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Simple Minds info & bio

Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977 by Alan Cairnduff as Johnny & The Self-Abusers, with long-standing band members Jim Kerr (lead vocals) and Charlie Burchill (lead guitarist) joining shortly afterwards. In January 1978, they began performing as Simple Minds. They released their debut album Life in a Day in 1979 to moderate commercial success. Subsequent album releases Real to Real Cacophony (1979) and Empires and Dance (1980) achieved limited commercial success and, after signing to Virgin Records, they released their fourth album Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981), which became their most successful studio album to that point. Kerr and Burchill are the two members who have been with the band nearly throughout its whole history, and the only current permanent members and songwriters. As of 2023, the other current members of the live and studio band are bassist Ged Grimes, drummer Cherisse Osei, backing singer Sarah Brown, guitarist and keyboardist Gordy Goudie and keyboardist Erik Ljunggren. Notable former members include keyboardist Mick MacNeil, bassists Derek Forbes and John Giblin and drummers Brian McGee and Mel Gaynor.

In April 1982, they released "Promised You a Miracle" as the lead single from their fifth album New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (1982), with "Glittering Prize" released as the second single before the album's release. Both singles were a commercial success internationally, whilst the album gave the band their breakthrough in international markets, reaching the top ten of the albums charts in New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as reaching the US Billboard 200. The albums third and final single, "Someone Somewhere in Summertime", was released in November 1982 to moderate success. In late 1983, they released "Waterfront" as the lead single from their sixth album, Sparkle in the Rain (1984), which continued the bands commercial prominence, debuting at number one in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It was later certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in excess of 300,000 copies.

Once Upon a Time (1985) was released as their seventh album, and was supported by the commercially successful singles "Alive and Kicking", "Sanctify Yourself", "All the Things She Said" and "Ghostdancing". During this period, they released "Don't You (Forget About Me)" which became an international success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Once Upon a Time reached number one in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the top three in Canada and New Zealand, and the top ten in the United States. It was certified 3x Platinum by the BPI for sales in excess of 900,000, and Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of 500,000. Their chart dominance continued with releases Street Fighting Years (1989) and its lead single "Belfast Child" which reached number one on the singles charts in the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom, Real Life (1991) and Good News from the Next World (1995) before experiencing a commercial decline in the late 1990s. They returned to chart prominence during the 2000s and 2010s with albums including Graffiti Soul (2009), Walk Between Worlds (2018) and Direction of the Heart (2022).

Recognised as the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s, they were awarded the Q Inspiration Award in 2014 for their contribution to the music industry and an Ivor Novello Award in 2016 for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA). Their other notable recognitions include nominations for both the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction and MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in 1985, nomination for the Brit Award for British Group in 1986 and for the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group in 1987. "Belfast Child" was nominated for the Song of the Year at the Brit Awards 1990.