Simple Minds were formed in Glasgow in the late 70s by Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. They are best known for the track "Don't You Forget about Me", which was used in the brat pack film The Breakfast Club in 1985.
Simple Minds came from the ashes of a short-lived punk band, they developed their musical style over their first four albums, incorporating new wave, experimental electronica and prog rock, before arriving at the success of their 1982 release. By the time New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) was released, the band had been identified as part of the UK's new romantic movement. They found success with "Promised You a Miracle" and "Glittering Prize". This would be the first of a run of critically and commercially successful albums. The band drafted in Steve Lillywhite (fresh from his success with U2) to produce Sparkle in the Rain and had hits with the anthemic "Waterfront" and "Up on the Catwalk". The follow-up album Once Upon a Time propelled the band to stadium rock status.
1989's Street Fighting Years was the last of the successful run, proving much more popular in UK than US. Subsequent releases would fail to catch the public's imagination to same extent, and "See the Lights" in 1991 would be the band's last US charting hit.
The groups' most recent album, Black & White 050505 was released in 2005 to favourable reviews.
