Simple Minds

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Simple Minds
General information
origin Glasgow , Scotland
Genre (s) New wave , rock
founding 1978
Website www.simpleminds.com
Founding members
Jim Kerr
Derek Forbes (until 1985 + 1997–1998)
Charlie Burchill
Brian McGee (until 1982)
Michael MacNeil (until 1990)
Current occupation
singing
Jim Kerr
guitar
Charlie Burchill
singing
Sarah Brown (since 2009)
bass
Ged Grimes (since 2010)
Drums, percussion
Cherisse Osei (since 2017)
guitar
Gordy Goudie (since 2017)
former members
bass
Malcolm Foster (1989-1995)
bass
John Giblin (1985-1989)
Keyboard
Mark Taylor (1991-1995)
Drums
Mike Ogletree (1982)
Drums
Kenny Hyslop (1982)
Drums
Manu Katché (1989)
bass
Eddie Duffy (1998-2010)
Keyboard
Andy Gillespie (2000, 2001-2004, 2009-2017)
Drums
Mel Gaynor (1982-1992, 1997-2017)
Vocals, keyboard
Catherine Anne Davies "The Anchoress" (2014-2018)
Mel Gaynor
Jim Kerr
Charlie Burchill

Simple Minds is a Scottish music group founded in Glasgow in 1978 and one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and 1990s. From the mid-1980s to the 1990s in the early years they placed five LPs and the Single Belfast Child topped the charts in the UK , and the single Do not You (Forget About Me) at number one in the United States .

Since 1979 the band has sold over 60 million records under various record labels and with different line-ups.

The current line-up of the band consists of the two founding members, Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (guitar), the drummer Mel Gaynor (who is currently pursuing a solo project and was only available as a studio musician), the singer Sarah Brown, the bassist Ged Grimes, singer and keyboardist Catherine Anne Davies, drummer Cherisse Osei and guitarist Gordy Goudie, who worked with the band in the early 2000s.

Band history

Beginnings

The group started in 1975/1976 in the cover band Biba-Rom! . School friends Jim Kerr , Charlie Burchill , Brian McGee and other musicians played songs by Patti Smith , Cockney Rebel , David Bowie and Lou Reed .

In April 1977 the group started with a slightly different line-up under the name Johnny and the Self Abusers as a punk band . After only one single (Saints and Sinners / Dead Vandals) , the group broke up in November 1977 due to internal quarrels.

In 1978 Jim Kerr ( vocals ), Charlie Burchill ( guitar ), Brian McGee ( drums ) and Tony Donald ( bass ) started under the name Simple Minds . The band borrowed the name from a line of text in the David Bowie song The Jean Genie ("He's So Simple Minded He Can't Drive His Module"). In March 1978 the keyboardist Michael MacNeil joined the band, in May 1978 the bassist Tony Donald left them. For demo recordings , the band took guitarist Derek Forbes from the disbanded band Subhumans into the studio as bassist. Derek Forbes, who originally wanted to continue as lead guitarist , had his guitar stolen while working on the demos, so he asked the band if he could stay on as bassist.

Thus, in mid-1978, the formation was found that would publish records from 1979 and established the global success of Simple Minds.

In November 1978 they signed their first recording deal with Bruce Findlay's Zoom Records .

In 1979 the first album was recorded with Life in a Day in February , the single Life in a Day was released in March and the LP Life in a Day in April .

After the first album, the sound of which was still heavily influenced by punk, the next two albums were not so well received. Real to Real Cacophony , the second album, released in November 1979, is a complete departure from punk and sounds comparatively experimental. On the third album, released in September 1980, Empires and Dance , the band tried to create a more danceable sound; the rhythm is clearly in the foreground. Although the criticism was positive, the albums and singles sold poorly. The record company Arista Records was skeptical and initially refused to press the record at all. The anger went so far that the band was on the verge of breaking up. When Peter Gabriel announced himself as a supporter of Simple Minds shortly afterwards and took them on tour, it was clear that things could go on. These first three albums were produced by John Leckie .

