Simple Minds

Simple Minds is a Scottish New Wave pop band, known mostly for their output in the 1980s. In spite of great commercial success in Europe, they were never able to break into mainstream United States, where they are known primarily for one song, "Don't You (Forget About Me)". After one single as Johnny & The Self Abusers, Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr formed the band in 1978 (1978 in music), along with Brian McGee and Tony Donald. The band's name was taken from a line in the David Bowie track Jean Genie: "...so simple-minded, he can't drive his module".

Their initial recordings, such as Reel to Real Cacophony and Empires and Dance were critically acclaimed, though sales were slow until the band moved towards a more pop-oriented sound, beginning with Sons and Fascination (1981 in music). Their early work and a number of experimental pieces subsequently were heavily inspired by Kraftwerk.

By 1984 (1984 in music), due to their much more accessible releases New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) and Sparkle in the Rain, as well as a number of UK charting singles, Simple Minds had gained a widespread fanbase, setting the stage for their breakthrough "Don't You (Forget About Me)". The song quickly became an American chart-topper, the only one Simple Minds would ever achieve there, as a result of its use in the popular film The Breakfast Club. It was initially less popular outside of the US, but soon became a top-selling hit across the world, as was the next album, Once Upon a Time (which did not include that song). After a live album, Simple Minds, in an attempt to regain critical acceptance, released the unabashedly political and un-pop Street Fighting Years to positive reviews but relatively poor sales. However the band did score their only number one UK singles hit from this album with Belfast Child, a reworking of the folk song She Moved Through The Fair. By the time the band returned with Real Life (1991 in music), synth-pop was no longer popular and they have since released albums to a dwindling audience. Most recently, they released Cry in 2002 (2002 in music).

Discography of Albums

• Life in a Day (1979)
• Reel to Real Cacophony (1979)
• Empires and Dance (1980)
• Sons and Fascination (1981)
• Sister Feelings Call (1981)
• Themes for Great Cities (1981)
• Celebration (1982)
• New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982)
• Sparkle in the Rain (1984)
• Once Upon a Time (1985)
• Live in the City of Light (1987)
• Street Fighting Years (1989)
• Real Life (1991)
• Glittering Prize 81/92 (1992) (Greatest Hits compilation)
• Good News from the Next World (1995)
• The Promised (1997)
• Neapolis (1998)
• The Early Years (1998) (compilation)
• Neon Lights (2001)
• The Best of Simple Minds (2001) (compilation)
• Cry (2002)

External Links