Monster, Discography Update
Monster by Liquid People vs Simple Minds has finally been released with two 12" singles appearing in the shops last Monday. Strangely, the CD has yet to appear.
Monstermental is the instrumental version, which has received the most airplay. For those who are a little wary of remixes, purchase the dark blue copy (Defected DFECT49), which features the versions of the song closest to Changeling. (Or wait for the CD).
Liquid People vs Simple Minds: Monster
A1. Monstermental (Original Instrumental)
B1. Monstermental (Kidstuff Take The Helm)
B2. Monster (Liquid Metal Mix)
Defected DFECT49
12" in dark blue picture sleeve.Liquid People vs Simple Minds: Monster
A1. Monster (Sebastien Leger's Monster Remix)
A2. Monster (Sebastien Leger's Monster Dub)
B1. Monster (Cricco Castelli Remix)
Defected DFECT49R
12" in light blue picture sleeve.
Two promos from the Cry Remix single have now been added to the discography.
First is the white-label 12" single which features the Phunk Investigation remixes. This features the same track list as the first of the two 12" pressings by Absolutely.
Second is a CDR actate of the same tracks from Eagle. It isn't known why Eagle are circulating these songs - perhaps they're being considered for a forthcoming release.
More information is here.
Mel Gaynor Quote, Radio Marathon, Spaceface/New Sunshine Morning single, Remix Album, Spaceface Remixes, Phunk Investigation, Tour, Friends Reunited, More Remixes, Swimming Towards The Sun
Billboard Review of Cry
For many, the mere mention of 1980s music conjures up visions of The Cure, Depeche Mode, U2, and INXS. Simple Minds can also be counted among that pack, but unlike its peers, the band -- while successful throughout Europe -- has been dead-legged in the American market for a good 15 years. A stateside tour with the aforementioned, but now re-vamped, post-Michael Hutchence INXS could boost the band's North American status, but even if it doesn't, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill (the only original members of Simple Minds remaining) should be proud of the largely solid Cry.
Evoking the band's most successful album (1985's Once Upon A Time) out of the starting gate, the title cut houses well-crafted synthesizer bits, a memorable guitar line, and Kerr's appealing and familiar voice. If there's little originality in Spaceface, which swipes from a certain Irish outfit's 2001 hit Elevation both musically and lyrically ("Talking to the stars, no time for idle wars / big on aviation and love's levitation,") the song's chorus is one epic hook that isn't easily forgotten. When Kerr and Burchill aren't drawing on the past or their one-time peers, they're looking to the club scene for inspiration. And by doing so, the Minds lose points. One Step Closer is an absurdly formulaic techno exercise, while Disconnected is packaged as outdated, tepid disco pop. Luckily, the affable laid-back rocker Lazy Lately and the big brilliant ballad New Sunshine Morning, correct matters, finding the band returning to the sound of its finest album, 1984's Sparkle in the Rain.
Pulling from different branches of the rock tree for its first batch of new material in seven years, Simple Minds may suffer from an identity crisis and an occasional lack of originality, but the record's strong points well overpower the few weak moments. Which means fans of the group's '80s heyday will have little trouble reconnecting with Simple Minds via Cry.
John D. Luerssen
billboard.com
18th June, 2002There was recently excitement about an interview with Mel Gaynor, published on the official site. It seemed that Mel was hinting a return to the UK, Europe and the USA later this year. However, his statement was ambigious. And, taken with the fact that the interview took place after the Glasgow gig (17th May), it could be read that he was talking about the current tour.
Here's the quote:
"Well, we plan to tour up until the end of July, then take a break, with possibly some more dates from October. This will include the UK, then Europe, and after Europe we go off to the States, then see how it goes. We'll probably go back to the States at the end of the year, before working on another new album early next year - then go off to promote that.."The second sentence is ambiguous. Does it refer to the tour up to July, or the dates from October onwards?
As I read it, they will tour up to the end of July, including the UK, Europe and then the States. Then, after a break, they'll probably go back to the States.
The other interpretation is equally valid.
So, jury's out on that one. All that could be concluded is the possibility of a second US tour at the end of the year. Perhaps a little like the Christmas Shows they did in 1994?
Todd's broadcast of 18 hours of continous Simple Minds was a huge success, and he interviewed Jim during the later part of the show.
The first ten minutes of the interview has now been transcribed here.