The Simple Minds were financially quite at the end when they went on a European tour in the fall of 1980 with the Empire and Dance tour as the opening act for Peter Gabriel . The tour gave the group a boost in popularity, but it did not alleviate the frustration with the record company. They separated in early 1981 and Arista agreed to terminate the contract, although the rights to the albums remained with the label. The band signed a new contract with Virgin Records .

First successes

In the following years the band released several albums with steadily growing success. Their sound changed a lot from New Wave to Rock / Pop . In spring / summer 1981 she recorded the album Sons And Fascination and the limited bonus album Sister Feelings Call . A sampler from both albums, Sons And Fascination / Sister Feelings Call , reached number 11 on the charts in Great Britain and was successful on the international market, especially in Canada and Australia : the single Love Song made the top 20 in both countries -Hit.

Brian McGee was forced to leave the band in July 1981 due to the stress of the last tour and the chaotic recording conditions for the albums. Kenny Hyslop was his successor on drums for the following Sons and Fascination tour .

New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84) from 1982 reached number 3 in the UK charts. The single releases Promised You a Miracle and Glittering Prize were also hits, and Jim Kerr's lyrics combined with a new, euphoric sound were at the forefront of the so-called "New Optimism", alongside U2 and later Big Country and other bands. In addition to Kenny Hyslop, Mike Olgetree and Mel Gaynor played drums on this album.

1984's Sparkle in the Rain broughta bigger sound, thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite, and the album hit # 1 on the UK charts. Waterfront , Up on the Catwalk and Speed ​​Your Love to Me became hits. Simple Minds now had a fan base who ensured that their tours in Europe, Canada and Australia were well attended and met with great enthusiasm. In the USA they remained rather unknown: instead of playing as headliners there, they could be seen in the opening act forthe Pretenders .

International breakthrough

In 1985, Simple Minds made their breakthrough with the single Don't You (Forget About Me) from the film Der Frühstücksclub , which became an international success. On May 18, 1985, the song reached number one in the US singles chart. The bassist Derek Forbes left the band after recording the title and was replaced by John Giblin .

On July 13, 1985, they performed at the Live Aid Concert at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia .

In the fall of 1985, the album Once Upon a Time followed , in which the band placed their political commitment (especially for Amnesty International ) in the foreground. The album also reached number one on the UK charts, with the single releases Alive & Kicking, Sanctify Yourself and All the Things She Said reaching high positions in the charts. Proceeds from the following Once Upon the Time tour were donated to Amnesty International.

With the following, live in Paris recorded double album Live in the City of Light , from 1987, the band managed the third album in a row at number 1 in the UK charts. The band's own Bonnie Wee studio was set up in Loch Earn, Scotland .

On June 11, 1988, the Simple Minds played the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute Concert , for which the title Mandela Day was composed and premiered. This was followed by an appearance at the Artists Against Apartheid rally in London's Hyde Park .

With the 1989 album Street Fighting Years , which was once again placed at number one in the UK charts with strongly political lyrics and with the participation of violinist Lisa Germano , the Simple Minds were at the height of their success. With their song Belfast Child about the Northern Ireland conflict , they reached number 1 in the UK singles charts. Like U2, they used their success again and again to draw attention to social grievances or political injustices. The bassist John Giblin was replaced by Malcom Forster from the Pretenders. After the Street Fighting Years tour , from which recordings were later published on the DVD Seen The Lights: Live In Verona , Mick MacNeil took a break from the band, but would never return to her.

The 1990s

With Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill only two regular members remained in the band and in the following years there was a constant change in the other line-up.

1990 began with the Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert, on which Peter John Vettese played the keyboards for the first time with the Simple Minds. In autumn the Themes Boxes project started with the publication of the Themes Boxes Volume One to Volume Four, but then ended in 2008 with the publication of the Themes Box Volume Five.

