Simple Minds - Waterfront Live 1984

[cedarjet707]

Christ how did they go so badly wrong? I am sure Belfast Child + Mandela Day = African Child, the song that killed the career of the fictitious rock star played by Russell Brand in Get Him To The Greek. Minds went from uplifting, melancholy, artistic genius art rock to patronising and flatulent in just a few short years. One of the worst cases of career suicide in history.

[tallykita]

Had a massive crush on Jim Kerr at this time, even used to dress like him... A few years later a friend from school MARRIED him. Great.

[MrDemilord]

super super superb!!!

[toptonychick]

@MrDemilord I agree!

[PlanetMother]

Fantastic & Superb !

folks who missed out this, in the 80's, are really screwed

[Spiboy]

... best live version on you tube !!

[ipt09]

both the minds and U2 are good live . but when simple minds put on show they is way in front .

[redarmr]

Nice hair dudes ;o)

Love SM

[chamillionaire96]

Buaaaaaaaah

As we say in Spain:

OLEEEE!

[roby867]

che potenza musicale...grandissimi

[harmowest]

I saw them in Melbourne during this tour. The Waterfront lead in was the long, mounting bass and drum anchor with Jim Kerr drawing the clap and stamp from the ground until the venue was a single heartbeat pulse. When Burchill's two ringing opening chords hammered the crowd the Melbourne granite eathquaked and the Southern Ocean poured forth. Thanks for this - I've never forgotten it.

[lavsmate]

@harmowest awesome 

[donwan4u]

Absolutely fantastic!!!! The argument will continue saying who is or was the greatest of the two? U2 or Simple minds? In my view both were and are still brilliant but this performance puts U2 to Shame. Big thanx for posting

[MrAmadaeus]

Derek Forbes; Genius. End of.

[rhythmcorp]

sweating like a dog, making the most of his limited showmanship, the fucker!

[chamillionaire96]

No words. Just SIMPLE MINDS

[chamillionaire96]

Come in come out of the rain.

Wow just great, just fantastic, just brilliant... definitely just SIMPLE MINDS.

From Spain.

[p262shp]

oh yes this is classic minds fantastic.puts a lot of the crap to shame we have to listen today

[zofv2]

GRAND

[osheal]

king of kings

[bertyb1968]

Simple Minds are the rat's pyjamas. Great posting. Great version. Great kick by Forbes @ 1;57. Nice one Minordian.

[chasman19651888]

jim looks like a feckin mad man

[bertyb1968]

It must have been a good buzz playing this song with the other band members as they all generate such energy and a sound that leaves you mad for more. This song deserves a continued loop. Check out the live version at Werchter 1984. Another classic mate.

[Nigelxman]

K I'm convinced it's Bono who copied Jim:-)

[clockworkaccordion]

@Nigelxman Absolutely Agree

[1986uno45s]

@Nigelxman Look at Jim's performance/ image up to the New Gold Dream Era of 1983/4 (SM were almost a New Romantic band) and then compare with Bono during the War/ Under a Blood Red Sky era (82-3). Clearly it was Jim who was influenced by Bono as U2 had already gone down the stadium rock route in 1982/3 and Simple Minds then switched their direction and followed suit in 1984 with Sparkle in the Rain, even using the same producer, Steve Lillywhite, that U2 had used since 1980. Great song though!

[sweetassugar69]

@1986uno45s but tell me what songs are generally regarded as cult ! new gold dream, i travel, theme for great cities, celebrate, sons and facination, the american, boys from brazil which could easliy be released today and not be out of place compared to gloria, news years day, two hearts beat as one,i will follow which if your being honest are cheesy now and outdated ! simple minds could go either way which shows true talent which way has u2 gone you need to ask your self ! one way only !!

