Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel

[hiabex]

One of my favourite bass lines ever. Thanks for that.

[pawnsacrifice1]

Derek you are THE man

[MightyMaxist]

I think Mel enjoyed that.

[MrDemilord]

@MightyMaxist

Think so too

[pawnsacrifice1]

you make it look so bloody easy

[Lalo3001]

Derek, I've been a Simple Minds fan since I was in my early teens in the mid 80s. I was awed by your baselines in the simple minds songs!

I really would love to see you, Mick and Brian re-unite with Jim Kerr and Chuck Burchill. That would be incredible.

Any chance you, Mick and Brian would ever make-up with Jim and Chuck???

[MrSpud67]

Lots of fantastic bass lines created by one of scotlands true legends have not seen four good men yet but hope too soon should be out of this world

[McBringbackfags]

Has there ever been a backwards Bass-- line recorded?

[TheWiganKebab]

THE Greatest Bassman to walk planet Earth.

[woupie]

pathetic



[jonsilence]

Hello Derek, writing from Los Angeles. Do I hear a Chris Squire influence in your playing during the early 80s?

[cadburyenglishman]

Hallo Derek, It's so wonderful to see and hear you playing this memorable bass line from perhaps one of the Simple Mind's most enigmatic and creative tunes, which I just loved watching sunsets whilst this tune played amidst reefer smoke. I had the privilege of seeing you live during the NGD tour at San Francisco's Kabuke theatre in 1983 I believe, and you and Mel simply had this thumping wild presence that I'll never forget! Thanks for all the magic mate! Cheers to you, Mick, et al.

[McBringbackfags]

@cadburyenglishman Sounds like a scene from, One of aircraft is missing.

[Kenckaplus]

Ah come on, why isn't he with Simple Minds, everybody knows SM isn't the same without him and Mick MacNeil.

[bassatnight]

Derek any chance of showing us some Fretless? Sweat in Bullet would be perfect!!!

[bassatnight]

I wonder if Derek knows what an influential bassist he is to us 40 somethings...?

[bassatnight]

Dan ever thought about writing a biog? Have read Mick Karns and Guy Pratts strange how us 4 stringers are more interesting than the 6 string variety ;-)

[25XVI]

You are truly one of my favourite bassists! And since I started playing bass myself I dicovered - to my surprise - that many of your basslines are pretty easy (and fun) to play. My all time favourite is Theme for great cities - would it be possible to show us how it should be played?

[ilpicchiatello]

right..... but the tecnique, the creativity and the powerfulness of mel gaynor...well... nobody can compare it..

In my "heart, memories and dreams" best simple minds will alwais be : forbes,mc neil, burchill,gaynor.

(with all my respect for all other musicians who played with the band in all this years..

ciao from italy.

[Hafferson]

Brian McGee is the one and only original drummer.

[Jdeez2005]

@Hafferson: McGee is the original drummer yes, however Mike Ogletree is credited for drums on this track. (Other drummers on the New Gold Dream album included Mel Gaynor and Kenny Hyslop.

[MrDemilord]

@Hafferson

simple minds will never be the same without you Brian and McNeil

[rsp196607]

Whom does the poster consider to be the original drummer of Simple Minds?

[andiar]

I'ts funny isn't it - most times you would say the singer and guitarist are the two main creative forces in a band. But with SM it was the original bass, drum and keyboard players who really excelled.

[boutiqueempire]

proves its always in the hands dunnit>

[heijnoz]

Derek, please go back to the Simple Minds. You're the best bass player in the world!

[ChelsieGhirl]

if you're a fan of Dan, then PLEASE become a fan of Derek Forbes and Brian McGee - ex Simple Minds, on their facebook page  - spread the word!!!

YouTube will not allow me to post a link but ... heres a clue! :)))

ex-Simple-Minds-Derek-Forbes-B­rian-McGee

[Somerfield12]

Derek shows us Hunter and the hunted!

