Inventing new sounds a decade sooner than anyone else. Est. 1977

Since September 13, 2007

Glasgow City, United Kingdom (Great Britain) 

Simple Minds (est. 1977) is a legendary Scottish new wave band that is most famous for recording Keith Forsey's hit song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" for the Brat Pack movie "The Breakfast Club", which was released in 1985. However, the band is a lot more than a one-hit-wonder as they have released over a dozen of albums. Their sound and style is constantly evolving and they continue to pave way for new musical styles and ideas.

The original members include Jim Kerr (vocals), Charlie Burchill (guitar and violin), Michael MacNeil (keyboards and accordion), Derek Forbes (bass guitar) and Brian McGee (drums and percussion). Current line-up includes both Jim and Charlie, newcomer Ged Grimes (bass guitar), Andy Gillespie (keyboards and programming) and a long-time drummer Mel Gaynor (drums). Notable past members include drummers Kenny Hyslop, Mike Ogletree and Mark Schumann, keyboard player/guitarist Mark Taylor, bassists John Giblin, Malcolm Foster and Eddie Duffy, vocalists Robin Clarke and Sarah Brown, percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos and violinist Lisa Germano.

The band's five most prominent albums are the new wave-era "Empires and Dance" plus the double-release of "Sons and Fascination"/"Sister Feelings Call", the new romantic epic "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)" and the bombastic synth rock spectacle "Sparkle in the Rain". Their most commercially successful album is the stadium rock-laden "Once Upon a Time", and their most recent albums, "Black and White 050505" and "Graffiti Soul", have been well-received among fans and critics.

Besides "Don't You (Forget About Me)", the band has also such popular songs as "Waterfront", "The American", "Belfast Child", "I Travel", "Someone, Somewhere (in Summertime)", "Promised You a Miracle", "Let There Be Love", "She's a River", "War Babies", "Home" and "Moscow Underground".

Simple Minds has recently released a compilation box set called "X5", collecting their first five albums and some rare B-side tracks previously unreleased on compact discs. The band was also on a limited tour highlighting their early years and promoting the release of "X5". Right now, Jim, Charlie & co. are continuing their work on a new album with Steve Hillage, the producer for the classic "Sons and Fascination"/"Sister Feelings Call" double album. There is also a new hits collection (with newly recorded tracks included) prepped for release. Both albums are expected to appear sometime in 2012.

Jim Kerr also has a solo project, called LostBoy! AKA, which saw a release of an album, a brief promotional tour and a stripped-down electroset tour with vocalist Sarah Brown and a long-time Minds fan Simon Hayward (of tribute band Sample Minds) taking care of keyboard and programming duties. A follow-up album is expected to be made in the near future.

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