Press Release
In an epic lifespan of nearly 25 years, with total worldwide album sales of 25 million, the musical influence of Simple Minds has developed a very long arm indeed. It reaches from the smallest rock club to the biggest stadium and all the way back to clubland, and it's about to stretch even further with the news that the band will release a brand new album in March 2002 and return to the road soon afterwards for their first world tour since 1995. 2002 is Simple Minds' silver anniversary year, but with Kerr dividing his time between homes in Scotland and Sicily, and working from a wider musical palette than ever before, he and co-founder Charlie Burchill are doing anything but putting their feet up and surveying their achievements, much as they've earned the right. Instead they're overflowing with creative energy that holds the promise of an exciting new musical focus on the next record, the long-awaited follow-up to their last album of new material, 1998's Neapolis. Not to mention some celebratory live shows, as the band announce a 10-date UK tour starting close to home at the Clyde Auditorium on April 17, culminating in May with their first-ever performance at London's hallowed Royal Albert Hall.
The tour then moves on to Germany, with plans for shows in America, Japan and Australia in the late stages of development as we write. Kerr can't wait. "I was looking at our catalogue," he says. "There are songs we haven't played for a long time, like Up On The Catwalk, Speed Your Love To Me, The American and I Travel, and we have a real desire to play them again. We have to have a set that takes everyone on the journey and brings them up to date. We'll probably rehearse 30-40 songs."
It's a long way from the mean streets of Glasgow to the biggest arenas in the world, but when you're making some of the most adventurous and anthemic music of your day, the expedition takes care of itself. While we await the chance to appreciate 25 years of Simple Minds on stage, the full extent of that creative journey is underlined by the new compilation The Best of Simple Minds, a mighty 32-track testament that boasts no fewer than twenty top 20 hits and a great deal more.
It's an eloquent aide memoire to the band's world-class achievements, in the experimental, tastemaking combination of art, angst and European dance of their early post-punk days, such as I Travel and Life In A Day, and the anthems that have stirred live audiences by the tens of thousands since, like Don't You (Forget About Me) and Alive and Kicking, from records that set the album rock agenda of the 1980s such as New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84), Sparkle In The Rain and Once Upon A Time. This is one of the few British rock bands that truly made the American stadium A-list, the band whose Live Aid appearance in Philadelphia in 1985 was introduced by Jack Nicholson, and who saw an incredible five albums enter the UK charts at No.1.
The resumé takes in the widescreen Celtic melancholy of their 1989 No.1 Belfast Child, a bold and timeless excursion that outran the bubblegum pop of the day to the top of the charts, and the elegant, fearlessly pro-European vision of more recent hits like She's A River (from Good News From The Next World) and Glitterball (from Neapolis), recorded at a time when most of Britain was distracted by the transience of Britpop. Rather than following fashion, Simple Minds have always preferred to buck trends and start new ones of their own.
As one last memory-jog of just how far ahead of their time they were and how 21st century they sounded more than 20 years ago, The Best of Simple Minds closes with Raven Maize's club smash and top 15 pop crossover The Real Life, part of the Ministry of Sound's chart takeover of 2001 but a track featuring a sample from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody but structured around Theme For Great Cities, from the Minds' 1981 album Sons and Fascination, as the band's influence renews itself for another generation.
"We were delighted about that, not in the sense that anyone owed us anything but we always thought, listening to that genre of music, we've got stuff staring people in the face. But try to imagine how we'd have felt in 1980 when we did a piece of music that was really a track on a freebie album, that it would be in the charts 21 years later wth Freddie Mercury on it. Like "Are we taking enough drugs here or what?" Our arena/stadium phase is well documented, but it's nice to see our early electronic phase is being picked up on and highlighted."
After Neapolis, Kerr began to spend more time in Italy, both in Sicily and then in Naples with local dance-rock alchemists Planet Funk (whose collaboration will be the opening track on the impending Minds album). "Probably two years ago there was a lot of crossover between dance and mainstream artists, Bryan Adams for instance, and two or three people were asking if I'd be interested in doing that. It's not really my bag but I said I'd come along and check it out, and through doing that, the process started again."