Important points in this part of the interview included:
1. Jim won't confirm Mel's comments about extra tour dates in the later part of this year.
2. The US leg of the tour was just 'dipping their toe' in the water. Simple Minds will be back.
3. The live DVD will be released in three months time. This puts it around September or October.
4. The new studio album is being partly recorded in sound checks in Europe. Most of the songs were written during the Cry sessions, and continuity can be heard with that album. "Keeping the electronic thing, still very focused songs, maybe a little more dynamic, a little more rock" - Jim.
5. Spaceface has been remixed by Stonebridge. This will receive a commercial release.
The Spaceface single will be released in Belgium on the 15th July.Copies of the New Sunshine Morning varient (as released in Germany and Italy) have finally started to appear on on-line record stores.
The remix album, originally planned for this month, has been delayed until September.
"I just heard a great remix today of Spaceface. It's incredible. Which was e-mailed - which was MP3ed out from Scandinavian outfit called Stonebridge. It's really, really great." - Jim Kerr"How cool was that? I'm amazed at this reaction. When you speak to Jim next, tell him I've been a big fan of theirs since the 80's, and always wanted to remix something of theirs. Also, I am one guy (not a team) from Stockholm, Sweden.
Thanks for this, made my week!" - Stonebridge.Stonebridge was working on a Phunk Investigation remix of Spaceface. It is expected that Simple Minds Vs. Phunk Investigation will be released on Absolutely Records.
Incidentally AmericanDisco.net had copies of the 12" promo of the Cry remixes up for grabs. Worth checking out.
Here's one we all missed. Phunk Investigation's Sex Appeal, released in 2001, featured a Simple Minds sample. Which sample? Don't know at the moment. It was released on 12" (on the DW Boys/Bustin' Loose label) but is proving difficult to find.
The Jones Beach was a memorable show for the weather. A tornado touched down about 50-60 miles from the venue, and there was quite a bit of lightning in the middle of the set, and prior to INXS's set. Jim was holding back laughter for most of She's A River as the rain became torrential i.e. "A river in front of me!". (A pity it wasn't Waterfrront).An instrumental version of One Step Closer has been played before some of the US shows. This isn't Where Is The Max by Planet Funk, but an instrumental of Simple Minds version.
Unfortunately, due to a slightly late start, the set-list had to be trimmed at Toronto - and the band weren't too happy about that.
The Irish gigs look doubtful. Simple Minds were trying to book two nights at The Point in Dublin and were looking to play on the Miss Saigon Stage. Unfortunately negotiations broke down. The band are looking at other venues.
There will be extra gigs in northern Spain in August.
Simple Minds will be joining Iggy Pop, The Stanglers and The Sugababes for the "Rock On Rock" festival on the Croatian island of Krk on the 4th August.
Tickets can be reserved from www.moja-ulaznica.com (although there's nothing there at the moment). Keep checking it.
Friends Reunited allows old schoolfriends to track each other down by registering your details in their database. There's also a section for "Famous Pupils", so what better than to check out what Jim and Charlie's fellow classmates were saying about them.Very little, as it turns out, but a handful of entries reveals an insight into the goings-on at Holyrood Catholic School in the late seventies. For example:
1977 - Charlie Burchill. Added by Martin Cotter.
"First person I spoke to at Holyrood, who said 'ma name's Charlie Bubble'; went on to do two notable things, one (accidentally) put my head thru a window, and 2 become guitarist in Simple Minds."
Uncharacteristicly violent behaviour from the normally cheerful guitar player. But what about Jim?1977 - Jim Kerr. Added by Kieran Fallon.
"Lead singer with Simple Minds.".
Interesting, but I think we knew that one already. However, Frank comes to the rescue:1978 - Jim Kerr. Added by Frank Gilbride.
"Told by the headie he wouldn't make it in the music world, but then looked what happened."
There you go. If Jim had taken his headmaster's advice, he'd still be a plumber today.Friends Reunited: Great site, dreadful graphics.
More remixes to look out for are:
- Goldreamer by DJ T. This is the mix of New Gold Dream which everyone has been waiting for. With newly recorded vocals by Jim, it is out on the small independent Y2K. However, two majors are interesting in a larger scale release. In the meantime, Stevie Kerr on Beat 106FM has been playing it nightly.
- Gold Dream by Gold Dream. It's been out on Rise Records in Italy (Rise 144-12L) - not much known about this one.
- Sex Appeal by Phunk Investigation. This has already been mentioned above.
- Spaceface by Simple Minds Vs. Phunk Investigation. Hopefully this remix of Spaceface (with Stonebridge lending a hand) will be out soon on Absolutely Records.
- The Things I Can Do by Jeremy Sylvester. This samples Don't You (Forget About Me).
