Derek's been in touch. He's currently "...delving into the realms of management with Angela Capel... who is the best female singer I have heard from these shores."

Fans of Derek's bass playing and live work should not worry. "I have not given up playing live,a deal is looking good for the near future..."

Keep tuned for a possible top Simple Minds rarity on offer! More soon.

(The picture is from the front over of Néapolis... with 'slappy stick man' drawn by Mel Gaynor!).

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"I am very sorry that I have not been more informative over the last few weeks. We now have a clearer view of how things can be done. At the moment the website is being updated and the secure server should be opened on the last day of the year. If only for me to say that I actually got it going in 1999.

I have completed the recording and I am, well, quite happy with it. To tell you the truth I don't think that I have ever been completely happy with anything yet, but at least with this project I only have myself to blame, no one told me what to do or what not to do. So I decided to put together a rather large selection of quite varied ideas from over the last ten years. I know that you won't like all of them you may not even like any of them, either way what ever, you like or don't like, I would love you to tell me what you think.

And if you really hate it I promise you a complete refund.

For anyone who feels a little cautious about leaving credit card details on the Internet we have set up a P.O. box. Details will be on the site. I have also put some other slightly off the wall friends of mine that I have worked with last year along with a new Rabbie Burns project that I would love to develop on to the mix records page, I will also update the samples for you to listen to, and your comments are welcome here too. I sincerely want to thank you for your interest and encouraging words that have inspired me to make this album."

Mick MacNeil

Mick MacNeil's long awaited, first solo album is released on December 31^st. Entitled People, Places And Things, it's a compilation of ideas from the last 10 years. Four samples are available on his website, which includes the excellent Berlin Blitz.

Finally the wait is over!

Visit MixMuzik at http://www.mixmuzik.com. There's also a mailing list which you can subscribe to receive priority information.

Triple J Radio in Australia is rebroadcasting a Simple Minds classic concert from 1981 today! Recorded during their successful Sons And Fascination tour, the concert is rumoured to be the Sydney, December 1981 gig. If so, this features definitive versions of Sons And Fascination and a cracking version of Room.

At the moment, this concert exists on badly chewed, old cassette bootlegs, and as a passable selection of songs on the Ghostdancing triple LP. A better quality, FM recording, would be much appreciated.

Apparently the show will be broadcast at 2:00 PM.

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And this Saturday, BBC Radio Two will be broadcasting a biography of legendary producer Trevor Horn. From the Radio Times:

7:00PM - 8:00PM

BBC Radio Two (Radio Two Online)

Video Didn't Kill The Radio Star

20 years of Trevor Horn. Stuart Maconie presents this portrait of influential record producer Trevor Horn with contributions from Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Martin Fry, Kevin Godley and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.

It was Trevor Horn, along with Stephen Lipson, who produced Street Fighting Years.

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I've been quietly updating the discography over the last couple of weeks. New entries include:

Simplemente - Peruvian compilation LP

Alive And Kicking (84,85,86) - Australian compilation EP

These items have been 'missing' from the discography for a while.

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The latest issue of Mission In Motion has just arrived. This double issue of the Spanish fanzine includes the usual round-up of letters, reviews, interviews and features. Highlights include a look back 10 years to Street Fighting Years, reviews of Once Upon A Time plus the exclusive Mick MacNeil interview from Endless River fanzine.

There's also a piece on the history of Simple Minds fanzines. If any Spanish readers could translate the pieces on Who's Doing The Dreaming Now? for me then that would be much appreciated! (I must apologize for those waiting for WDTDN #9 - I'm going to try to take time off over Christmas to get this issue finished and out!)

More information can be found here.