So did the process of listening to current European tastemakers who blend rock and electronic elements as Simple Minds themselves were doing more than 20 years ago. "We've been enjoying listening to the music of Air and Mirwais and some of the other stuff," says Jim. "It's not out of a sense of duty that we should acknowledge that and listen to a few tracks, the cycle has also come around within us."
A collaboration with Vince Clarke, of Erasure, Yazoo and Depeche Mode fame, will also adorn the next album, and further emphasising the club potential of Simple Minds' wide, sophisticated rock vista, they're now on the dance cutting edge again via Malcolm Duffy's mix of Homosapien, their version of the song by Buzzcocks leader Pete Shelley. The track has been reshaped by Duffy from this year's Neon Lights.
As well as being a recorded note of acknowledgement to Simple Minds' own influences, such as Velvet Underground, David Bowie and The Doors, Neon Lights did exactly what Kerr and Burchill wanted, providing fresh momentum that led directly to the recording of the next album. "We started in January, we made a decision of wanting to go for it and we got really excited about the early demos," says Jim. "Comeback albums are clumsy things, we just thought "Let's just do some work." We were really starting to work the creative muscles again in a low-key way."
So, clues to the sound of the forthcoming album? "I like the idea of very focused melodies, tight arrangements, commercial stuff. I said to Charlie, "This is the only kind of music I want to make just now. Let's try and go on the ledge and do some real pop stuff."
And if you ask Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill what gets their creative engines going, you'll get the same answer they'd have given you 25 years ago and they were cutting-edge even then, sowing the seeds for Simple Minds in one of Scotland's first punk bands, Johnny and the Self Abusers. "On our passports, we're musicians," says Kerr. "We play, we write, it's what gets us out of bed in the morning and we want to write better songs and become better performers."
2002 Tour
Posters for the UK were printed last Friday.Extra dates added, including another in Germany. Check the Tour Dates for information.
Changeling Remix, Belfast Trance, 2002 Tour, www.simpleminds.org
The remix of Changeling is called Monster by Liquid People.You can hear a sample of it, and purchase the white label at http://www.juno.co.uk/all17-12-01.htm.
Belfast Trance by John "OO" Flemming is set for release on the 14th January on Virgin
Two more German and a Netherlands tour date have been added. The full tour can be found here.
The new Dream Giver site will start to appear at the end of January.
Cry, Mel Gaynor Online
The new Simple Minds album Cry will be released by Eagle Records on the 1st April. Two formats have been listed (EAGLE EAGCD 196 and EAGLE EAGLT 196).
The album will be preceeded by a single. The title track will be released on the 18th March as a two CD set (EAGLE EAGXS218 and EAGLE EAGXA218).
Extra date added to the tour: Muziekcentrum, Vredenburg, Holland on the 20th May.The full tour listing is here.
"Hi. Just to let you know that Mel Gaynor has a new website to be found at www.melgaynor.co.uk. It is not fully up and running yet but there are some pictures and some text.There will also be some interesting features such as a message board and a chance to download some of Mel's new material."At the moment, the site appears to just be a selection of templates. But keep an eye on it as content is uploaded.
Rehab, Homosapien Single, Belfast Child Remix, New Gold Dream Remix, Changeling Remix, Our Secrets Are The Same
Rehab are planning an album and will be negotiating a record deal around April next year. The single, Everybody Want's To Be Here, appearing as a demo on Mick's site, was remixed by Mel Gaynor for the white label release.
Although currently writing as a trio, the three members of Rehab (Mick MacNeil, Derek Forbes and Mel Gaynor) would really love to see the 'original gang' get back together again.
Negotiations continue and the line-up for the Simple Minds 2002 tour still isn't finalised.
Homosapien is released today. Full format information can be found here
Back on the 14th April (see the archives), I mentioned a white label 12" of Belfast Child which was doing the rounds. Called Belfast Trance the 12" featured a dance remix either called the Nebula or Trance mix.Thought at the time to be a bootleg, it turns out that this isn't the case.