- The Darkness also by Jeremy Sylvester (obviously a fan!) includes the sampled intro of This Is Your Land.
The correct track listing of the tribute album Swimming Towards The Sun has been added to the news section for the 28th May.Mike Simpson still needs more orders to meet the costs for the first batch. There has been a little confusion about this project - these albums will be professionally pressed as silver CDs with full artwork. Please help by supporting it.
Full contact information and details are available in the 28th May section.
Radio Marathon Today, Tour, Matthew Good Band
Simple Minds Radio Marathon - TODAY! ONLINE SIMULCAST! "Greetings All,
I just wanted to take the time to remind everyone about "Some Sweet Day 2002 - The Simple Minds Marathon". I'm hosting the 18 hour event at WBWC 88.3 FM The Sting in Cleveland, Ohio USA., from 7am -1am EST.We're in the works to have Mr. Kerr call in - hopefully we'll know more by the start of the show - keep an eye out on the online flyer at:
http://www.runninglate.org/marathons/sm.htmlIf you have any requests send them along via email at wbwc@bw.edu or phone them in at 440-826-2187. My thanks to all the SM fans out there who make it so rewarding to produce a show like this - I can't wait!
See you on the airwaves
"
Todd R.: Host "SSD 2002"The event will be broadcast over the net. You will need RealAudio and the streams can be picked up via www.wbwc.com.
The first of the co-headlining gigs with INXS took place on the 24th June at the Beacon Theatre in New York. Simple Minds received top billing and took to the stage second.Both bands played for around 75 minutes, including encores.
Other gigs with INXS will be at Wantaugh, NY (27th June), Holmdel, NJ (28th June) and Detroit, MI (3rd July).
Set-lists of some US gigs have been uploaded to the tour section.
More concert dates have also been added to the list. After the gig in Sicily, Simple Minds will be playing at various festivals around Europe. They will be visiting Switzerland, Denmark (for a series of Green Concert dates), Italy, France, Monaco and Belgium. It has also been mentioned that they might visit Ireland, but nothing definite has been announced.
This has done the rounds on the various bulletin boards and mailing lists, but it's worth mentioning here.The main riff of Cry is the same as the opening riff of The Matthew Good Band's Indestructable. But don't take my word for it, as you can listen to it here.
New Single, Tour
The new single, Spaceface, was released on Monday.
A disappointing two track single, it features the album cut of Spaceface, backed with New Sunrise, the acoustic version of New Sunshine Morning which was featured on Billy Sloan's show before the tour kicked off.
A remix of the title track by Liquid People failed to appear.
In some European countries (definitely Germany and perhaps Italy), New Sunshine Morning is being released as the single. It features the same B-side, but different artwork and catalogue number.
For the low-down on formats, promos and more, then click here.
Disconnected has been pencilled in as the third single by Eagle.
Interestingly very limited CD acetates of the Phunk Investigation remix of Cry have also been issued by Eagle. So, this might indicate that the potential third single may have a few more surprises on it.
Simple Minds have just started the US leg of The Floating World Tour.The set-list has shortened, with only one encore. For example, the set at the Celebrity Theater, Phoenix (17th June) was:
1. New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
2. Speed Your Love To Me
3. One Step Closer
4. Love Song
5. Big Sleep
6. See The Lights
7. Glittering Prize
8. Ghostdancing
9. Spaceface
10. She's A River
11. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
12. Let There Be Love
13. Waterfront
14. Dont You (Forget About Me)
--------
15. I Travel
16. Promised You A Miracle
17. Sanctify Yourself
18. Alive And Kicking"A BRILLIANT SHOW! For many of us, it was the first time seeing the band as they haven't played Arizona since April 1986!
Celebrity Theater is 'in the round' and features a revolving 360 degree stage surrounded by 1200 seats. The front row is within 3 feet of the stage, which encourages band/audience interaction. However, a cadre of slinky dancing girls from the audience joined the band onstage during She's A River, Let There Be Love and Don't You (Forget About Me), before the band called on the venue's security to keep them off-stage. Even the oft-smiling bassist Eddie Duffy was visibly 'irked' when the convoy of blondes returned during Dont You (Forget About Me) and crowded him, Charlie and Jim as they ended the primary set. Even as they played drums and keyboards, Mel and Andrew got psuedo-strip club massages by the roving band of Scottsdalian lapdancers!"
Marc Pearsall
Monster, Tour
Despite the release date shown on the 2-track CDR acetates of Monster, Liquid People vs. Simple Minds will now be released on the 24th June.
