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Key facts
- Origin
- Glasgow , Scotland
- Genres
- Post-punk new wave art rock arena rock synth-pop
- Years active
- 1977–present
- Labels
- Arista Zoom Virgin A&M Chrysalis Eagle BMG
- Spinoffs
- Propaganda Endgames Ex-Simple Minds
- Spinoff of
- Johnny & the Self-Abusers
- Members
- Jim Kerr Charlie Burchill
- Past members
- Mick MacNeil Derek Forbes Brian McGee Kenny Hyslop Mike Ogletree Mel Gaynor John Giblin
- Website
- www .simpleminds .com
via Wikipedia infobox
~40 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. The band is currently a core duo of original members Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (guitar), augmented by guest musicians. Notable former members include Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Derek Forbes (bass), Brian McGee (drums), Mel Gaynor (drums), and John Giblin (bass).
Initially signed to Arista Records, Simple Minds released their debut album Life in a Day in 1979 to moderate commercial success, while the following two albums, Real to Real Cacophony (1979) and Empires and Dance (1980), achieved critical praise but limited sales. After signing to Virgin Records, their fourth album, Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981), became their first top twenty album in the UK, beginning their rise in mainstream popularity. The following album, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (1982), proved their major breakthrough, reaching the top ten in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden, as well being their first charting album on the Billboard 200 in the US. The album also produced three UK top forty singles in "Promised You a Miracle", "Glittering Prize", and "Someone Somewhere in Summertime".
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Simple Minds” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.