On the 11th August, DJ John "OO" Flemming was interviewed as part of the Ministry @ Knebworth '01 event.
Q: "Tell us about your new single, 'Belfast Trance'?
A: "I did it as a bit of fun. I've always loved Simple Minds' Belfast Child, and I put it into a breakdown of a progressive trance tune. I played it for a bit of fun and then it started turning serious when my management loved it to pieces and Mark Goodyear (management) took it to Virgin and they loved it. Simple Minds are signed to them, so they gave the thumps up and so it's out in September."With Neon Lights and The Best Of being released around the same time, plans for a single were obviously shelved.
Until now. A new remix of Belfast Trance has appeared on Nebula, now attributed to John "OO" Flemming vs. Simple Minds With the song updated and remixed, it appears that it might get a single release after all.
- Simply Minds Nebula BEL 001
- A1. Belfast Trance [10.02] [Nebula/Trance Mix]
- With information sheet citing band as Simply Minds. White label one-sided 12"
- John "OO" Flemming vs. Simple Minds Nebula BELF 001
- A1. Belfast Trance [11.04] [New Vocal Mix]
- B1. Belfast Trance [10.02] [Original Vocal Mix]
- 12" with blue Nebula labels. Original Vocal Mix is the Nebula/Trance mix of previous white label.
No new news about New Gold Dream by Gold Dreamer, but I recently received a copy of one of the mixes. This one is definitely worth waiting for. New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) updated and with new vocals by Jim. It's closer to the original New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) than most of the modern remixes which have appeared.
And if that's no enough, a new remix of Changeling was heard on Pete Tong's drivetime show last Friday on Radio One. The artist will be posted here, once they're identified.
Thank you for your email regarding the Simple Minds album "Our Secrets are the Same".
Firstly, can I stress that EMI Records is not in the business of preventing music from being released.
Conversations are ongoing between us and Simple Minds on a number of issues including unreleased music. I very much hope that this will reach a resolution shortly.
Kind regards,
TONY WADSWORTH
President & CEO EMI Records UK & Ireland
Homosapien Single, Discography Updates
"Apparently it's Simple Minds... Alledgedly mixed by Malcolm Duffy - top mix!" (Pete Tong "Essential Selection", Radio One, September 2001)
"What happens when one of the biggest rock bands of the 80's and 90's covers a classic track which is then remixed by one of the most highly respected underground DJs?
The band I'm referring to is Simple Minds, the track 'Homosapien', the DJ Malcolm Duffy and the result is a stunning remix that has already been played by Pete Tong and is being hammered by a handful of DJ's off acetate.
What was at first presumed to be a bootleg, now appears to be a genuine remix commissioned by the band's management, and will be released in December by London label, Remote Recordings.
For much of London's gay/mixed clubbers, Malcolm Duffy is a major part of their weekend soundtrack as his weekly gigs in London alone comprise of arguable 3 of the most influential clubs on the scene, taking in Fiction at The Cross on Fridays, Trade at Turnmills on Saturdays and DTPM at Fabric on Sundays.
Although he has many productions under his belt, this is possibly his finest to date combining the tough, funky uncompromising sound of his DJ sets with the unique quality vocals of Simple Minds This, coupled with the current fascination and popularity with the 80's sound should this track gain wide appeal."
Remote Recordings
Homosapien will be released on the 3rd December on 12" and CD.
Press Release12" REMOTE016
A: Malcolm Duffy Mix / AA: Malcolm Duffy Dub5" CD REMOTE016CD
1: Malcolm Duffy Edit / 2: Malcolm Duffy Mix / 3: Malcolm Duffy Dub MixIt will be reviewed in December's edition of Muzik Magazine (as a Vital Release). Other reviews will be in DJ, Mixmag, 7, M8, Wax and Upfront. An advert will appear in DJ Magazine.
A taster of the remix can be found on here. You can also pre-order the CD and 12" there - and receive them a week before the official release date.
Information about Homosapien will be uploaded to its own page here over the next month. Press releases are already uploaded.