The two-track acetate features the instrumental version of Monster, which was the first circulated and played.
The video has also been broadcast (the guys DJing at a party) on RI:SE (UK morning show) and MTV UK.
The show at Amsterdam tomorrow will be webcasted live, and some select tracks will be kept online for some time afterwards. To watch the show, then click here.
Photos of the French concert can be viewed here. Whilst pictures from their Italian shows can be found here.
An exclusive interview with Jim can be found on U2actung's website. The english translation can be found here.
The lead singer of Kane was recently interviewed on Dutch television, where he said that he was planning a song with Simple Minds.
The tour is continuing into August. Simple Minds will be playing the Marktrock festival in Belgium on the 14th. For more information click here.
Erfurt
18th MaySo itīs time for the last of the german shows, in Erfurt.
The Messehalle is surely not built with much thought to music, so it is a pleasant surprise to discover that the sound is excellent, at least where I am seated tonight. And here is another one of those wonderful audiences, who seem to listen intently to all the music.
Simple Minds are such a professional band, that it is of course possible that in reality they play equally good every night, and itīs just the audienceīs reactions that create my feelings of the show. But the band is of course affected by the behaviour of the audience too!
The set list is the same as the night before, in Emden. In Ghostdancing Eddie gets more underwear, and passes it on to Mel just like in Berlin.
Without doubt, Belfast Child is extraordinary tonight. Jim seems to be totally present in every word. It carries over into Waterfront. Iīve always been fascinated by Jim's body language and itīs variations: tonight he moves precisely like he does in the video for Waterfront! Amazing to see. Charlieīs moves simply transfix me, always.
In Sheīs A River Jim gets lost in the lyrics and improvises. Then things seem to go as planned, and finally it all comes to a close with Alive And Kicking. It has been a wonderful night.
And it has been a wonderful tour, too. To avoid becoming "their own tribute band" (Jims expression) from now on they surely must keep up the long, ever-changing set list, try to stay away from festival gigs with their limitations, and challenge the audience with new material!
See you all wonderful people, band and audience, on the next tour!
Hans-Olof Andersson
Spaceface/New Sunshine Morning, Tribute Album, Tour, Monster, Compilations, Our Secrets Are The Same
Spaceface, the forthcoming Eagle single, has been put back to the 17th June.Promos of the German varient, New Sunshine Morning, have started to circulate. These two-track maxi-singles are the commercial varient with promotional stickers. The artwork is different from the Spaceface release, featuring the band photograph from the cover of Cry (but not reversed), repeated at smaller sizes across the sleeve.
New Sunshine Morning : Eagle EAGXS 233
1. New Sunshine Morning (3:34)
2. New Sunrise (4:16)
Picture CD in slimline jewel case.(New Sunrise is the Billy Sloan session of New Sunshine Morning.)
Swimming Towards the Sun, the first ever tribute album to the greatest band, Simple Minds, is about a month from release. To see the cover art (also shown right), go to:
In order to raise money for the initial 1000 disc run, I need to organize a pre-release sale. The price with postage in the U.S.A. is $16.50. The price outside of the USA is $18.50. Sorry it is a bit pricey. But with 14 tracks all recorded by independent artists, the expenses were quite high and need to be reimbursed. The benefits of pre-ordering include:
-Help make the album a reality. Without pre-orders, we can't afford to release it.
-Be guaranteed of getting a copy of an album that might be limited to 1000 copies.
-Get a bonus sampler CD containing alternative rock tracks by several independent bands.Also, when your payment is received, you will be given an address for downloading the cover version of The American in CD quality. In the meantime, you can listen to samples of the album at:
www.live365.com/stations/129689.
The entire album can be heard here in fair quality (32 kbps). You will need at least a 56K modem to keep up. The downloadable version of The American will sound MUCH better.
You can send payment to me using one of two methods:
1) Send payment electronically with a credit card using PayPal (www.paypal.com"). Send the money to mike@blowfishmusic.comor
2) Send a check or money order (payable to Eternal Hope Sanctuary) to:Eternal Hope Sanctuary
Attn: Tribute Album
3765 Georgia Ln.
Idaho Falls, ID 83406
USAIn addition to paying for the recording costs, I hope to raise some money using this project for my wife's charity, Eternal Hope Sanctuary. If you are interested in learning more about this charity, let me know. I just don't want to bore people who aren't interested.
Thanks for your interest in this album. Believe me, everyone will be very pleased with it. Some really brilliant musicians have worked on it, including a few pros. E-mail me if you have any questions.
