Simple Minds, Soft Cell & Modern English, A Triple Bill of 1980s Music & Memories
The 1980s, often misunderstood as a decade of lightweight, frivolous, or disposable music, actually gave birth to a rich cultural legacy. Yes, there were some silly, novelty music and trends. Still, there was also an explosion of fresh new sounds, instrumentation, fashion, hairstyles, and the revolutionary power of MTV and music videos. This era allowed kids everywhere to hear and see exotic, strange new bands from across the pond, and adopt those unusual hairstyles and vibrant clothes, creating a lasting influence on the music scene.
When one thinks of the 1980s, there are a lot of bands and songs that represent that “fun,” fresh decade and flood the mind of Boomers and Generation X with warm rushes of nostalgia and treasured memories. When it comes to the 1980s, there are a lot of songs and videos that stand out–Billy Idol’s “White Wedding,” The Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way,” U2’s “New Year’s Day,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Prince’s “Purple Rain,” and many more.
One of the songs most associated with the 1980s was Simple Minds’ smash hit, “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The song’s placement in the quintessential 1980s film “The Breakfast Club,” constant rotation on MTV, and massive airplay propelled Glasgow’s Simple Minds to worldwide fame and cemented their place in music history.
Forty-eight years later, 20 albums, countless worldwide tours, ground-breaking videos, and sold-out shows later, Simple Minds is most certainly alive and kicking. They brought their Alive and Kicking North America Tour 2025 to the great outdoors at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre last Thursday night. The open-air setting, the starry sky, and the energy of the crowd all contributed to making it a night of all the hits, some new cuts, sing-alongs, engaging banter, and even a thundering drum solo. Pristine sound, fantastic video backdrops, and exquisite, rich lighting made the show an immersive, complex, and memorable stadium-sized event.
Fans were not only treated to an extended set from the headliners, Simple Minds, but also to two opening sets from Modern English and Soft Cell, two other bands with memorable hits and MTV videos that were in heavy rotation when music videos were still played on the groundbreaking music channel.
Modern English’s compact, lean set opened with “Gathering Dust,” a driving and exuberant ’80s anthem with a Joy Division vibe, from their 1980 seven-inch single release. A temporary sound issue caused the audio to cut out the first few seconds of the song, but that didn’t stop the band and their handsome frontman, Robbie Grey, from getting down to business and entertaining the folks.
Original guitarist, Gary McDowell, vocalist Robbie Grey, and bassist Michael Gray are all a bit older and weathered than they were when they burst onto the radio, MTV, and millions of TV screens with their chart-topping modern rock hit and video for “I Melt With You” in 1982.
It was fitting that the band closed their set with this hit number, leaving the fans wanting more. Fans airdrummed, danced in the aisles, and sang along with this catchy hit. The band also played “Someone’s Calling,” from their brilliant 1982 release After the Snow, and also “Swans on Glass.” During their third number, the clouds cleared and the sun flooded the stage with brilliant sunlight. They stayed just long enough to leave an impression, but too long to become repetitive.
And then, it was time for Soft Cell, the groundbreaking synth-pop duo from Leeds, England, first formed in 1978, and still led by founding member Marc Almond, the campy, iconic, androgynous goth frontman. Soft Cell rose to international acclaim with their cover of the obscure 1965 Gloria Jones tune, “Tainted Love.” That track was mixed or sequenced to run into another cover version of The Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go.” That multiplatinum single topped the charts in 17 countries during 1981 and also stayed on the US charts for months. That same year, they released the decadent, controversial, and classic single, “Sex Dwarf,” and a risque video which was banned.
Soft Cell’s use of synthesizers, drum machines, dark and shocking image, and edgy approach has influenced bands like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails (NIN), and even Marilyn Manson. Their influence is outsized.
Clad in a buttoned-up black untucked shirt and jacket, sporting dark shades, and a touch of pancake makeup and lipstick, Almond still strikes an odd figure, and his look has been emulated by techno and metal artists worldwide. Always smiling and enjoying the love of an audience, Almond prowled the stage, belting out his lyrics and striking grand gestures.