Additions to the discography include full information about the Neon Lights Sampler (including the expanded sleeve notes), corrections to the track listing of the US version of Neon Lights, addition of the US promo version of Dancing Barefoot EP, further information about the Neon Lights US promo, Billy Sloan's sleeve notes for The Best Of (with corrections), The Best Of formats (the Super Audio version seems to have disappeared), The Best Of album sampler and The Best Of press release.
Homosapien, The Best Of, Tour Dates
Rumours of a Homosapien single have taken a surprising turn.Remote Recordings will be releasing a 12" single of Homosapien on the 3rd December. This will feature two remixes by Malcolm Duffy. (The original mix on the A side, with a dub mix on the flip.)
But what of the Vince Clarke remix which was released in the clubs?
News from a difference source states that's that one of Clarke's remixes (produced in collaboration with will Mick Martin) will appear on a CD single to be released on the 3rd December. Another source suggest that the catalogue number is Remote 016CD, released on Windsong, apparently a US company.
So, it looks like the Neon Lights story isn't over yet.
The discography entry for The Best Of is now online. It will be expanded to include press releases, sleeve notes and promo releases over the next week.
Unfortunately the artwork is cheap-and-nasty, and Billy Sloan's sleeve notes are brief and inaccurate. With one exception, he gets every single date wrong.
But, it's recommeneded. The remastering is mostly excellent - with the exception of Real Life where the female backing vocals have been lost. And, for completists, new edits of Hypnotised and War Babies have appeared, whilst Let There Be Love appears in a previously unreleased extended form. (It's assumed that this the extended album version, promised on the obi-strip of the Let There Be Love box set, but never delivered).
Further additions to the tour dates:
17/04/02 Glasgow UK Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 18/04/02 Glasgow UK Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 20/04/02 Newcastle UK Newcastle City Hall 21/04/02 Birmingham UK Birmingham NEC 22/04/02 Cardiff UK Cardiff International Arena 24/04/02 Manchester UK Manchester Apollo 25/04/02 Manchester UK Manchester Apollo 26/04/02 Nottingham UK Nottingham Royal Centre 28/04/02 Plymouth UK Plymouth Pavilion 29/04/02 Brighton UK Brighton Centre 02/05/02 London UK Royal Albert Hall 03/05/02 London UK Royal Albert Hall 05/05/02 Utrecht Netherlands Muziekcentrum 06/05/02 Brussels Belgium Cirque Royale 08/05/02 Bielefeld Germany Stadthalle Bielefeld 09/05/02 Frankfurt Germany Jahrhunderthalle Hoechst 10/05/02 Berlin Germany Tempordrom 12/05/02 Munich Germany Cirkus Krone Bau 13/05/02 Cologne Germany E-Werk 14/05/02 Hamburg Germany Stadtpark
The Best Of, Tour Dates
For more information try here.
It isn't known if Super Audio CDs will play in normal CD players - so avoid it if you're unsure.
In the meantime, the collector will be busy; so far there's a 14 track UK sampler, a 4 track Spanish sampler and CD acetates of the album doing the rounds.
Virgin have knocked up a small website to promote the album. You can view a selection of the band's videos plus enter a competition to win The Best Of and the back catalogue. This can be found here
Updated tour dates, including the German dates:
17/04/02 Glasgow UK Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 18/04/02 Glasgow UK Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 20/04/02 Newcastle UK Newcastle City Hall 21/04/02 Birmingham UK Birmingham NEC 22/04/02 Cardiff UK Cardiff International Arena 24/04/02 Manchester UK Manchester Apollo 25/04/02 Manchester UK Manchester Apollo 26/04/02 Nottingham UK Nottingham Royal Centre 28/04/02 Plymouth UK Plymouth Pavilion 29/04/02 Brighton UK Brighton Centre 02/05/02 London UK Royal Albert Hall 03/05/02 London UK Royal Albert Hall 08/05/02 Bielefeld Germany 09/05/02 Frankfurt Germany 10/05/02 Berlin Germany 12/05/02 Munich Germany 13/05/02 Cologne Germany 14/05/02 Hamburg Germany
Our Secrets Are The Same Bootleg, Marketplace, Känsligt Läge, Top Of The Pops 2, Neon Lights, Bootlegs
The great thing about early Simple Minds is that they were never afraid to pay respects to their influences. So as well as the requisite Pistols, Neu!, Bowie and the 'Werk that were printed as a matter of course on every post-punk band's CV, Jim Kerr and co. also doffed their caps to Genesis (at a time when Foxtrot was the equivalent of a dose of syphilis), Floyd (sic) and Crimson (sic).
