Dream Giver Redux

• ️Simon Cornwell

timeline

April 1977				Johnny And The Self Abusers play their first gig at the Dourne Castle. They record their first demo tape.
May 1977				The band's members persuade their parents to contribute to a "tour bus". This allows them to gig further afield such as Edinburgh.
June 1977
July 1977
August 1977
September 1977
October 1977				The group start to break apart. Jim suggests a name change from the lavatorial Johnny And The Self Abusers to Simple Minds.
November 1977				Johnny And The Self Abusers play their final gigs, some under the name of Simple Minds. Saints And Sinners single released. They record their final demo tape. The band break up.
December 1977				The four piece Simple Minds advertise for a keyboard player. Rehearsals take place in a freezing cold-lampshade factory (owned by Tony Donald's uncle). Pleasantly Disturbed is composed - the first Simple Minds song.
January 1978				Simple Minds play their first 'proper' gig at Satellite City, Glasgow. Second guitar player Duncan Barnwell joins the group after seeing the newspaper advertisement.
February 1978
March 1978				Keyboard player Mick MacNeil is found (he's known by an ex-girfriend of Charlie's) and joins the group.
April 1978				The band now have a Sunday night residency at The Mars Bar.
May 1978				Bass player Tony Donald quits. They cut a demo tape which is the basis of Life In A Day. Derek Forbes stands in on bass, and offers to stay after he discovers that someone has stolen his lead guitar.
June 1978
July 1978				The first known bootleg is recorded at The Mars Bar. A trip to London to hawk around the first demo tape yields no results. The band simply aren't known south of the border.
August 1978				Simple Minds play Edinburgh for the first time supporting Generation X. The first known fanzine review is written for Cripes.
September 1978
October 1978
November 1978				They sign to Bruce Findlay's Zoom Records.
December 1978				Simple Minds finish off a string of dates around Scotland. The band record a second demo tape for the forthcoming album.
January 1979				The band rehearse, select and reject material for the forthcoming album.
February 1979				Life In A Day is recorded with John Leckie producing
March 1979				Life In A Day single released. The band play a string of warm-up gigs. They record their first session on Radio One. The band also appear on national TV on The Old Grey Whistle Test.
April 1979				Life In A Day album released. Simple Minds support Magazine on a UK tour. As well as being their label boss, Bruce becomes the band's manager.
May 1979				With the Magazine tour over, the band hit the road themselves, touring all over the UK.
June 1979				Chelsea Girl single released. During a brief break, the band write more material, some of which is recorded for Piccidilly Radio 261.
July 1979				The band are on the road again, continuing their UK tour.
August 1979
September 1979				The tour culminates with a show at the Paris Theatre which is broadcast by the BBC. Simple Minds record Real To Real Cacophony at Rockfield Studios. It is mostly conceived entirely in the studio.
October 1979				The Real To Real Cacophony Tour starts in Germany with a date at the Kant Kino. The band also perform two dates in New York, to coincide with filming by the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test.
November 1979				Real To Real Cacophony album released. Arista hate the album and don't know how to market it; on the other hand, the critics rave about it. They start their third tour of the UK for this year.
December 1979				They return to BBC Radio One to record a session for John Peel.
January 1980				Changeling single released.
February 1980				Up against an increasingly hostile Arista, Bruce puts Zoom Records into "cold storage". Simple Minds will now be released through Zoom/Arista - a name that fools no-one.
March 1980				The band support Gary Numan for a couple of gigs. The Paradisco gig in Amsterdam is bootlegged and eventually becomes one of the band's earliest vinyl bootlegs.
April 1980
May 1980
June 1980				The recording sessions for Empires And Dance starts, against with John Leckie at the helm, and again at Rockfield.
July 1980				The album is finished but Arista seem reluctant to release it.
August 1980				The Empires And Dance tour kicks off with a European Tour supporting Peter Gabriel.
September 1980				Empires And Dance album released. Arista's poor handling of the album's release results in it only reaching #41.
October 1980				I Travel single released. Empires And Dance UK Tour begins.
November 1980
December 1980
January 1981				The first leg of the tour winds up with a series of gigs played across the UK. The record company fails to promote the gigs. Frustrations grow with Arista. Simple Minds threaten to split rather than continue working with the label. They even threaten to sack Bruce Findlay, but he talks them around.
February 1981				Simple Minds are released from Arista Records and switfly sign to Virgin Records. (They almost sign to EMI but the label bosses refuse Bruce a secretary). Arista issues the Celebrate single to make a bit of money off the forthcoming new single announced by Virgin. They record a demo tape of new ideas at Ca Va Studios in Glasgow.
March 1981				After a couple of warm-up gigs in the UK and France, Simple Minds tour clubs and hotels in Canada and the USA. With Brian suffering from nervious exhaustion, the tour is cut short and they enter the recording studio.
April 1981				Simple Minds start recording at Farmyard Studios with Steve Hillage producing.
May 1981				The The American single is released, the first from the forthcoming new album and their first on Virgin. It peaks at #59.
June 1981				Work continues on the new album but the sessions have become chaotic. Virgin are piling on the pressure, but the band don't want to stem the flow of ideas, and Hillage is inexperienced in the producer's chair. The result is a total overcommittment to recording.
July 1981				With all the chaos, and the prospect of a lengthy tour, Brian McGee decides to leave the band. After returning to Glasgow and getting married, he joins local band Endgames on drums.
August 1981				With the Love Song single released and the new album in the bag, the band start a new tour with a new drummer: Kenny Hyslop.
September 1981				The Sons And Fascination album is released, along with Sisters Feeling Call as a limited edition bonus. The band's gig at the Hammersmith Odeon is recorded.
October 1981				Simple Minds tour Australia for the first time with Icehouse. This is a reciprocal deal as Icehouse opened for Simple Minds in the UK.
November 1981				Sweat In Bullet single released which features live material from the Hammersmith Odeon gig. As the group tour North America, the US only Themes For Great Cities album is released.
December 1981				The final nights in the UK end with a triumphant gig at Tiffany's in Glasgow. This is recorded by Radio Clyde (and the show is often rebroadcast by the station).
January 1982				As the band rehearse for the second leg of the tour, Arista try to score a hit with I Travel for a second time. After jamming on a batch of new ideas at Rockfield, Simple Minds record Promised You A Miracle. It's based on a riff by the brass section of a band Kenny recorded from New York Radio.
February 1982				The Celebration album is released by Arista. This "greatest hits" package is a compilation from their first three albums. The second leg of the tour starts in Europe with Mike Ogletree on drums.
March 1982
April 1982				Promised You A Miracle is released as a single. It becomes the Minds' first top-twenty single, climbing the chart to #13. The band appear on Top Of The Pops for the first time. Teenie-bopper magazines suddenly take an interest in this 'new' Scottish group.
May 1982
June 1982				Another of the Rockfield "ideas", King Is White And In The Crowd appears in the live set. The New Gold Dream sessions begin.
July 1982				Mike Ogletree doesn't have the power needed for the new album so producer Pete Walsh brings in his friend Mel Gaynor to help out with the album sessions.
August 1982				Glittering Prize single released. The tour finally winds up in Belgium as the band spend more and more time in the studio completing New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
September 1982				New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) is released to overwhelming praise and climbs to #3 in the charts - their best chart performance to date. The New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) tour starts with a single date in Finland before a lengthy UK tour.
October 1982				Virgin purchases the entire back catalogue from Arista and reissues all the albums themselves. The plan is also to reissue all the 12" singles in new sleeves, but only I Travel gets the make-over treatment.
November 1982				Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) single released. The Newcastle City Hall gig is recorded and filmed by Italian TV. Mike Ogletree departs the band (he later turns up in Fiction Factory) and Mel Gaynor picks up the sticks for the rest of the tour (and for most of Simple Minds' subsequent career).
December 1982				The year's end is marked by two homecoming gigs at Glasgow's Tiffany's. Again Radio Clyde broadcast the shows.
January 1983				Simple Minds retreat to The Chapel in Lincolnshire to work on the new album. The band appear on the UK TV show Oxford Roadshow.
February 1983
March 1983				New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84,84) single released in Italy only. The tour kicks off again with dates across Europe.
