Mark will be giving his seminar at the LA Music Academy in Pasadena, tomorrow night at 8PM.

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The tour starts on Friday night with Jim and Charlie being joined by Mel Gaynor, Eddie Duffy and Andy Gillespie - same line-up as last year.

Mike Simpson has set up a website where you can send in pictures, reviews, set-lists and any other interesting snippets of information.

"It's really basic right now, but I hope it will grow incredibly with reviews, pictures, setlists, etc. Since I'm probably not going to be able to go to any of the shows, barring a minor miracle, I need input from other people ... to make the site worthwhile. I want to make it better (though probably not prettier) than the Floating World section of simpleminds.com. I'll post news like 'The xxx gig has been successfully recorded!' or 'Jim Kerr again forgets the lyrics to Sanctify Yourself!' Hopefully it will be both informative and fun.

There is a little tidbit on the page right now that is ....er....exclusive....news. Check it out.

If anyone knows which shows are already sold out, that would be useful to track. Ideally, I would like to also list phone numbers and websites where people can buy tickets..

Mike Simpson
homepage.mac.com/sminds/iblog/index.html

And I'll definitely be interested in collating the set-lists as always - so please send them in.

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On the eve of their 2003 tour, it's good to know that the NME have remembered that they used to like Simple Minds between 1980 and 1984. In fact, the band were still big news and cover stars up until 1989 - all through those 'difficult' stadium years. At the stroke of midnight, and as the nineties started, the NME had nothing good to say any more.

However, their review of Early Gold has been the most positive they've done for the band for a long time:

"Pomp rockers' early years in pretty good shock.

Hundreds of years ago, Simple Minds ruled the planet. Whilst the '80s raged, Jim Kerr leered Don't You (Forget About Me) from every transistor in Christendom, and right-minded music lovers vowed that one day, they'd do just that.

Twenty years on it is time for an amnesty. Simple Minds may have been among the most cringeworthy of the stadium dinosaurs (think a Scottish version of U2 circa 'The Joshua Tree') but like many such bands, their early stuff was fab.

'Chelsea Girl' is Bowie on a student loan; 'Promised You A Miracle' epic tosh to match Bono on mushrooms. 'Life In A Day' even got played at London's Nag Nag Nag last week, which says it all really.

Scarily good."

Paul Moody
NME
28th June 2003

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And the good reviews just keep coming:

"'Our Secrets Are the Same' has come to be regarded -- at least by those Simple Minds fans loyal enough to maintain an interest -- as Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill's legendary "lost" studio album, a record injudiciously denied the fair hearing of a general release and condemned to languish in penal pop obscurity, an innocent victim of music industry politics.

Recorded before the release of 1998's Neapolis (arguably not a career highlight), duly completed but not mixed and then pencilled-in for official release in the first few months of 2000, the album was eventually shelved indefinitely when Simple Minds' professional relationship with their record company (ironically, the label that has now seen fit to release it) disintegrated to the point of divorce.

Legal shenanigans and matters of rock fashion aside, it is fair to say that 'Our Secrets Are the Same' thoroughly deserves its overdue freedom. While Simple Minds persist in advertising their Achilles heel by wrapping-up their material in the corporate power dressing of 1980s stadium-rock production, it isn't unreasonable to estimate that songs with the overt pop sensibility of "Jeweller to the Stars" (a muscular rocker with a dance groove, foxy bass lines, shimmering bottleneck guitar and a chorus that playlist sifters would adore) could have stormed the charts in more sympathetic times. And what of the even better "Death by Chocolate", with its cheeky theme and crafty folk-guitar parts? Imagine the fun a contemporary knob-twiddling guru like Mirwais could have with that.

At times like these you really wonder if Simple Minds are merely a style tweak and a hip production hair-breadth's away from renewed chart action and critical applause."

Kevin Maidment
www.amazon.co.uk

Three new dates will go on sale tomorrow. All are second nights:

• December 2nd, Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow
• December 6th, Hammersmith Apollo, London
• December 14th, Apollo, Manchester

Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster tomorrow (18th June).

"Pass me a lemon, someone. This grin's starting to hurt.

Haven't stopped smiling since time up on Saturday. Don't really want to stop all summer. But lockjaw is no fun.

Not like the game. Now that was fun.

Flower of Scotland was fun. The atmosphere was fun. The result was fun.

Watching the Germans suffer was big fun.

