
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Although experiencing significant personnel changes, it has continued to tour to a cult following through that decade and into the new millennium. The core of the band is the two remaining founding members – Jim Kerr (vocals, songwriting) and Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards after 1990, other instruments, songwriting) – and drummer Mel Gaynor (who first joined the band in 1982). The other current band members are Andy Gillespie (keyboards) and Ged Grimes (bass guitar). Former members include bass guitarist Derek Forbes, drummer Brian McGee, and keyboardist Mick MacNeil.
Links To Peel[]
Like most of Simple Minds' first wave of fans, Peel preferred their earlier experimental incarnation to the more globally popular stadium rock which took over from the mid 1980s. On the show of 02 January 1980 he says he was less than impressed with their first album but had listened to Real To Real Cacophony several times and fearing it would get little airplay, decided he should play the entire album over four shows.
In John Peel's Scottish Sessions Jim Kerr talks about how much better the Skids were than Johnny and the Self-Abusers but that Peel was crucial to Simple Minds success.
A great favourite of Peel was the 1981 single The American, which he played sporadically over the years, though he was caught out by the sudden ending on his first play of the record. This is the only Simple Minds track John is known to have played after 1984. On 25 January 1984 (BFBS) he stated that their single "Speed Your Love To Me" was their first he hadn't cared for, opining that it was veering towards progressive rock.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- 1982 Festive Fifty: Glittering Prize #45
- 1982 Festive Fifty: Someone Somewhere In Summertime #32
- 1982 Festive Fifty: Promised You A Miracle #30
Sessions[]
1. Recorded: 1979-12-19. First broadcast on John Peel Show: 07 January 1980. Repeated: 31 January 1980, 10 February 1982. Available on CD Box Set Silver Box Virgin CDBOX9. Premonition also available on v/a album Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977-1979 BBC Worldwide / EMI CDPEEL 7779
- Changeling / Premonition / Citizen (Dance Of Youth) / Room
Simple Minds - Peel Session 1982
2. Recorded: 1982-02-15. First broadcast: 01 March 1982. Repeated: 23 March 1982, 20 April 1982, 20 December 1982, 03 April 1985 (Muriel Gray) .
- Promised You A Miracle / Love Song / Sons And Fascination / King Is White And In The Crowd
Available on deluxe edition of New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84), issued 2016.
Simple Minds had recorded another session for Kid Jensen just days before this one for John Peel, on 11 February 1982, broadcast on 23 February 1982, and went on to record another session for Jensen's show on 13 August 1982, broadcast on 26 September 1982.
(Please correct mistakes and add any missing info)
Other Shows Played[]
Simple Minds - Glittering Prize
'Glittering Prize', #45 in the 1982 Festive Fifty
- 1979
- 18 April 1979: Life In A Day (7") Zoom ZUM 10
- 19 April 1979: Chelsea Girl (LP - Life In A Day) Zoom
- 04 December 1979: Naked Eye (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 05 December 1979: Premonition (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 06 December 1979: Carnival (Shelter In A Suitcase) (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 11 December 1979: Changeling (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 22 December 1979 (BFBS): Premonition (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
Simple Minds-Someone Somewhere (Live Newcastle 1982) REMASTERED STEREO
'Someone Somewhere', #32 in the 1982 Festive Fifty
- 02 January 1980: Real To Real (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 02 January 1980: Naked Eye (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 02 January 1980: Citizen (Dance of Youth) (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 02 January 1980: Carnival (Shelter In A Suitcase) (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 03 January 1980: Factory (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 03 January 1980: Cacophony (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 09 January 1980: Film Theme (LP (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 09 January 1980: Calling Your Name (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 09 January 1980: Scar (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 09 January 1980 (BFBS): Premonition (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 09 January 1980 (BFBS): Changeling (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 09 January 1980 (BFBS): Scar (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 10 January 1980: Premonition (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 10 January 1980: Changeling (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 24 January 1980: Changeling (7") Arista
- 26 August 1980: Constantinople Line (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 27 August 1980: This Fear Of Gods (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 01 September 1980: I Travel (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 02 September 1980: Celebrate (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 03 September 1980: Today I Died Again (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 13 September 1980 (BFBS): This Fear Of Gods (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 24 September 1980: I Travel (album - Empires And Dance) Zoom SPART 1140
- 27 September 1980 (BFBS): This Fear Of Gods (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 04 October 1980 (BFBS): I Travel (album - Empires And Dance) Zoom SPART 1140
- 14 October 1980: I Travel (7") Arista ARIST 372
- 16 October 1980: This Fear Of Gods (album - Empires And Dance) Arista
- 13 November 1980 (BFBS): I Travel (7") Arista ARIST 372
- 25 November 1980: I Travel (7") Arista ARIST 372
Simple Minds - Promised You A Miracle
'Promised You A Miracle', #30 in the 1982 Festive Fifty
- 05 January 1981: I Travel (7") Arista ARIST 372
- 16 February 1981: Celebrate (7") Arista ARIST 394