April 1983				I Travel single released. Promised You A Miracle is repackaged and released in the USA to promote the US leg of the tour.
May 1983				New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) is released in Yugoslavia with a redesigned sleeve. Jim is attacked in New York by the boyfriend of a Simple Minds fan.
June 1983
July 1983				Simple Minds and U2 play the Touhout/Wercher festivals together. Jim joins Bono onstage for 11 O'Clock Tick Tock. The band decamp to Nomis Studios to record the demos for the new album.
August 1983				The final gig is at Pheonix Park supporting U2. Waterfront is played for the first time.
September 1983				The band work on the new demos and recordings at Rockfield Studios. They record a session for David 'Kid' Jensen which includes Waterfront and the newly written (just the day before) The Kick Inside Of Me.
October 1983				With Steve Lillywhite in the producer's chair, Sparkle In The Rain is recorded at Townhouse Studios in London.
November 1983				Waterfront single released. The Sparkle In The Rain Tour starts with a concert at the newly opened Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow. The gig is filmed for the Waterfront video.
December 1983				Further triumphant gigs at Barrowlands Ballroom mark the year's end.
January 1984				Speed Your Love To Me single released and hits #20. Sparkle Through The Years promo album released by Virgin Canada.
February 1984				Sparkle In The Rain is released and goes straight to #1. The band are touring in Australia at the time (which is oddly appropiate as Australia gave them their first hits). Simple Minds return to play a set of UK gigs later in the month.
March 1984				Up On The Catwalk single released. Eight nights at the Hammersmith Odeon are postponed when Jim is struck down with flu.
April 1984				The band continue their tour of Europe with Jim now fighting fit. Further tour dates are added to the forthcoming UK leg.
May 1984				A lengthy stay at Hammersmith Odeon has increased from six nights through to eight. The band admit later to finding it a tedious experience. Bruce likened it to going to the office. At this point, they admit they have to now start playing the arenas and stadiums. Jim marries Chrissie Hynde in New York.
June 1984				Record producer Keith Forsey is waiting for the band after one of their US gigs. He waxes lyrical about a song he'd like them to record. As neither management nor record company have told the band who he is, they take his proposal about this film and it's soundtrack with a pinch of salt.
July 1984				Simple Minds support The Pretenders on a tour across the USA.
August 1984
September 1984				The tour concludes with a series of gigs across Japan.
October 1984				Simple Minds book into Barwell Court to begin work on their new album, which is owned by bass player John Giblin. The Race Is The Prize, the first official history of the band, is published by Alfred Bos. It goes over most fan's heads who wonder what happened to Mission In Motion by Adam Sweeting. It turns out that Sweeting's book was just too literal for Jim who preferred the wild metaphors of Bos. Sweeting keeps his manuscript and bides his time.
November 1983				After being pestered again by Keith Forsey (who gets on a plane and flys to the UK at his own expense), Simple Minds record Don't You (Forget About Me) in three hours in a studio in Wembley.
December 1984
January 1985				The band open the year with three gigs at the Barrowlands Ballroom. The gigs are recorded. Bono joins Jim on stage for New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84).
February 1985
March 1985				Don't You (Forget About Me) single released in the USA. It gradually makes its way to #1. Derek Forbes is asked to leave the band. However, proposed new bass player John Giblin does not step in until he's squared it with Derek.
April 1985				After record company pressure, Simple Minds allow Don't You (Forget About Me) to be released in Europe. However, it will not be on the new album.
May 1985				Simple Minds start recording the new album at Townhouse Studios in London.
June 1985				The band travel to New York to mix the new album.
July 1985				A new look Simple Minds appears in Philadelphia for the historic Live Aid gig.
August 1985				Work on the new album reaches its conclusion with photo sessions taking place in New York. The band shoot the video for Alive And Kicking with Zbigniew Rybczynski in New York State (and not Scotland as everyone thought).
September 1985				Alive And Kicking, the first taster of Once Upon A Time, is released.
October 1985				Once Upon A Time is released and charts at #1. The huge Once Upon A Time tour starts in the USA.
November 1985				Simple Minds perform Alive And Kicking on Saturday Night Live.
December 1985				The tour has now reached Europe. The Ahoy, Rotterdam gig is recorded for The Tube.
January 1986				The Sanctify Yourself single is released to coincide with the European leg of the tour.
February 1986
March 1986				The All The Things She Said single is dedicated to Amnesty International on the sleeve. All the proceeds of the Wembley gig are donated to Amnesty International.
April 1986
May 1986
June 1986
July 1986
August 1986				The gigs at Le Zenith in Paris are recorded for a live album.
September 1986
October 1986				The tour concludes with a series of gigs across Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Some of the gigs in Sydney are also recorded for the live album. The Alive And Kicking (84,85,86) EP (a collection of extended remixes from the last two albums) is released in Japan, Australia and New Zealand to mark the final tour dates.
November 1986				The Ghostdancing single is released with all proceeds going to Amnesty International.
December 1986
January 1987
February 1987
March 1987
April 1987				Tamil prisoner P. Udoyarajan is released by his captors after an impassioned plea by Jim during a show at San Diego the previous year.
May 1987				Live In The City Of Light is released and immediately storms to #1. Simple Minds tour the UK signing records at various record shops.
June 1987				The Promised You A Miracle Live single is released as a final push for the album - which doesn't really need it as it peaked at #1.
July 1987				A house is being prepared at Loch Earn in Scotland to serve as the band's own studio. After jokingly calling it Bonnie Wee Studios the name sticks.
August 1987
September 1987				Jams, demos and ideas start to flow as the band start work on their new album at Bonnie Wee Studios.
October 1987
November 1987
December 1987				The band play three end-of-year gigs at Barrowlands Ballroom for the Cash For Kids charity.
January 1988				The year starts with Simple Minds performing at the Hollywood Rock Festival in Brazil.
February 1988				Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson visit Bonnie Wee Studios to hear the work on the new album.
March 1988
April 1988				Adam Sweeting publishes his history of the band, updated and expanded to include Once Upon A Time and Live In The City Of Light.
May 1988				To promote the forthcoming Mandela Show, Radio One start playing a cassette of a demo song written for the event: Mandela Day.
June 1988				The band appear at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute with several guest start and perform Mandela Day for the first time (a song composed for the event).
July 1988				The previous month's concert is followed up by an appearance at the Artists Against Apartheid Rally in Hyde Park, London.
August 1988
September 1988
October 1988
November 1988
December 1988
January 1989
February 1989				The Ballad Of The Streets EP is released and climbs to #1. It's is the band's first #1 single. It is also the longest track to reach #1 since Hey Jude.
March 1989
April 1989				This Is Your Land released and anticipation for the new album grows.
May 1989				The Street Fighting Years album is released and shoots to #1. The Street Fighting Years tour starts in Italy. Despite recording the new album, John Giblin leaves Simple Minds. Derek Forbes is asked if he'd like to return, but the new album is not to his taste, so Pretenders' bassist Malcolm Foster joins the band.
June 1989				The gigs at Bercy, Paris are filmed for a potential live video, but is deemed lacking. Whilst a second venue is picked later on in the tour, the Paris footage is reused for promotional videos and documentaries.
July 1989				The Kick It In single is released to coincide with the UK leg of the tour. Simple Minds play Wembley Arena.
August 1989				And they return to the UK to play Wembley Stadium.
September 1989				The gig at Verona is recorded for a forthcoming video release.
October 1989				The group move to Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum to work on new ideas.
November 1989				The The Amsterdam EP single is released which features some of the material recorded the previous month.
December 1989				Street Fighting Years box-set album released. The Street Fighting Years tour finishes in Australia. Mick MacNeil opts to take a break from the band and literally rides off into the sunset after the tour.
January 1990
February 1990				It is around this time that the band decide to reorganise their management. Bruce is made an offer which he cannot accept so Simple Minds and Schoolhouse Management go separate ways.
March 1990
April 1990				Simple Minds appear at the celebratory Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert. It is the first gig with Pete Vettese on keyboards who is camped down with the Minds recording their new album.
May 1990				Verona video released.
June 1990
July 1990
August 1990				Simple Minds play a series of festival dates across Germany.
September 1990				Themes Volume One and Themes Volume Two box-sets released.
October 1990				Themes Volume Three and Themes Volume Four box-sets released.
November 1990
December 1990				Virgin put out a box-set of Simple Minds' first three albums on picture CDs. Everyone is broke after purchasing the Themes Volumes so it probably doesn't sell well.
January 1991
February 1991				See The Lights is being promoed in the USA.
March 1991				The Let There Be Love single is released and bodes well as it sounds like Simple Minds post Mick MacNeil. The video doesn't meet approval and after one play on ITV's The Chart Show gets re-edited to just concentrate on the band shot against a blue spot-light.
April 1991				The See The Lights single is released. Again, the video falls foul with the band and the proposed version ends up on the cutting room floor. A quick replacement involving the band hanging around Bonnie Wee Studios and looking wistful is shot instead. Real Life is released and stalls at #2, held off the top slot by a best of by The Eurythmics.
May 1991				The back-to-basics Real Life tour opens in Canada. New member Mark Taylor debuts on keyboards.
June 1991				The gig at the Universal Amphitheater, LA is recorded and broadcast by Westwood One. It becomes the most bootlegged Simple Minds gig.
July 1991
August 1991				Stand By Love single released. The Barrowlands Ballroom gig is recorded and turns up on several subsequent releases whilst the Milton Keynes Bowl concert is broadcast live by the BBC.
September 1991
October 1991				Real Life single released. The tour winds up with a gig at Wembley Arena.
November 1991				Real Life Limited Collectors' Edition album released in Australia.
December 1991				The Barrowlands gig is shown on BBC Two over the Christmas period but the band dislike it and it remains in the vault.
January 1992				New management Clive Banks Limited decide the band are too exhausted to carry on and need a long break. A compilation album is planned to fill the void.
February 1992
March 1992
April 1992
May 1992
June 1992
July 1992
August 1992
September 1992				The Love Song/Alive And Kicking single released which features an incredibly subtle reworking of Love Song. The promo video is based on footage from the Barrowlands gig from the previous year.
October 1992				The Glittering Prize 81/92 compilation album is released and reaches #1 (preventing Madonna from reaching the top spot). The US and European track listings are mostly different. The Glittering Prize 81/92 video is also released which includes all sorts of bits and pieces from the band's career.
November 1992				USURA score a huge hit with Open Your Mind which is actually New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84). They are quietly sued by the band.
December 1992
January 1993				Don't You (Forget About Me) issued as a promo in Germany. Despite plans to release a new album in 1993, nothing happens.
February 1993
March 1993
April 1993
May 1993
June 1993
July 1993
August 1993
September 1993
October 1993
November 1993
December 1993
January 1994
February 1994
March 1994
April 1994
May 1994
June 1994				The new album starts to reach completion with early mixes of She's A River, Hypntoised and Night Music completed.
July 1994
August 1994
September 1994				Good News From The Next World is completed. The band decided a photo trip to India is needed for the artwork (so the album is further delayed).
October 1994
November 1994				The She's A River video is shot. In the desert. Outside LA. On Charlie's birthday. The light show is so intense that many concerned people call the police fearing UFOs.
December 1994				Simple Minds warm-up for their forthcoming tour by appearing at a series of Chrismas Shows across the USA with other artists. Mark Schulman, one of the drummers on the album, makes his debut on drums.
January 1995				She's A River single released. Simple Minds appear on Top Of The Pops. Or rather, they appear on top of the Eiffel Tower. The singe releases #9. Good News From The Next World is finally released and only reaches #2.
February 1995				The Good News From The Next World tour opens in small clubs across the USA. The set from the House Of Blues is broadcast by the Album Network and therefore bootlegged.
March 1995				As the Hypnotised single is released the small clubs of the USA are swapped for the large arenas of the UK.
April 1995
May 1995				The Hypnotised single is released in the USA to coincide with a US leg which never happens. And The Band Played On is also released as a radio promo featuring the most unrecognisable picture of the band yet.
June 1995
July 1995
August 1995
September 1995				As a Night Music promo is released in Italy, amd Great Leap Forward promo is released in France, relationships between Simple Minds and Virgin start to break down. Derek Forbes guests on bass at the last Royal Concert Hall concert.
October 1995				The Simple Minds Information Service Shadowlands winds up. The shows at the Olympia in France are recorded; and end up being bootlegged.
November 1995				The tour winds down with a number of gigs across France. Omnimedia put together a proposal for a Simple Minds CD ROM. The idea isn't taken up.
December 1995				Rumours circulate of possible new EPs and/or live albums to be released by Virgin in the new year.
January 1996				Simple Minds leave Virgin Records and sign to Chrysalis Records. It is a reported multiple album deal with Chrysalis paying �10 million. A new album is pencilled in for October 1996.
February 1996				Jim and Charlie don't renew their contract with Clive Banks Limited. Jim and Patsy Kensits's separation is announced.
March 1996				Sessions start at Bonnie Wee Studios for the new album. Derek Forbes and Brian McGee play drums and bass on the new demos.
April 1996
May 1996
June 1996
July 1996				Derek Forbes rejoins Simple Minds.
August 1996				Plans to release a French concert from the Good News From The Next World on video/CD are shelved after copyright problems.
September 1996
October 1996
November 1996				The writing sessions for the new album continue and the release is pushed into 1997.
December 1996				Pete Walsh is named as the producer of the new album.
January 1997
February 1997				Simple Minds are linked with the film Sawdust Tales. The new album is being mixed.
March 1997				The mixing of the album is half completed. Mel Gaynor meets up with the band and drums on the track War Babies. A European Festival Tour is announced.
April 1997				More dates from the European Festival Tour start to circulate.
May 1997
June 1997				Helium, the first offical Simple Minds website appears. At the moment, it is nothing more than a splash screen. The "new" Simple Minds (with Derek Forbes back on bass and Mel Gaynor back on drums) perform at a number of European Summer festivals. The new songs Glitterball and War Babies are unveiled.
July 1997
August 1997
September 1997				Simple Minds are linked with the European Proms for the first time. The Promised album released in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands as promotion for the forthcoming Proms gigs.
October 1997				Jim and Charlie appear at the Night Of The Proms 1997 performing their greatest hits with full orchestral backing. The Promised turns up in the UK as an import.
November 1997
December 1997				Q Magazine reveals the new album will be out in March 1998, preceeded by a single. USURA reissue their remix of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) which is called Open Your Mind '97. (This time they have the legals sorted out). It's confirmed that Simple Minds have contributed If I Had Wings to the Sawdust Tales soundtrack. Glitterball is confirmed as the first single from the forthcoming album.
January 1998				The new album is confirmed as Neapolis Practical Photograhy publish an interview with Andy Earl about the photo sessions Glitterball is previewed on radio stations The Helium site is replaced by Simple Minds Online - but it's still just a splash page.
February 1998				As part of the build up to Neapolis, the band play a VH1 Unplugged set in London. It is later broadcast on VH1. The official website, produced by Motionpixels, launches with a webcast from the Brussels Cybertheatre. Q Magazine publish an interview with the band.
March 1998				Glitterball single released. Neapolis album released (but not in America). The Early Years 1977-1978 album released and quickly withdrawn. Simple Minds are VH1 Artist Of The Month Simple Minds play War Babies on TFI Friday. Jim and Charlie shoot the War Babies video in South Africa. The Travelling Man fanclub is launched.
April 1998				Simple Minds confirmed as The Rolling Stones support at Werchter. Jim is interviewed by the Daily Express.
May 1998				War Babies single released. Real Live 91 fan-club album released. The short Neapolis tour opens with a second webcast from the Cybertheatre, Brussels. Simple Minds are replaced by James as headliners of the Fleadh Festival. First news breaks that Jim is part of a consortium to purchase Celtic FC.
June 1998				Rumours are reported in The Sun of a possible reformation of Johnny And The Self Abusers. Mick MacNeil appears on Then Jerico's Orgasmaphobia album.
July 1998				Simple Minds don't appear at The Princes Trust concert due to illness.