And, yes, being right was fun I said we could do it and we did it. All that could have turned a brilliant day into a truly unforgettable one would have been a second goal to give those magnificent players the result they truly deserved.

I said the Germans had little to scare us with but reputation and I’m so proud of every one of Berti Vogts’ team that they knew it too and took no Rafael from nobody out there.

They made your heart sing, they really did. Sing as loud as big Elvis sang Flower of Scotland along with those amazing tenors.

Okay, so I was wrong on that one. The CD sounded guff, but in the flesh those guys performed the Hendrixed-up, didgeridoodled version with such passion and enthusiasm that it didn’t even matter if the Tartan Army weren’t sure what verse they were on or when it was finally finishing.

It was simply a brilliant start to the afternoon. It injected fun right into our veins and from then on it pumped round every one of us whose only prayer through the nightmare of the past couple of years has been to see Scotland do what Scotland used to do.

To want it. To need it. To look like they loved doing it.

From the second the team burst into spontaneous applause at the end of the worlds first 12-inch National Anthem, they looked EXACTLY like that."

Bill Leckie
The Sun
International Supergoals No 87
Monday 9th June 2003

Last Saturday, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil performed The Flower Of Scotland before the big game.

Apparently Derek was called in as the SFA wanted the Flower of Scotland to be jazzed up and more upbeat for the football matches.

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Early Gold has now been integrated into the discography - it can be found here.

Simple Minds will be playing the Keil Do Amaral Amphitheater in Lisbon on the 29th June.

More information can be found at www.cm-lisboa.pt.

"This year will be exceptionally full for us. Committed to our priority of preparing an exciting new album, we still want to continue with the live momentum and the special vitality that comes from working consistently as a live group. We have so many songs in our catalogue that work so well live, personally I am looking forward to playing as many of them as possible during these dates. Old ones, new ones, familiar and obscure, but especially songs that were overlooked last time round. We believe Simple Minds are a great live band, with a reputation that is a challenge for us to live up to. With our current fresh attitude and our typically most enthusiastic audiences, I predict more memorable live shows this year." - Jim

Santander (scheduled for the 28th June) has now been pulled from the tour - but Lisbon is confirmed for the 30th June.

Our Secrets Are The Same
Virgin SIMCD 13
30th June 2003

Swimming Towards The Sun/Jeweller To The Stars/Space/Death By Chocolate/ Waiting At The End Of The World/Neon Cowboy/She Knows/Hello/Happy Is The Man/Sleeping

The fully mastered album is a cleaned up version of the London EMI CDR acetate - but for those only familar with the Jordi broadcasts, or the bootleg, are going to enjoy crystal clear versions of the songs with a slightly different mix of Death By Chocolate.

Early Gold
EMI SIMCD 14
30th June 2003

Life In A Day/Chelsea Girl/Changeling/Factory/Premonition/I Travel/ Celebrate/Thirty Frames A Second/The American/Love Song/Sweat In Bullet/ Promised You A Miracle/Glittering Prize/Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)/New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)

Compiled by the band, with sleeve notes from Jim, this new compilation replaces the early Arista compilation Celebration.

"The days simply melted into other days and our music eventually began to shine." - Jim.

More dates have been added to the Alive And Kicking 2003 tour - of special interest is the first date for Portugal on the 29th July, following the first Spanish gig at Santander on the 28th.

OK, I'm far too skeptical for my own good.

Early Gold will be released on the 30th June, a compilation of remastered tracks hand picked by the band themselves from Life In A Day through to New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84).

The track listing is:

1. Life In A Day
2. Chelsea Girl
3. Changeling
4. Factory
5. Premonition
6. I Travel
7. Celebrate
8. Thirty Frames A Second
9. The American
10. Love Song
11. Sweat In Bullet
12. Promised You A Miracle
13. Glittering Prize
14. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
15. New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)

Rumours are circulating about a new Simple Minds compilation titled Early Gold. Set for release on the 30th June, this 15-track CD takes tracks from their newly remastered first four albums (listed as Life In A Day, Real To Real Cacophony, Empires And Dance and New Gold Dream), and features sleeve notes by Jim.

However, I'm a little skeptical:

• It has the same release date as Our Secrets Are The Same.
• It's not listed on any online stores yet - Our Secrets Are The Same is.
• The press releases are inaccurate - their fourth album was Sons And Fascination, not New Gold Dream.

