{"product_id":"themes-for-great-cities-a-new-history-of-simple-minds-9781472134004","title":"Themes for Great Cities: A New History of Simple Minds","description":"\u003ci\u003e'Nobody owes us anything, but the Simple Minds story has been too condensed. After Live Aid and 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' there hasn't been quite the credit for those first few records. I think they contain some really special music. I can hear the flaws but there's something about the spirit and imagination in them that feels good. They draw from such a wide range of influences ... but the spirit of it was always Simple Minds.' \u003c\/i\u003eJim Kerr, to the author \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn illuminating new biography of one of Britain's biggest and most influential bands, written with the full input and cooperation of Simple Minds, shedding new light on their dazzling art-rock legacy.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThemes for Great Cities \u003c\/i\u003efeatures in-depth new interviews with original band members Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil and Derek Forbes, alongside key figures from within their creative community and high-profile fans such as Bobby Gillespie, James Dean Bradfield and Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite. The book reclaims and revivifies the magnificence of Simple Minds' pioneering early albums, from the glitchy Euro-ambience of \u003ci\u003eReal to Real Cacophony\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eEmpires and Dance\u003c\/i\u003e to the pulsing, agitated romance of \u003ci\u003eSons and Fascination, New Gold Dream \u003c\/i\u003eand beyond. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEmerging in 1978 from Glasgow's post-punk scene, Simple Minds transitioned from restless art-rock to electro futurism, mutated into passionate pop contenders and, finally, a global rock behemoth. They have sold in the region of 60 million records and remain a worldwide phenomenon. The drama of their tale lies in these transformations and triumphs, conflicts and contradictions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThemes for Great Cities\u003c\/i\u003e tells the inside story of a band becoming a band. Inspiring, insightful and enlightening, it celebrates the trailblazing music of one of Britain's greatest groups.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGraeme Thomson\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of several acclaimed music books, including \u003ci\u003eUnder the Ivy: The Life \u0026amp; Music of Kate Bush\u003c\/i\u003e, described by the \u003ci\u003eIrish Times\u003c\/i\u003e as 'the best music biography in perhaps the past decade', and \u003ci\u003eCowboy Song\u003c\/i\u003e, the authorised biography of Philip Lynott, published by Constable in 2016. In 2020, \u003ci\u003eSmall Hours: The Long Night of John Martyn\u003c\/i\u003e was a Book of the Year in the \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eFinancial\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eTimes\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eTelegraph\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Evening Standard\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMOJO\u003c\/i\u003e. Graeme is pop columnist for the \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e and writes on music, literature and popular culture for a number of publications, including the \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRadio Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Uncut \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Pitchfork\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Constable \u0026 Robinson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50645912322322,"sku":"9781472134004","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_feba9f09-dfe1-4a92-8d61-5a67c41a9578.jpg?v=1733164080","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/themes-for-great-cities-a-new-history-of-simple-minds-9781472134004","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}