Another successful album followed in 1991 with Real Life , which reached number 2 in the UK charts and from which the singles Let There Be Love , See The Light , Stand by Love and Real Life were decoupled. The 1992 sampler Glittering Prize 81/92 made it back to number 1 in the UK charts. In the same year Mel Gaynor left the band for the first time.

After the album Good News from the Next World , released in 1995 , with the singles She's a River and Hypnotized , which once again reached number 2 in the UK charts, the top rankings for the band, which had since shrunk to a duo, came to an end. The following albums did not reach the popularity of the LPs from the 80s. Despite partly extensive tours in 1991 and 1995, it was no longer possible to build on old successes. Another change of the record company (from Virgin / EMI to Chrysalis / EMI ) followed in 1996.

In 1997 Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill first appeared at the Night of the Proms , and the sampler The Promised was released for the occasion. The comparatively "electronic" album Neapolis , for which the band gave very few concerts, followed in 1998. A newly composed formation then recorded the album Our Secrets Are the Same in 1999 , which was only released in 2004 as part of the Silver Box .

After 2000

When Chrysalis / EMI did not want to release the already recorded album Our Secrets Are the Same and kept announcing new release dates, the Simple Minds changed the record label and signed with Eagle Records . Neon Lights , an album with cover versions of well-known rock songs, was released here in 2001 , and finally in 2002, Cry , another studio album with new material, for which the band toured extensively in Europe and the USA. Virgin Records released the double album The Best of Simple Minds in 2001 .

The publication of Our Secrets Are the Same was announced again for 2003 , but was postponed again. In October 2004 the time had finally come, the album was released on Virgin Records, long announced, as CD 5 from the sampler Silver Box , which contains four further CDs with demos, live pieces and radio sessions from 1979 to 1995.

In spring 2005, the group announced on their website that they had signed a contract with the Sanctuary Records label. The album Black & White 050505 was released there on September 12, 2005. The first single was Home , which reached number 41 in Great Britain and number 53 in Germany. The album was a modest success and sold best in Belgium (3rd place), Italy (6th place) and Germany (6th place).

With over 60 concerts in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, the band was on tour from late January to August 2006. In spring 2007 the Simple Minds played a short tour with INXS in Australia. In April and autumn 2008 Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill gave some concerts as part of the Night of the Proms .

In early 2008 there were plans for a reunion with the original line-up with Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil, Derek Forbes and Brian McGee. Studios were booked, but after a short time the attempt failed due to irreconcilable differences between the band members. From the end of November to the beginning of December, Simple Minds celebrated their 30th anniversary with Kerr, Burchill and Mel Gaynor with several shows in Great Britain. As the core of the show, the band played their 1982 album New Gold Dream completely live for the first time.

On May 25, 2009 the album Graffiti Soul was released in two versions. In addition to the standard album, there is an additional double album with cover versions of well-known songs. From autumn 2009 the band went on tour again, the Graffiti-Soul-Tour-2009 , through numerous European countries. In addition to the band members Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mel Gaynor and Eddie Duffy, former band member Andy Gillespie played the keyboards. After a few concerts, Jim Kerr announced that singer Sarah Brown would join the band for the tour.

The Australian Tour 2010 and the Festival Tour 2010 , which were continuations of the Graffiti Soul Tour , began in 2010 with the same line-up . After the penultimate concert of the Festival Tour 2010 , the “Polo rocks!” In Jüchen , Germany, bassist Eddie Duffy left the band and was replaced by Ged Grimes for the last concert in Paris. Also in 2010, Jim Kerr's first solo album was released under the pseudonym “Lostboy! AKA ".

In early 2012, the band played five songs from their first five albums from 1979–1982 as part of the 5x5 live tour. The tour was flanked by the releases of the 6CD box set X5 and the live double album 5x5 Live .

On March 25, 2013, the new best-of album Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + was released. As a bonus, the 2CD version contains the new titles Blood Diamonds and Broken Glass Park (originally a Lostboy! Song) and the 3CD version also contains the title Stagefright , which was published on the Internet in 2011 .

