At their peak, in the mid-late 1980s,
Simple Minds were considered to be the best young British/Irish
stadium rock group, alongside U2.
From Glasgow, Simple Minds have had great success in
Europe, but, US number one, 'Don't You (Forget About Me)'
apart, have failed to make it as big in the US as their
Irish contemporaries. The music of Simple Minds has,
though being rock-based, been a tad more influenced by
elctronic music than U2's, and American rock audiences
tend to prefer music which is strongly guitar-driven.
Originally the hopelessly uncommercially named Johnny
& The Self Abusers, one unsuccessful single on, they
became Simple Minds - a name which came from David
Bowie's classic 'Jean Genie' song, when the unfortunate
genie was so simple-minded he couldn't drive his module.
The long-lasting original line-up was: Jim Kerr (vocals);
Charlie Burchill (guitar); Derek Forbes (bass); Brian
McGee (drums); Mick MacNeil (keyboards, synth). Mel
Gaynor replaced McGee in 1984.
Simple Minds began to make an impact in the early '80s,
and, by 1985, were considered big enough to join the
rollcall of legends at Live Aid in Philadelphia. 1985
also saw the release of arguably their best album, 'Once
Upon a Time'.
The band were producing memorable songs in the '80s, such
as 'Waterfront', 'Alive and Kicking', and their first (and
only) UK number one, 'Belfast Child'/'Mandela Day'.
Having also recorded Peter Gabriel's haunting 'Biko',
they proved themselves to be a band with good hearts, and
had the rare distinction of recording songs about two of
the leading lights of the apartheid struggle.
Those mid-late '80s heights were never really reached
again, though songs like 'Cry' from 2002 prove Simple
Minds are still well capable of putting out good material
in the 21st Century, but the music industry is fickle,
and it's not always just quality that counts. Maybe they
just never sucked up to the right people.
- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.
Graffiti Soul (Deluxe Edition) ~ Simple Minds
Graffiti Soul ~ Simple Minds