Refunds will, of course, be given if I fail to pre-sell enough copies.
Mike Simpson
Swimming Towards The Sun
1. Scar - Simon Hayward/Groove Machine
2. Seeing Out the Angel - Piston Technique
3. Soul Crying Out - Go Deep
4. New Gold Dream - The Echoing Dream
5. Someone Somewhere in Summertime - Blow Up
6. Hunter and the Hunted - Sjoblam
7. The American - Meatboy
8. Oh Jungleland - The Enflamed
9. Alive and Kicking -Band for the Tribes
10. Hypnotised - Younringa
11. She's a River - Flash Cube
12. Waterfront - The Dissidents
13. Don't You (Forget About Me) - ThrustPlease support this project. I've heard Scar and Someone Somewhere In Summertime, and definitely want to hear more. So I will be getting my money off to Mike prompt! - Simon
Emden
17th of MayIn the small town of Emden the audience, in a sports hall outside town, give off a very pleasant feeling. Smiles everywhere before the show. Kane are very good, and tonight the sound is perfect both in volume and clarity.
And the playing is more sensitive. In Big Sleep and Glittering Prize Mel has a gentle swing to his drumming, just what those two songs need.
The set list is changed a bit, and Hypnotised and Sheīs A River are back after not being played for a week or so.
I donīt know what more to say about this show...I hope Eddie Duffy can take the very tough tour schedule! A friend of mine, also following the German leg of the tour, thought he looked like a zombie when the green light was on him! (No offence Mr Duffy!) But is he happy to be playing in Simple Minds. Who wouldnīt be!
Hans-Olof Andersson
Many thanks to Moises for the photo of the Spanish poster and Jim.
Monster by Liquid People will be released on 10th June on Defected Records.
It will be released as two 12"s (DFECT 49) and one CD (DFECT 49CDS). Both will be packed with remixes. The radio edit now features a vocal (not the original lyrics) so it's no longer an instrumental.
The Sebastien Leger mix has been featured on Pete Tong's Radio One show.
Two CDR promos are circulating (one is shown below, the other features two tracks), along with two 12" pressings (featuring different mixes).
Liquid People vs. Simple Minds
Monster
1. Radio Edit
2. Liquid People Club Mix
3. Sebastien Leger's Monster Remix
4. Sebastien Leger's Monster Dub
5. Kidstuff Take The Helm
6. Cricco Castelli Remix
7. J Majik Remix
Defected DEFCT49
(Promotional green CDR with black typed titles in paper typed sleeve.)The double 12" promotional set (DFECT49DJ) includes Liquid People Club Mix, Sebastien Leger's Monster Remix, Cricco Castelli Remix, Liquid People vs. Mckendrick, Kidstuff Take The Helm, Sebastien Leger's Monster Dub and the Liquid Metal Mix.
If you can't wait for Monster, and don't collect the promos, then you can pick it up on The Ministry Of Sound's 21st Century Disco which features the Liquid People Club Mix.
Simple Minds are also featured on another compilation, CreamCollect's Baleric, which includes Theme For Great Cities.
(Thanks to Barry Wink for info.)
The great lost album, Our Secrets Are The Same, may finally be getting its release on EMI, albeit four years late.
Simple Minds and EMI are talking again.
The album will probably be remixed (I've heard it was never properly finished), and argumented with new tracks (recorded at the same time for B-sides and bonuses of proposed singles).
See the the album's page for more information.
Tour, Spaceface release, Cry Remix 12" release
More surprises on the tour. Theme For Great Cities and Once Upon A Time made their tour debutes at Utrecht, and Face In The Sun returned in Paris.
Bonn
16th MayUnder a big tent-roof outside the Museumhalle in Bonn, Simple Minds perform a deafeningly loud concert. They are not using their own sound system tonight, neither their own light show. There is trouble with the sound in many of the songs.
Up intil the eighth song, Love Song, the show doesnīt really take off. Tonight Love Song is really great. Ghostdancing is, believe it or not, great every night.
And This Is Your Land is also good tonight! Come A Long Way is still rather tentative. Tonight Sugar has been moved to the encores, the other ones being the predictable ones.
Why do people whistle during songs? If they hate the song maybe they could be bit more subtle and simply be silent? There are whistlers at most German shows and they should be tied to a leash somewhere far away from other people.
The Bonn gig was rather good, despite the sound problems, and taking so long to really take off. But by now itīs really time for a much more sensitive night, both concerning what comes from the stage, and from the audience.
Hans-Olof Andersson
CDRs of the forthcoming Spaceface single have started to appear (this image was uploaded to eBay).
