Members

Simple Minds music has always created a special feeling for me. From the early days of songs like Changeling, This Fear of Gods and I Travel, where Derek Forbes bass lines were so original. Then right through to anthem things like Waterfront, Alive & Kicking and Oh Jungleland, Belfast Child during the 80‘s. Songs such as Real Life, Hynotised and Let There Be Love, just a few gems from the nineties. Even the new material still feels special and it frustrates me that songs like “Home” and “Stars will lead the way” were not given any decent airplay in this country. Every Simple Minds concert is full of energy, emotion and excitement as they balst through the live classics like “Love Song”, “Ghostdancing”, “The American”, “Sanctify Yourself” and “Don’t You Forget About Me”.

The list of amazing songs is endless and what Alive & Kicking are hoping to do is make sure that if you can’t see the real thing then we will give you everything we’ve got and I promise you , you will not be disappointed!

Name: Neil Yates

Instrument: Vocals

Birthday: July 4th

Hometown: Sutton Coldfield

Musical Influences: Simple Minds, U2 Rush, Live, The Levellers & Kasabian

Favourite Simple Minds Album : New Gold Dream

Favourite Song: Someone, somewhere in summertime.

Experience

Mainly in semi-professional band called One Great Day, writing our own material (that sounded too much like Simple Minds!) before becoming a cover band and performing all around the country for twelve years in all

Born in Darwen , Lancashire in 1966 and grew up (allegedly!)

Started playing guitar on a violin at Primary School.

Got better (allegedly!)

It’s attention to detail that counts and we pay close heed to this in Alive & Kicking. Our aim as a tribute band is to be as close to the real thing as we can possibly be – when you see us you’ll see what I mean.

Name: Simon Fraser-Clark

Age: 43

Birthday: August 20th

Instrument: Guitar

Style: More like Gardening!

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Book: “The Jesus Dynasty - Dr. James Taybor”

Favorite Movie: Anything by David Lynch.

Favorite Food: Indian

Favorite Quote: “All the worlds indeed a stage.. but I want better lighting”!- Dave Lee Roth

My Favourtie Guitarists in no particlar order are:-

Tim Pierce

Andy TImmons

Carl Verheyen

Steve Farris

Steve Lukather

Mattias “IA” Eklundh

Christophe Godin

Alex Lifeson

My favorite links

www.rush.com

www.theundercoverpolice.com

AZ says.....

Playing drums from the age of 7 after seeing Keith Moon on a TV advert for LOOK IN mag - showing my age now!

Been playing in bands since the age of 17

Band Types - Covers, Original & Tribute

The highlight being support slots in Birmingham, Derby and Wolverhampton for Big Country & Delimitri...oh and also Let Loose!

Name: AZ

Instrument : Drums

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Bands:

Simple Minds, U2, INXS & Suede to name a few

Favorite Food: Pasta

Claim to fame: Meeting Simple Minds at a record signing in Birmingham in 1986

Influences: Mel Gaynor, Larry Mullen jnr, Mark Brzezicki, Clem Burke & Keith Moon

My Gear: Premier, Yamaha & Sabian.

Played keyboards since the age of 12 having

played in a number of duos and bands based in

the Midlands starting on the club circuit in my

early 20’s playing second best to the bingo,

through to more established acts

including Wet Wet Wet tribute - Sweet Little

Mystery, covers tribute - The Herbz, and more

recently 70s based band - Still Crazy.

Ever since joining up with other band member

Tony in a couple of previous outfits, we have both

had a great desire to create a tribute to Simple

Minds which we have discussed many a time and

fortunately for us there were some sympathetic

musicians around to take up the challenge.

Name: Paul Anderson

Instrument : Keyboards & BV’s

Hometown: Dudley, West Midlands

Musical influences: Simple Minds, U2, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Tears For Fears, The Who, ELO, 10cc, Gary Numan, Tony Banks, Jools Holland, Tori Amos & Paul Weller.. to name a few.

A Self taught musician playing keys in my first band and dabbling on the guitar and drums before settling on BASS at the age of 15 an stuck at it ever since as it’s the coolest instrument... right?

In the past I’ve been in several bands from covers, tributes and original - I still have my own original project called “The Mechanical Hearts” which I still play bass and sing in.

I’ve been Mark King, Sting and now bass player in Simple Minds ... which I have to say I am very proud to be.

Gearwise I favour passive basses and have a beautiful Fender Jazz, two custom Prescisions and my most recent a custom Jazz Fretless, well, it will be once it’s finished :-)

Catch you at a gig soon!

Name: Craig Westwood

Age: 41

Birthday: May 28th

Instrument: Bass

Style: You name it!

Favourite Colour: Blue

Favourite Book: My Bass and other animals - Guy Pratt

Favourite Movie: The Shawshank redepmtion

Favourite Food: Pizza

Favourite Quote: “If you can’t take a joke, you shouldn’t have joined the band” - Mike Pratt

My favourite Players