Simple Minds 2014 in Bern

On October 31, 2014 the album Big Music was released in two versions: normal edition (CD with 12 songs) and deluxe edition box (a CD with the 12 songs of the normal edition, a CD with an additional 6 songs and a DVD with 2 videos, 3 clips and the 2 tracks behind the scenes and band interviews ). On November 14th 2015 the album Live - Big Music Tour 2015 (2 CDs with 29 songs) was released.

The album Acoustic was released on November 11, 2016 , in which the band presented 12 of their songs in acoustic versions. 16 songs from the Acoustic tour are documented in the album Acoustic in Concert , which was released in June 2017.

On February 2, 2018, the album Walk Between Worlds was released in two versions: Normal Edition (CD with 8 songs) and Deluxe Edition (a CD with the 8 songs of the Normal Edition and a CD with 3 additional songs).

On October 4th, 2019, the live album Live In The City Of Angels was released in two versions: Normal Edition (two CDs with 25 songs) and Deluxe Edition (two CDs with the 25 songs of the Normal Edition and two CDs with an additional 15 songs Songs).

Tours

  • Simple Minds Tour 1978
  • Life in a Day Tour 1979
  • Real to Real Cacophony Tour 1980
  • Empires and Dance Tour 1980/81
  • Sons and Fascination Tour 1981/82
  • New Gold Tour 1982/83
  • Tour du Monde 1983/84
  • Once Upon a Time Tour 1985/86
  • Street Fighting Years Tour 1989
  • Real Life Tour 1991
  • Good News from the Next World Tour 1995
  • Festival Tour 1997
  • Neapolis Tour 1998
  • The Floating World Tour 2002
  • Alive and Kicking Tour 2003
  • Festival Tour 2004
  • Black and White Tour 2006
  • Australian Tour 2007
  • 30 Years Live Tour 2008/09
  • Graffiti Soul Tour 2009
  • Australian and Festival Show Summer Tour 2010
  • Greatest Hits Forest Tour 2011
  • 5X5 Tour 2012
  • Festival Shows Tour 2012
  • Big Music Tour + Greatest Hits 2014/15
  • Acoustic Tour 2017
  • Walk Between Worlds Tour 2018
  • 40 Years of Hits Tour 2020

Others

In 1985, Kerr married Chrissie Hynde , singer with the Pretenders. He has a daughter with her who was born in 1985. The divorce was filed five years later.

The second marriage to Patsy Kensit also ended in divorce. He has a son with her.

The Simple Minds had their own recording studio in Scotland called Bonny Wee Studios. This was sold after the recordings for Neapolis in 1999 and converted into a residential building.

The songs by the Simple Minds serve as background music for the Krombacher brewery commercials . The song Belfast Child was used from 2000 to 2010, and the guitar riff has been used by Stars Will Lead the Way since summer 2010 .

In 1999, Hypnotized served as background music for the credits on the Sat.1 sports program ran .

Discography

Studio albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placementsTemplate: chart table / maintenance / without sourcesTemplate: chart table / maintenance / monthly data
(Year, title, rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1979 Life in a Day - - - UK30 (6 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1979
Real to Real Cacophony - - - - -
First published: November 1979
1980 Empires and Dance - - - UK41 (3 weeks)
UK
-
First published: September 1980
1981 Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call - - - UK11
gold
gold

(7 weeks)UK
-
First published: September 1981
1982 New Gold Dream DE47 (1 week)
DE
- - UK3
platinum
platinum

(54 weeks)UK
US69 (19 weeks)
US
First published: September 13, 1982
1984 Sparkle in the Rain DE14 (13 weeks)
DE
- CH19 (4 weeks)
CH
UK1
platinum
platinum

(58 weeks)UK
US64 (2 weeks)
US
First published: February 6, 1984
1985 Once Upon a Time DE5
gold
gold

