Many thanks to Clive for the picture.
Les Bains Douches, Paris, France
April 1st, 1980
Main Set: Veldt /
Capital City /
Here Comes The Fool /
Calling Your Name /
Life In A Day /
Premonition /
Citizen (Dance Of Youth) /
Factory /
Changeling /
Pleasantly Disturbed /
Film Theme
According to biographer Adam Sweeting, these European gigs
were David Henderson's last gigs as sound engineer. Their roadcrew chief,
Billy Worton took over the role.
However, this is disputed by Eddie Carins who remembers
David leaving before the European dates: "Billy was in charge then I can assure you."
Ruffles, Aberdeen, UK
May 1st, 1980
Nite Club, Edinburgh, UK
May 2nd, 1980
Nite Club, Edinburgh, UK
May 3rd, 1980
Vredenburgh, Utrecht, The Netherlands
June 6th, 1980
Main Set:
Capital City /
Factory /
Thirty Frames A Second /
Premonition /
Today I Died Again /
Pleasantly Disturbed
Lyceum, London, UK
June 20th, 1980
Main Set: Kant-Kino /
Capital City /
Factory /
Thirty Frames A Second /
I Travel /
Constantinople Line /
Premonition /
Today I Died Again /
Celebrate /
This Fear Of Gods
"On the website you have the Real to Real Tour continuing after Gary Numan
into France which is right, but I cannot remember coming back to do the Nite Club in Edinburgh and
then going back to Holland to do Utrecht - then back to the Lyceum. As far as I remember we went directly
to the Lyceum and didn't go back to Holland for one gig? I also think that we did more than three gigs
supporting Gary Numan but I might be wrong there." - Eddie Cairns
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