[Whodoodat1]

C'mon big man, let's hear Themes For Great Cities! The pressure's on.

[sweetassugar69]

nae danger derek big dan yer man !! class

[dermut71]

any chance of getting derek to play theme for great cities? please.....!!

[ODC771]

Not a sook or anything but Simple MInds became a pub covers band when Juan (the lead 'singer') kicked Deek out.

[simonpaulbell1]

love It man..cool!

[Erabot]

Yeah, never the same again...

Anyway Theme for Great Cities made me pick up the bass, and Derek's work is just classes above many of the peers... and mostly the reason I still listen to the Minds.

[ferrers88]

to put it bluntly "jim kerr up his own arse "dont you agree derek!

ps the minds have,nt been the same and never will be since you left derek!

alll the best. ;)

[kiwijohn01]

@ferrers88 There will be a lawyer watching all of these comments just waiting to jump on Derek if he says anything 'unruly' against SM :) But I would BET Mr Forbes would have a few choice words to say... ha ha!

[ferrers88]

@kiwijohn01 lol,probably ;)

[leebedy71]

Still best bass play around

[Dinanmf]

Derek was the soul of Simple Minds. Biggest mistake Kerr and cie did was to let him go.

[MikeDLA]

Wow. Insanely good - as always.Thank you for posting Derek.

[docbreaknik]

THE FUKIN 'MAN'!!! ;-)

[DevilMan38]

Wonderful! Thank you Derek, your playing has been an inspiration to me for years.

[23Atlantean]

Superb! Thanks for shring with us Derek

[tommyboxnude]

...bravo!

[robyg70]

wow!.... all i can say is... wow. wooooo...w

[petitjeankoen]

When you left the band the greatness left with you!

[ThePawnsacrifice]

Derek you are a legend sir and a big reason I play bass

[kiwijohn01]

Me too ! You're a diamond :)

[bassatnight]

I always thought - back in the day that Derek, Mick and charlie should have released an instrumental album. All of the instrumental tracks are stunning.

Theres no doubt that after Kerr booted Derek out the band lost something the thundering bass left them limp and slightly souless.

The Once Upon a time album is awful and sounds more dated than NGD or Sparkle for that matter.

I remember back in 83 Derek had fans of his own and they (we ;-) went crazy when he left a couple of years later.

[jasperino1]

del you must be raging at duffy trying to play this hes pure crap

[safetheory]

Hard to say who wrote what, we weren't there.

But from the outside looking in I agree with Syntattein, it seems that Derek tossed a groove and the rest was built on top of it. Even if in Empires and dance the repetitive grooves where deliberate, you have to give him credit for pulling it off.

I would say MacNeil was the other creative powerhouse in the band.

[safetheory]

Sweat in Bullet, that IS the bassline

[safetheory]

Sometimes if you remove the bass it is no big deal at all, the song remains largely unaffected. It is not that common for the bass to have such a prominent role.

[Syntattein]

Although you suggest that's how the conversation might have gone with some cynicism, it's not far from the truth of how things appear to have gone. Are you suggesting that a bass line is not a musical idea? Interesting. While we're talking about orifices how about you stop being a Charlie Fanboy for 2 seconds and open your auricular orifices to hear what's what.

[Syntattein]

With all due respect: It's so clear what the foundation of all the noteworthy SM music is. It's all founded around the bass lines.

[safetheory]

That's what struck me with the early SM, if you remove the bass most of the songs fall apart completely.

[safetheory]

Hi Derek, you're the man that convinced me to play the bass!

In "someone up there loves you" is that slap what you are playing?

[kniphofia]

Oh Derek, I remember you from Newcastle City Hall around 1979/80. You were the heart and soul of SM for me. Me & my twin sister saw you several times in the north east, You rock man!!

[ally67]

Derek Forbes is the best bass player I have ever heard. Head and shoulders above anyone else. It should have been JK leaving the Minds and not you!