It was the Minds' prog-punk-electronic influences that so defined their first five albums, the final three of which (Empires And Dance, Sons And Fascination and New Gold Dream ) were a near-perfect trilogy, encompassing all their influences in an unparalleled scale of warm grandeur. New Gold Dream is a pinnacle in literate pop with the lightest of touches.
And then U2, who had, at that point, trailed the Minds in popularity, hit big. The mullet-race was on. Jim brought out Sparkle In The Rain in 1983 (sic), possibly the most complacent album in the world; U2 bought out The Unforgettable Fire; Jim hit pay day with the Bryan Ferry cast-off Don't You (Forget About Me); then U2 issued The Joshua Tree. The race was over. U2 had won.
When they tried to belatedly regain their credibility in 1998 with Glitterball it was all too late. The early material - The American, Sweat In Bullet (indecipherable lyrics and all), I Travel, Theme From Great Cities(sic), and Love Song - quite simply remain some ofthe greatest moments in 20th century pop.
Now contenting themselves to make covers albums, The Best Of is an opportunity to hear how good Simple Minds once were; just get that program button working.
Daryl Easlea
Record Collector
November 01
Full information about the Our Secrets Are The Same bootleg can be found here
Two more additions to the marketplace including some vinyl bootlegs.
The trailers for the Swedish TV show Känsligt Läge use Saints And Sinners as backing music.
Simple Minds will be appearing on Top Of The Pops 2 this Wednesday (18:00, BBC 2). What's the bets that they'll dig out that Promised You A Miracle appearance again.
The Canadian version of Neon Lights has been added to the discography.
The vinyl bootleg discography looked like being complete, but a rare double version of the Ghostdancing album has just turned up. This features the first two discs of the triple - pressed up on a different label.
Tour Dates, Rehab, Dancing Barefoot EP, Neon Lights, Generic Interview, Our Secrets Are The Same, Press Interviews
The first tour dates for the forthcoming world tour have been announced. Tickets are not for sale yet. This is just the start.
22/04/02 Cardiff UK Cardiff International Arena 24/04/02 Manchester UK Manchester Apollo 29/04/02 Brighton UK Brighton Centre
And in a candid interview, Mick reveals that he would consider going on tour with the Minds. "Jim had asked before if I'd be interested in going on tour with Simple Minds again, and I've always said no. But sitting there watching U2 I got such a thrill. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and all I could think of was 'why isn't that us? I want to be where they are. We could whip their ass!'"
"I could see it in Jim's face too. I know he wanted to be up there. Maybe the time is right, the past is in the past and we should live for today."
Derek is also up-beat. "But Simple Minds' problem has always been not being able to talk to each other. For me, getting back together would feel like putting on an old pair of slippers, just completely natural."
Comments from Mick and Derek effectively open the door - they want to tour again. And as Derek says: "It's up to Jim and Charlie but at least we're all talking again and the doors are open."
But, no-one could've predicted that the trio would form their own band: Rehab.
Plus a Rehab single is in preparation. Everybody Wants 2 Be Here has already gone down a storm in the London clubs.
The Rehab interview can be found here.
Neither the Dancing Barefoot EP or Neon Lights charted in the UK. The single wasn't legible for chart entry (featuring four tracks instead of the maximum three) but the lack of Neon Lights in the chart listings prompted some debate on the mailing list.Is this an issue for Simple Minds or Eagle Records? No. Low key release, low key introduction of Simple Minds. It's Eagle #2 that will get the big push. Plus there's the Best Of compilation next month. And the tour.
