R1299 – SIMPLE MINDS IN '81: PART 1 ‘SONS & FASCINATION’ featuring George Porter of Simple Minded

Here The Saint of RETROPOPIC RADIO & George Porter, frontman of Simple Minded & Empires That Dance, discuss The Simple Minds release from 1981 'Sons & Fascination'.

Topics covered include:

The reason behind the group leaving Arista & signing to Virgin in early 1981

How Steve Hillage came on board as their producer

Why drummer Brian McGee left Simple Minds

Thoughts on why single 'The American' wasn't a commercial success in the UK

That nightclub promo video for 'Love Song'

Why 'Love Song' was a top 20 hit in Australia but not in the UK

Whether 'In Trance As Mission' is an effective album opener

How effective Jim Kerr was as a frontman & lyricist

George's memories of seeing the group live around this time

The group's musical influences that shone through on this album

George's views on the album closer 'Seeing Out The Angel'