Soft Cell began their set with an intro of “Memorabilia,” a mixup of the 1976 disco hit “Turn The Beat Around” (Vickie Sue Robinson) and multiple snippets from Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” “Holiday,” and “Into The Groove,” and then segued into their 1982 hit single, “Torch.” They also played “Purple Zone,” another cover of The Four Seasons’ “The Night,” and they closed their nine-song set with the smash hit, “Tainted Love.”
Soft Cell’s supporting cast included vocalists Kelly Barnes and Bryan Chambers, as well as Soft Cell instrumentalist David Ball. They added strong backing vocals that bolstered Almond’s, and instrumentalist Ball painted the colours, incorporating samples and bringing the beats that give Soft Cell its danceable, club-like lift.
And then, the moment everyone was waiting for, the multiplatinum hitmakers and 1980s icons, Simple Minds. For many in the audience, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The band hadn’t played St. Louis since a 1986 show at the Fox or their St. Louis debut way back in 1983 at the Checkerdome. The anticipation was palpable, and the thrill of seeing the band live for the first time was an exhilarating experience that the audience will remember for years to come.
Simple Minds launched into their nearly two-hour show (18 tracks) with the galloping, driving, majestic single, “Waterfront,” their 1983 single from the LP Sparkle In The Rain. This track, like many of Simple Minds’ tracks, showcases their layered, heartfelt, rich, and spirited sound and approach. Lead vocalist and original member Jim Kerr (now 65) was an exuberant ball of energy, crouched and coiled, at one point, lying on his back and singing.
Kerr seemed to be having the time of his life, and his joy was absolute, genuine, and as glowing as Scottish Moss. The other original founding member, guitarist Charlie Burchill, was also animated and in top form, delivering punchy guitar lines and solo bursts, as well as keyboards when needed. The fans were on their feet from note one, and the lighting, sound, and video projections, both behind the band and on both sides, delivered a very enveloping, rich media experience. The videos displayed the band’s various album covers, artwork, brilliant colors, and designs, as well as snippets of their innovative videos, cityscapes, bustling crowds, traffic, and other vivid scenery.
After playing the opener above, they went into the danceable “I Travel,” and then, their third song of the evening, “Glittering Prize,” from their 1982 single taken from New Gold Dream, their fifth studio album.
Kerr took a moment to address the audience, saying, “I can’t remember when we last played St. Louis.” Research shows that they last played St. Louis in 1986, and first played here in 1983. Nonetheless, it hardly mattered; it still felt like the first time. He also joked: “Some people might have been blindfolded and brought here. We are from Glasgow, Scotland; 100%,” he announced.
There were several magical moments. Someone miscued or mistarted the intro for “Someone Somewhere in Summertime.” The band stopped. Kerr laughed it off, and they tried again. They’re only human. The drum solo in between “Theme for Great Cities” and “Promised You a Miracle” was visually dazzling, fun-filled, and full of some great fills courtesy of drummer Cherisse Osei.
They also played the hit “All The Things You Said,” a fan and band live favorite since 1985 and a chart-topper in 1986. It was one of four singles from their massive commercial breakthrough album, Once Upon A Time, the band’s seventh release.
They closed their set with the massive hit and 1980s soundtrack for many teens’ lives, “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” Kerr led the audience in a chant, especially the repeated lyrics of “hey, hey, hey.” Sure, he’s done it a million times, but for the audience, it was a memorable and exciting moment. Kerr joked that “the pizza’s getting cold, and you guys are going to put me out of a job with your singing. You’ve been practicing.”
The band took a moment to bask in the well-deserved applause before finishing the night with the triple-song encore of “Book of Brilliant Things,“ which featured the outstanding, soulful vocals of Sarah Brown, a rousing rendition of “Alive and Kicking,” and the final number, “Sanctify Yourself.” As those final notes and crashing cymbals drifted into the cosmos and ether, the audience relived a few minutes of their youth, first love, and carefree, simpler times in the 1980s. It was the best of times.
