Simple Minds

[Zabbasbeard]

My brother-in-law said exactly the same about that MEN gig. OMD are fab live though. Belfast Child is good but not a fan otherwise.

Met Jim briefly this year in Sicily! And his brother who is his double and a great guy.

Love OMD love
Fair play to Andy McLuskey particularly for the energy he puts in.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Got every album on vinyl up to "Once upon a Time" and then stopped as they disappeared up their own arse.

Pity, as their early stuff like "I Travel" is still superb sounding.

I Travel is one of my favourite sounds from early 80s. I played the full 12 ' version first time I ever Dj. At The Anvil....; )

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Still one of my favorite pieces of music ever


[video]




Saw them at Maine Road. The staranglers and OMD both superb in support.


The opening beats of waterfront, stoned as a bastard sat on the North stand wall in the drizzle will live with me for ever.

That sounds an amazing day. Wow !
What a Day it must have been. At Maine Road.!
Wow.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Always loved the story behind “Don’t you forget about me” and how it was turned down by different artists, including Simple Minds, Billy Idol and Bryan Ferry.

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" was written by Steve Schiff and Keith Forsey for the film The Breakfast Club (1985). Forsey and Schiff were inspired by a scene in which an introvert and a school bully bond while no one else is watching. Forsey said, "It was: don't forget, when we're back in the classroom, you're not just a bad guy and we've got other things in common."[9]

Simple Minds initially declined to record "Don't You (Forget About Me)", as they felt they should only record their own material.[10][11]Their guitarist, Charlie Burchill, said they felt it did not suit them as "we had delusions of being ultra-hip".[12] Their manager, Bruce Findlay, believed it would be successful in the United States. He arranged a private screening of The Breakfast Club in an effort to change their minds, but they still declined.[11] Their lead vocalist, Jim Kerr, said later: "We couldn't give a toss about teenage American schoolkids."[12]

Forsey offered "Don't You (Forget About Me)" to Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music, who declined as he was working on his album Boys and Girls(1985). Ferry said later: "It was just bad timing ... Keith Forsey sent me a demo of the song and it sounded like a hit to me."[13] The record label, A&M, suggested Corey Hart, who had a hit at the time with "Sunglasses at Night", but Forsey did not think he was the right singer.[14]Frequent Forsey collaborator Billy Idol also declined,[15] but would later record a version featured on his Greatest Hits album.

Kerr's wife, the songwriter Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, liked the song and urged him to record it.[12] Simple Minds agreed to try it after spending a few days with Forsey and becoming friends.[12] They were impressed by Forsey's work in German experimental music, such as Amon Düül II, and his work with Giorgio Moroder, including "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer.[12]

Kerr added the "hey hey hey" to the introduction and the "la la la" to the ending, intending to write new lyrics, but Forsey insisted on keeping them.[11][12] Burchill added power chords, and said later: "It was almost a caricature – I associated powerchords with American AOR. But it worked."[12] The Financial Times wrote that the chords "[helped] turn Forsey's sweet paean to teenage longing into a rousing, stadium-sized anthem".[11]

Simple Minds did not anticipate the song's success.[10] In 2016, Burchill said: "When I listen to it now, it’s obviously a brilliant, well-crafted pop song. I’m embarrassed we dissed it so much."[12]

Cheers 4 posting.
That's brilliant background info I didn't know about
Don't know much about SM but I Travel is an absolute classic.
Imo

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Did anyone else think this was a discussion of the American electorate, or was that just me?

My bad!

Anyway, like some of their stuff, but the only thing most people over here know about them is due to The Breakfast Club…which was filmed at Maine North High School, just down the road from my house!

The detention scenes in the library actually took place in the gym, where they built a custom set. That High school, like many in the early 80s, was closed, and is now the home of the Illinois State Police!

 

[OaklandBlue]

Would love to see them live

 

[Wayneclarkemunchescarrots]

Did anyone else think this was a discussion of the American electorate, or was that just me?

My bad!

Anyway, like some of their stuff, but the only thing most people over here know about them is due to The Breakfast Club…which was filmed at Maine North High School, just down the road from my house!

The detention scenes in the library actually took place in the gym, where they built a custom set. That High school, like many in the early 80s, was closed, and is now the home of the Illinois State Police!

Suprised at the lack of success over there to a degree as they played at JFK for live aid

 

[levets]

I didn't know that, and I'm a fan of sinead. Thanks, I love her voice. On it now.
I enjoy seeing her happy singing, before she got disillusioned by the business.
This is beautiful.
Her voice always gets me everytime.
One of the few singers I truly felt saddened by their passing.
I should know this song, my memory these days...I've got most of her stuff on cd.
Quick check seems it's a trad song she never put out? Correct me if I'm wrong. Similar to the chieftains collaboration which was around the same time.?
Apologies this is a simple minds thread soz lol

Jim Kerr actually stated that this song was the inspiration for ‘Belfast Child’. The melody is almost identical. You’re right, she never released this. She only ever sang it live to my knowledge. It was featured in the film ‘Michael Collins’.
For those who haven’t heard it, here it is. The inspiration for ‘Belfast Child’

 

[chesterbells]

Seen them three times
1985 Once Upon on a Time tour at the NEC - got back past 2 to find one of our housemates had kindly bolted the door in our Sheffield student house near Hillsborough
2008 Sheffield
2010 Sheffield

Great every single time.

Was a Monday & Tuesday night those NEC shows weren’t they iirc?

 

[chesterbells]

Great gig at Maine Road back in the day.

Real Life tour, gonna say Summer 91 or 92? I just recall it being very wet :-(