The two track CDR features the single's artwork and Spaceface backed with New Sunshine. The latter is the acoustic version of the song, first debuted on Billy Sloan's radio show.
Commercial copies of the German varient are also starting to circulate. These pair New Sunshine Morning with New Sunshine. Oddly, this is packaged as a maxi-CD (in a slimline jewelcase), but only includes two tracks.
In the UK, the double 12" release of the Cry remixes will be available at Amato Disco, Hard To Find, Lasgo, Black Market and Vinyl Addiction.The record isn't available directly from Absolutely Records nor their distributors Level One (www.levelone.it).
Those in other countries should seek the record from specialist dance retailers or independent record shops.
Cry Remix 12" release
Absolutely Records in Italy will be releasing a Cry Remix single which includes five new remixes of the title track.
Released on the 3rd June as two 12" singles, Cry Remixes includes three remixes by Phunk Investigation and two by Tazz (also known as Simon Duffy.) Phunk Investigation have already been associated with Simple Minds producing Gloria on Neon Lights.
12" promos of the Phunk Investigation mixes have already been circulating, and have received enthusiastic play from Alan Thompson, John Kelly, Kev Hill, Stonebridge, Jt Vannelli, Coccoluto, Farfa, Chris Davies, Jeremy Haely, Jason Herd, Ian Dawes, AJ Gibson, Danny Rose and DJ Ralf.
Full tracklistings can be found here.
It isn't known if any of these remixes will appear on the forthcoming Spaceface/New Sunshine Morning releases.
Tour, Some Sweet Day 2002
Cologne
13th MayI did not go to the Munich show, instead I went straight for that place in Cologne with such a great sounding name: "E-werk". The building is an old electrical power plant, hardly changed, wonderfully brutal and just the right place for a rock-club that holds maybe 1500 people.
When the band come in, itīs no doubt they are especially full of energy. Jim expresses his love for Cologne.
Jim and Mel are both especially powered. Jim soon cleans the floor with his shirt, and Mel starts doing some wild things on his drums!
The set list has by now evolved to be the same up until the eleventh track, Ghostdancing. Then comes the surprise slot: we get Sugar! Still a bit hesitant.
My opinion is that Glittering Prize is being played a bit brutally this tour, and itīs very much true tonight. Itīs mostly in the drumming, but in the keyboards too.
Spaceface, the first encore, is brutal too, but the song itself is like being on drugs anyway, while of course Glittering Prize is about the clearest of days.
When they come in for the second encore, the audience donīt seem to recognize Life In A Day. That is except for one person, who starts jumping and screaming, after gasping a bit during the previous Donīt You (Forget About Me).
After that, Chelsea Girl. Then it all ends with Sanctify Yourself and Alive And Kicking. Both songs that they can hardly perform badly.
The show at the "E-werk" was intimate, intelligent, and lots, lots of fun!
Hans-Olof Andersson
For the first time this tour, the same set-list was played two nights running. Concert goers at Erfurt got the same concert as Emden.
Some Sweet Day, the Simple Minds Radio Marathon by Todd Richards, will be broadcast on June 27th this year.
This 18 hour radio program will feature the entire musical history of the band, complete with the new material from Neon Lights and Cry. In the past, Todd has also gained exclusive interviews with Jim Kerr so it's hoped that he'll pull off another exclusive.
The online flyer for the event, and all the information you'll need, can be found at www.runninglate.org/marathons/sm.html.
It isn't known if the marathon will be streamed over the Internet yet.
What can I say ..... thanks to all who put the energy and devotion into this marathon of Minds music! We are most flattered and full of appreciation for the encouragement that is offered to us in the knowledge of such an event that centres around our band!
Yours respectfully/Best wishes from Scotland.
Jim Kerr.
P.S. Way to go ....... Ohio!
Tour, Radio Show, Competition, Band For The Tribes, Planet Funk
Berlin
10th May 2002These my reviews are of course totally subjective. And from where one experiences the concert is of course very important. In Frankfurt I was at the back of the hall most of the time: in the Tempodrome in Berlin I chose to be in the first row. And was I in a wild mood.
The Tempodrome looks like a gigantic birthday cake that has barely escaped being sucked into a gigantic vacuum cleaner from above. Inside itīs a bit more normal, a good concert arena.
Support band Kane come and go. Simple Minds come on, and Iīm a agitated tonight: I must confess that itīs I who scream "Play ******* brilliant tonight, I demand that!" right into Charlieīs face. He nods and weīre off.