(26 weeks)DE
- CH7 (19 weeks)
CH
UK1
Triple platinum
× 3
Triple platinum

(83 weeks)UK
US10
gold
gold

(42 weeks)US
First published: October 21, 1985
1989 Street Fighting Years DE1
platinum
platinum

(32 weeks)DE
AT3 (4½ months)
AT
CH1
platinum
platinum

(23 weeks)CH
UK1
Double platinum
× 2
Double platinum

(29 weeks)UK
US70 (12 weeks)
US
First published: May 8, 1989
1991 Real life DE3
gold
gold

(37 weeks)DE
AT11 (14 weeks)
AT
CH2
platinum
platinum

(29 weeks)CH
UK2
platinum
platinum

(25 weeks)UK
US74 (11 weeks)
US
First published: April 8, 1991
1995 Good News from the Next World DE4th
gold
gold

(22 weeks)DE
AT6 (15 weeks)
AT
CH1
gold
gold

(19 weeks)CH
UK2
gold
gold

(14 weeks)UK
US87 (7 weeks)
US
First published: February 7, 1995
1998 Napolis DE9 (8 weeks)
DE
AT15 (8 weeks)
AT
CH7 (8 weeks)
CH
UK19 (3 weeks)
UK
-
First published: March 16, 1998
2001 Neon lights DE58 (1 week)
DE
- CH65 (2 weeks)
CH
- -
First published: October 8, 2001
2002 Cry DE38 (6 weeks)
DE
- CH35 (8 weeks)
CH
UK80 (1 week)
UK
-
First published: April 1, 2002
2005 Black & White 050505 DE6 (9 weeks)
DE
AT63 (2 weeks)
AT
CH20 (6 weeks)
CH
UK37 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: September 12, 2005
2009 Graffiti Soul DE14 (12 weeks)
DE
AT60 (1 week)
AT
CH8 (8 weeks)
CH
UK10 (4 weeks)
UK
-
First published: May 25, 2009
2014 Big Music DE16 (3 weeks)
DE
AT68 (1 week)
AT
CH20 (3 weeks)
CH
UK12 (4 weeks)
UK
-
First published: October 31, 2014
2016 Acoustic DE39 (2 weeks)
DE
- CH33 (1 week)
CH
UK16
silver
silver

(6 weeks)UK
-
First published: November 11, 2016
2018 Walk Between Worlds DE7 (3 weeks)
DE
AT36 (2 weeks)
AT
CH5 (5 weeks)
CH
UK4 (3 weeks)
UK
-
First published: February 2, 2018

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More studio albums:

  • 2004: Our Secrets Are the Same (released as part of the compilation Silver Box )

Live albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placementsTemplate: chart table / maintenance / without sourcesTemplate: chart table / maintenance / monthly data
(Year, title, rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1987 Live in the City of Light DE3
gold
gold

(19 weeks)DE
AT10 (2½ months)
AT
CH5 (14 weeks)
CH
UK1
Double platinum
× 2
Double platinum

(26 weeks)UK
US96 (10 weeks)
US
First published: May 11, 1987
2CD (14 songs)
2019 Live in the City of Angels DE23 (2 weeks)
DE
- CH44 (2 weeks)
CH
UK9 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First release: October 4th, 2019
2CD (25 songs); 4CD (40 songs)

More live albums

  • 1998: Real Live 91 (1CD; 8 songs)
  • 2007: Sunday Express - Live (Vol. 1 & 2) (2CD; 22 songs)
  • 2011: Live 2011 (3CD; 22 songs; from 2 shows)
  • 2012: 5X5 Live (2CD; 31 songs)
  • 2013: Celebrate - The Greatest Hits + Tour 2013 (12CD; 129 songs; from 6 shows)
  • 2014: Celebrate - Live at the SSE Hydro Glasgow (Deluxe Edition) [2CD: 17 songs (with intro); 2DVD: 17 songs (+ intro) and bonus material]
  • 2015: Big Music Tour 2015 (2CD; 29 songs)
  • 2017: Acoustic in Concert (1CD; 16 songs)