Forum Submission #1 Remember the forum on simpleminds.com? Whilst I worked behind-the-scenes on it, I also submitted some stories of my own which were never used. Rather than let the work go to waste, and with simpleminds.com undergoing total redesign at the moment, I thought I'd post them here. Enjoy! The annual Christmas party is usually the last place I'd expect to hear a first hand Simple Minds story. But this year, the wife of a colleague asked "Has my husband told you my Simple Minds story?" "No," I replied. After kicking her husband in the shin, she continued. "I used to work as security at the Birmingham NEC for ten years." I've heard lots of Simple Minds stories, but none had started as promising as this one. "I was to the left of the stage," she said. "People were climbing up the stairs from the audience and congregating on the side of the stage. It was looking unprofessional; these people could be seen from the audience and the band were currently playing. So I was asked to keep people from entering the area." She also mentioned that this was one of the most embarrassing things that happened to her in this job. So, it was getting better and better. "So I stopped people from going up the stairs and they cleared the area to the side of the stage. No-one was allowed through without an 'Access All Areas' pass": I can believe it. I tried my usual 'attempt-to-get-backstage' lines on her without any success. "But I'm with the band." "That's my mate over there." "I'm on the list." "The tour manager said it's OK." All met with a stern "NO." She knew her job. No-one without a pass was getting through there. So she continued her story, which took place in 1989 during the Street Fighting Years tour. "All of a sudden, this girl suddenly ran up the steps. I had to lunge to grab her by the arm as she rushed pass. I pulled her back and said 'Where's your pass? You're not going on stage without a pass!' Suddenly I was aware of someone shouting at me and people waving." "They were shouting: 'She's in the band. Let her up on stage. She's in the band'" And with that, my colleague's wife removed her grip on Lisa Germano who raced up the stairs, onto the stage, and picked up her violin - just in time to start playing on Belfast Child.

The following appeared in Scotland On Sunday a couple of weeks ago:

"'The next Simple Minds album will include a first, some purely acoustic tracks,' says Kerr. 'The band has also brought in a North American songwriter to galvanise the production schedule and the result will be a more up-tempo album than Simple Minds fans have been used to,' he added.

(The North American songwriter is, of course, Kevin Hunter.)

However, the article mainly concentrated on Jim's plans to get more involved in the Internet and the setting up his own record company after the current deal with Chrysalis-EMI is up in the spring.

The interview mentioned a release date of February 2000 for the new album. This doesn't tally with current rumours of an April release. Checking this out, it's known that the album has been delivered to Chyrsalis-EMI, but there's no release date yet!

(Thanks to David Malcolm).

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A taped bootleg of an early Simple Minds gig from 1979 has recently turned up. Finding shows from this era is very difficult, and the quality of the recording is extremely bad. But what makes this tape unique is a unique performance of an unknown song at the start of the gig.

Whilst researching Life In A Day for Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #9, a magazine interview (ZigZag Magazine) mentioned that Simple Minds started their shows with a song called Sweetthing. This song has remained undocumented until now.

Coupled with the bootleg tape, it could be assumed that this song is Sweetthing. But another contenter for the title is Rosemary's Baby - a song from this period which has never been heard.

And whilst on the subject of opening concerts with unknown songs, Simple Minds opened their early Once Upon A Time gigs with a short instrumental that's never been released officially.

So, as a first for this web site, I've included audio samples of both these unreleased songs. If any member of the band can identify either one, then it would be greatly appreciated!

(The version of the 1985 instrumental was taken from the double LP bootleg Alive And Kicking.)

Unknown Song #1 Manchester, UK 1979 Excerpt from instrumental introduction 152KB - PC WAV Format 28 seconds

Unknown Song #2 Heidelburg, Germany 1985 Whole song 332KB - PC WAV Format 62 seconds

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Virgin have released a new Simple Minds box set - just in time for Christmas. Unfortunately, it's simply a packaging of the stock copies of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84), Once Upon A Time and Street Fighting Years in a glossy brown box. This won't appeal to any fans of the band since these are probably the albums that everyone's got already.

At least the Disky reissue (Original Gold) featured an unpublished photograph on the sleeve; there's nothing as imaginative here.

More information about this box set can be found here.

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I have really neglected the bootleg discography recently. The last update of this particular project was back in February. So it really is time to continue.