The audience here is actually quite calm. They are relatively silent during songs, and that is good. I suppose that makes the band feel that we are not here to look at and cheer at some pop idols, weīre here to experience extraordinary music.
And my opinion is that we get to. This is the first of the German shows where I get that special feeling of the music taking over. The set lists of the shows are the same the first half, and it is in Glittering Prize, the tenth song, that happens. I hope itīs the same for everybody else.
Ghostdancing is so long and wild during this tour. This time Jims microphone breaks down, and he uses Duffyīs for a while. I think itīs also here an event with erotic implications threatens to divert the bands' attention. But Mr Duffy successfully takes care of the bra that has landed in front of him, by picking it up with his teeth (while continuing to play)and placing it on top of Mel Gaynor.
The combined Belfast Child/Waterfront works really well. This Is Your Land is becoming boring though, and it could be dropped. The band must feel so themselves, Iīm sure.
What will we get for encore tonight? A surprise, please. And we do get that! Come A Long Way. Jim reads from a lyric sheet, and it works 90% right. Alive And Kicking is the final song, as on all nights, I think.
Songs I wish for: Sugar, War Babies, Night Music and Scar. That is what your most profitable customer on this tour wants. And the customer is always right, but only if theyīre in the front row, of course. Or should the band play exactly what they want? What would that be, with no concern payed to promotors, or even audience expectations? I want to know that.
Hans-Olof Andersson
A Simple Minds live concert will be broadcast on Dutch Radio 2 on the 24th May at 22:00-23:00 CET. Very unlikely to be the current tour, it's probably from the archive.
Band For The Tribes will be playing live at the Limelight Club, Crewe, England on the 25th September. Admission is free as it's promoted by Carling.
More details to follow nearer the time.
In the later half of last year, there were rumours floating around that Jim had recorded vocals on a dance record, which was set for release at the end of 2001.
It turns out that it was true. Working with Planet Funk, who scored a dance hit last year with Chase The Sun, he recorded a vocal over a reworking of their Into The Max.
You don't need to work too hard to track this down. It turned up on the Cry album as One Step Closer.
Yahoo list member and contributor -1 has mixed both these songs together to create an extended hybrid. You can hear it here.
Tour, Blow-Up, Liquid People
The Floating World Tour is not finishing in Sicily. The tour will continue into August, taking in some new territories. Croatia, Budapest and Monaco have been mentioned, but no confirmation and no tour dates yet.Set-lists for Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg have been uploaded. Sugar has been the latest surprise, the next track from Cry to be played live. The final encore at Cologne was also interesting, pairing Life In A Day and Chelsea Girl with Sanctify Yourself and Alive And Kicking. An unbelievable combination!
The set-lists can be found here.
Frankfurt
9th May 2002The "Jahrhunderthalle" is far outside town, and a big metal dome. Itīs also far from sold out tonight; at least there is plenty of space on the floor left.
I immediately get a feeling that the audience is different to that in Bielefeld. There are fewer old T-shirts, not so much excitement in the air. And the aquostics of the place are not that great.
The set is mostly the same as in Bielefeld, except that there are fewer songs from the new album, and instead we get Big Sleep and Hypnotised.
The show goes on perfectly as planned I suppose, but I canīt help feeling that we are just not taken "higher". The audience is comparatively calm. It feels like itīs a familyīs night out, and still, Mel just wonīt go wild...none of the other in the band either.
When are they going to use the three ramps that Mel and Andy have their things between? Have they used them at the UK gigs? It would be so great if Charlie, Jim, and Eddie stood on them for a while: Then all of the bandmembers would be in line, and it would look just great.
Maybe itīs going to sound good recorded, but, there in the hall, at least I didnīt appreciate the Frankfurt show all that much. On to Berlin!
Hans-Olof Andersson
Italian tribute band Blow-Up will be playing live on the 19th May.
The one-hour gig will start with One Step Closer and continue with Someone Somewhere (In Summertime), Changeling, The American, Spaceface, Don't You (Forget About Me), Glory days (a song by Blow Up), Ghostdancing, Alive And Kicking and finally Belfast Child.
For more information, and persumably the Italian venue, check out Blow Up's page, or e-mail Mimmo.
Blow Up have recorded Someone Somewhere In Summertime for the forthcoming tribue album. More details about that project on Friday.
Monster by Liquid People is still TBA on Defected's release schedule but more CD-acetates have appeared, suggesting that it'll get a full scale release in the next month or so.
The single will include mixes by Kidstuff,Liquid People,J Majik, Sebastien Leger and Cricco Castelli.