I appluaded Virgin's decision not to remaster Celebration - now they've apparently conjured up their own version. Not good if true - please leave the albums alone now and deal with the singles.

If it does exist, I'll be buying it for Jim's writing alone.

IT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR CELTIC'S CELEBRITY ARMY OF FANS. ROD STEWART AND BILLY CONNOLLY REVELLED IN THE ATMOSPHERE. AND, HERE, SIMPLE MINDS STAR JIM KERR TELLS BOB SHIELDS WHAT CELTIC'S EPIC ADVENTURE MEANT TO HIM It's the morning after his beloved Celtic have just lost the UEFA Cup Final in Seville. Jim Kerr strolled into the marbled hallway of the plush Andalus Palace Hotel, shakes my hand and slides off his shades. Whatever else he was doing after the game, crying all night wasn't part of it. His eyes are bright and clear. He looks lean and tanned in black T-shirt and white linen slacks. I begin to wonder if the Simple Minds legend has read the script. He's been a rock star for more than two decades, for goodness sake. His team's just been gubbed. He's in a posh hotel surrounded by a bevy of Spanish beauties. Why can't he go on the batter all night, pull a bird and turn up looking like a burst couch like he's supposed to? But 44-year-old Kerr was never into excess. And defeat in Seville was hardly going to send him spiralling into rehab. But the scoreline still hurts. He said: "Sure, it was disappointing but the team gave us everything they had and that's all we could hope for." "They've played their hearts out." "But just getting to the final and being neck and neck in the league at home sums up all Martin O'Neill has done for the club. Europe has been a great campaign." In 1967, Jim's dad Jimmy took his son to Celtic Park to see the European Cup that the team had won in Lisbon the night before. This time, it was Junior's turn to treat J Kerr Snr. The singer revealed: "My introduction to Celtic was a friendly with Manchester United. Celtic just scraped a 4- 0 win." "But the team's success at that time seemed to fire up the ambition in me. Their success inspired me." "Glasgow was a bit on its knees at that time. But that famous team showed the city could still come up with winners." "It's a shame they couldn't come off as winners last night." "I went to the toilet halfway through the game and was the only bloke there." "But in the middle of extra time, I had to go again and the toilet was heaving with Celtic fans. `We cannae stand it, either,' they told me." As well as his dad and Simple Minds co-founder Charlie Burchill, Jim had invited some friends over from Sicily. "I took them to Celtic Park once and they were hooked. And these guys are supposed to be Juventus fans. At full- time, it was the Sicilian lads who were doing all the crying instead of us. "I suppose it's that Italian emotional thing." Sicily has helped pull Jim out of a creative slump and a general lack of career direction. He said: "You know, I first went there 20 years ago and loved the place. Even then I felt some kind of affinity with it." "It's like I knew deep down I would one day end up there." "About three years ago I kind of lost the desire to keep doing what we had been doing for over 20 years. But somehow the energy of Sicily gave me my focus back." "I love the place, it's got a little bit of everything that I want and need." As well as a house, Jim and his Sicilian partners have plans to open a hotel there. "It's called the Villa Angela. It's going to have about 20 to 30 rooms and the emphasis will be on hospitality and friendliness." "I hope it will be up and running before too long. But my partners will be organising most of the day- to-day stuff. I'm not going to do my Basil Fawlty bit. That's what my dad calls it - Fawlty Towers." Writing and performing are still his core businesses, and he and Charlie have been busy preparing for a tour that opens in July in Barcelona and takes in his beloved Glasgow in December. "It's what I do," he adds thoughtfully. Jim's also supporting a bid for a new west of Scotland radio station licence, with Chrysalis. The venture is called The Arrow - adult rock radio - and will be an analogue FM service targeting 40 to 59-year-old males.In other words, all the Jim Kerrs out there. He said: "I think there's a niche for it. People keep telling me that today's music is crap - to be honest, I don't want to go down that road. I know what my parents thought of our music." "But I think there's a need for a station that's going to play some classic stuff that's been written and performed by top, talented artists." A press release by The Arrow lists artists like The Who, The Beatles, Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Neil Young and Oasis. And a certain group called Simple Minds. Jim said: "I am not just a frontman. I wouldn't get involved if I didn't believe in it. I also hope it will be a vehicle to help promote new talent." "I read recently that Scotland used to have 45 bands signed up with major record label deals. Now it's only six. Maybe that's the way the music business is going. But it's a trend we should try our best to reverse." The radio bid could mean a few more trips to Glasgow for Jim - and more chances to watch his beloved Hoops. But you could also see his face in the stands at Highbury as well. He revealed: "I'm afraid there's a bit of a gap in the family tradition. My boy James is an Arsenal supporter." "He lives in north London, so these things happen, I suppose." Jim has two children, Jasmine, 19, and James, 11, to ex-wives Chrissie Hynde and Patsy Kensit. And he truly admits that the rock band lifestyle isn't the most compatible occupation for a lasting relationship. He said "There's no one woman in my life right now. I had a Sicilian girlfriend but we split at the end of last year." "And we have a busy couple of years ahead already planned, so I am happy to keep things the way they are for now. You know, I met both my wives in hotel lifts." "I've wised up. These days I just go up the stairs." Bob Shields Daily Record

