One band synonymous with the 1980s and that is Glasgow's finest export Simple Minds. Prolific songwriters with 8 albums released and a score of massive singles success in the UK, Europe and the tough nut of the USA. They were one of the hottest tickets to get in town and there music although produced perfectly in the studio was also just as effective live.
The core of the band is Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill with the addition of Mel Gaynor on Drums, Derek Forbes on Bass and keyboardist and chief composer during there heyday until his exit Michael MacNeil. The band formed after the punk era and new wave was taking over the airwaves.
The band went through many personnel and name changes before settling on Simple Minds as this was taking from a David Bowie lyric on Jean Genie. The 1980s were beginning to be a period of success for the band. The early eighties saw the release of 3 albums in 2 years these were Empires and Dance, sons and fascination and Celebration. It was a mixture of new wave, kraut rock and a hint of prog rock. The albums delivered success but not ultimate exposure on the TV and airwaves.
It wasn't until a appearance on Top of the Pops and the release of New Gold Dream 81 82 83 84 that the hard work paid off. Promised you a miracle became a big hit and in turn generated interest in the forthcoming album. this spawned some great material such as big sleep and someone somewhere in summertime. They had incurred an uphill struggle to convince record labels and the general public that this was a band who had a message and an image to match.
It wasn't until the release of there 7th album Sparkle in the rain that progress moved up a gear. The album generated the songs Waterfront, East at Easter, speed your love to me and up on the catwalk and soon this was band that was moving on up and they further cemented the global success with the release of the critically acclaimed album Once upon a Time which had anthems such as Alive and Kicking, Jungleland, Ghostdancing and All the things she said. Prior to that but didn't feature on the album was the huge hit don't you forget about me. A number one in the USA as this was the soundtrack to Brat pack film The Breakfast Club.
Following this success the groups act had now become a stadium show, records were topping the charts and fans from all over the world wanted to see them. Such was there powerful live shows that they released a double album of a live show from Paris, again the album was a huge hit and help further cement there dominance. However, in some misguided corridors playing to audiences of 50, 000 was deemed a sell out or unfashionable but the songs were so good that they could be effective in a small theatre or a football stadium. The bands live showings were on display at Live aid in 1985 and the Mandela concert in 1988 where they could have played it safe and showcased there old material but instead wrote 2 incredible songs for the occasion Mandela Day and Biko.
After that Wembley appearance they released the Ballad of the Streets EP which featured those 2 Wembley songs and the powerful song Belfast Child. Finally, they got a UK number one single with a 6 minute long folk song. Following they released the final album of the 1980s Street Fighting years which had a duet with Lou reed on This is your land and Kick it in. The 1980s saw the gradual success of Simple Minds and although all good things come to an end for what ever reason, the music still holds relevance now with many bands citing them as a big influence or even using or sampling there music. Quite simply they were the ultimate stadium rockers.
For further listening
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