[1986uno45s]

@sweetassugar69 I'd hardly call any of those U2 songs you mentioned "cheesy" or "outdated". If anything, those songs still get played today showing their longevity. I'm not blind to U2's later blatant commercialism (Rattle and Hum was awful) and their post Joshua Tree work with a few exceptions has not been a patch on their earlier output. However, Simple Minds have been just as guilty with selling out and releasing duds too, yet it's only U2 who remain a musical heavyweight. Discuss!

[sweetassugar69]

@1986uno45s well i disagree totally 2 hearts, gloria and so on are dated when it comes to sound and you can hear the it compared to new gold dream which for example is recorded the same time !! as for u2 being still a heavyweight yes they are but you said it yourself that they are medicocre compared to there early years ! so maybe the public are just fickled ! there are some u2 songs that are classic for me but u2 never will create a new gold dream album or a theme for great cities !! period

[1986uno45s]

@sweetassugar69 And U2 fans will claim that Simple Minds will never create a U2 (insert name) album also. That's purely down to personal opinion and tastes. Commercially U2 wipe the floor with Simple Minds (that's not necessarily a good thing), & in my opinion neither band deserves much critical acclaim from the latter part of the 80's onwards. I grew up with both bands, I like both bands but I think they both sold out long ago. Both were brilliant in 1984 though, shame it didn't stay that way.

[Birdieboy67]

@1986uno45s

[Nigelxman]

Great version. Slightly off topic..I'm not sure who copied who but the way Jim Kerr and Bono (yes that Bono) addressed the audience around this time and even a few years earlier was nearly friggen identical. Don't believe me? Watch some old U2 live. Please don't flame me for this. I just find it ironic.

[KawiKaRs]

It wasn't irony, back then it was if you liked one, you couldn't like the other, it was either or. Shame really, both bands were *****ng awesome.

[baldrbraa]

@Nigelxman At least Jim doesn't have the mullet!

[AngelicGunrunner]

@Nigelxman Jim and Bono were close friends around that time, of course. I read this old interview with Jim from 1985 - in Newsweek or Time. He was talking of his background, his outlook on music, politics and on the rock scene. He and Chrissie had spent Christmas with Bono & family in Ireland, would have been end of '84 I think.

[whitejmw]

Nice version, but for me the power of the live in verona version tops it - that is brilliant.

[AIDPVTS]

Just saw them at Suikerrock in Tienen (Belgium). Absolutely fantastic!

[feenoSM]

Now this is why we ALL know who are the best band in on the planet...Its a pleasure/priveledge to watch this..U who???

[ruffian1868]

Saw them a few years ago in Melbourne. One of the best live shows I have ever seen, and Duffy does a good Derek Forbes imitation.

[spikelive]

Most epic song ever!

Simple Minds greatest live band ever with Muse!

[1600music]

Great!!

[faddy24]

That was from a gig they did in Australia. Check out 'Up On The Catwalk' that they played at this gig. It's on 'you tube', if u have not seen it.

[1927club]

Thanks for uploading this version, superb, I'm off to see them in Berlin next month cannot wait, if the show is only half as good as the 30 years live gig in Cardiff then it'll be another cracker!!!!!!

[Minordian]

I saw them in sydney a couple of years back and my only comment was it was a shame dereck forbes wasn't playing bass, it was a spot on show. they all seem so comfortable, mel gaynor still kicks serious butt and jim kerrs voice was spot on! enjoy them! peace.

[michaelfanthom]

Haha! Mel has always kicked some serious butt!

[clockworkaccordion]

@michaelfanthom When Mel joined the band took a mega shift up a gear, a proper drummer at last. Having said that i prefer everything up to Waterfront, after that it got too preachy.

[girlfrombrittany]

Definitely the best version of my favourite song !!! The guitar is particularly brilliant... Thank you guys, and thank you Minordian for this exceptional moment !

[875merc]

best version i agree also. brilliant

[beetlebum01]

Fantastic video. This is definitely the best version of Waterfront with the guitar intro and the proper bass bassline.