It seems that the archive of Radio Clyde has been rediscovered, a dusty vault filled with ancient session recordings by big name bands. Along with U2, Rod Stewart and Roxy Music, sessions by Simple Minds have also been unearthed.

More background can be found on NME's website.

Whilst the article suggest a forthcoming Simple Minds session release, I'm mindful that Simple Minds have not given permission for their BBC Sessions to be issued^[1]. So why allow the Radio Clyde sessions to be released? Perhaps the deal is better? Or perhaps the band aren't happy with their sessions?

Food for thought... It'll be interesting to see how all this pans out.

Speaking of food...

^[1] The only releases from the BBC archive have been King Is White And In The Crowd which appeared on the flip of the single of Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) and New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) which appeared on the compilation 1 And Only: 25 Years Of Radio One.

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The Guardian's The Guide (May 17-23 2003) has a page devoted to the tastes, and demands, of the stars. So, alongside Noel Gallagher jetting in a KFC, we have:

"Jim Kerr had Glasgow's Spice Of Life courier up a Ruby [Curry] to a Simple Minds gig in Aberdeen...".

Can't be true. It would've been cold by the time it got to Aberdeen.

Grzegorz Michalski has updated his technical essay on the remastering of Real Life. His updated text can be found here.

One Step Closer by Planet Funk
1. One Step Closer (featuring Simple Minds) [3:46] (Radio Edit)
2. Who Said [9:01] (Posilipo Remix)
Ultralab/Virgin 5471262
5" CD in slimline jewelcase with picture insert.

Released in Italy on the 18th April, Planet Funk's latest single features One Step Closer as the title track.

It features a unique mix of One Step Closer (not the edit from the Eagle single as I suggested on the 8th May). It's softer, with more effects thrown into the mix, and the whole song has been compacted into a radio friendly length.

I expect that the full version of this mix will surface on Non Zero Sumness Plus One, but for those who cannot wait, the single can be purchased from www.americandisco.net.

Several new dates have been added to the 2003 tour.

Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketone.it for the Italian Frogstock festival on the 3rd July.

Simple Minds will be performing with Ace Of Base on the 5th July at the Randers Stadium in Denmark.

Bookings for an Austrian concert on the 15th November can be made here.

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The Tomcraft remix of Spaceface (previously only available on an Absolutely 12") can now be found on the new Trance Nation - Deeper compilation which was released last Monday.

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Steve And Nelson Day is a rather badly recorded bootleg from the Street Fighting Years tour. It's also the only vinyl bootleg of this tour, and is also rather rare (I'd guess between 50 and 200 copies were pressed up).

So, take this with a pinch of salt.

On the same day that the promo copies of Biba-Rom's remix were released, Planet Funk also released a Simple Minds related single. And both feature One Step Closer.

As part of the run up to the release of Non Zero Sumness Plus One, One Step Closer was issued as a single on the 18th April in Italy. Titled Planet Funk featuring Simple Minds, this CD features an edit of the title track (first heard on the Eagle One Step Closer single) and the Posillipo remix of Who Said.

www.americandisco.net are selling copies.

