Simple Minds re-release early catalogue, box set, and tour

Simple Minds are planning a busy 2012.

On February 13, they will be releasing Simple Minds X5, the group's first five albums (Life In A Day, Real To Real Cacophony, Empires and Dance, Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Calling and New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)) spread over six discs - with Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Calling as separate discs in a gatefold sleeve – as well as bonus material on each disc including rare and previously unavailable CD, b-sides and remixes..

The next day, the group will kick off a sixteen-date tour of the U.K. and Europe in support of the new release. The 5x5 tour will include the band playing five songs from each of their first five albums. Jim Kerr said of the tour, "This is the set that so many who appreciate Simple Minds have been begging us to play and finally this is that one-off chance to see it."

Kerr also wrote at length about the upcoming tour on the band's site:

It may well be a challenge to go back to those albums and do them proud as we attempt to reconjure in parts the moods of the shows that took place at the beginnings of our band. Then again, it is always a musical challenge, whether moving forward or, in this case looking back. (Be under no illusion, we are indeed moving both ways next year as a result of our decision to put together these sets, while simultaneously continuing a forward momentum through the writing and recording of much new music.) Above all however, there will a real pleasure for us to highlight many songs that have been perhaps unfairly overlooked as we evolve continuously, hurtling forward year after year, adding yet more songs to our abundant repertoire.

I guess nostalgia and an even more mysterious sense of deja'vu are hard to avoid when you have had a long life or indeed a lengthy career. In our case, as we enter into our 35th year of existence, I find that barely a working day goes by without something occurring that fleetingly reminds me of incidents, conversations, gigs, events, travels and adventures etc, that happened so long ago. Those memories are a huge part of the narrative to our lives and I suspect that some of the music we created has become part soundtrack to the lives of those who generously spent their time listening.

Nothing in my opinion can seemingly transport us back to a time and place in the way that music does.

The 5x5 shows will hopefully confirm all of this and more.

It's going to be great, believe me!

The dates:

02/14 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseum
02/15 - Madrid, Spain - Riviera
02/16 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzamatazz
02/18 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
02/19 - Berlin, Germany - Admiralpalast
02/20 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
02/21 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
02/23 - Brussels, Belgium - Cirque Royal
02/24 - Birmingham, England - Academy
02/25 - Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowland
02/27 - Paris, France - Casino De
02/28 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
02/29 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex 457
03/02 - London, England - Roundhouse
03/03 - Manchester, England - Ritz
03/04 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre