Honestly, I'm not sad that this is my last Simple Minds album to playthrough. I'm a little fatigued at this point by them. It's been okay listening sessions going from 1980's Empires And Dance, to today's final entry, 1989's Street Fighting Years. While I've heard some good stuff, I won't profess that it's made me a diehard fan by any stretch of the imagination.
Though the success of 1985's Once Upon A Time inflated the band's popularity, and finally provided them a breakthrough in the USA, critics weren't often so nice about it. Simple Minds was often compared to U2 and knocked for being what was considered a lesser version of them. Despite this, the two groups actually got along quite well, with Bono joining them on stage that same year to sing.
During their extensive tour, the band released 1987's, Live In The City of Light, a double live album which captured highlights from their current shows. Much like previous studio releases, it shot up the charts, becoming their third consecutive number one in the UK.
Wrapping up touring, they built and launched Bonnie Wee Studio, where Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mick MacNeil began new writing sessions. Initially, they conceived the instrumental project, Aurora Borealis, but this would be supplanted by their increased involvement in political activism. This would lead to them being the first band signed for the Wembley Stadium show, Mandela Day, an expression of solidarity with the then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela.
Though all bands would be asked to produce a song specifically for the event, Simple Minds would be the only ones to do so, the aptly titled, Mandela Day. The studio version, along with a cover of Peter Gabriel's Biko, and Belfast Child would be compiled on the Ballad of the Streets EP, which would also peak at number one in the UK.
Simple Minds would close out the year with 1989's Street Fighting Years, moving away from the more pop rock-oriented sound which provided them their breakthrough, instead replacing it with acoustic and folk music elements. Led by renowned producer, Trevor Horn, this would become their next number one album in the UK, and their first in many other countries. The three tracks noted from the above EP would also be included on the album, as would the bonus song, When Spirits Rise, which was included on CD pressings.
While Mel Gaynor and John Giblin would contribute to portions of the recording, the two would leave abruptly mid-sessions. Both cited creative differences and tensions within the band, with Giblin also stating it was difficult to work with Horn.
Things open with the album's title track, and right away you can tell this isn't the same Simple Minds from four years ago. The best way I can explain it is like the shift in tone between Madonna's 1986 album, True Blue, and her 1989 released Like A Prayer. The music feels more mature on the latter, like the artist has grown up in that time span between releases. That's what Street Fighting Years feels like.
This growth ultimately results in a less pop oriented sound, but rather more adult contemporary. It's a relatively bland experience as a result. I couldn't even tell you that there were standout tracks. Rather, better than worse, and those included Wall Of Love, and Take A Step Back. I do not see myself wanting to ever hear these again though.
Overall, it was pretty bland, and frankly, so was my entire listening session of Simple Minds. Their music was just okay. Nothing to really get excited about. They have hits, I respect that, but I'm not a fan per se.
By 1990, Mick MacNeil had departed, stating he was exhausted from extensive touring. Gaynor would be lured back for 1991's Real Life, but he would depart again after it's recording. See The Light would become a minor hit from the album.
Jim Kerr, and Charlie Burchill would continue on as a duo, releasing 1995's Good News From The Next World. It would produce their final Billboard Hot 100 hit, She's A River.
Derek Forbes and Mel Gaynor would be brought back into the fold for 1998's Néapolis, but by 2001 it was just Kerr and Burchill again, who released Neon Lights, and 2002's Cry. Gaynor would return again for 2005's Black & White 050505, with Simple Minds remaining a trio for 2009's Graffiti Soul, and 2014's Big Music. But, if you guessed it, Gaynor left again, leaving the duo to release 2018's Acoustic. But like any good reunion, he came back for 2018's Walk Between Worlds only to depart again. Kerr and Burchill released the final Simple Minds album to date, 2022's Direction Of The Heart.
Most interesting in all of this, to me, is that not only did the band, albeit a slimmed down version, survive the 90's and 2000's, they managed to stay on the UK charts with each new album. Perhaps even more impressive, five of them were in the top ten. As of 2026, they've seen a high resurgence in popularity, and are currently committed to extensive touring.
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