Non Zero Sumness Plus One is to be released in July 2003 (the original album appeared in Italy in March 2002).

www.toryglen.com ROCK star Jim Kerr has paid tribute to the part of Glasgow where he grew up. The Simple Minds frontman has helped launch a website being run by the residents of Toryglen in the south side of the city. And he told of his pride at having his roots in the area. Kerr, 43, and his family moved to an 11th floor flat in a tower block in Crossbank Road in 1968 and it was to be his home for the next 16 years. The musician, who now has homes in Sicily, Glasgow's Merchant City and Edinburgh, has paid tribute to his former neighbourhood in an article written for the front page of the new website. He writes: "My family moved from Govanhill to Toryglen in November 1968, from an old world of dark tenement buildings to what was to be our shiny new home in one the UK's most modern skyscrapers. "Toryglen and the people of Toryglen were very good to me. "I only have the happiest memories of my life with them there and to this day I am proud to say I am from Toryglen. "I look forward to the new community website that will enable me to check in and keep tabs with my much-loved former home." Kerr shot to fame with Simple Minds in the early 1980s. The football-loving singer was part of a failed bid to buy Celtic in 1998 and he is a partner in a Glasgow city centre sushi bar. The new site - which is at www.toryglen.com - contains information about virtually everything happening in the 7000-strong community, including what is available for children and families, training and education, sport and leisure, religion, jobs and health. There is also an events calendar giving information on what is happening in the area on any day. It is expected there will be thousands of hits from people who lived in the area but who now stay in different parts of the world. Margaret Biggam, 75, a website volunteer, said: "The website is a brilliant thing. "Jim Kerr is remembered well round here and he visits Toryglen now and again. "The website gives people who are not involved in community groups, or have moved away, the chance to catch up on the news. "A lot of us are receiving computer training and learning new things." The website is a joint venture between the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow and Glasgow City Council. Steven Latta, of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, who promotes digital inclusion, said: "The site will be regularly updated by members of the community and will serve as a forum to highlight local issues, news and events relating to people in Toryglen." Local people will be given training on how to update the website from Glasgow web developer Red Mosquito. Similar websites are already in operation serving the people of Drumchapel, Govan and the east end. Mr Latta said: "More than 50% of the hits on the Drumchapel community website come from Drumchapel ex-pats living in America." Glasgow Evening Times

"I have posted an excellent cover of 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall at http://homepage.mac.com/sminds." "Similar to the version that is on the tribute album (Swimming Towards the Sun), this was worked on my Simon Hayward (vocals and synths), Holger Wisniewski (synths), and the Toryglen Boy (guitars). As a bit of history, I was pressured a lot to put this version on the album. I disagreed, because I wanted an instrumental to finish off the set. I do agree this is a better version of the song. But sometimes I think you have to go with what fits." "All this week, I'll be uploading exclusive outakes from the tribute album sessions. If you like what you hear, please consider buying the album. It's an absolutely stunning tribute to Simple Minds. The artwork by Oliver Tully is fantastic. The sound production from Jameson Howe is brilliant. And each and every band creates a masterpiece that is an absolute pleasure to hear." Mike Simpson Theme for Great Cities by Spherical Soundworks (which was also left off of the tribute album) can now be downloaded from http://homepage.mac.com/sminds. The tribute album can be purchased from either CD Baby or directly from Mike Simpson via http://www.mindstribute.com. (Credit cards can be used at either of these sites. The address for sending money orders/checks is given at the mindstribute.com site.) Following on from news posted yesterday, it appears that Planet Funk have already reissued their debut album in Italy. Non Zero Sumness Plus 1 features the original album plus One Step Closer by Planet Funk and Simple Minds along with new remixes of Who Said (a recent single in the UK) and Rosa Blu. Apparently Italian radio are promoting the new album with One Step Closer and are also emphasizing the Simple Minds connection.

One Step Closer by Biba Rom featuring Jim Kerr
A1. One Step Closer [6:40] (Phunk Investigation indaMix)
B1. One Step Closer [7:29] (Funky Junction and Mowree Mix)
Abolutely ABR 039
12" in generic Absolutely promotional sleeve.

Biba-Rom's second rework closely follows the formula of their first: strip the song down to vocals only, and then build it up again with strong house rhythms and stabbing synths. The overall effect is a pleasing breakdown of the original - although nothing of Planet Funk's distinctive melody survives.

Phunk Investigation deliver another solid remix whilst Funky Junction And Mowree take it still further into house territory. Probably not to everyone's taste.

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After a recent Radio One session, and a UK single, Planet Funk look set to release Non Zero Sumness in the UK. Keep an eye out for it, as the album opens with Where Is The Max?, an instrumental version of One Step Closer.

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I've updated the Marketplace with another wants list. Can you help out?

"We need your help. Blow Up, the Italian covers band is participating in an Internet based contest for Italian cover bands named www.battleofthecoverbands.com. (sponsored by Club Nokia)."