Compilations

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placementsTemplate: chart table / maintenance / without sources
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1982 Celebration - - - UK45 (7 weeks)
UK
-
First release: February 1982
1CD (10 songs)
1992 Glittering Prize 81/92 DE10
gold
gold

(27 weeks)DE
AT29 (3 weeks)
AT
CH14 (14 weeks)
CH
UK1
Triple platinum
× 3
Triple platinum

(47 weeks)UK
-
First published: October 8, 1992
1CD (European and Canadian version: 16 songs)
1997 The Promised DE97 (2 weeks)
DE
- - - -
First release: September 29, 1997
1CD (16 songs)
2001 The best of DE67 (1 week)
DE
- CH64 (2 weeks)
CH
UK34
gold
gold

(6 weeks)UK
-
First release: November 5th, 2001
2CD (32 songs)
2012 X5 DE99 (1 week)
DE
- - UK28 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: February 21, 2012
6CD (75 songs)
2013 Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + - - CH55 (1 week)
CH
UK19th
silver
silver

(5 weeks)UK
-
First published: March 25, 2013;
2CD (36 songs); 3CD (50 songs)
2019 40: The Best Of - 1979-2019 DE75 (1 week)
DE
- CH72 (1 week)
CH
UK27 (1 week)
UK
-
First published: November 1, 2019;
1 CD (18 songs); 3CD Deluxe Edition (40 songs)

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More compilations

  • 1990: Themes - Volume 1: March 79 – April 82 (5CD; 16 songs)
  • 1990: Themes - Volume 2: August 82 – April 85 (5CD; 15 songs)
  • 1990: Themes - Volume 3: September 85 – June 87 (5CD; 18 songs)
  • 1990: Themes - Volume 4: February 89 – May 90 (5CD; 17 songs)
  • 2004: Silver Box (incl. First studio album: "Our Secrets Are the Same"; 5CD; 60 songs)
  • 2008: Themes - Volume 5: March 91 – September 92 (5CD; 19 songs)

Singles

year Title
album
Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placementsTemplate: chart table / maintenance / without sourcesTemplate: chart table / maintenance / monthly data
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1979 Life in a Day
Life in a Day
- - - UK62 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1979
1981 The American
Sister Feelings Call
- - - UK59 (3 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1981
Love Song
Sons and Fascination
- - - UK47 (4 weeks)
UK
-
First published: August 1981
Sweat in Bullet
Sons and Fascination
- - - UK52 (3 weeks)
UK
-
First published: November 1981
1982 Promised You a Miracle
New Gold Dream
- - - UK13 (11 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1982
Glittering Prize
New Gold Dream
- - - UK16 (11 weeks)
UK
-
First published: August 1982
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
New Gold Dream
- - - UK36 (5 weeks)
UK
-
First published: November 1982
1983 Waterfront
Sparkle in the Rain
- - - UK13 (10 weeks)
UK
-
First published: November 1983
1984 Speed ​​Your Love to Me
Sparkle in the Rain
- - - UK20 (4 weeks)
UK
-
First published: January 1984
Up on the Catwalk
Sparkle in the Rain
- - - UK27 (5 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1984
1985 Don't You (Forget About Me)
The Breakfast Club (OST)
DE4 (23 weeks)
DE
AT5 (3½ months)
AT
CH8 (16 weeks)
CH
UK7th
platinum
platinum

(67 weeks)UK
US1 (22 weeks)
US
First published: February 20, 1985
Alive and Kicking
Once Upon a Time
DE17 (17 weeks)
DE
- CH13 (8 weeks)
CH
UK7th
silver
silver

