The second half of the concert will see the band perform some of their best known songs from their classic albums staring off with 'Life in a Day' (1979), 'Reel To Reel Cacophony' (1979), 'Empires & Dance' (1980), right up to their groundbreaking first album with Virgin, 'Sons & Fascination' (1980) featuring the hit Love Song, plus songs from the album 'Sparkle in the Rain' (1984) that includes the hits Waterfront and Up On The Catwalk, as well as the U.S. No.1 hit single Don't You (Forget About Me) (1985).

The band will also perform songs from the album Once Upon A Time (1985) featuring the massive global anthem Alive and Kicking.?? But that's not all.?? The band will also perform songs like Belfast Child from 1989's 'Street Fighting Years' right up to 2005's return-to-form album 'Black & White 050505' featuring the songs Home and Stranger.

"We are delighted to announce these six rare UK concerts," says lead singer and founding member, Jim Kerr.??"The concerts will reflect our entire musical journey from day one to the current phase of creativity and without doubt will also conjure up all the energy, atmosphere and passion that for many is symbolic of Simple Minds shows over the last 30 years."
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"There is no better way of announcing to the world," adds Kerr, "that Simple Minds continues to embrace an uplifting musical spirit and enthusiasm that that defined our best work.??We are really looking forward to these concerts and celebrating 30 years of musical history with the fans."

Hercules And Love Affair

YouTube is home to the new video of Hercules And Love Affair 's forthcoming single 'Blind ', featuring Antony (of Antony & The Johnsons ) on guest vocals. It stars up and coming actress Jaime Winstone , daughter of world famous actor Ray. The single is released digitally on Sunday March 2nd, with physical formats on sale from Monday March 3rd, followed a week later on the 10th by the self title debut album. Click here for all pre-order links. All of the tracks and remixes will be available to download, iTunes will also have an exclusive version of the album which features a previously unreleased bonus track called "I'm Telling You ".

BLIND??(CDsingle)
1. Blind (Radio Edit)
2. Shadows
3. Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
4. Blind (Hercules Club Mix)
5. Blind (video)

Ltd. coloured 7"
A. Blind (Radio Edit)
B. Shadows

12"
A1. Blind (Full Album Version)
A2. Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
B1. Blind (Hercules Club Mix)

HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR??(CD / LP)
01. Time Will
02. Hercules Theme
03. You Belong
04. Athene
05. Blind
06. Iris
07. Easy
08. This Is My Love
09. Raise Me Up
10. True False/Fake Real

Here's what the press have said so far...

Observer Music Monthly - "a deft delight. Disco is the the jump-off point here only in the sense that dub was for Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines', a record with which it shares a tremendous sense of cohesion. When H&LA ends, it is as if the lights have come up in your head and a lone figure on the dancefloor is shouting "One more!"" 5/5

NME - "freshly minted and frequently beautiful???.disco for the 21st century???NME loves." 8/10

BOY GEORGE, EDDY GRANT and SQUEEZE will be among the acts appearing at this year's WOMAD Festival which will take place at Charlton park in Wiltshire over the last weekend of July.

YAZOO have announced new UK date and a series of European shows as part of their forthcoming reunion tour, the duo have announced a gig in Plymouth and shows in Ireland, Germany and Denmark and there are more shows in the pipeline. See GIGS for all the dates.

DURAN DURAN are the subject of a forthcoming documentary entitled 'Something You Should Know' which will blend live footage and interviews from the band with interviews with fans and a number of celebrity supporters including No Doubt, Korn and the Scissor Sisters.

UB40, JOOLS HOLLAND with MARC ALMOND, STATUS QUO and DEEP PURPLE will all appear at London's ExCel as part of the entertainment surrounding July's British International Motor Show.

ADAM ANT is reportedly working on a book with the working title 'Adam Ant Art' which will look at Adam's own artistic influences and inspirations as well as his own artwork, sketches, video storyboards and lyrics. The book will be produced in a very special limited edition, see NEWS for information about reserving a copy.

QUEEN (with Robbie Williams providing vocals), ANNIE LENNOX, THE ROLLING STONES and BONO are all rumoured to be appearing on the bill of a special show in Hyde park on June 20th to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.

MARC ALMOND has announced a sixth date to his forthcoming residency at London's Wilton's Music Hall in May. See GIGS for all the dates.

SHAKATAK will be one of the headline acts at the forthcoming Midsummer Music Festival which will take place at Spencer Gardens near Colchester on June 27th and 28th.

SINEAD O'CONNOR, BONO, THE EDGE, GAVIN FRIDAY and CHRIS DE BURGH have all contributed to an Irish charity single - 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew' - to benefit The Dubliners' Ronnie Drew who is suffering from cancer.

MIDGE URE, HOWARD JONES, PAUL YOUNG, NICK HEYWARD, T'PAU and CHINA CRISIS will all play at the first Irish HERE AND NOW show which will take place at Killarney's INEC Arena on May 24th.

JOHN FOXX - who will play a series of Australian shows in May (see GIGS for all the dates) - will perform sections from his forthcoming novel 'Quiet Man', playing grand piano to accompany a pre-recorded reading of the text accompanied by projected images, at Leeds' Victoria Hall on November 7th.

HALL AND OATES are to receive the BMI Icons award at the music industry's prestigious annual awards which will take place in Los Angeles on May 20th.