August 1998				Shaun Tranter and Clive Johnson start to organise a Simple Minds Convention. Q Magazine print an apology to Jim over comments made about his potential purchase of Celtic FC. Todd Richards broadcasts a Simple Minds Marathon on WBWC 88.3FM The Sting. After a break, Simple Minds plan to return to the recording studio to record their next album.
September 1998
October 1998
November 1998				The consortium to purchase Celtic FC becomes major news. Jim is interviewed about the bid.
December 1998				Celtic FC turn down the consortium's initial bid.
January 1999				Kevin Hunter linked with the new album. The Siege (featuring Bruce Willis) includes Great Leap Forwards in a bar scene.
February 1999				15 songs are demoed for the new album. The album will be recorded between April and May for a September release. Song titles appear on the official site. The track Hello is finished for the film The Match. A webcast is planned for May to debut the new album.
March 1999				The first Simple Minds Convention is to be held at the Camden Underworld in August.
April 1999				Jim sells his house in Dublin.
May 1999				The recording line-up of Our Secrets Are The Same appear on stage for the Scotland Rocks For Kosovo charity concert. This concert marks the debut of Eddie Duffy on bass and Mark Kerr on drums. Derek Forbes and Mel Gaynor also appear at the gig in a separate band.
June 1999				Todd Richards broadcasts Some Sweet Day 1999 which includes an interview with Jim. The producers for the new album are announced. Virgin are considering a box-set to celebrate the band's history. Derek Forbes and Mel Gaynor form Forbes/Gaynor And Friends. The recording of the new album finishes. Original Gold is released. Mick MacNeil launches his first website.
July 1999				The Travelling Man fanclub winds up (which is reported by The Sun). Shaun Tranter, Clive Johnson and Simon Cornwell appear on The Big Breakfast to drum up support for the convention.
August 1999				The first Simple Minds Convention is held at the Camden Underworld. Forbes/Gaynor And Friends play a selection of Simple Minds songs at Brindisi, Italy.
September 1999				Mick announces his solo album.
October 1999				Simple Minds win a lifetime achivement award for services to Scottish Music Industry. The official site by MotionPixels closes.
November 1999
December 1999				Virgin release a Simple Minds box-set. Jim mentions setting up his own record company after the Chrysalis-EMI deal is over. Derek is currently managing Angela Capel.
January 2000				First tenative release date for Our Secrets Are The Same. Mick MacNeil releases People, Places And Things. Mel Gaynor tours with Robert Palmer. The final issue of Travelling Man hints at the January release of Our Secrets Are The Same, a double "Best Of" compilation album and some unspecified new material.
February 2000				Mick MacNeil does various press and TV interviews on the back of People, Places And Things. The release of Our Secrets Are The Same slips to April. EMI plans to merge with Time/Warner.
March 2000				The offical site disappears. The release of Our Secrets Are The Same slips to June/July.
April 2000				Second tenative release date for Our Secrets Are The Same. Mick MacNeil continues to be interviewed by the press. Derek Forbes is now managing Angela Capel and Sound Buggy, has been asked to play on Jayne's Addiction's new album and is arranging some live gigs.
May 2000				The release date for the new album is further pushed back. Todd Richards announces Some Sweet Day 2000.
June 2000				Jim is interviewed by the Sunday Herald magazine.
July 2000				Penultimate tenative release date for Our Secrets Are The Same. Some Sweet Day 2000 broadcasts with Todd Richards interviewing Jim. The album's title is confirmed. Jim mentions plans for a covers album the next year. Jim opens Oko - a sushi resturant in Glasgow.
August 2000				Jim writes a diary piece for the Sunday Times.
September 2000
October 2000				The merger between EMI and Time Warner falls through. Jordi Tardà starts to broadcast tracks from Our Secrets Are The Same on his radio show - EMI do nothing about it.
November 2000				Simple Minds take back Our Secrets Are The Same and are booted off EMI. Legal proceedings start. The Modern Institute put on a show of music in Glasgow over the last 25 years. Various items from the collections of Bruce Findlay, Jaine Henderson and Simon Cornwell are on show. Jordi Tardà continues his broadcasts and plays every track from the album. Mel Gaynor goes on tour with Roachford. He mentions a possible double "Best Of" album. Kirsty MacColl is killed in a speedboat accident.
December 2000				Last release date for Our Secrets Are The Same.
January 2001				Jim is interviewed by The Sunday Times. Simple Minds are announced as one of the artists at the Grand Prix Night Of The Proms. Recording sessions start on Neon Lights and Cry.
February 2001				The Real Life by Raven Maize is released on white label and receives airplay. A Glasgow design company start work on the new official site.
March 2001				Simple Minds announce they are too busy on projects to tour (with the exception of the Grand Prix Night Of The Proms).
April 2001				Belfast Trance by John OO Flemming appears as a white label and receives airplay.
May 2001				Jim and Charlie return to the Proms for a couple of dates in Belgium and France. Todd Richards announces that there will be no Simple Minds Marathon this year.
June 2001				Simple Minds sign a two album deal with Eagle Records. Remixes of Theme For Great Cities by Raven Maize and Lexos appear on the Clubber's Guide To... Ibiza.
July 2001				The covers album, Neon Lights is announced. 2fluid_creative is announced as the company behind the new official site. Track listings of Neon Lights start to appear. The Dancing Barefoot EP is announced.
August 2001				The Real Life by Raven Maize is released. Neon Lights promos are distributed. A splash page for the new official site appears. Jim is interviewed on BBC Radio Two by Mark Goodier.
September 2001				Dancing Barefoot EP single released. Gold Dreamer by DJ T is announced.
October 2001				Neon Lights cover album is released. Mick, Derek and Mel form Rehab. Simple Minds continue work on their second Eagle album.
November 2001				Best Of compilation album is released. Tour Dates start to circulate. Homosapien single announced.
December 2001				Rehab announce their first single Everybody Wants 2 Be Here. Homosapien single released. More remixes of Belfast Trance by John OO Flemming start to circulate.
January 2002				Belfast Trance by John OO Flemming is released. Cry promos start to circulate.
February 2002				Mel Gaynor is confirmed on drums for the tour. Simple Minds accept an Edison Award. The rest of the touring line-up with Eddie Duffy and Andy Gillespie is confirmed.
March 2002				Cry single released. The Floating World single released by Taormina in Italy. Jim appears in You Magazine.
April 2002				Cry album released. Best Of SACD released. The Floating World tour kicks off across the UK. The band play a session for Billy Sloan's radio show. A remix album is being planned but fails to appear.
May 2002				The Spaceface single is announced. Todd Richards announces Some Sweet Day 2002.
June 2002				Spaceface single released. New Sunshine Morning single released in Germany. Cry Remixes single issued in Italy. Liquid People release Monster (which is based on Changeling. Simple Minds tour the USA with INXS.
July 2002				Spaceface is remixed by Stonebridge and gets radio play. Liquid People release Monster (which is based on Changeling. Todd Richards broadcasts Some Sweet Day 2002 which includes an interview with Jim. The remasters are announced.
August 2002				Gold Dreamer remix single by DJ T released. The Simple Minds tribute album Swimming Towards The Sun is released by Mike Simpson.
September 2002				Cry Remixes single released in Italy. Simple Minds are confirmed for Night Of The Proms 2002.
October 2002				The Floating World tour finishes with one night in Dubai, UAE. Life In A Day, Empires And Dance, Sons And Fascination, New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and Sparkle In The Rain released as limited edition mini-vinyl remastered CDs. At short notice, Jim and Charlie appear at Night Of The Proms 2002 as replacements for Roxette who've had to pull out due to illness. The Best Of Night Of The Proms Special Remastered Edition album is released in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Brian McGee appears in the Jane Lewis Fan Club.
November 2002				Spaceface Remixes single released in Italy. One Step Closer single released in Holland. Real To Real Cacophony, Once Upon A Time, Live In The City Of Light, Street Fighting Years, Real Life, Good News From The Next World and Neapolis all released as limited edition mini-vinyl remastered CDs.
December 2002				A second Simple Minds Convention is announced for July 2003 by Shaun Tranter and Clive Johnson.
January 2003				All twelve remastered albums released in standard jewel cases. Simple Minds festival tour of the summer is announced. The DJ Tomcraft remix of Spaceface receives Radio One airplay.