Unfortunately, my record player was broken, so rather than wait for it to get fixed, I've started with the CD bootlegs. Unlike the majority of the LP bootlegs which are usually documenting a unique concert, the CD bootlegs are:

Sometimes repressings of an LP bootleg (a bad thing)

Copies of a radio transcription disc/recorded from an FM broadcast (a good thing)

Copies of another CD bootleg (a bad thing)

So, from the first batch of CD bootlegs, only Perfect Reception and Dutch Daze cover unique concerts. Live Adventures and parts of Life In A Day cover the same ground as the early LP bootleg The Best Years Of Our Lives whilst Live In Glagow 1982 is a worse copy of the All Kings Are White LP.

Full details, complete with crossreferencing, in the bootleg section.

(Many will realize that Form Phaullus Function is missing from this set. If anyone has a copy they are willing to sell to me then that would be most appreciated!)

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Check out the The Marketplace for more Simple Minds items wanted and for sale.

But, have you ever wanted the deluxe press-kit version of Néapolis? pukpuk@uptomail.com has one for sale, and it features the following:

Simple Minds: Neapolis (Very Limited Press Box Set)

CD Néapolis

Interview CD (regarding Néapolis release)

Video tape: 'Glitterball' video clip

3 coloured photos (on Kodak photo paper)

Press Release 'Néapolis'

Biography

Transcript of the interview CD

All this in a big silver movietape-style case, with 'Simple Minds' engraved on top.

For more information, see its entry in the discography.

The September issue of Endless River is now out. The highlight of this issue is an interview with Simple Minds official biographer Alfred Bos. The rest of the issue is packed with the usual features of news, CD and website reviews. Another feature takes on Real Life and concentrates on the discography and press reaction to the Minds' first album of the nineties.

More information about Endless River is here.

For those wondering, I'm still working on Who's Doing The Dreaming Now? #9. And Moises e-mailed me with the news that he's working on the next issue of Mission In Motion. Looks like the fanzine scene is hotting up again.

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Jon Stone has several items for sale including Saints And Sinners by Johnny And The Self Abusers and a signed copy of Once Upon A Time. Check out his list in the Marketplace.

Check out American Pie for a a new interpretation of Don't You (Forget About Me). The film, which is a cross between Porky's and There's Something About Mary, features a band at the high school prom slaughtering the classic. Wait for the cry of "You suck!" after the band finish the song.

On the other hand, the film's not too bad.

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More radio shows have appeared recently and have now been added to the discography. In The Zone from Westwood One features a choice selection of songs from the band's Glasgow 1995 show, and was aired in 1998.

Stepping back to 1995, the Glastonbury 95 set has also been updated with the first disc details. Plus full information about Planet Live from Coca-Cola which states that it's a recording of the band's 1995 show at Dublin's The Point, but turns out to be a recording from The Olympia, Paris.

More information can be found here.

Message from Shaun Tranter Convention co-organiser Hello all, Shaun here. Sorry I haven't put anything up before but I just wanted a few weeks away from anything to do with the convention. Basically to recharge the batteries. Clive passed on your e-mails to me, and thanks for those. It made it all worth while. So far, all I've had is one letter from a person who attended the convention, giving me some constructive criticism of what he liked and didn't like. Any chance of a few more. Many thanks to Dave Kelly and the boys for the tribute band. Many thanks to Jonathan Thomas for giving out the flyers at the Kosovo show. It paid off as I was speaking to a few people that came down after being handed the flyer. Chris Beard is God - well almost - thanks a million. Thanks to Andy from Discovery Records. Hope some of you managed to get some bargains. One thing I will ask for: if any of you have cuttings on Simple Minds, would you be so kind as to photocopy some and donate them to the press wall for the next convention. Feel free to donate whatever you want. As yet, no date has been fixed for the next convention. A million thanks to everybody that attended. You made all the hard work worthwhile. I could list everybody's name, but there are too many people to mention. So thanks once again to everybody. I trust you all had a great day and see you next time. Take care, Shaun Tranter 27 St. Johns Road Weston Hills Spalding Lincs PE12 6DG UK

Congratualations to Simple Minds who were presented a lifetime achivement award for services to Scottish Music Industry over the last twenty years. Jim picked up the award on behalf of the band last week.

