Dream Giver - Simple Minds Online Unofficially News Archive

1995
New album, live album and/or EP rumours.
Derek Forbes plays live with the band.
Shadowlands finishes.
CD ROM prototype.

1996
Leave Virgin records and Clive Banks Limited
Join Chrysalis records.
Derek Forbes rejoins.
Who's Doing The Dreaming Now, Endless River and Le Menti fanzines start.
Peter Walsh named as producer.

1997
Simple Minds donate If I Had Wings to Sawdust Tales film
Mel Gaynor joins band for War Babies overdubs.
Festival dates announced
Helium, official web site, appears on-line.
Jim and Charlie play Proms concerts across mainland Europe.
The Promised compilation album released.
USURA re-release New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) inspired Open Your Mind
Glitterball announced as the new single.
Jan-Mar 1998
Néapolis track listing confirmed.
Glitterball released as the first single. Reaches 18 in the UK singles chart.
Simple Minds play a 'secret gig' in Camden Town, London for VH1.
Official web site, called simpleminds.com, finally launches after a gig at the Brussels Cybertheatre.
Simple Minds are VH1 Artists Of The Month
Néapolis released, and only reaches a disappointing 19 in the UK album chart.
Capitol Records in the USA don't release the album - press release from Jim published here.
The Early Years 1977-78 is released. It's withdrawn a couple of months later.
Simple Minds appear on TFI Friday and Top Of The Pops on the same night.
Travelling Man fan club starts.
Apr-Jul 1998
Festival dates announced.
Néapolis mailing list starts.
War Babies released first in Europe, and then later in the UK. Only reaches 42 in the UK chart.
Travelling Man official fanzine and Real Live 91 CD arrive.
Second Cybertheatre gig announced to start festival tour.
Simple Minds fail to play Princes Trust (due to illness) or The Fleadh (contractual problems)
European festival tour.
Jim first linked with Celtic football club bids.
Aug-Dec 1998
Bootleg discograpy starts.
Tentative convention plans announced.
WBWC 88.3FM The Sting broadcast 24 hour Simple Minds marathon.
Celtic news breaks.
Jan-Apr 1999
Kevin Hunter named as collaborator with the new album.
Brian McGee interviewed in The Sun.
Simple Minds convention announced.
May-Aug 1999
Simple Minds appear at Scotland Rocks For Kosovo benefit concert with new line-up.
Mel Gaynor drums for Robert Palmer
WBWC 88.3FM The Sting broadcast second 24 hour Simple Minds marathon. Jim interviewed on air.
Derek Forbes and Mel Gaynor not involved in the new album's writing.
Mick MacNeil launches web site.
Original Gold compilation released.
Travelling Man fanclub announced to be winding up.
3 fans appear on the national TV show The Big Breakfast to support the band, and promote the convention.
Sample of Theme For Great Cities appears.
Sep-Dec 1999
Forbes/Gaynor And Friends play one-off gig in Italy.
Mick MacNeil announces solo album.
Simple Minds compilation box set released.
Derek Forbes delves into the realms of management.
Official web site closes for refurbishment.
Jan-Feb 2000
Mick MacNeil releases a double solo album called People, Places And Things
Néapolis mailing list finishes. Replaced by Simple Minds list.
Last issue of Travelling Man appears.
Kawala release Humanistic single, which uses the New Gold Dream riff
Unknown songs from the Simple Minds back catalogue identified.
Mick MacNeil interviewed by Billy Sloan for TV apperance.
Mar-Apr 2000
Mystery songs on web site identified by Mick MacNeil
Mick MacNeil interviewed by Scottish daily papers. Sun interview uploaded.
New Dream Giver site announced.
Who's Doing The Dreaming Mow? #9 issued.
Le Menti produce Simple Minds Una Vita
Derek Forbes writes in with the latest.
May-Jun 2000
Jim interviewed by the Sunday Herald
Two sales of Simple Minds items.
Jim's thoughts on the Eurovision Song Contest.
Q reviews People, Places and Things
Some Sweet Day 2000 announced.
Mick MacNeil's Evening Times article uploaded.
Kevin Hunter interview published.
More bootlegs documented.
New Fila Brazillia mix of Theme For Great Cities found.
Jul-Sep 2000
Jim opens his first sushi bar, OKO, in Glasgow.
Jim interviewed by Todd Richards for Some Sweet Day 2000
Album titled confirmed as Our Secrets Are The Same
Plans for a 25th anniversary box set unveiled.
Italian tribute band Blow Up gig in Italy.