February 2003				Spaceface Remixes single released in Italy. Cry SACD released. Innerworld by Pascal Life released (which features Jim on vocals).
March 2003				Don't You (Forget About Me) remix single by Biba-Rom released in Italy.
April 2003				One Step Closer remix single by Biba-Rom released in Italy. Our Secrets Are The Same is scheduled for release in June. The second Simple Minds Convention is held in Glasgow. Todd Richards announces Some Sweet Day 2003. Planet Funk release One Step Closer.
May 2003				The Early Gold album is promoted.
June 2003				Our Secrets Are The Same appears in the release schedules but the Early Gold album is released instead. The live momentum is kept going with the Alive And Kicking Tour which begins in Europe.
July 2003				Jim appears Scotland On Sunday.
August 2003				Some Sweet Day 2003 broadcasts but is knocked out by the biggest power-cut in the USA. Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil appear in Caledon.
September 2003				Seen The Lights: A Visual History is announced.
October 2003				Don't You (Forget About Me) remix single by White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr released in Germany. New Gold Dream and Once Upon A Time SACDs released. Caledon give away free CDs with the Scottish Sun.
November 2003				Don't You (Forget About Me) Remixes single released in Italy. Seen The Lights - A Visual History DVD released. Jim is briefly interviewed on BBC Radio Two. Jim appears on Billy Sloan's show and debuts two new recordings.
December 2003				Live And Rare album released Italy. The Alive And Kicking Tour winds up with a series of gigs across the UK. Cynical Heart is released by Jam And Spoon which features Jim on vocals. The Aberdeen gig is temporarily interrupted when the band's smoke machines set of the venue's fire alarms. More remixes of Don't You (Forget About Me) are released.
January 2004				News breaks that Dirty Old Town was recorded with Jimmy Johnstone for a soundtrack to a film about Jinky's life. Dates start appearing for a forthcoming 2004 Festival Tour.
February 2004				Bruce celebrates his 60th birthday party and the original line-up of Simple Minds are all there to celebrate.
March 2004				Alive And Kicking remix single by White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr released in Italy. An interview with Jim appears in Classic Rock Magazine. Todd Richards announces Some Sweet Day 2004. Mel Gaynor releases Addicted To Love.
April 2004				Billy Sloan exclusively plays a different mix of Dirty Old Town which features Jimmy Johnstone on vocals.
May 2004				Don't You (Forget About Me) remix single by White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr released in Australia. There are rumours the band are going to tour down-under, but the tour doesn't materialize. The band embark on a tour of European Festivals. An interview with Jim is published in Record Collector. The track-listing of Silver Box is published.
June 2004				The Dirty Old Town single is released. Profits go to charity. Some shops in the UK refuse to stock it as it's "just another football single." With little promotion, it reaches #46. Another new mix of Don't You (Forget About Me) is released.
July 2004				Todd Richards broadcasts Some Sweet Day 2004 and exclusively interviews Jim.
August 2004				Promos for Silver Box are issued. It receives good reviews, even from the usually-hostile NME.
September 2004				Adam Sweeting previews Silver Box for The Guardian giving it a cautiously favourable review.
October 2004				After being promised for years, Silver Box finally hits the shops. And it's certainly worth the wait. It includes the album Our Secrets Are The Same. Seen The Lights - Live In Verona DVD released.
November 2004				Virgin release double CDs of the New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and Sparkle In The Rain remasters. Bruce wins top prize at Scotland�s Music Industry awards. A concert honouring legendary record producer Trevor Horn is held in London, but Simple Minds are unable to play due to illness.
December 2004				News breaks that New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and Once Upon A Time are to be reissued on DVD-Audio. Fans groan how the new formats will offer nothing new. How wrong we are.
January 2005
February 2005				David Guetta releases The World Is Mine which samples the chorus of Somone Somewhere (In Summertime).
March 2005				Jim mentions a parallel project to the album called The Devil Came Down To Moscow. Simple Minds sign to Sanctuary Records.
April 2005				New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and Once Upon A Time DVD-Audios released. These feature different versions of many of the tracks.
May 2005				The album is mixed by Bob Clearmountain. Jim's hotel is reviewed in Travel On Sunday. Some Sweet Day 2005 is announced.
June 2005				The new album's title is confirmed as Black And White 050505. Artwork and track listings are also confirmed. The first news breaks that Sanctuary Records are suffering from financial problems.
July 2005				Home is announced as the new single. Billy Sloan reviews the new album in the Sunday Mail. The band embark on a series of small club performances as exclusive promos from the forthcoming Black And White 050505 album. These gigs become known as the Intimate Tour.
August 2005				Too Much Television digital download released. Some Sweet Day is broadcast in the USA. Todd gets the scoop with Jim and also the first plays of Bird On A Wire and Mighty Joe Moon. Jim also appears on Billy Sloan's radio show. A new version of the official site appears.
September 2005				The gig from King Tuts is broadcast live via the Billy Sloan show. The band play the Venue in London for the David 'Kid' Jensen show. Home single released. Black And White 050505 album released to extremely favourable reviews with Record Collector awarding it 5/5. The band appear on the Jonathan Ross show. Stranger will be the new single.
October 2005				Stranger promos start circulating. It doesn't receive a physical release in the UK. Jim is interviewed by the Evening Express. A Few Good Men appear: this Scottish supergroup features Mick and Derek. Simple Minds awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Radio Clyde. Neon Lights given away free by the Sunday Mail.
November 2005				Stranger digital download released. Eddie Duffy appears in Bass Magazine. Brian McGee auctions personal memorabilia for the Scarbourgh Celtic Supporters Club.
December 2005				Stranger single released in Europe.
January 2006				The Black And White tour opens in Ireland with concerts following in the UK. Jim is interviewed in Time Out. The Platinum Collection is announced (but is eventually withdrawn). The tour rehearsals conclude with Simple Minds giving a secret gig to the locals of Buggenhout, Belgium.
February 2006				Billy Sloan publishes an interview with the band in The Sunday Mail. A Few Good Men change their names to FourGoodMen and announce a short tour. The band appear in Metro Magazine.
March 2006				Ex-sound man Billy Worton dies. The tour continues to Europe. Jimmy Johnstone dies and the charity single, Tribute To Jinky (which features Dirty Old Town) is released and reaches #28. FourGoodMen work with Brian McGee.
April 2006				Different World promos circulate in Europe. The Platinum Collection is muted for release but is eventually cancelled. Live Bundle #1 digital download is released. The Jeweller (Part Two) promos also circulate but a single is never forthcoming.
May 2006				Stay Visible promo released in Australia. Live Bundle #2 and Live Bundle #3 digital downloads are released.
June 2006				Live Bundle #4 and Live Bundle #5 digital downloads are released. The band return to Australia for the first time since 1989. Malcolm Foster appears on stage for Book Of Brilliant Things at one of the New Zealand gigs. Mir releases The Deep Blue Sea which features Jim on vocals.
July 2006				Todd Richards returns with Some Sweet Day 2006 and interviews Mick, Derek and Eddie.
August 2006				Don't You (Forget About Me) promo released in Germany for Fiat Punto promo. The Man Who Sold The World remix single by White Spaces featuring Jim Kerr released in Italy. The Black And White tour concludes with a concert in Edinburgh. Remixes of Different World start to circulate.
September 2006
October 2006				James Dean Bradfield cites Empires And Dance as one of his favourite albums.
November 2006				Different World single released in Italy. FourGoodMen start a US tour and release The Heart Of Winter CD.
December 2006				FourGoodMen finish their US tour.
January 2007				Different World Remixes digital download released. FourGoodMen release the Heart Of Winter 2006 Tour Sampler. The Australian Tour is announced.
February 2007				Bruce Watson leaves FourGoodMen.
March 2007				The band take part in a small Australian Tour with INXS and Arrested Development. Simple Minds are confirmed for the Celtic Lions.
April 2007				Different World single released in Italy. Simple Minds Live Volume One and Simple Minds Live Volume Two are given away with the Sunday Express.
May 2007				The band play at the Lisbon Lions, a celebration of Celtic FC winning the European Cup. With Mel unavailable, Jim McDermott takes up the sticks.
