Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a number of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their No. 1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from the soundtrack of the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. They are also known for the No. 3 US hit single "Alive and Kicking" and the No. 1 UK hit single "Belfast Child". The band has sold more than 60 million albums since 1979. The core of the band is the two remaining founder members - Jim Kerr (vocals, songwriting) and Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards after 1990, other instruments, songwriting) - and drummer Mel Gaynor (who first joined the band in 1982). The other current band members are Andy Gillespie (keyboards) and Ged Grimes (bass guitar). Significant former members include bass guitarist Derek Forbes and keyboard player Michael MacNeil (the latter credited as a significant band composer during the band's rise in the 1980s). Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a number of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their No. 1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from the soundtrack of the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. They are also known for the No. 3 US hit single "Alive and Kicking" and the No. 1 UK hit single "Belfast Child". The band has sold more than 60 million albums since 1979. The core of the band is the two remaining founder members - Jim Kerr (vocals, songwriting) and Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards after 1990, other instruments, songwriting) - and drummer Mel Gaynor (who first joined the band in 1982). The other current band members are Andy Gillespie (keyboards) and Ged Grimes (bass guitar). Significant former members include bass guitarist Derek Forbes and keyboard player Michael MacNeil (the latter credited as a significant band composer during the band's rise in the 1980s). false 2025-11-07 18:50:32 2288 Alternative Rock Ambient Art Rock Ballad Dance-Rock Electro Electronic Interview New Romantic New Wave Non-Music Pop Pop Rock Post-Punk Rock Soft Rock Synth-Pop Synthpop Trance 112257 f41490ce-fe39-435d-86c0-ab5ce098b423 /media/data/media5/Music/Simple Minds/folder.jpg /media/data/media5/Music/Simple Minds/backdrop1.jpg /media/data/media5/Music/Simple Minds/fanart.jpg 1 1980 1981 1985 1986 1987 1989 1991 1992 1993 1995 1999 2001 2002 2003 2005 2009 2012 2014 2016 2016 2017 2018 2019 2019 2022 2025 Simple Minds