October release date for Secrets is rejected.
Jim writes a diary for the Scottish Sunday Times.
English tribute band Band For The Tribes announce gig in Germany.
Oct-Dec 2000
Band For The Tribes play gig in Germany
Le Menti issue #6 appears.
Dream Giver Dot Music awards.
Blow-Up play Italian gig
Our Secrets Are The Same leaked by Catalunya radio.
EMI drop Simple Minds
Modern Institute puts together a music display at Glasgow's Lighthouse.
Mick MacNeil offers autographed People, Places and Things album.
Mel Gaynor spotted playing for Roachford.
Jim Kerr becomes a special ambassador for Scotland.
Kirsty MacColl killed in speedboat accident.
Auction starts.
Jan-Jul 2001
Sunday Times column written by Jim.
Auction continues and concludes.
Le Menti winds up.
Two Proms dates announced.
Secrets remains in legal limbo.
25th anniversary tour proposed for 2002.
Virgin consider a compilation album.
Belfast Child remix appears.
Raven Maize remixes Theme For Great Cities
Band For The Tribes play a gig in Germany.
Lexos release The Key - based on Theme For Great Cities
Jul-Oct 2001
Simple Minds sign to Eagle Records
Cover's album Neon Lights announced.
Official new web site announced.
Dancing Barefoot EP announced.
Raven Maize released The Real Life
Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #10 written.
Radio Two promo interview.
Bootleggers start work on Our Secrets Are The Same
Dancing Barefoot EP and Neon Lights released.
Best Of compilation announced.
Oct 2001-Jan 2002
Tour dates for 2002 tour announced.
Rehab interview
Best Of released
Homosapien single released
Belfast Trance single announced.
Mel Gaynor online launced
Cry artwork revealed
Monster by Liquid People announced.
Feb-Apr 2002
Belfast Trance released.
Simple Minds receive Edison award.
Cry single released.
Cry album released.
More tour dates added.
Apr-May 2002
Tour Starts
Billy Sloan Radio Show.
May-July 2002
Various discography and tour updates.
Remix album announced.
Liquid people release Monster.
Cry remix released.
Spaceface/New Sunshine Morning released.
Tribue album announced.
Todd Richards interviews Jim Kerr for Some Sweet Day 2002.
July-November 2002
Remasters announced.
Tribute album released.
Gold Dreammer by DJ T released.
Spaceface remix promos appear.
Band For The Tributes mini-tour.
Simple Minds headline Night Of The Proms 2002
Cry Remixes single released by Eagle
Proms compilation CD announced.
November 2002-March 2003
Remasters released
Spaceface remix single released
One Step Closer single released
Simple Minds Convention announced for 2003
Best Of CD for Night Of The Proms released
Simple Minds Convention website launched
Simple Minds Vs Dischi appears on 12" promo
Jim Kerr Vs Pascal Life released
Second set of Spaceface remixes released
Cry SACD released
UK tour announced
March 2003-June 2003
Second Simple Minds convention takes place in Glasgow.
Biba Rom releases Don't You (Forget About Me)
Our Secrets Are The Same gets its first tentative release date.
New Gold Dream/Sparkle In The Rain double pack released.
Some Sweet Day 2003 announced.
Biba Rom release One Step Closer.
John Kelvin covers Alive And Kicking.
Planet Funk release One Step Closer.
Radio Clyde radio sessions to be released in August.
Early Gold compilation announced.
June 2003-September 2003
Seeing The Lights double DVD set announced.
Mel Gaynor gets his website back online.
Some Sweet Day 2003 interviews Jim.
Our Secrets Are The Same to be released as part of a box set.
Simple Minds play a European festival tour.
Early Gold released to... healthy reviews!
Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #10 issued.
Dream Giver Redux starts to appear.
September 2003-December 2003
Seen The Lights DVD released.
White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr 12" released.
Simple Minds tour Europe in Germany.
Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil record with Caledon
SaMPLE MINDS play Germany.
Jam & Spoon release Cynical Heart with Jim Kerr
Simple Minds wind up their 2003 tour in the UK.
Don't You (Forget About Me) 2003 released by Simple Minds
Two new covers previewed by Billy Sloan
Live And Rare is released... but only in Italy... in Vodafone shops.
Simple Minds win Best Live Act at the Italian Music Awards.
December 2003-May 2004
Liverpool gig broadcast by BBC Radio Wales.
Alive And Kicking Tour 2003 winds up.
Simple Minds announce a summer festival tour.
New Don't You (Forget About Me) remixes released.
