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Simple Minds 'Next Big Thing?' Lindsay Hutton goes bonkers over hot new Scottish oufit Simple Minds Lindsay Hutton - 'ZigZag' March 1979 (UK)
I've never been
this goddam excited about a rock 'n' roll band for ages. The monster
media called NEW WAVE is almost finished and the climate is right
for an upheaval to break the monotony of bandwagonning ex-heavy
metal losers and bozos that overindulge in calculated weirdness. The Simple Minds are impossible to categorise. Sure there are influences but they're much too fragmented and transformed to worry about. The fact that their sound is so unique must derive from the diverse tastes of the collective combo. The Simple Minds hail from Glasgow, they came together as a positive unit in March 1978 through disillusionment with most of the new wave. A handful of gigs followed which helped steadily build up a local following. At that time the band were as follows: Jim Kerr (vocals); Charlie Burchill (guitar & violin); Mick MacNeil (keyboards); Duncan Barnwell (guitar); Derek Forbes (bass); Brian McGee (drums); along with Jane and David Henderson on lights & sound respectively. In May '78 they went into the studios and laid down what must be one of the greatest demo tapes ever - it comprised 6 songs namely 'Act Of Love', 'Cocteau Twins', 'Chelsea Girl', 'Pleasantly Disturbed' (the first ever Simple Minds toon, that has since become their magnum opus on stage) 'Wasteland' & 'Did You Ever?'. Surprisingly when it was hawked about the record companies no one wanted to know even though the demo was light years better than anything else that was being lapped up at the time. That was then. So in the summer of '78, true talent was shunned and some real drivel signed or is it that the so called talent scouts are just clotheared. If you ever get the chance to hear that tape you'll see that the people that heard it and gave it the thumbs down wouldn't know a good band if it bit their nose off. Enough griping tho', we're up to August, which is when I first came into contact with the band via this tape, just the night before the band's debut Edinburgh gig with Generation X. It took me about 40 seconds to realise that this band has it ALL. After that showing they were supporting most of the 'name' acts that ventured up to Scotland including the Decimation of the Banshees at the Apollo at an afternoon's notice. This is the outfit that will pioneer this new frontier. They are in total control of their own electricity - No Beano political messages, just beautiful, sharp, chilling, rock 'n' roll magic and that alone gives them a big plus. Here we have the songs and technology to break down almost every taste barrier there is from the sheer compelling commerciality of 'Take Me To The Angel' through the absolutley compulsive 'Chelsea Girl' to the relentless twilight zone menace of 'Pleasantly Disturbed' and 'Muder Story'. So the band have finally tied the know wioth 200M/ARISTA. It won't be long until the globe can bask in the glory of the music. They were in the studios a few weeks back and laid down some songs with a view to doing the final things sometime in January. The songs laid down were 'Someone', 'A Special View' (brand new), 'Murder Story', 'Rosemary's Baby' and 'Sad Affair' (another newie). The last track has to be heard to be believed, it is truly wonderous and brought me out in a cold sweat.. I have a vision of this band, returning after a triumphant tour to the Glasgow Apollo to a packed house. The lights go out and the intro tape filters through the PA. The band walk on and its all systems GO. Mick and Charlie weave their magic out and in of Brian & Dereks's powerhouse rhythm section into 'Sweet Things' (not to be confused with Bowie's Diamond Dogs tune) and Jim'll swagger out ala LOU REED and the place will go BAZOOKS. Today for the most part, our so called rock 'n' roll luminaries churn out gutless, monotous, 'HIP' drivel and in the face of all that hype, honesty must prevail. This band will DESTROY anybody with a heart like Lou Reed wants - 'A Rock 'N' Roll Heart'. Like it says in the front of this mag, it is a personal opinion - don't take my word for it, see them for yourself. It'll be your loss if you don't.
— > added tuesday 10th may 2005
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