Amazing Mel, what your saying here. And I can answer your mans question. What I got every night I looked accross the stage and saw you play. Whatever self doubts I harboured in my ability, and there were many. Seeing you play, gave me all the confidence I needed to own my own wee space up there. You were so good and profesional you made me feel like a king. Even off stage anytime we came into contact you just warmed my heart. Sometimes when you and John would get going, it frightened me to touch my keys for fear of simply breaking the groove. You both were musically streets ahead of us 3. An absolute joy to have been part of your musical life Mel. MM x

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

What a beautiful tribute to Mel’s contribution to Simple Minds coming from the great Mick MacNeil, who was there right in the centre of the action and composition for many years up to SFY. I hope you’re well, and if you’re ever available yourself I’d love to talk to you. Steve

@davidkirby2282

5 ай бұрын

Simple Minds is not the same without you both. Alive and Kicking was when I first discovered Simple Minds then Street Fighting Years in my last year of school 88/89. Your playing live was superb. I love the Tom solo on Belfast child.

@mike1629-g4l

3 ай бұрын

Mick you were the emotion behind simple minds, Mel and forbes the beating heart. Your music remains part of our lives.

@stuartcarswell2815

3 ай бұрын

Wow Mick...so humble...you are an inspiration.. Simple Minds wouldn't have been half the band without your timeless ingenuity..hope you are still creating ❤

Gaynor’s contributions to New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84 is absolutely amazing. I’ll never forget that album as well as Mel’s drumming. Beautiful rhythms that are timeless.

wow! Mel is a beautiful person and a wonderful drummer...I saw him in Italy during the best Simple Minds Tour in 2012 called 5x5...now Simple Minds are not Simple Minds without Mel. Mel also played in a great italian album: "credo" by Mango 1998. Nice conversation...so thank you! Regards from Italy.

Mels mum was a friend of my late Auntie. Met her a few times in the west Indian working mans club in Clapham. Very nice lady who would tell me about Mel

@popthehistorymakers

3 ай бұрын

Did she tell you the knitting needle stories? 🎉I’m sure she was lovely as kindness is often inherited❤

@wimbledan

3 ай бұрын

@popthehistorymakers all I remembered how proud she was. She was a kind lady definitely where he gets it from

Excellent interview what a genuine guy Mel is

@popthehistorymakers

6 ай бұрын

Thx. I really enjoyed talking to Mel🎉

🎉❤thanks. I agree. His new album is great. You’ll have to wait a bit to get it but will be worth it. Loved interviewing him, so much down to earth humanity!

Always been a fan Mel, your right up there, always remember Jim crediting you as the Mike Tyson of drumers on stage at Cardiff stadium back in 1987, keep it going mate. loving the album...

@popthehistorymakers

Ай бұрын

The album is great. I’m Steve, not Mel. Mel insta handle is @melgaynor thx

Hey Steve Blame have not seen you on screen since you used to bring back then this teenager the music news on MTV Europe . So it's a real trip down memory lane to see you still work in the music industry . Back then I was a huge Simple Minds fan and guess what I still am but like many wish Mel Gaynor was still their drummer on this latest tour . Really enjoyed the interview Steve thank You for getting Mel to talk about his career and chase up that interview with Mick Macneil would love to watch that one in the future .

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

Thanks. Changed a little in between but loving doing these interviews more than MTV! Mel was an absolute pleasure to interview!!!

Wonderful interview. I am buying the LP and the CD. Mel is a legend. What he said about “sticking together” is so true. I think he’s referring to keeping Derek and Mick in the band. Jim screwed up!… just found your channel. Bravo and I subscribed! 👍

@popthehistorymakers

21 күн бұрын

Thx. Just on a break but will get back tons new series soon. I agree about sticking together, amazing how many bands go through this!

Great song and brilliand sounding vocal Mel. Well done. All my favourite singers are drummers. Levon Helm, Karen Carpenter, Don Hendley, Phil Collins, Dave Grohl, and now Mel Gaynor..........MM x

@undersoundproductions1915

3 ай бұрын

MM taking time out. Awesome. Best part of the band. From another MM.

@undersoundproductions1915

3 ай бұрын

My late cousin used to tell me about meeting you. Jimmy Murray. Drummer from Housilwood. Priesthill.

He is spot in what he said about Simple Minds and not sticking together

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

I know. Other bands get through their issues. And some don’t like each other but understand that it’s for the best. Anyhow he’s a great guy!