"Reverting to marketing-speak he describes the release of Neon Lights as a 'soft relaunch': "Although we never quit, it is a comeback in a public sense." But wary of the make-or-break pressure of a big comeback concert Simple Minds decided to simply go to work, putting out albums in quick succession. "If things work out the way we hope and think they might then after a year or so it'll be like: 'Of course, Simple Minds are about and make music and play.' There will be no doubts or questions where there obviously have been - and rightfully so - over the last few years."
Anyway, more collectables and releases have appeared over the last couple of weeks. It's time to update the discography...
Promotional copies of Dancing Barefoot EP have surfaced. Like all the other Eagle promos (with the exception of the Neon Lights Sampler), these green CDRs have silver non-playing surfaces with black type and Eagle Logo. They're housed in plastic wallets with title inserts.
Information about the one-track Dancing Barefoot promos can be found here.
Similar advance promos of the Neon Lights album have also appeared.
Those who purchased the album in Virgin Megastores also received a bonus CD - the Neon Lights Sampler with Jim's introductions before each track.
And Eagle are also looking into the possiblity of including a copy of the album with each new Smartcar.
Whilst the US version of the album has yet to get its commercial release, the Candian version has appeared - and features two hidden bonus tracks. The two exclusive EP tracks can be found at the end of All Tomorrow's Parties.
One interesting 'oddity' to turn up is A Generic Interview With Jim Kerr. Heavy culled from a longer interview, this CD concentates on the history of Simple Minds, briefly mentions Neon Lights and then Jim talks about the forthcoming album and tour.
The full transcript can be found here.
I've been told by Eagle Records that there will be no more singles released from Neon Lights... but things aren't as they seem.Firstly there is no limited edition release of Neon Lights featuring a remix of Homosapien (as listed on amazon.de). However, Vince Clark has remixed Homosapien, and this has been made available to the clubs. So I guess there's some white labels knocking around. Furthermore, a new single has been listed: Honosapien CD and 12" for the 3rd December. I'll check this out.
Vince Clarke may be remixing tracks for Eagle 2 but he is not the producer.
As far as Eagle and Simple Minds are concerned, the Neon Lights phase is over - it's full steam on Eagle 2. First activity for this album will start in November, really ramping up in the new year.
(Neon Lights is the first part of a five year plan for Simple Minds. Just to put it in context.)
Eagle have four rough mixes from Eagle 2 - one track in particular sounds amazing. It isn't dance orientated but more band orientated. Expect lots of remixes.
They are using a new publicity firm for Eagle 2. Big industry heavyweights. Neon Lights was just a small scale release, something the band wanted to do, not much promotion (as has been seen). Now everything is gearing up for a much larger scale release for Eagle 2.
The band are not doing any more promotion for Neon Lights. The press won't do a big interview/piece a couple of months after a previous one - hence the lack of large scale interviews for Neon Lights.
Whilst working on Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #10 and the history of Our Secrets Are The Same, I was able to compile the definite line-up of the album. This has been corrected on the album's page in the discography.
The bootleg discography has been slighty re-arranged to include the Our Secrets Are The Same bootleg. It's been paired up with A Real Long Time Ago which was another bootleg of an album (albeit a very bad recording of Life In A Day).
The page for the Secrets bootleg will be fleshed out once my copy turns up.
A while back (23rd September), Jim was interviewed for the Scottish Sunday Times. The transcription of that interview can be found here. It veers away from Neon Lights prefering to concentrate on Jim's family life. However, another interview with Scotland On Sunday a week later concentrates on the music more. Of particular interest:"Now, in their studio in Sicily, he and Burchill are working - with Italian musicians and songwriters - on the album of new material to be released next year, followed by a worldwide concert tour. "It sounds like Simple Minds of old but revitalised," says Kerr. "It's rhythmic, electronic, with enigmatic lyrics and a strong European identity." The younger of his two brothers, 31-year-old Mark, a musician based in France, has contributed a couple of songs.."