June 2007				FourGoodMen and Sample Minds announce a joint gig at the Rotherham United Football Club.
July 2007				Dougie Cowan dies.
August 2007				FourGoodMen and Sample Minds play the Rotherham United Football Club. Brian McGee also guests.
September 2007				Sanctuary Records closes in the UK and Simple Minds are transferred to Universal/W14.
October 2007				Gift Pack album and DVD is released. SonsOfDan release a cover of Pleasantly Disturbed.
November 2007				Simple Minds are confirmed for Night Of The Proms in the spring.
December 2007
January 2008				Live Bundle #6 digital download is released.
February 2008				Live Bundle #7 digital download is released.
March 2008				The 30 Years Live tour is announced. Jim appears on Billy Sloan's radio show. I Travel used a backing for Ashes To Ashes.
April 2008				Jim and Charlie appear at the Night Of The Proms Spring 2008 gigs.
May 2008				Deacon Blue announced as support for the 30 Years Live. Wolfgang's Vault issues a classic Simple Minds concert from 1984. Jim appears in the Daily Mirror.
June 2008				Themes Volume Five is released along with reissues of the previous box-sets (in one large box). A planned band reunion does not occur. Simple Minds appear at the 46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela At 90. Wolfgang's Vault issue another classic Simple Minds gig.
July 2008				SonsOfDan release a sampler of material they intend working on. Simple Minds new album is to be recorded at Rockfield Studios.
August 2008				Some Sweet Day 2008 broadcasts with Todd Richards interviewing several special guests. Simple Minds record their new album at Rockfield Studios.
September 2008				Rare Mixes From Great Songs digital download released. Once Upon A Time is given away with the Daily Mail.
October 2008				And a fourth series of Proms gigs are completed when Jim and Charlie appear at the Night Of The Proms Winter 2008 concerts. A Cash For Kids concert is announced for December. Wolfgang's Vault offer another Simple Minds concert.
November 2008				The band celebrate 30 years playing live with a short tour of arena dates across the UK and Ireland. Mel appears in Rhythm Magazine. Jim appears in the Sunday Herald.
December 2008				The 30 years live tour concludes with a charity concert for Cash For Kids in Glasgow. Derek fronts a FourGoodMen gig after the Minds' Glasgow show. Jim and Charlie fly to the USA to mix the new album with Bob Clearmountain. The first dates for the 2009 tour are published.
January 2009				Dates for the forthcoming 30 Years Live European Tour start to appear. New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) used in trailers for The Informers. Anton Pieet's The Players samples Promised You A Miracle.
February 2009				Graffiti Soul is announced. More dates for the 30 Years Live European Tour are announced.
March 2009				Jim is interviewed by Billy Sloan about the forthcoming album. Billy also gets the first play of the first single Rockets. OMD are announced as support for the Graffiti Soul tour. Billy starts playing different tracks from the album on his Sunday night show.
April 2009				A listening party is held at Universal Records in London for some fans. Jim is interviewed by Absolutely Radio. The album EPK and Rockets video are made available from the official site. Promos of the single start to circulate. The entire track listing of the album is published by Amazon. The album is to be sold in three different formats. The first dates for the UK leg of the Graffiti Soul tour are announced. Music Week devote an eight page spread to the band.
May 2009				An album sampler is made available through the official site. An interview with Jim appears in the Sunday Times Review for Scotland On Sunday. Rockets is released as a download only. The reformed Silencers announced as support for two gigs. Simple Minds are featured on VH1 Classic. Brazilian dates for the tour are announced but never take place due to contractual issues. Graffiti Soul is released and reaches #10 in the UK chart. Some Sweet Day 2009 takes place. Todd had a lengthy interview with Jim. Jim, Charlie and Eddie appear at a special signing party at HMV in Glasgow. The European Tour starts.
June 2009				Joe FM broadcasts an entire live show. The Isle Of Wight performance is broadcast live by Absolutely Radio. The Stranglers are announced as support for the Blickling Hall gig. Record Collector publish an interview with Jim and Charlie.
July 2009				Stars Will Lead The Way announced as the next single. One track promos start to circulate. Stars Will Lead The Way released as a download only. The band perform at the Roundhouse in London as part of the iTunes Festival. A six-track download is made available. Simple Minds play Edinburgh Castle. The weather isn't kind.
August 2009				Bloc Party cite Simple Minds as an influence. SWR 3 broadcast an entire concert, as do ARTE. Director John Hughes dies. The band pay tributes and the Don't You (Forget About Me) Documentary is mentioned.
September 2009				OMD Myspace hold an interview with Jim.
October 2009				Jim appears on Steve Lamacq's round table on BBC 6 Music. Derek Forbes and Brian McGee form Ex Simple Minds. Gigs are announced. Jim is interviewed by Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2. It's announced that Simple Minds and OMD will play Neon Lights together during the tour. Mike Ogletree announces An Acoustic Mind.
November 2009				The Graffiti Soul Tour starts. Concert Online announce they will be recording the gigs and making them available as downloads, USB sticks and (announced later) MP3 players. The official site give away the Welcome Gift Pack. Sarah Brown joins the band as a backing vocalist. US Promos of the album and single start to circulate for a January release. Jim is intervied by the Sunday Mail.
December 2009				Mike Ogletree starts uploading acoustic versions of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) tracks to YouTube. Concert Online announce a Special Gold Edition USB stick of all the UK shows. Jim announces his LOSTBOY! AKA JIM KERR solo album.
January 2010				Further details about the debut album of Lostboy! AKA start to leak out. Virgin announce Collectors Editions of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) and Sparkle In The Rain but later quietly drop the idea.
February 2010				Simple Minds announce a brief Australian Tour
March 2010				Simple Minds visit Australia and New Zealand for a brief tour. Billy Sloan debutes Refugee on his Sunday night radio show. It is later offered as a free download. Todd Richards interviews the Lostboy! Details of the album start to leak out.
April 2010				Billy Sloan premieres She Fell In Love With Silence. Shadowland is added to the BBC Radio Two playlist.
May 2010				Jim is interviewed by Simon Mayo on BBC Radio Two. The Shadowland single is the first release by Lostboy! AKA. This is quickly followed by eponymous album which is issued in five formats. Jim makes Lostboy! real by assembling a five piece band and touring select small clubs in the UK and Europe. The Dark Flowers collaboration is announced.
June 2010				Simple Minds embark on a four month tour of European Festivals. New songs Stage Fright and Fire Fighter open the proceedings at Baltaclan, Paris. Live In The City Of Light is given away as part of the Legendary Live Concert series by DeMorgan.
July 2010				Dates for the forthcoming Lostboy! AKA Electroset start to appear. The second Lostboy! single is announced.
August 2010				Apart from his Simple Minds touring duties, Jim finds time to introduce a stripped down Lostboy! AKA live experience for a select number of radio show promotional appearances in Germany and Mallorca. The music reverts to an electronic guise thanks to Simon Hayward and the shows feature Lostboy! and obscure Simple Minds covers. Simple Minds appear briefly in South America. She Fell In Love With Silence is released as a single to promote the tour. Further Dark Flowers material starts to circulate.
September 2010				Simple Minds return to the studio to record new material for both a forthcoming compilation album and their new album. Ged Grimes from the Lostboy! AKA line-up is on bass. Long term bassist Eddie Duffy dramatically quits the band before the last show of the tour. Ged Grimes is quickly recruited on bass.
October 2010				Simple Minds play the Radio Clyde Cash For Kids ball at the Glasgow Hilton. Then Jim picks up his Lostboy! alter-ego and kicks of an Electroset tour across Europe. A new Lostboy! AKA track, Kill Or Cure?, is made available as a download.
November 2010				The Electroset tour continues to Ireland but the UK and remaining European dates are postponed when Jim's mother becomes ill. After uploading acoustic versions of the songs from New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) to YouTube, Mike Ogletree performs an acoustic set in New York.
December 2010				A final concert in Bern, Switzerland brings the band's touring schedule to a close for this year. Handwritten lyrics of Alive And Kicking are auctioned in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
January 2011				The remaining Electroset tour dates are cancelled.
February 2011				The Manic Street Preachers praise early Simple Minds in the NME
March 2011
April 2011				Jim and Charlie appear on Night Of The Proms 2011 in Denmark.