"We're the only one supporting Simple Minds."

"To vote you should register clicking on "Entra nella giuria", fill in the requested fields. Then a message sent to your e-mail address will notify that you can vote. Then click on "CLICCARE QUI PER ATTIVARE IL TUO ACCOUNT." Once you're in the web-site you have to select Blow Up (our page with three MP3s and a short biography will pop up) and click on "VOTA QUESTA BAND" (on the right side of the screen). The same operation should be repeated for two more bands since it's request a vote for three bands."

"The bands ranked in the first sixteen positions on the 22nd April will participate in a one vs one contest and then to the LIVE final that will take place in Milan in May."

"Of course we ask for Simple Minds fans so that together we can give more visibility to the Simple Minds name."

Thanks in advance.
Mimmo Capobianco

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Here's the sleeve of John Kelvin's cover of Alive And Kicking, recorded to help out F.C. Utrecht.

It's been sold at matches and is currently number #2 in the free record chart.

Biba Rom vs Jim Kerr are issuing another Cry remix through Absolutely. Finally, One Step Closer gets the remix treatment (as it was always one of the strongest dance tracks on the album) from Phunk Investigation and Funky Junction & Mowree.

Absolutely write: "Both mixes here are roxy solid commercial house production, and feature Jim Kerr’s amazing & very distinct sounding full vocal, along with highly textured layers of pulsating synths, all over dreamy swirling melodies, & mesmerizing drum beats. The chorus here is killer, with more ear-grabbing hooks, than your brain can, take in at one time."

It's being released as a promo 12" on the 18th April. www.americandisco.net are taking pre-orders now. (Absolutely ABR 039).

A few (admittedly bad) pictures from the day:

1. The Renfrew ferry. Shot at sunset. Into the sun. I didn't really expect this shot to work, and it didn't.
2. Shuan Tranter waiting for the VIPs to turn up. He was out there for hours. (He's not going to be best pleased that I've published that picture!)
3. General view of the ferry during the day.
4. Ditto.
5. Bird's eye view of Sample Minds
6. Mixing desk view of Sample Minds.
7. Sample Minds' view.

Main Set: INTRO – FW LOOP/WHEN SPIRITS RISE/ WATERFRONT/ LOVE SONG/ ONE STEP CLOSER/ HUNTER AND THE HUNTED/ SPEED YOUR LOVE TO ME/ SPACE/ DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME)/ THEME FOR GREAT CITIES/ "C" MOON CRY LIKE A BABY/ GHOSTDANCING/ GREAT LEAP FORWARD/ WAR BABIES/ KING IS WHITE AND IN THE CROWD/ NEW SUNSHINE MORNING / HELLO/ NEW GOLD DREAM (81,82,83,84)
Encore #1: SANCTIFY YOURSELF/ STREET FIGHTING YEARS/ THE AMERICAN/ PLEASANTLY DISTURBED
Encore #2: ALIVE AND KICKING/ ROOM/ BELFAST CHILD/ OUTRO– LET THE CHILDREN SPEAK LOOP
8. Glitterball, Radiate round the hall...
9. Someone (who will remain nameless) performing a solo dance with two bottles of beer above the band.
10. Seconds later, security turn up.
11. Brian McGee watching Sample Minds. I was talking with him as The American kicked in. "You'll have to excuse me", he said, "Great song. What energy!" and he returned to the balcony to watch the band.

Top guy, top day - many thanks to Shaun Tranter and Clive Johnson for all their hard work putting this successful event together.

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The Vault (see the news for the 20th February) is now online and can be found here. Simple Minds are featured with a biography, discography and some fans' stories.

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The charity version of Alive And Kicking (recorded for F.C. Utrecht - see the news of the 10th April) did so well that it ended up at #2 in the free chart.