Derek, hope all is going well with FGM.

Please, please, please...post some more.

All the best.

Ally.

[Syntattein]

Absolutely awesome! Agreed that Simple Minds was never the same without you; it's so clear who the creative musical force was behind them! Totally awesome!

[stalung77]

Your baselines were such an important part of the soundtrack of my youth! Although I still live and love music, nothing has ever moved me like Simple minds did with you on the bass!

-I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

[carlosfandangowheels]

...A God

[bassatnight]

I am slowly going through old Minds Bass lines to try and TAB them up. So far I have managed to TAB about 7. I am afraid that it takes ages as I have to do it by ear and old rare clips slowed down! I am sure Derek has all of the Minds Bass lines written up somewhere to aid me in my project! ;-)

[johnnyblunder]

Give us the bass line from theme from great cities Derek mate.....Top bloke i know you wanna.

[montmorganovic]

Have a brill live version of this track from Washington DC 1982.

[clamupcalmdown]

At 16, and a drummer, I became *completely obsessed* with DF's bass playing- especially "Sweat in Bullet" and "The American" and "This Fear of Gods" which were mad, mad basslines. I'm 40 now and haven't listened to a single thing that Simple Minds did after "Don't you.." but those early basslines still get me every time. Good off you to post this stuff, Derek. Like the face you pull after some crazy ad lib in this clip!

[snicu]

I think U2 mimicked Minds even more, how about Charlie's delay guitar riffs?

[ianwr000]

Ive posted loads of comments saying this! You are the first to say the same.Burchill is too busy being a genius to take the time to copy Dave Evans!

[Hafferson]

Snorter. The best time to come see us, would be around early December, and in between Xmas and New Year. We are working on a 'Special' gig in early December, and the date will be announced shortly. We play Retrofest at the end of August, which is a fantastic event. We will try to get nearer your end of the Island. We had a great time down near old Uncle Tabnab...thanks for your posts..Dan

[ackgav]

Any chance u guys playing in fife is it true new gold dream was written in fife if it was were about in fife cheers

[Hafferson]

Well spotted Snorty, I am playing this through a Vox AD50 and not the usual Ampeg rig and effects pedal that our old roadie Dougie fae Space made.  Dan

[xpandoaudio]

Hey Derek, just wanted to say the Minds are my fav band ever and you wrote the best basslines. Saw ya at the Whilshire Theatre in early 80's and was right in front of you hangin on the stage groovin out. good work mate and keep slappin that bass ;)

[abie6]

Derek- magnificent, maestro!! You are truly a Leg End. Keep them coming. My request- if possible New Gold Dream please.

[claudiochesini]

Nice performance, it's seems the same bass guitar sound as in the new gold dream album...I know you're rejoining SM next month (hope 's not a wrong information) for recording a new album...I'm very happy for that!

[AlmicheV]

I don't think he is unfortunately, unless fings have changed again.

[daviex]

nice real nice.

when are you coming to aberdeen?

ha ha, i'm glad my incorrect version of i travel got you posting vids. my claim to fame.

nice one derek.

[martinbain1]

SUPERB, thanks for that, but dont stop there keep them coming. if you need some sugestions, book of brilliant things or the american, new gold dream, the list is endless.Are fourgoodmen going to tour again? would love it if you guys came to the north east o scotland, not only to hear SM songs,but DUEL is one of my favorite songs of all time. cheers

[robtrilogy]

Vibrato.. My arse! JTwalk and Murry are you on a wind up? This guy changed my life!

And yes 'Ther American live DORTMUND 84 is Fu**ing unreal.. Watch Derek do a jim kerr kick in the air about 4.20 in, Legend.

[murraydeschot]

I was taking the piss out of the other poster . Not berating Derek!