@darrengrimmer8541

5 ай бұрын

Great man Mel… simple minds are my favourite band of all time.. great memories of great stadium performances back in the 80s.. I was very interested when Mel just touched on the politics within the band.. the one thing that was disappointing was the constant line up changes.. clearly there were some problems.. for my sins I still go to see simple minds and will be at o2 in march.. however I can’t help keep thinking yes we all get older but so many of the original band members are still with us going strong apart from John giblin bless him.. I just think why are they still not gigging together.. maybe one day we will get to hear the reasons behind all the problems.. anyway really enjoyed this one.. thank you

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

@@darrengrimmer8541 Thx. Mel is a really great guy, and I think reading between the lines you can feel that like we all experience, problems in retrospect are viewed in a wider context, but when you’re in the cauldron of emotion, whether it’s a band or even a marriage, sometimes what’s really important is lost.

@tonymontana-uw1bq

5 ай бұрын

​@@darrengrimmer8541Jim is dicking Cherise...?😂

@lynn69jackson

4 ай бұрын

​@popthehistorymakers I think that when simple minds did their acoustic tour without him, it was probably the beginning of the end. Mel went off and did his own thing and successfully so.

Cool interview Steve. Thanks. When Mel and Derek Forbes played together it was like thunder and lightning. Immense.

@popthehistorymakers

4 ай бұрын

Thanks. He’s just a great guy!

@davidgormley7990

4 ай бұрын

@@popthehistorymakers He's the reason I started playing drums in 1984. Haven't quite achieved his level of success😁

@popthehistorymakers

4 ай бұрын

@@davidgormley7990 are you Dave Gormley of AC Acoustics?

@davidgormley7990

4 ай бұрын

@popthehistorymakers Ha! I'm not, but it's not the first time I've been asked. I (very) occasionally receive random messages on social media asking me the same thing.

@popthehistorymakers

4 ай бұрын

@@davidgormley7990just when you said you’re a drummer and that name - well …

Great interview Steve. Mel is such a talent, makes it look effortless! Such a nice bloke too.

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

Yes, he’s a great guy, was a real pleasure to interview him

CIAO MEL, MI MANCHI TANTO TANTO TANTO... LA BATTERIA DEI SIMPLE MINDS è LA TUA!!!

I’ve often wondered if Mel was a fan of Spirit’s Ed Cassidy. Mel’s set up with those great big drums is very similar setup to the setup Ed Cassidy used. I’ve not seen anyone else use that setup

I had such a crush on him

@popthehistorymakers

2 ай бұрын

He’s extremely charming! I get that

Have always wondered if Ed Cassidy (Spirit) was an influence on Mel. I met Mel in Denver 1992 and wish I’d asked that question.

@popthehistorymakers

14 күн бұрын

That is a good question. Next time I will if I get the opportunity!

@marktaylor2502

9 күн бұрын

@@popthehistorymakers very similar kit when I saw Simple Minds in Denver 1992 (Real Life tour) right down to the huge mounted parade drum (has a special name for that drum type but I've forgotten).

I used to love Simple Minds. They were the 1st band I saw live on the Real Life Tour in 91. Love Mel's bombastic drumming. Disappointed he wasn't on the cover of Street Fighting Years and only years later did I read about the issues with Trevor Horn. I recall some issue about playing with brushes. New Gold Dream us regarded as the seminal Simple Minds album but for me it was Once Upon A Time and then I went back and discovered Sparkle In The Rain which is where Mel came in as full time drummer and the Heavy Rock sound came in. Last time I saw them was on the 30 years live tour at Wembley with Mel. Nothing against the current drummer but if you take too many elements out of what made a band great its not the same band anymore. Simple Minds have turned into their own tribute act. From what I have read in other interviews and comments JK doesn't come over as very likeable. Mel said it, U2 have stuck together. As have another of my favourite bands Def Leppard. Another of ny favourite drummers is Harry James from Thunder. Another band who have stuck together and Harry in some ways a similar style to Mel. Very Bonham esque and bombastic. I have to order Derek's book after listening to a recent interview.

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

I think many bands stick together and hardly talk but have found a way of coexisting. It’s difficult when ego and emotions get mixed together. Mel said it well !

@baldybouncers

4 ай бұрын

I'm afraid to say this. Jim is not the person when you meet him that he appears in front of a camera. Charlie is a really lovely bloke, always happy to sign etc. I have seen his best friend at his prickly worst. I always feel that Mel was treated badly, as a session player rather than an integral member of SM. We may never know the full story but I think we all suspect that things went awry after Derek's sacking. Once Mick left the slide accelerated. Perhaps Jim will reflect on these changes and the way people were treated (Bruce Findlay included) when he gets his book done. Either way, I cannot bring myself to see SM live today.

@dcanmore

2 ай бұрын

@@baldybouncers Mel officially left SM in 2017 after recording Walk Between Worlds album.