- 06 May 1981: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 18 May 1981: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 28 May 1981 (BFBS): The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 18 June 1981 (BFBS): The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 02 July 1981: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 02 July 1981: This Fear Of Gods (album - Empires And Dance) Arista SPART 1140
- 03 August 1981: Love Song (7") Virgin VS 434
- 06 August 1981: Love Song (7") Virgin VS 434
- 13 August 1981 (BFBS): Love Song (7") Virgin VS 434
- 01 September 1981: 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall (album - Sons And Fascination) Virgin V 2207
- 09 September 1981: The American (album - Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call) Virgin V2207, OVED 2
- 10 September 1981 (BFBS): 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall (album - Sons And Fascination) Virgin V 2207
- 10 September 1981 (BFBS): Sweat In Bullet (album - Sons And Fascination) Virgin V 2207
- 17 September 1981 (BFBS): 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall (album - Sons And Fascination) Virgin V 2207
- 17 September 1981 (BFBS): Sound In 70 Cities (album - Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call) Virgin V2207, OVED 2
- 17 September 1981 (BFBS): Careful In Career (album - Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call) Virgin V2207, OVED 2
- 24 September 1981 (BFBS): The American (album - Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call) Virgin V2207, OVED 2
- 22 October 1981 (BFBS): Theme For Great Cities (album - Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call) Virgin V2207, OVED 2
- 05 November 1981: Sweat In Bullet (2x7") Virgin VS 451
- 12 November 1981 (BFBS): Sweat In Bullet (2x7") Virgin VS 451
- 22 November 1981 (BFBS): Love Song (7") Virgin VS 434
- 20 December 1981 (BFBS): Premonition (2x7" - Sweat In Bullet) Virgin VS 451
- 1982
- 06 January 1982: Love Song (12") Virgin VS 434 12
- 22 March 1982: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 04 April 1982 (BFBS): The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 14 April 1982 (BFBS): Promised You A Miracle (12") Virgin VS 488-12
- 15 April 1982: Promised You A Miracle (7") Virgin VS 488
- 02 May 1982 (BFBS): Promised You A Miracle (7") Virgin VS 488
- 02 May 1982 (BFBS): Sound In 70 Cities (album - Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call) Virgin V2207, OVED 2
- 15 August 1982 (BFBS): In Trance As Mission (album - Sons And Fascination) Virgin V 2207
- 19 August 1982: Glittering Prize (7") Virgin VS 511
- 25 August 1982 (BFBS): Glittering Prize (Theme) (7" - Glittering Prize) Virgin VS 511
- 09 September 1982: Glittering Prize (7") Virgin
- 22 September 1982 (BFBS): Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel (album - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)) Virgin V 2230
- 22 September 1982 (BFBS): New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (album - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)) Virgin V 2230
- 23 September 1982: The Hunter And the Hunted (album - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)) Virgin V 2230
- 28 October 1982: 'King Is White And In The Crowd (Kid Jensen Session version) (b/w 7" - Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) Virgin VS538
- 16 December 1982: Glittering Prize (album - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)) Virgin V 2230 F50 #45
- 21 December 1982: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) (album - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)) Virgin V 2230 F50 #32
- 22 December 1982: Promised You A Miracle (12") Virgin VS 488-12 F50 #30
- 1983
- 05 January 1983 (BFBS): Life In A Day (7") Zoom ZUM 10
- 06 February 1983 (BFBS): The Hunter And The Hunted (album - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)) Virgin V 2230
- 03 March 1983: King Is White (v/a cassette - Feature Mist) Touch T1
- 16 March 1983 (BFBS): King Is White (v/a cassette - Feature Mist) Touch T1
- 30 May 1983: League of Nations (12" - Sweat In Bullet) Virgin VS 451-12
- 05 June 1983 (BFBS): League Of Nations (12" - Sweat In Bullet) Virgin VS 451-12
- 03 December 1983 (BFBS): Waterfront (7" Promo) Virgin VDJ636
- 05 December 1983 (BBC World Service): Waterfront (7" Promo) Virgin VDJ636
- 1984
- 11 January 1984: Speed Your Love To Me (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V2300
- Peel Mid Jan 1984: Book Of Brilliant Things (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V2300
- Peel Mid Jan 1984: "C" Moon Cry Like A Baby (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V2300
- 25 January 1984 (BFBS): Speed Your Love To Me (7") Virgin VS 649
- 30 January 1984 (BBC World Service): Speed Your Love To Me (LP - Sparkle In The Rain) Virgin
- Peel Late December 1983 To February 1984: Book Of Brilliant Things (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V2300
- 11 February 1984 (BFBS): The Kick Inside Of Me (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V 2300
- 13 February 1984 (BBC World Service): Up On The Catwalk (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V 2300
- 13 February 1984 (BBC World Service): Book Of Brilliant Things (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V 2300
- 20 February 1984: unknown
- 20 February 1984 (BBC World Service): The Kick Inside Of Me (album - Sparkle In the Rain) Virgin V 2300
- 14 March 1984 (BFBS): Changeling (album - Real To Real Cacophony) Arista SPART 1109
- 17 March 1984 (BFBS): I Travel (album - Empires And Dance) Zoom SPART 1140
- 16 May 1984: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 1985
- 02 April 1985 (Muriel Gray): The American (7" ) Virgin
- 02 April 1985 (Muriel Gray): Don't You Forget About Me (7") Virgin VS 749
- 08 April 1985 (Muriel Gray): The American
- 09 April 1985 (Muriel Gray): Don't You Forget About Me (7") Virgin VS 749
- 1990s
- 07 August 1990: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 2000s
- 16 January 2000 (BFBS): The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 01 May 2002: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 08 July 2003: The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 10 July 2003 (Radio Eins): The American (7") Virgin VS 410
- 19 July 2003 (BBC World Service): The American (7") Virgin VS 410
(Please add any missing info)
Top Of The Pops[]
- 20 November 1986 (TOTP): Ghostdancing (13) (video)