Simple Minds Biography
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Simple Minds are 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)".
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History
After one unsuccessful 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 who was quickly replaced by Derek Forbes
on bass guitar. Keyboard and synthesizer player, Mick MacNeil, was also
recruited at this time. Drummer Mel Gaynor replaced McGee in 1984. 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 the
Steve Hillage-produced double album Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call
(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)".
This song, written by Keith Forsey, was originally offered to Bryan Ferry, but
he declined. As the only Simple Minds single release not to have been written by
Kerr and Burchill, it is ironic that this became their biggest and most
memorable hit. 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 U.S., 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). During this period, which probably
marked the high point of their popularity, Simple Minds were often compared by
the music press and listeners alike to U2, though subsequently both bands headed
in different musical directions.
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. The album included
a cover of Peter Gabriel's song Biko, as well as guest vocals by Lou Reed on the
single This is your Land. However the band did score their only number one UK
singles hit from this album with The Ballad of the Streets EP containing the
double A-sides of Belfast Child, a reworking of the folk song She Moved Through
The Fair, and Mandela Day. 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, despite embarking on a major stadium tour in 1991.
(Keyboardist Mick MacNeil left the group in 1989.) Most recently, they released
Cry in 2002 (2002 in music). Their new album Black & White 050505 whose official
publishing date is 12 September 2005 did already weeks before circulate on the
internet. This album has received astonishingly good reviews but sales are
unlikely to match.
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URL of Original Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Minds
Date Article Copied:
September 16, 2005
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