@mazdaman0075

2 ай бұрын

@@baldybouncers Met Jim and Charlie (very quickly) at the OVO Hydro in March for a picture session and you are right. Charlie stuck out his hand immediately and was very personable however I found Jim kind of stand-offish. Keep in mind all these fans have paid a significant amount of money for the opportunity to meet the band. Charlie was so humble and even said he hoped they lived up to my expectations for the concert ! I understand it gets tiresome meeting hundreds of fans who all want to tell you their life story but it's part of the job being a rock star and if you can't at least fake it maybe don't bother. I can partly see why the band has had so many lineup changes over the years.

@baldybouncers

2 ай бұрын

​@@mazdaman0075Frankly, I was appalled when I saw the VIP packages. I understand that they are part of the whole arena business but these are multi millionaires. I decided I would not get tickets for ths tour. I look at the line up now and - even though they can undoutedly play - Simple Minds without Mel Gaynor and Mick (let alone Derek) is not, to me, Simple Minds.That really does pain me to say.

Simple minds arent Simpke Minds without Mel on the drums

The narratives around the evolution of Simple Minds can be confusing at times but I think Jim and Charlie made the cycle of recording and touring their lives and couldn't understand why others could not. Derek's sacking seemed to be over his commitment or lack thereof as perceived by Jim. I've been there, members blowing off rehearsals stings more than most would understand, I honestly believed it was a mistake just as it was a mistake to not work things out with Mick who wanted a break. He went his way, Jim and Charlie went theirs when they should have just given it some time. Mel's presence in the band became confusing as well, the issues with Trevor that took Mel off the cover but he turns up for the tour then out for Good News. I think Jim and Charlie live and breathe Simple Minds in a way most just can't and it's been a problem. Seeing Derek turn up for Neapolis then disappear again was a bummer. I really thought they had something with the 5x5/Big Music lineup but then another mysterious change up. Hoping Derek's book will shine some light on things, I understand bands change, people have different priorities but Simple Minds fans have been put through the wringer more than most. Great interview with an amazing drummer, so fortunate to have witnessed so many great shows.

@popthehistorymakers

5 ай бұрын

Fascinating insights. As you’ve been there, I’m guessing you’ve worked in some capacity over the years. That Jim and Charlie “live and breathe” simple minds really sums up why it’s difficult for others who do not have the same overriding commitment to survive the cauldron of emotions that come with being in a touring band over many years. Thanks for your comment!

@tonymontana-uw1bq

5 ай бұрын

JK was a complete twat when it came apparent that Mel and Andy were out of Simple Minds. I still wonder why Ed Duffy left...the current lineup is ok! 😏

@guyincognito1560

5 ай бұрын

@@tonymontana-uw1bq I never did find out what happened there. They went accoustic and brought in a few then stuck with that lineup. Saw one interview with Mel at the time where he was confused by it all but that was all. It's not my band, I'm not walking in their shoes so come what may. Still love the albums.

@jonmortimer5831

5 ай бұрын

A couple of people chatting about the departure of Mel, Eddie and Andy here and certainly I have to say I think that quintet was the strongest there ha ever been since the Derek Mel and Mick days. Felt like a proper rock band again, showcased initially on the great performance of Stay Visible on Jonathan Toss in 2005. Black and White was a superb, really solid, sturdy album. But then there's often little corelation between artistic merit and commercial success. The 'lost' SM albums between 97 and 2004 are more complete artistically, just better songwriting generally in my view, than the most recent 2 yet the buzz is apparently surrounding those.

@warwickfletcher6191

2 күн бұрын

@@tonymontana-uw1bq I spoke to DF some years ago, out of the blue conversation - You sum up the conversation pretty well, JK is/was very arrogant, you didn't agree with him, off you pop.

Why I always thought of Mel as being Scottish, like the rest of SM lol. I'm not an expert on accents etc. but now I realize he sounds 100% a Londoner, and of course Wikipedia confirms it. Some sort of Mandela effect I suppose. 😂

@pauljohnson4539

4 ай бұрын

Well he was their fourth drummer (after Alan McGee, Kenny Hyslop and Mike Ogletree), though ultimately their definitive drummer. It was the same with the Average White Band, another Scottish band, who subsequently had a black American drummer after their original drummer died of an overdose.

@lynn69jackson

4 ай бұрын

I knew that he was from London , but that's because his older brother is my next-door neighbour who is also a talented musician. Both Mel and his brother seem to have this innate gift for music.

Why did he leave simple minds

@dcanmore

2 ай бұрын

He officially left Simple Minds in 2017 after recording the Walk Between Worlds album, to concentrate on his solo career, and with that retired from touring with SM.