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Getting rid of Derek was the worst mistake SM ever made.

what a shame .... first gig Tiffanys , Sons & Facination tour .. i was 16 and this bass player was mesmerising on stage..best band I ever saw, and i saw them 17 times, but never after Derek was removed from the band.. imagine what music they would have created together, if they had stayed true to being a collective... but greed takes over .. especially with writing credits... how very sad.. for us fans ..

Hi! Dereck played on the best six Simple Minds albums: without his bass Simple Minds was no longer the same brillant group. Ciao!

The standard bearer of bass playing for me. I heard Love Song playing in a record store and noted the band then found NGD had just come out. Tried to see them at the Kabuki but was too young and had to listen outside. Got to lose myself in the anticipation for SITR then see them at the Warfield and opening for Pretenders. Tuned into Live Aid and was heartbroken to see Derek missing. He gave the band such a sharp and aggressive edge. Was too young to understand that bands staying intact was a rarity and just had to accept it. As fantastic as John was, just missed Derek's edge and the cool factor he added. Was so proud to be a Simple Minds fan, letting people hear Premonition and asking "Who's that?". Was happy to share my favorite band with anyone I could and no other band sounded like them, Derek, Mick and Charlie made soundscapes and that magic seemed so rare, where 3 musicians made something so special that it endured losing Brian. I'll never forget the few years I spent with Simple Minds as they were, loved everything they did and have done but there's a reason so many think the 5x5 is so important.

Along with Mick Karn, the greatest bass player of his generation. Kerr, Burchill, McNeil, Forbes, Gaynor - the classic SM line-up and since Derek and Mick left SM’s sound has never been the same

The Mind's sacked Derek ? - first time I heard this - I always thought Mick & Derek , the soul of that band never actually left. I saw SM late 70's a few times. I bought my first bass after seeing them age 17 in 1980. Monster player, Monster !!! Manchester Hacienda - Manchester Apollo !!!!!! Read Mick Karn's book couple year's ago, look forward to reading Derek's.

Derek Forbes' bass lines were monumental. A great loss to the band in terms of what he contributed.

I worked for a claims management company some years back. Derek called in one day and I spoke to him for about half an hour, was such a lovely bloke to talk to

I reckon if you listened to Derek’s Simple Minds bass lines isolated from ‘Real to Reel to Sparkle in the rain’ , when you’re feeling low , you’re mood would be lifted enormously by the sheer brilliance, groove , creativity and hypnotic power of this man’s unique approach. A fantastic bass player that every bassist ( experienced or just starting out) needs to listen to 😎

Mel Mick and Big Dan dream team. Except Jim called the shots. I wouldn't go see SM now. When they fired Mel that was it for me. Mel is irreplaceable.

Old school Simple Minds enrichened my life mentally in words wich cannot be catched.

I saw the Minds on their first UK tour supporting Magazine at Southampton in the spring of 79 and they were brilliant. Derek's innovative bass lines were a huge part of the Minds sound and when he left the Minds were never the same.

Absolute hero so he is, the band isn't nearly the same without him

brilliant

what a story ! great interview Simple minds are not simple minds without Derek !

Excellent interview. I was at the concert in Phoenix Park, one of the best shows I've ever attended.

Childhood dream to meet Derek in Liverpool. Cheers big man. Take care of your self. 😀👍🏻

Legend

Thank you for this. Derek is a phenomenal musician. I was there that day in Phoenix Park in 1983, the day they played, 'Waterfront' for the first time. They opened their set with it and indeed there is a bootleg, which still have. It was an epic day.