May 2011				Stagefright is given away through Facebook.
June 2011				Concert Live announce they will be recording four of the Greatest Hits Forest Tour concerts. The Greatest Hits Forest Tour begins. Jim is interviewed by Johnnie Walker on BBC Radio 2. Part of the Thetford Forest Gig is broadcast by BBC Radio 2.
July 2011				The Greatest Hits Forest Tour expands into a European Tour.
August 2011				The Greatest Hits Forest Tour is wound up. The compilation Greatest Hits + is postponed until 2012. Mike Ogletree brings An Acoustic Mind and his version of New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) to the UK for two gigs.
September 2011				Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) [Live] is given away as an exclusive download. The Live Music Hour broadcast a classic Simple Minds concert from 1995. Jim was the mystery guest on the Chris Evans show.
October 2011				Simple Minds play a 600 Sounds Festival in Australia.
November 2011				Jim appears on an Old Grey Whistle Test retrospective which includes two classic performances by the band. 5X5 tour and X5 box-set announced.
December 2011				Track listings of X5 box-set appear. Chelsea Girl appears on the compilation London: Songs That Defined A City.
January 2012				Steve Lillywhite is awarded a CBE. Simple Minds Official YouTube channel launches. Promos for the forthcoming X5 album start circulating.
February 2012				Simple Minds appear in a large spread in The Sun. X5 album is released to rave reviews. The 5X5 Live Tour starts. Mojo feature a lengthy restrospective of the band.
March 2012				Jim and Charlie appear on the Radcliffe And Maconie show. The band play the London Roundhouse. Dates start to appear for the Festival Tour.
April 2012				The Dark Flowers release Night Is The New Day as a free download. Jim and Charlie sign the limited edition Theme For Great Cities 12" for Record Store Day Q Magazine devote two pages reviewing the Townhouse gig. The band give away the 5X5 Intro Reel
May 2012				Simple Minds are featured on BBC Radio 6's The Music Hour.
June 2012				Jim appears on Punk Britannia. The Festival Tour continues.
July 2012				The Dark Flowers release the When Stars Fall EP The Best Of is given away as a newspaper cover CD.
August 2012
September 2012				XSM release the single Outsider. Phunk Investigation release Gold Vision. 5X5 Live is announced.
October 2012				Five Album Box Set is issued to tie-in with the Australian Tour. Simple Minds announce the Greatest Hits + tour. Jim appears on the BBC's Breakfast.
November 2012				Concert In The Garden is announced. 5X5 Live is released to rave reviews.
December 2012				Derek Forbes releases The American with Orlando Wire. The band finish off the year with Concert In The Garden.
January 2013				Uncut magazine runs a feature on the making of Promised You A Miracle. Radioland by the The Dark Flowers is released.
February 2013				Broken Glass Park is released as a promotional-only radio single to promote the forthcoming Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + package. The single is first Radio Two's single of the week and then rises through the playlists to eventually reach the A-list. Touring started with a stripped-down private electroset gig. Billy Sloan exclusively premieres Blood Diamonds. Martin Hanlin broadcasts a career-spanning interview with Jim on his radio show The Real McCoy.
March 2013				Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + is released in two formats. It is extremely well received reaching #19 in the charts. The extensive Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + tour of the UK started. This would run for the next three months. Concert Live record and release three shows (Carlisle, Wolverhampton, Birmingham) from the Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + tour as limited edition double CD sets.
April 2013				The Promised U A Remix limited edition 12" is released for Record Store Day 2013. Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + is also released as a single CD in the USA. A live version of The American is given away by Concert Live as a taster of their live recordings.
May 2013				Universal release the compilation Icon in the USA as part of a budget reissue series.
June 2013				Simple Minds take part in Adnam's Newmarket Nights playing a one-off gig at the famous racecourse.
July 2013				After various repackagings, Concert Live release a commerical version of the Birmingham recording.
August 2013				Blood Dimaonds is released as another radio-only promotional single to support the band's appearance at Radio Two's Concert In The Park and as additional promotion for their arena dates at the end of the year.
September 2013				Simple Minds take part in Radio Two's Live In Hyde Park which is broadcast live by the station.
October 2013				A Don't You (Forget About Me) limited edition picture disc is issued as part of the celebrations surrounding Virgin's 40 Years Of Disruptions. The band finally return to America and Canada and play a series of small gigs.
November 2013				Simple Minds return to South Africa around the country. The band then return to Europe and the UK for an arena tour with Ultravox supporting. The tour concludes with the band's first appearance at the O2 in London. Universal release Classic Album Selection, a box-set featuring repacked standard CDs of Sparkle In The Rain through to Good News From The Next World. Concert Live record and release three shows (Amsterdam, Manchester, London) from the European Arena Tour as limited edition triple-CD box-sets. The band also play a retro-set at Koko in London as part of Virgin's 40 Years Of Disruptions celebrations.
December 2013				The Electoset line-up of the band appear at various German radio stations to play a short electro set to promote the forthcoming European tour. Simple Minds see in the New Year performing at the Stonehaven Hogmanay Festival.
January 2014				The band start the Greatest Hits + European Tour where they play mainlaind Europe.
February 2014				The Live EP is released directly by the band. It is limited edition sampler for the forthcoming Celebrate Live DVD.
March 2014				The Greatest Hits + European Tour concludes in Macedonia.
April 2014				The Manic Street Preachers release Futurology which features many Simple Minds connections both in the lyrics, music and artwork.
May 2014				The deluxe edition of Celebrate Live DVD, which is the only format to include the entire gig, is released by the band.
June 2014				The Greatest Hits + Summer Tour, the last of the Greatest Hits tours, starts in France. New songs Imagination and Blindfolded appear in the set-list.
July 2014				Commerical DVD and BluRay editions of the Celebrate Live DVD are released. Paul Oakenfold releases Trance Mission which include a remix of Theme For Great Cities. Previews of Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods And Kings include a cover version of Belfast Child
August 2014				Simple Minds appear on The One Show. Background information and dates for the Big Music album start to circulate.
September 2014				Celebrate: The Collection is issued by Universal, a repackaged single CD set of Celebrate: The Greatest Hits +. The Greatest Hits + Summer Tour, winds up at Hardwick Hall in the UK. The new band logo is revealed. Blindfolded is exclusively reviewed on Steve Lamaqc's Six Music Show and the video is released. Full details of Big Music are revealed. Simple Minds perform an acoustic set on the Chris Evan's Radio Show.
October 2014				The band continue the promotional push for Big Music by performing acoustic sets at radio station, intimate gigs and TV shows.
November 2014				Honest Town is released as a download only single. The Big Music album is released on three formats to almost universal critical acclaim. The acoustic mini-tour continues.
December 2014				The acoustic mini-tour concludes with an acoustic "Christmas Concert" and Q&A at Absolute Radio. Simple Minds open the BBC's Sports Personality Of The Year Awards. The Let The Day Begin video is released which includes clips sent in by fans. Martin Hanlin interviews Jim and goes through the entire album track-by-track.
January 2015				Let The Day Begin released as a promo CD. Simple Minds were featured in Classic Pop Magazine.
February 2015				The Big Music European Tour starts in Portugal. The ultimate history of Don't You (Forget About Me) is published as Slow Change May Pull Me Apart. This also included the demo version of the song which was then later removed.
March 2015				Promos of Midnight Walking start to circulate. Jim appears on BBC Radio Two with Zoe Ball to promote the Sparkle In The Rain box set. The Sparkle In The Rain box set is released. Mick MacNeil releases Belfast Pipes.
April 2015				A 7" picture disc of Waterfront is issued for Record Store Day by Universal. The double album Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Glasgow is also released for Record Store Day on limited edition transparent vinyl. Midnight Walking is released as a download.
May 2015				Don't You (Forget About Me) is re-recorded for its 30th anniversary. The song is released as a download. Simple Minds perform Don't You (Forget About Me) at the Billboard Music Awards
June 2015
July 2015				The double album Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Glasgow is re-released as a black vinyl double set. The brief Big Music Summer Tour begins.
August 2015				The brief Big Music Summer Tour concludes.