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It's back!
18 hours of Simple Minds back to back.
14th August 2003
Some Sweet Day 2003

If you copy your CDs to a PC, and play them through Real Player, it contacts the All Music Guide for a review. The one for Real To Real Cacophony is positively glowing. AMG Rating: four out of five. "To the delight of some open-minded post-punk fans -- fans who also had space for the relatively new, untraditional likes of Devo, Kraftwerk, and Eno in their record collections -- the relative simple-mindedness of Life in a Day was blown to bits and left for dead on the pub floor by Reel to Real Cacophony, the wide-eyed carnival-like follow-up released only seven months after its predecessor. The artistic leap from Life in a Day to Reel to Real has to be one of the most mesmerizing ones imaginable, an improvement that is even more impressive when the short time between release dates is considered. It's where Simple Minds ventured beyond the ability to mimic their influences and began to manipulate them, mercilessly pushing them around and shaping them into funny objects the way a child transforms a chunk of Play-Doh from an indefinable chunk of nothing into a definable chunk of something. Aside from a mercifully brief lapse into aimless murmuring and doodling that occurs during the middle of the record, Reel to Real Cacophony is rife with countless bizarre joys. It knocks you on your back with pretentious artsy-fartsiness as instantly as New Gold Dream dazzles with its art pop pleasures, but its challenging melodicism through jerky time signatures and an endless supply of varied sounds and textures keeps you coming back for more. "Real to Real," a sinister rewrite of Kraftwerk's "Radio-Activity," is a good, quick point of reference. Guitars are employed less frequently and are replaced by burbling electronics and further use of keyboard shadings, though the absolute high point of the band's early years, "Changeling," benefits from plangent, angular jabs. The record is certainly as much of an achievement as New Gold Dream -- an achievement that's on a plane with other 1979 post-punk landmarks like Metal Box, 154, Entertainment, and Unknown Pleasures. No kidding. " Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Our Secrets Are The Same is to be released by Virgin Records (Virgin SIMCD 13) on the 30th June. Both Sirendisc and Amazon are taking pre-orders, with the album being at #6 in the pre-order chart at Amazon. The album in retailing at £7.99, which indicates a mid-price release, and not a full fledged new album release. Unfortunately this makes the issuing of singles unlikely. Football club FC Utrecht held a charity concert to aid their flagging finances on the 31st March. The charity was called Alive And Kicking and singer John Kelvin recorded a special version of the song which was sold at the concert itself. Did anyone pick up a copy of this special single? The Cry SACD can now be ordered via www.plato.nl. The Whistle Test Years - 1979 is being shown on Thursday evening (that's tonight!) between 23.50 & 00.30 on BBC2. Simple Minds are going to be featured - this was their first TV appearance - along with The Undertones, The Tubeway Army, Blondie and The Damned. Full information about the first compilation album of 2003 has been added to the discography. Whilst it looks cheap and nasty, it features the two remastered albums, their new booklets, and is being sold at mid-price. It's also the first Simple Minds CD to feature the infamous "Copy Control Technology" - the sleeve claims that it can be played on PCs and Macs, but there have been horror stories about these things.

Sirendisc have just listed Our Secrets Are The Same with a release date in the UK of the 30th June.

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A new CD double pack of New Gold Dream/Sparkle In The Rain has just turned up in the shops. After the issue of the remasters, this tatty compilation has everyone asking "why?". Furthermore, it features the new anti-theft technology - being recorded so badly that most PCs will reject loading it. Picture (and probably a bad write-up) coming soon.

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What happened to Essential? Real release or Amazon mistake? Could it have been this redundant new double pack? Doubtful, Essential is only one disc. However, no news at the moment.

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I'm off to Glasgow tomorrow for the convention. I'll be taking a rough of Who's Doing The Dreaming Now #10, back issues, and boxes of mint Simple Minds records to sell. So, a safe journey for all those attending, and I'll see you there.

Two new dates for the UK in October are about to be announced:

• Thursday 30, Winter Gardens, Margate
• Friday 31, Cliffs Pavilion, Southend

Tickets will go on sale via Clear Channel Entertainment 9AM (GMT) tomorrow, and then they'll be available to the general public on Friday.

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Biba-Rom: Don't You (Forget About Me). Absolutely ABR 041
With vocals by Jim Kerr
A1. Don't You (Forget About Me) [Phunk Investigation In The City Mix] (8:13)
B1. Don't You (Forget About Me) [Andrea T. Mendoza Vs Tibet Club Mix] (6:15)
B2. Don't You (Forget About Me) [Phunk Investigation Etna Dub Mix] (7:25)
12" in generic Absolutely promotional sleeve.

This gets a two out of three from me - the Dub Mix is completely, instantly forgettable, but the other two are rather interesting.

Because, forget the great drums. Forget the stirring melody. In fact, forget absolutely everything except the vocals - and then remove the "la, la, las". And also forget Biba-Rom because the Phunk Investigationand Andrea T. Mendoza remixes are so different, there doesn't seem to be any common root between these songs - except of course, the lyrics.

