Editing Simple Minds (section)

{{Short description|Scottish rock band}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Simple Minds
| background      = group_or_band
| image           = GreenDayIOW230624 (230 of 367) (53818507958).jpg
| image_size      =
| landscape       = yes
| caption         = Simple Minds performing at the [[Isle of Wight Festival]] 2024
| origin          = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Post-punk]]<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web | url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/simple-minds-mn0000049374/biography | title= Artist Biography by Steve Huey | website=[[AllMusic]] | first=Steve | last=Huey | access-date=6 December 2015}}</ref>|[[art rock]]<ref name="AllMusic"/>|[[arena rock]]<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.popmatters.com/jim-kerr-simple-minds-interview-2532717015.html | title= A long walk between worlds: Jim Kerr on Simple Minds' new album and 40-year musical legacy | work=[[PopMatters]] | first=Chris | last=Gerard | date=12 February 2018 | access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref>|[[New wave music|new wave]]<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2019/11/25/simple-minds-jim-kerr-40-year-career-dont-you-forget-about-me/?sh=5e35c2f910f6 | title= Simple Minds' Jim Kerr On The Band's 40-Year Career, And The Unlikely Story Of 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' | work=[[Forbes]] | first=David | last=Chiu | date=25 November 2019 | access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref>|[[synth-pop]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Simple Minds – Good News from the Next World |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume= 107 |issue= 7 |date= 18 February 1995 |page= 66 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=wgsEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22synth+pop%22&pg=PA66}}</ref>}}
| years_active    = 1977–present
| label           = {{hlist|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|[[Zoom Records (Scotland)|Zoom]]|[[Arista Records|Arista]]|[[Sire Records|Sire]]|[[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]|[[Eagle Rock Entertainment|Eagle]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[BMG Rights Management|BMG]]}}
| spinoffs        = {{hlist|[[Propaganda (band)|Propaganda]]|[[Endgames (band)|Endgames]]|[[Ex-Simple Minds]]}}
| alias           = Johnny & the Self-Abusers (1977)
| website         = {{Official URL}}
| current_members = * [[Jim Kerr]]
* [[Charlie Burchill]]
* [[Ged Grimes]]
* Sarah Brown
* Mark Taylor
* Gordy Goudie
* [[Cherisse Osei]]
* Erik Ljunggren
| past_members    = See [[Simple Minds#Former members|Former members]] 
}}
'''Simple Minds''' are a Scottish [[Rock music|rock]] band formed in [[Glasgow]] in 1977, becoming best known internationally for their song "[[Don't You (Forget About Me)]]" (1985), which topped the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] in the United States. Other commercially successful singles include "[[Promised You a Miracle]]" (1982), "[[Glittering Prize]]" (1982), "[[Someone Somewhere in Summertime]]" (1982), "[[Waterfront (song)|Waterfront]]" (1983), "[[Alive and Kicking (song)|Alive and Kicking]]" (1985), "[[Sanctify Yourself]]" (1986), "[[Let There Be Love (Simple Minds song)|Let There Be Love]]" (1991), "[[She's a River]]" (1995), and the [[List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s|UK number one single]] "[[Belfast Child]]" (1989).

Simple Minds have achieved 24 top 40 singles on the [[UK Singles Chart]], and 23 top 40 albums on the [[UK Albums Chart]],<ref name="oc">{{Cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28243/simple-minds/ |title=Simple Minds Official Chart History |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] }}</ref> including five [[Lists of UK Albums Chart number ones|number one]] albums:<ref name="simpleminds.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.simpleminds.com/history-simple-minds/|title=History Of Simple Minds|website=Simpleminds.com|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref> ''[[Sparkle in the Rain]]'' (1984), ''[[Once Upon a Time (Simple Minds album)|Once Upon a Time]]'' (1985), ''[[Live in the City of Light]]'' (1987), ''[[Street Fighting Years]]'' (1989), and ''[[Glittering Prize 81/92]]'' (1992).<ref name="oc" /> They have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide,<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.hmv.com/music/simple-minds-interview-2018-jim-kerr-walk-between-worlds | title= "When I say that there are a few songs about faith, I don't mean it in a religious sense..." hmv.com talks to Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr |publisher=[[HMV]] | date=1 February 2018 | access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> and were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=David |editor-last=Roberts |title=British Hit Singles and Albums|year=2006|page=500|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|isbn=978-1904994107}}</ref> Simple Minds have had chart success in the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy and New Zealand.<ref name="simpleminds.com"/> Despite various personnel changes, they continue to record and tour.

In 2014, Simple Minds were awarded the [[Q (magazine)|''Q'' Inspiration Award]] for their contribution to the music industry and an [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello Award]] in 2016 for Outstanding Song Collection from the [[The Ivors Academy|British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors]] (BASCA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.simpleminds.com/2016/05/19/simple-minds-win-ivor-novello-award/|title=Simple Minds Win Ivor Novello Award|website=Simpleminds.com|date=19 May 2016|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=Pop/Rock+Band/Duo/Group+Video+Artist&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgFuLUz9U3MDQryzJV4gIxq5JySqrStZSyk630E8sTi1IgZHx5Zl5eapFVXn5uZl5iSWZ-XvEjxnhugZc_7glLhU1ac_IaYwAXEZqE1LjYXPNKMksqhWS4eKUQtmswSHFzIbhWTBpMPItYVQLyC_SD8pOzFZwS81L0XUrz9d2L8ksLFMIyU1LzFRyLSjKLSyawMQIAylDK28kAAAA|title=Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist - Google Search|website=Google.com|access-date=21 June 2021}}</ref> "Belfast Child" was nominated for the [[Brit Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] at the [[Brit Awards 1990]].

Singer [[Jim Kerr]] and guitarist [[Charlie Burchill]] are the two members who have been with the band 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 (drummer)|Brian McGee]] and [[Mel Gaynor]].<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|pages=1088/9}}</ref>