Original line-up reunited at Bruce Findlay's 60th birthday gig.
Box set to be released in the summer.
Remixes of Alive And Kicking released.
Simple Minds featured in Classic Rock magazine.
Some Sweet Day 2004 announced.
Mel Gaynor releases Addicted To Love
Bootleg remix of Alive And Kicking by ATE 1 vs Simple Minds released.
Bootleg recording of Sweet Things unearthed.
Dirty Old Town single released.
An interview with Jim appears in Record Collector
White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr to be released in Australia
Summer tour starts.
A History box set tracklisting published.
Football Factory film features Theme For Great Cities
May 2004 - December 2004
Band play secret gig at Glasgow Hilton.
Jam And Spoon release Tripomatic Fairytales 3003 which includes Cynical Heart.
Dirty Old Town single released but fails to chart.
Danny McMillian remix of Don't You (Forget About Me) issued.
Big Beauty by Simple Minds vs Underworld released as a white-label and features a New Gold Dream sample.
Todd Richards presents Some Sweet Day 2004.
The Live Aid concert is released on DVD.
Promos of Silver Box circulate months before the release date.
NME review Silver Box and like it (some of it anyway).
Silver Box issued - 60% good.
Virgin follow it up with yet another Sparkle In The Rain/New Gold Dream double package.
Seen The Lights: Live In Verona is released with no fan interest.
Simple Minds pull out of Trevor Horn tribute due to problems with Jim's ear.
January 2005 - June 2005
DVD-Audios of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and Once Upon A Time announced.
David Guetta release The World Is Mine, based on the chorus of Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
A bootleg remix of Speed Your Love To Me appears by RM.
Brian McGee auctions an old snare drum he used with Simple Minds.
It was revealed that Derek Forbes helped with the demoing of the new album, but that was the total of his involvement. He later toured with Spear Of Destiny.
Jim mentions The Devil Came Down To Moscow as a potential new project after the album.
Simple Minds join Sanctuary Records.
Jez Coad announced as co-producer of the new album.
Bob Clearmountain announced as mixer of the new album.
DVD-Audios discovered to feature alternative and extended versions of some tracks.
Some Sweet Day 2005 announced.
First album and single dates published.
July 2005 - December 2005
Black And White 050505 announced
Alive And Kicking 'double pack' finally surfaces
Bruce Findlay appears on Live Aid documentary
The new single is announced as Home
The 'intimate tour' is announced.
Stay Visible is the second track to be debuted from the album.
Billy Sloangets first play of Black And White and Dolphins
A Few Good Men form and start playing dates around Scotland.
Todd Richards interviews Jim, Mick MacNeil and Ronald Prett plus debuts Bird On A Wire and Mighty Joe Moon
Street Fighting Years is the next album lined up to be transfered to DVD-Audio.
Billy Sloan interviews Jim and debuts Too Much Television
Home is released.
Intimate Tour starts.
Black And White 050505 released. Record Collector give it 5/5.
Tour dates for 2006 start to circulate.
Too Much Television released on iTunes.
The band appear on Jonathan Ross
Stranger released on iTunes.
More dance remixes of Theme For Great Cities appear
Stranger single announced.
Brian McGee auctions some memorabilia.

January 2006 - July 2006
Stranger single released in various European countries.
The band embark on the Black And White tour.
Four Good Men start gigging.
Derek auctions one of his guitars.
Mark Spoon dies.
The Platinum Collection is announced, but is never released.
Billy Worton dies.
Mousse T remixes Different World for a new single.
Dirty Ol' Town is reissued after Jimmy Johnstone dies.
Promos of The Jeweller (Part Two) and Different World start circulating.
The live bundles are released.
Mir releases The Deep Blue Sea
Todd Richards interviews Eddie Duffy, Mick MacNeil and Derek Forbes for Some Sweet Day 06.
August 2006 - July 2007
More remixes of Different World surface.
Don't You (Forget About Me) documentary announced.
Simple Minds play the last gig of the Black And White Tour in Edinburgh.
fourgoodmen tour America.
fourgoodmen release the Heart Of Winter CD.
Remixes of Different World are released through Absolutely Records and online.
Simple Minds tour Australia with INXS.
Simple Minds play the Lisbon Lions event.
Simple Minds Live Volume One and Two released with the Sunday Express.
Line-up changes of sample MINDS are reported in The Sun
Don't You (Forget About Me) used as backing music for the Madeleine McCann appeal.
sample MINDS and fourgoodmen play at Rotherham.
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