What you have are two completely different songs, each sharing Jim's rerecorded vocals for Don't You (Forget About Me). Phunk Investigation have beefed up their remix of Cry, added further strong synths, and slotted the vocals over the top. Andrea T. Mendoza has come up with something else entirely, not entirely unpleasant.

(This is much better stuff than Pascal Life. And, I prefer Phunk Investigation's work here, than their remix of Cry.)

If you like contemporary dance, and often listen to Radio One on a Saturday and Sunday night, then you'll love these. If you're hankering for the big 80s theme, all the fist punching, and all the cheering and shouting on the outro, then I think you should stick with the 1985 version.

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All e-mail bids for auction swag must reach Shaun Tranter by the 30th March.

For those who are still considering going to the convention, but have not yet purchased a ticket by post, all the money must reach Clive Johnson by FRIDAY 4TH OF APRIL. He'll be leaving for Glasgow on that same Friday evening, so any payments recieved after this date will have to pay on the day.

Can UK fans ensure that payment is posted first class by the 1st April to ensure it reaches him in good time.

Overseas fans should prefebly need to post their payments a week earlier i.e. now!

americandisco.net have been selling the new 12" promo of Biba Rom vs. Jim Kerr from the 19th March - they're dispatching orders now.

Whilst there, you could also pick up some hard-to-find Cry and Spaceface remixes as well.

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After bringing attention to the list of instrumentals, it was only a matter of time before someone pointed out some omissions. Thanks to Fotis, the instrumentals found on the Verona video have now been added - and I've also added the infamous acoustic version of Waterfront.

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After I reviewed the remasters with comments like "well, it sounds a little different", Grzegorz Michalski has come up with something far more technical. Armed with the original 1991 Real Life album, and a copy of the new remaster, he came up with this technical comparison.

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Lot #44 of the charity auction includes a undated and untitled set list which has generated some comments. Obviously from The Floating World Tour of last year, it includes Dancing Barefoot, Let It All Come Down and some other weird pairings of songs. This turns out to be a rehearsal set-list - in fact, the first attempt. So, that's that mystery solved.

The auction catalogue is finished and all on-line. The last batch of goodies include a Real Life bass drumskin (complete with heart logo) and Eddie Duffy's shirt.

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I'd long forgotten that I had a list of Simple Minds' instrumentals on the site. It was compiled in 1996, and was therefore a little out-of-date. I've just updated it.

Several German tour dates for November have been added to the listing.

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After frantic voting, Simple Minds came top of the poll, and Jim and Co from 1982 will be appearing on Top Of The Pops 2, miming away to Glittering Prize.

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12" promos of Don't You (Forget About Me) by Biba Rom! vs. Jim Kerr are now circulating. This limited edition features remixes by Phunk Investigation and Andrea T.Medoza.

Absolutely Records are also sending a batch of promos and hard-to-get commercial 12"s to Shaun for inclusion in the convention auction.

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I've added more items to the auction on the convention website - these include Jim's red and purple shirt, a set of telegrams, passes, acetates and white labels.

The rules for e-mail bidding have now been added to the convention website - check out the piece written ALL IN CAPITALS above the main auction listing.

Lot #37 is now a selection of photographs of Simple Minds freezing on the Renfrew Ferry in late 1983. Five of the six photos have never been published.

(Those familiar with the published pictures in various biographies of the band have noticed that Charlie appeared to have forgotten his coat. But these new shots reveal that he did have a black leather jacket with him - so those who have worried for the last 18 years or so can now sleep more easily.)

Right: Jim on the Renfrew Ferry - the only published shot of the set.

The Top Of The Pops website has been in contact about the various features and content they have for the band.

"Get voting for them now because, if they win our viewers' vote, they will appear on TOTP2. See here for more details (ends midday, Wednesday).". Currently, you can vote to see them play Glittering Prize from 1982. There is some matter of pride to be restored here - Simple Minds were beaten by Wet Wet Wet in the last competion - so blast that BBC website on Wednesday morning!

"In addition, we have a biography and discography."

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Lot 37, early handwritten lyrics by Jim for Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime), has been withdrawn from the charity auction. It turns out that they were written by someone else.

However Jim has confirmed that all the jackets and shirts are his, and Shaun and Clive will be able to offer letters of authenticity with these items.

The convention website has been updated and now includes lots #1-#39.

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Tour dates continue to be added to the Alive And Kicking Tour 2003.