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simpleminds.com, the band's official web site, has closed. A new, redesigned site will be launched in February 2000, probably coinciding with the release of their new studio album. Readers of Who's Doing The Dreaming Now? will not be surprised - the news that a new web site was being designed was included in issue #8. Surfers will not be surprised either - the site hadn't been updated since Christmas 1998.

It's not all bad news though. Check out the newly redesigned Toorkwaz web site which includes some new Simple Minds pictures and artwork. (Surf to Music->Simple Minds. You'll need the Flash plug-in to view it.)

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More news from Veldt, the Brighton based band previously mentioned on the 25^th August.

Their name does come from the instrumental Veldt that can be found on Simple Minds' second album, the experimental Real To Real Cacophony. Veldt "are great fans of Simple Minds early work, specifically around the Real To Real Cacophany, Empires And Dance and Sons And Fascination era."

A tour is expected in the spring/summer 2000. At the moment, the band has just spent some time in the studio for a major label, so there may be a commercial release by then.

For those who can't wait, some of their songs are available on their web site http://users.computerweekly.net/veldt/home.htm. These are highly recommended. From the choral and vocal effects of Fear, to the techno blast of Illusion Girl, the songs exhibit a wide variety of styles. Most have echoes of Simple Minds: Illusion Girl is Once Upon A Time (the piano effects) meets Néapolis (effects and dubs), with the bass full up in the mix. Vignette mixes R.E.M. keyboards, with Film Theme percussion: a grand fusion of ideas. Bullet is another must-listen, whilst Jumpsuit sounds like it takes Charlie's opening guitar riff from Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) and builds an entire song out of it.

The band used to use Simple Minds samples in their songs. Now they just "play in the style of..." Check them out.

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The links section has now been updated. The new EMI-Chrysalis Records web site is featured, but has little Simple Minds content. Of more interest are the web sites of Mick MacNeil and Veldt.

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The Hermes Claydon Set Sale continues. The update features some additional items.

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After running continuously for over a year, the Néapolis mailing list is currently off-line. The owners of the list discovered that their mail server had been hacked and was being used to send spam mails. Upgrading the mail software to prevent this abuse has resulted in the list breaking - it's being worked on and normality should be restored soon.

Forbes/Gaynor And Friends Brindisi, 29th August, 1999 Line-up:
Derek Forbes	Bass and lead vocals
Mel Gaynor	Drums and vocals
Ray McVeigh	Lead guitar
Gordon Gaynor	Rhythm/Lead guitar
Gee Bello	Percussion and vocals
David Quinn	Keyboards
Louise Berry	Lead and backing vocals
Mellissa Gaynor	Backing Vocals
Set List: Theme For Great Cities 30 Frames A Second Changeling I Travel Up On The Catwalk Pleasantly Disturbed Other songs planned: Waterfront Don't You (Forget About Me) Love Song Imagine (by John Lennon)

"The gig went ahead as planned on Sunday night, the 29^th of August, after a few hiccups with the P.A and some missing guitars!!!!! The line-up was: Derek Forbes..bass and lead vocals...Mel Gaynor...drums and vocals...Ray McVeigh...Lead guitar.... Gordon Gaynor..rhythm/lead guitar....Gee Bello...percussion and vocals..... David Quinn...keyboards....Louise Berry...Lead and backing vocals... and last but not least...Mellissa Gaynor...backing vocals.

The set was Theme For Great Cities, 30 Frames A Second, Changeling, I Travel, Catwalk and Pleasantly Disturbed. At this point the rain started to come down, so Emiliana Torrini came on for 2 songs, (she's from Iceland, and sounds uncannily like Bjork),the crowd loved her. Then it was our turn to come back on and do Song for Peace, which Mel wrote, and Gee Bello sang on the night.

At the end of this song, the clouds burst, so we had to abandon the gig, which meant Waterfront, Don't You, Love Song and ME singing Imagine was never heard. David Quinn, who was wearing his kilt and a Rangers top, went onstage again with his bagpipes and the crowd loved this and came running back for the ceilidh. McVeigh, Quinn and myself bared our arses to the crowd in defiance of tyranny, after which we went to the dressing room and had another wild party with the pipes. It was even more raucos than the party we had in Glasgow after the ssec gig.

