|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSIMPLE MINDSScottish new wave group formed '77 as punks Johnny and the Self Abusers, who released single 'Saints And Sinners' on Chiswick, split on day of issue: vocalist Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill, Brian McGee on drums re- formed early '78 with bassist Derek Forbes, Mick McNeill on keyboards, second guitarist Duncan Barnwell ousted before recording of first LP Life In A Day '79 for local Zoom label: edgy and full of ideas, it brought them a following and made UK top 30. Real To Real Cacaphony late '79 again prod. by John Leckie, this time for Arista, who'd taken over Zoom; McNeill's keyboards more to the fore, Burchill's Banshee-style guitar motifs showing promise on 'Changeling', 'Premonition'; influences at this time were European artrock: Kraftwerk, Edgar Froese. Empires And Dance '80 added dance-floor appeal … la Giorgio Moroder (e.g. 'I Travel'). Kerr had come into his own, vocals atop carefully layered music in a far more distinctive sound; success in Europe and among new romantics led to problem with record label, switch to Virgin for two-disc Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call '81 prod. by ex-Gong guitarist Steve Hillage; LP reached top 20 UK; warmer sound and longer tracks led to singles success in various countries (but not yet UK or USA) with 'The American', 'Love Song' (latter top ten Australia). New Gold Dream '82 was first LP to chart in USA, without McGee (tired of touring), replaced by Kenny Hyslop (ex- Skids, Zones), then Mel Gaynor (ex-Central Line); three top 40 singles in UK gave their bombastic music a commercial edge; Sparkle In The Rain '84 entered UK chart at no. 1, prod. by Steve Lillywhite with three more top 30 hits; spacious, vast sound ideal for USA stadia: breakthrough there came with single 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' (no. 1 '85) from soundtrack of The Breakfast Club, not their own song but written by Keith Forsey (Billy Idol, etc). Forbes quit (later toured with Propaganda), replaced by John Giblin (ex-Kate Bush, Brand X), whose background of sessions, jazz-rock emphasized musicianship that set Minds apart from punks. Once Upon A Time '85 was prod. by stadium-rock experts Jimmy Iovine (Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen) and Bob Clearmountain (Bryan Adams, Hall and Oates), the sound now homogenized, but fans of guitar bands (U2, Big Country) lapped it up; it went top ten in USA. Kerr married Chrissie Hynde '84, his group having supported Pretenders in USA (he married rock bimbo/actress Patsy Kensit '92, who married Liam Gallagher '97). Simple Minds did benefits for Amnesty; two-disc live In The City Of The Light '86 reflected success, and raised the question whether Simple Minds sound like U2 or vice-versa. After Street Fighting Years '89 and Real Life '91, by the time of Good News From The Next World '95 they were slipping down the charts. N‚apolis '98 was described as 'a legend in their own minds'. |