September 2015
October 2015				The Vinyl Collection (79,84) is released which is a box-set of their first seven albums. Billy Sloan plays new single, (Get A) Grip (On Yourself), and tracks from Live Big Music Tour 2015 on his BBC Radio Scotland show on the 17th October.
November 2015				Jim and Charlie perform at a Save The Children charity concert with headliners Belle And Sebastian. A single-sided limited edition single, (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) is released. It features a collaboration with The Stranglers who are supporing Simple Minds during the tour. Live Big Music Tour 2015 is released which was recorded during the Big Music European Tour The Big Music Winter Tour begins. Simple Minds appear on Ireland's Late Late show on the 3rd November.
December 2015				The Once Upon A Time box-set is released. The Big Music Winter Tour concludes.
January 2016				The band play a single date in the UAE.
February 2016				Jim presents four shows for Absolute Radio which are broadcast in February and March.
March 2016				Jim and Charlie appear at the Night Of The Proms. New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) half-speed remaster is released.
April 2016				Big Music Tour 2015 is released on red vinyl for Record Store Day 2016. A new line-up of Simple Minds play their first acoustic set at Zermatt Unplugged in Switzerland. Jim presents six shows for KX 93.5.
May 2016				Jim, Charlie and Mick are awarded Outstanding Song Collection at the 61st Ivor Novello Awards.
June 2016				Derek Forbes releases Echoes, a collection of re-recorded early material, as download.
July 2016				Empires That Dance release their third single Boys From Brazil. Their line-up includes Gordon Goudie, long term collaborator with Simple Minds, and part of the new acoustic line-up. The Johnson Somerset Remixes EP is released. The New Gold Dream box-set is released.
August 2016				Derek Forbes' Echoes is issued as a CD.
September 2016				Derek Forbes tours the USA. Mel Gaynor kicks off his solo career with a performance at the Hard Rock Cafe in London.
October 2016				Promised You A Miracle is released as the first single from the Acoustic album. The acoustic line-up play a second acoustic set.
November 2016				The Acoustic album is released. Simple Minds win the Radio Forth Award for Best Live Performance. The band play an acoustic set at The Hackney Empire. Presented by Jo Whiley, the show is broadcast by BBC Radio Two. They also appear on the Ken Bruce Show as a warm-up for the Hackney concert. The acoustic line-up perform at the Blackpool Tower as part of the Strictly Come Dancing results show.
December 2016				Jim and Charlie appear on the winter series of Night Of The Proms. Sanctify Yourself is issued as the second single from the Acoustic album.
January 2017
February 2017				Simple Minds tour Australia and New Zealand with The B52's.
March 2017
April 2017				The Acoustic Live Tour begins. Recording on Walk Between Worlds is completed. Ronnie Gurr publishes So Far, So Distant And So Long Ago: Simple Minds In Berlin 1980.
May 2017				Cherisse Osei begins a set of Tour Diaries.
June 2017				Acoustic In Concert is released on three formats. Jim appears at the Rewind Festival with Trevor Horn.
July 2017
August 2017
September 2017				A cover of Don't You (Forget About Me) is used to promote World Animal Day in Europe. Derek Forbes announces that he will tour his Echoes album in 2018.
October 2017				Mel Gaynor releases his solo album The Fusion Project 2.
November 2017
December 2017				Brian Griffin releases POP which is a portfolio of his career. Included is the double wine glass image from the front of the Celebrate sleeve. Walk Between Worlds is announced.
January 2018				The Magic promo single is released. The Signal And The Noise promo single is released.
February 2018				Walk Between Worlds is released. It reaches #4 in the UK chart. The limited edition Magic 7" single is released as part of a limited edition bundle. The Walk Between Worlds Tour starts in the UK. It includes the whole of Walk Between Worlds and a Q&A session with Billy Sloan. It concludes the same month in Germany. The Sense Of Discovery promo single is released.
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018				The Walk Between Worlds Summer Tour starts in Croatia. It includes many of the summer festivals throughout Europe. Two Summer promo singles are released, one featuring remixes by Gary Numan.
June 2018
July 2018				Catherine AD leaves Simple Minds mid-tour. Keyboard duties are taken over by Charlie and Gordy.
August 2018				The Walk Between Worlds Summer Tour concludes in Belgium. The Grandslam Tour commenses during the same month; this short tour of the UK re-unites Simple Minds with The Pretenders and K T Tunstall.
September 2018				The Grandslam Tour finishes in Scotland. The Walk Between Worlds Tour visits South America, North America and Canada. It's the most extensive tour of the Americas since the Once Upon A Time Tour of 1985.
October 2018
November 2018				The Walk Between Worlds Tour of America finishes up in Florida. Simple Minds perform a one-off gig in Australia, headlining the Coates Hire Newcastle 500. As part of the Symphonic album released this month, a promo single of Alive And Kicking is released. Jim and Charlie reunite with Trevor Horn and Mick MacNeil to record Brothers In Arms for Horn's Reimagining The 80s album.
December 2018				Rejuvenation 2001-2014 LP box set is released.
January 2019				Jim and Paul Statham have been working on The Dominant Colour Is Rust and Night Is The New Day for the next Dark Flowers album. Cherisse Osei voted Number One in the 'Twelve Best Live Session Drummers' In The World by Rhythm Magazine.
February 2019				4 Letter Word is released by Phunk Investigation Featuring Jim Kerr.
March 2019				Rejuvenation 2001-2014 CD box set is released.
April 2019				A special limited edition coloured vinyl pressing of Graffiti Soul is released for Record Store Day 2019. Mick MacNeil starts hosting a weekly radio show.
May 2019				Individual deluxe CD versions of all the albums included in the Rejuvination CD Box Set are released. Live Big Music Tour 2015 is released on limited edition white vinyl.
June 2019
July 2019
August 2019				The band launch a new Facebook group.
September 2019				White Hot Day, a fan convention to be held in Glasgow in March 2020, is announced.
October 2019				Love Song [Live] and Don't You (Forget About Me) [Live] released as promo singles. Live In The City Of Angels is released.
November 2019				For One Night Only released as a single. 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019 career spanning compilation album released. Argos release The Book Of Dreams, their Christmas advertisement campaign, which uses Don't You (Forget About Me) and parts of the video. 40 Years Of Hits tour is announced.
December 2019				Simple Minds were awared Outstanding Contribution To Music at the Nordoff Robbins Scottish Music Awards. They performed three tracks at the event. Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe is announced. Derek Forbes announces a new album of Simple Minds classics and a tour in March 2020 of his new band, Derek Forbes And The Dark.
January 2020				Tony Donald passes away. The tour line-up is announced and new keyboard player Berenice Scott is introduced.
February 2020				Simple Minds are the cover stars on Classic Pop Magazine. It includes a lengthy interview with Jim Derek Forbes And The Dark announce a short tour and release a CD of re-recorded Simple Minds classics. Hanging Around Books release Pleasantly Disturbed, a collection of photographs by Laurie Evans. 40 Years Of Hits Tour starts.
March 2020				Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe is released. The COVID-19 pandemic results in the world locking down. The tour is postponed, the Convention is postponed and Derek Forbes And The Dark tour is postponed.
April 2020				Hanging Around Books release The Suit He Wears Belongs To Me, a collection of photographs by Richard Coward.
May 2020				Jim and Charlie continue work on the new Simple Minds album.
June 2020				The Heart Of The Crowd book is announced. Fans are invited to submit their stories about the band.
July 2020
August 2020
September 2020
October 2020				Work finishes on the new Simple Minds album. It's suggested that new material is forthcoming, but further lock-downs delay any release.
November 2020
December 2020				Heart Of The Crowd is published. Simple Minds perform See The Lights for Nordoff Robbins' The Stars Come Out For Christmas.
January 2021
February 2021
March 2021
April 2021
May 2021
June 2021
July 2021
August 2021				The Themes For Great Cities book is announced.
September 2021
October 2021				Sparkle In The Rain is issued on limited edition orange vinyl as part of HMV's Centenary Celebrations.
November 2021
December 2021
January 2022
February 2022
March 2022
April 2022
May 2022
June 2022
July 2022
August 2022
September 2022
October 2022
November 2022
December 2022