background:
The band took a break after the
Once Upon A Time tour, but were still in the public
eye after several charity and benefit shows. Simple Minds were the first "big act"
to sign to the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute and
also played the massive free Artists Against Apartheid Rally
in Hyde Park, London.
Street Fighting Years was also written and recorded
mostly by this line-up (although rumour suggests Mel and
producer Trevor Horn didn't see eye-to-eye, so session
drummers were used for the recordings).
recording/releases:
longevity:
November 1986 - April 1989
live legacy:
Cash For Kids
Brazil 1988
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Artists Against Apartheid Rally
break-up:
John Giblin left the band. The reasons for his departure are unknown but
he was a pivotal member during the recording sessions (he introduced Jim to
She Moved Through The Fair and wrote Let It All Come Down.)
Derek was asked to rejoin (he had appeared at several gigs as guest bass player
for a song or two) but he declined; he was busy with other projects and wasn't too taken by the
Street Fighting Years album.
Eventually they 'stole' Malcolm Foster from Jim's
wife's band (The Pretenders).
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