With 30+ years playing experience, numerous platinum, gold and silver discs, countless awards, playing the largest televised gig EVER and inspiring countless hundreds/thousands to pick up a four string, etc., etc., etc. I, for one, would find it entirely crass to make a suggestion as to how he could improve his playing!

When will Adam Clayton et al come here and share their secrets? They won't! That's what makes this A1!

[murraydeschot]

Oops. Erratum. Forgot Giblin played Live Aid. Me bad. :( Anyway, for me, personally, The Minds went from bristling Scottish band at the forefront of World music domination to mediocre 'let's play stadium tours for the bucks' when Derek and Michael left the band.

I saw them on the Ibrox leg of their "Once Upon A Time" tour and cringed at the contrived nature of the gig.

[robtrilogy]

Sorry i had a few beers that night..The first bloke annoyed me and saw red! I take it back!

ROB

[murraydeschot]

No sweat! I'm sure the people that matter see through the bravado and the bovine excrement! :)

[jtwalkthruwalls]

Too much vibrato on the G Derek. And hammer the A to D instead of slapping both.

[murraydeschot]

Yeah! Derek, ya need bass lessons mate! Errrr ... ;-)

[Hafferson]

Oh thanks for that ....I don't use a vibrator me ole chum... Derek Forbes  Manhattan New York NY

[sparksonehundred]

Someone has posted a vid on here of SM playing The American in Dortmund, 1984. Please search it out and watch it. Then pity the poor b**tards who had to follow our man here on the bass when he left...a bit like pulling on the Brazil no.10 shirt when Pele retired, a great honour but you don't really want to do it... Technically competent musicians are commonplace, Derek Forbes has that something else that makes the hairs on the back of your head stand up, truly individual and very special.

[AlmicheV]

Brill brill.

Could you ask Mick McNeil if he'd show us (especially my sister) the piano intro from Book of Brilliant Things when they played it in '85 please. She needs to learn it by Christmas.

[snicu]

Definitely one of my favourite bass lines, not just a Simple Minds one but overall.

I want a small-size cardboard Mel Gaynor too :D

[VikingInvaders]

I just had an orgasm :-) and I do agree with rosharris - Theme for great cities would be great to hear. So would New Gold Dream, Waterfront or King is white and in the crowd. Thanks in advance

[JohnoEAL]

What the frig... ? Is this the real Derek Forbes? Well stick haggis down my throat and shove starving dogs up my arse! BLOODY BRILLIANT!!! You haven't lost a thing! I saw Minds thrice in the past 2 years, and they didn't do that song once! Yet they did bloody Don't You Forget at every show... go figure.

Who or what is "Hafferson"?

[Suffko]

How awesome of you do put all these videos up here!!!!

Thancs so much!!!!

[PatAmund]

This is fantastic to hear!

Next one must me New Gold Dream or In Trans As Mission, Please....

[spektakl]

lots of thanks, derek.

keep posting vids! :D

[rosharris]

Please, Theme for great cities. Thanks Derek.

[refoman2]

derek forbes,what a god!

how about premonition next??????????

[rosharris]

Great Derek. I want another videos. >Hi.

[my2magoos]

Marvelous!

What else will you do for us if we ask nicely? ;)

[AJFAR]

Roll on Fourgoodmen telly Del!!!

[spikelive]

grandissimo derek! YOU'RE THE BEST DEREK!THANKS FOR UPLOADING COLOURS FLY!

ciao cheers from italy!

any chance to see new gold dream!

ps mel rules!!

[robtrilogy]

Great track! Is that still the same Fender bass? Sweat in bullet.. Would pay for that one.

Also maybe you shoud do 'love song' so simple minds can play it right after all these years (maybe eddy duffy does) but they were always a a bit out..

ROB

[Hafferson]

Yes it's the same bass. That is probably my most famous bass, next to my blue Vigier 5 string.  Derek

[murraydeschot]

Didn't you also use to play a WAL bass too?

[elizawitheddy]

Awesome! One of my favourite tracks! ;-)