(16 weeks)UK
US3 (20 weeks)
US
First published: September 20, 1985
1986 Sanctify Yourself
Once Upon a Time
DE38 (8 weeks)
DE
- - UK10 (8 weeks)
UK
US14 (14 weeks)
US
First published: January 20, 1986
All the Things She Said
Once Upon a Time
DE51 (7 weeks)
DE
- - UK9 (12 weeks)
UK
US28 (13 weeks)
US
First published: April 1986
Ghostdancing
Once Upon a Time
- - - UK13 (10 weeks)
UK
-
First published: November 1986
1987 Promised You a Miracle (Live)
Live in the City of Light
- - - UK19 (10 weeks)
UK
-
First published: June 1987
1989 Belfast Child
Street Fighting Years
DE3 (18 weeks)
DE
AT12 (4½ months)
AT
CH3 (17 weeks)
CH
UK1
silver
silver

(12 weeks)UK
-
First published: January 18, 1989
This Is Your Land
Street Fighting Years
DE25 (15 weeks)
DE
- CH10 (9 weeks)
CH
UK13 (5 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 10, 1989
Kick It In
Street Fighting Years
DE65 (6 weeks)
DE
- - UK15 (5 weeks)
UK
-
First published: July 17, 1989
The Amsterdam EP
Street Fighting Years
DE40 (7 weeks)
DE
- - UK18 (6 weeks)
UK
-
First published: November 1989
1991 Let There Be Love
Real Life
DE16 (16 weeks)
DE
- CH7 (10 weeks)
CH
UK6 (7 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1991
See the Lights
Real Life
DE48 (11 weeks)
DE
- - UK20 (4 weeks)
UK
US40 (10 weeks)
US
First published: May 1991
Stand By Love
Real Life
- - CH27 (4 weeks)
CH
UK13 (4 weeks)
UK
-
First published: August 1991
Real Life
Real Life
- - - UK34 (3 weeks)
UK
-
First published: October 1991
1992 Love Song / Alive and Kicking
Glittering Prize 81/92
- - - UK6 (6 weeks)
UK
-
First published: October 1992
1995 She's a River
Good News from the Next World
DE39 (10 weeks)
DE
- CH28 (10 weeks)
CH
UK9 (10 weeks)
UK
US52 (9 weeks)
US
First published: January 1995
Hypnotized
Good News from the Next World
DE62 (10 weeks)
DE
- - UK18 (5 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 1995
1998 Glitter
Ball Néapolis
- - - UK18 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: February 1998
Was Babies
Néapolis
- - - UK43 (1 week)
UK
-
First published: June 1998
2002 Belfast trance - - - UK74 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: January 2002
with John '00' Fleming
monster - - - UK67 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: April 2002
with Liquid People
Cry
Cry
DE92 (1 week)
DE
- - UK47 (2 weeks)
UK
-
First published: July 2002
2005 Home
Black & White 050505
DE53 (9 weeks)
DE
- - UK41 (1 week)
UK
-
First published: September 2005
2006 Stranger
Black & White 050505
DE97 (1 week)
DE
- - - -
First published: February 2006
2009 Stars Will Lead the Way
Graffiti Soul
DE88 (3 weeks)
DE
- - - -
First published: June 2009
The following songs did not appear as single, but were made available for download and streaming through the album and were thus able to achieve a placement:
2013 Mandela Day - - CH55 (1 week)
CH
- -
Chart entry: December 22, 2013

More singles

  • 2009: Rockets

Awards for music sales

Golden record

  • BelgiumBelgium Belgium
    • 1995: for the album Good News from the World
    • 1998: for the album The Promised
  • FranceFrance France
    • 1986: for the album New Gold Dream
    • 1986: for the album Once Upon a Time
    • 1986: for the album Sparkle in the Rain
    • 1987: for the album Live in the City of Light
    • 1995: for the album Good News from the World
    • 2004: for the video album Seen the Lights
  • CanadaCanada Canada
    • 1984: for the album Sparkle in the Rain
    • 1984: for the single Alive and Kicking
    • 1986: for the album New Gold Dream
    • 1989: for the album Street Fighting Years
    • 1995: for the album Glittering Prize - Simple Minds 81–92
  • New ZealandNew Zealand New Zealand
    • 1984: for the album Sparkle in the Rain
  • NetherlandsNetherlands Netherlands
    • 1988: for the album Live in the City of Light
    • 1991: for the album Real Life
    • 2001: for the album The Best of
  • SpainSpain Spain
    • 1985: for the album Once Upon a Time
    • 1989: for the album Street Fighting Years
    • 1991: for the album Real Life