We have been asked by the mayor to do a concert for them again at the Millenium.

Famous Hughie Armstrong was superb as my Bass tech...aye yer auld arse.

Derek Forbes (via e-mail)

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Jim was first to mention Mick MacNeil's solo album last year. Since then, there's been no news about this exciting project.

However, official news about Mick's solo album will soon be posted to Mick's web site ( http://www.mixmuzik.com). Whilst there are no details as yet (such as a title or price), the word is that it is definitely coming. The expected release date is December 1999.

Only limited numbers of the album will be available exclusively through Mick's web site (via an advanced booking facility). Updates will be posted here when the news is announced plus a MIXMUZIK mailing list will also be set up to keep everyone informed.

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Review: Brindisi Gig
By Cristina Canciani

"We're all disappointed. The audience is still little, maybe we are about a hundred. The days before the organizers kept on spreading the news that all the Minds would play and many people gave up when they realised that just Mel & Dan were here.

We're getting angry. We're sick of hearing too many bands, they're good but we don't care a pin about them. Besides we're getting treated in an absurd way; there's a lot of security and cops who keep us very far from the stage, watch over us as we were criminals and most of all when Dan & Mel go on stage, they make a wall against us.

Our band goes on stage at about half past eleven, but Dan promised to play 18 songs anyway. We try to get closer but cannot since we're forced to see Mel & Dan down there above the cop's and security's heads and that's the thing that I hate most; after spending a lot of money to come here, after a long journey, we cannot taste our band as we want.

But it's useless to get angry, I try to concentrate on music. They play Theme For Great Cities, 30 Frames A Second, Changeling, Beautiful People, Up On The Catwalk, Pleasantly Disturbed.

Then after break with Emiliana (who sounds exactly like Bjork, and Song For Peace, written for the occasion.

Again the music is excellent, even though the P.A. is too loud and noisy (at the sound-check it was perfect). The only flaw is Dan & Mel's voices. Dan is good but cold, he can't be as rich as Jim, he's not a vocalist. Mel has definitely a rough and weak voice, he sings all Up On The Catwalk by himself. Let's wait until they settle themselves.

As the gig goes on the audience relax but there's a weird atmosphere; lightning in the sky, the wind changes and we find ourselves drowned in smoke trails from the stage. A smell of something burning. The few spotlights project huge smoke circles against the sky. Now they're playing Pleasantly Disturbed. The blonde girl (Louise Berry) sings softly and her voice fluctuates through the mist. A soft rain starts to fall and the backlit drops look like little burning sparkles. We're taking part in a Sabbath.

Then, after Emiliana, we have just the time to listen to Song For Peace, then the rain starts to pour and the band has to stop. We just may not hear this gig! Is it Jim muse's revenge? We're on our way to the backstage when we see Dan beside the keyboardist who wears a kilt and plays a pipe. We give Dan the Scots flag and he sings When The Saints Go Marching In standing to attention.

Now we're just close to the stage, we're crazy. The song ends and abruptly and Dan shows us his naked bottom. He's wonderful! He's nuts and as instinctive as a kid. We're nuts as well. Then we go to the backstage. Quick talks, photos, autographs and a lot of warm kisses before leaving. They're all wonderful! Dan & Mel said maybe the're back in Italy early next year: "Someone, Somewhere In Wintertime" said Dan.

This is the end of a historical day, even though strange and hard, and the end of an even more historical gig that many people didn't understand. It signs an important and crucial stage of the Minds career, it's just the second time Mel & Derek play by themselves but most of all it's the proof that the old classics are still excellent, fresh and worth playing live, they must be played live again!

I'm looking forward to seeing a whole gig with the new set.

I go back to the hotel tired but happy because this day was wonderful. The time spent with the band and my friends widely repaid me of all the troubles. The only regret is for the few people who attended the gig, I hope Dan & Mel aren't discouraged by this."

Cristina Canciani
Cristia is the editor/writer of Le Menti fanzine