Simple Minds' Derek Forbes

[alan thomas]

Any other Derek Forbes fans out there?!

I just gotta sound off about his fantastic bass work on Simple Minds' earlier albums - most especially New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84).

I used to listen to this album a lot as a kid, but never really appreciated the integral part Forbes played in the Simple Minds "sound" until recently.

If you were to take his incredibly rhythmic and melodic lines out of the songs they would totally fall apart. In fact, many of the tracks on New Gold Dream are built around the bass (IMHO).

After his departure, the band's rhythm section never quite had the same magic...

If you're a fan of inventive bass work, this is a great album to check out.

[knarleybass]

Yea, Derek Forbes was great in Simple Minds, he was also in a band in the 80's called Propaganda.

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

yeah, see this old thread-
Big Country's Tony Butler/ Simple Minds' Derek Forbes

he's also on a couple of Kirsty Maccoll tracks- "new england" and "he's on the beach".

[alan thomas]

Originally Posted by The Mock Turtle Regulator

yeah, see this old thread-
Big Country's Tony Butler/ Simple Minds' Derek Forbes

he's also on a couple of Kirsty Maccoll tracks- "new england" and "he's on the beach".

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, I should have done a proper search before posting...I guess I got too excited about sharing my love of Forbes' playing.

On a sidenote, I often wonder how Simple Minds persuaded Herbie Hancock to play on Hunter and the Hunted from the New Gold Dream album. The bands wasn't that well known at the time (1982). Herbie must have recognized their potential.

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

here's the story on Hunter and the hunted;
http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/songs/ngd/hath1.htm

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by alan thomas

After his departure, the band's rhythm section never quite had the same magic...

I barely paid attention to Simple Minds so forgive me if this question is totally obvious, but was Forbes' replacement John Giblin?

[the low one]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I barely paid attention to Simple Minds so forgive me if this question is totally obvious, but was Forbes' replacement John Giblin?

Yes I believe he was.

For me Derek made Simple Minds great. Once he’s gone they never sounded as good. His melodic and interesting bass lines on fretted and fretless still sound great today. “New Gold dream”, “Sons and Fascination”, Sister Feelings Call”, Empires and Dance” and “Sparkle in the Rain” all contain great bass lines.