2 × gold record

  • FranceFrance France
    • 1991: for the album Real Life

Platinum record

  • BelgiumBelgium Belgium
    • 2006: for the album The Best of
  • FranceFrance France
    • 1989: for the album Street Fighting Years
    • 1994: for the album Glittering Prize - Simple Minds 81-92
  • CanadaCanada Canada
    • 1985: for the single Don't You (Forget About Me)
  • New ZealandNew Zealand New Zealand
    • 1984: for the album New Gold Dream
    • 1986: for the album Once Upon a Time
    • 1994: for the album Glittering Prize - Simple Minds 81-92
  • NetherlandsNetherlands Netherlands
    • 1986: for the album Once Upon a Time
    • 1988: for the album New Gold Dream
    • 1989: for the album Street Fighting Years
    • 1995: for the album Glittering Prize - Simple Minds 81–92

2 × platinum record

  • CanadaCanada Canada
    • 1986: for the album Once Upon a Time

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region Silver record icon.svg silver Gold record icon.svg gold Platinum record icon.svg platinum Sales swell
Awards for music sales
(country / region, awards, sales, sources)
Belgium (BEA) Belgium (BEA) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 2 × gold2 Platinum record icon.svg platinum1 100,000 ultratop.be
Germany (BVMI) Germany (BVMI) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 5 × gold5 Platinum record icon.svg platinum1 1,750,000 musikindustrie.de
France (SNEP) France (SNEP) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 8 × gold8th Platinum record icon.svg 2 × platinum2 1,610,000 infodisc.fr snepmusique.com
Canada (MC) Canada (MC) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 5 × gold5 Platinum record icon.svg 3 × platinum3 550,000 musiccanada.com
New Zealand (RMNZ) New Zealand (RMNZ) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg gold1 Platinum record icon.svg 3 × platinum3 52,500 nztop40.co.nz
Netherlands (NVPI) Netherlands (NVPI) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 3 × gold3 Platinum record icon.svg 4 × platinum4th 540,000 nvpi.nl
Switzerland (IFPI) Switzerland (IFPI) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg gold1 Platinum record icon.svg 2 × platinum2 125,000 hitparade.ch
Spain (Promusicae) Spain (Promusicae) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 3 × gold3 0! P- 150,000 mediafire.com
United States (RIAA) United States (RIAA) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg gold1 0! P- 500,000 riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI) United Kingdom (BPI) Silver record icon.svg 4 × silver4th Gold record icon.svg 3 × gold3 Platinum record icon.svg 14 × platinum14th 5,470,000 bpi.co.uk
All in all Silver record icon.svg 4 × silver4th Gold record icon.svg 32 × gold32 Platinum record icon.svg 30 × platinum30th

literature

Web links

Commons : Simple Minds  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

swell

  1. focus.de Simple Minds for Beginners and Advanced Students from April 22, 2013.
  2. simpleminds.org: Simple Minds Tree # 42
  3. simpleminds.org: Biba-Rom!
  4. simpleminds.org: Johnny and the self abusers
  5. simpleminds.org: Where did the name 'Simple Minds' originate?
  6. simpleminds.org: Simple Minds # 6
  7. simpleminds.org: Simple Minds Timeline 1980.
  8. laut.de Simple Minds Biography
  9. simpleminds.org: Simple Minds Timeline 1981.
  10. simpleminds.org: Simple Minds Timeline 1985.
  11. simpleminds.org: Simple Minds Timeline 1989
  12. imdb.com: Charlie Burchill News from May 29, 2008