For a loop of Monster, check out www.liquidpeople.co.uk. Their website is expected to launch soon.
Single, US Releases, Tour
The new single, released on the 10th June, will be Spaceface. Except in Germany, where New Sunshine Morning will be the lead track.
The Best Of will be released in the USA on the 4th June, followed by Cry on the 18th June.
It appears that the tour programmes have already sold out for this tour, as mentioned during the review of the concert right.The glossy colour tour programme features a great little biography of the band, numerous quotes and pictures of the new line-up.
All the live pictures of Jim and Charlie were taken during the Good News From The Next World tour.
On the downside is a very brief discography, and some inexplicable textural shots (red walls and the like) which take up full pages.
Come A Long Way made its live debut for this tour during the encores at Berlin. Again, Jim read from a lyric sheet.
"A girl from Cologne I know, was able to get the sheet from Jim in Berlin with the text on from Come A Long Way. The text was downloaded from Dream Giver :-). I hope they will give Simon the text of the Cry album, so they still can play the songs in ten years."
Matthias
Yahoo! mailing listBielefeld
8th May 2002The Bielefeld gig was very nice. The Stadthalle is a modern, multi-purpose building; especially adapted to opera, I believe. Most of the maybe 5000 visitors are on the floor, and the rest are on the balcony half-circling the hall. Good feeling right away!
But itīs sad that there are no more tour programs on sale! The merchandiser tells me they sold out in the UK.
Suport band Kane are quite good. Two guitars, no keyboards, and they are a lot louder than the Minds. But they are good.
Ten minutes to nine the wee men are on. The beginner, New Gold Dream, sounds very "German" in itīs new shape! Itīs a bit oompa-oompa!
Then itīs I Travel and One Step Closer. Both competent, but itīs in the fourth song I am really uplifted. Up On The Catwalk is all magic and I think Iīm not the only one singing all of the lyrics. The highlight of the night for me.
I can not go through all the songs, but we get three more from the new album: Cry,Spaceface, and New Sunshine Morning. I like Cry the most of those.
See the lights begins with a sound like from a tolling church bell. The crowd is all silent, wondering what is going on. This is Andrew Gillespieīs moment. I think he is real good. He is very different to Mark Taylor, who had much more conventional key hitting.
We get no songs from before ī81, and Love Song and The American are not very special, although the latter is of course a welcome return. Ghostdancing is revitalised though, with the guitar playing changed a bit for this tour.
Promised You A Miracle and Glittering Prize are good, but Speed Your Love To Me is almost as great as Catwalk. Charlies guitar is just heavenly, and Jim seems to enjoy it too.
I actually canīt remember the order of the songs after Catwalk, and the extras are the quite predictable ones. But I must mention that the audience all love Donīt You (Forget About Me). Everybody stand up, Scottish flags wave from the balcony, and Jim is obviously touched.
As a summary it was a good show, but I must say that Mel didnīt really go wild once, which of course he should. I think the audience should try to mentally push the band, and I didnīt feel thet happen much. But a good start for the german leg of the tour it was!
Hans-Olof Andersson
Tour, Monster, Remix Album
More surprises as The Floating World Tour finished up in the UK and moved on to Europe.
Promised You A Miracle made a welcome return at Bournemouth (the band spent a good hour rehearsing it during the soundcheck) whilst Chelsea Girl, not played live since the early eighties, appeared at the Royal Albert Hall gig. (Although Jim had to read from a lyric sheet).
The set lists are being updated, and will be brought up-to-date by the end of the week.
Many thanks to Jim, Charlie, Mel, Eddie and Andy for everything - cheers.
Right: Set-list for Brighton.
7-track CD acetates of the new single have just started to circulate, so it looks like a release will occur in the next month or two.
Alternatively, instead of buying the single, you could pick it up on the forthcoming Simple Minds remix album, which will include Monster.
The other tracks aren't known yet, but the project is intended to tidy up all the loose ends.
New Single, Discography Update
The new single will be released on the 10th June in the UK. (Eagle EAGSX 232). Amazon are already taking orders.It's only available as a single CD, but as a twist, two tracks have been chosen from Cry, to be released in different European countries.
As mentioned on the 16th April, a remix by Liquid People is expected to be included.
I believe that the Cry discography is complete with the addition of these two items:
A German copy of the silver Cry single. Unique as it's housed in a slimline jewelcase. The catalogue number subjects that it's some form of limited edition.
Full information can be found here.
A rare one-track CD-acetate of the Cry single has also turned up.Full information about this hardcore collectable can be found here.