I’ve just watched the documentary on ‘Simple Minds’ – Everything Is Possible and here are my initial thoughts and findings.
Firstly, as I feared, it was essentially the Jim and Charlie story. The absence of other early members of the band really left a hole in the thing. I felt it did in any case. It was good that Mel was involved…all things considered. And it was really good to hear from Joe Donnelly (speaking of which, there is some Caezar news coming up!). I’m not sure someone like Dave Gahan added anything to it as he literally could have been speaking about ANY of his contemporaries. His bit acted as a generalised soundbite that could have slotted in to any band documentary. The contributions from Bobby Gillespie and Sharleen Spiteri were more in keeping with actual Simple Minds discussion.
I really loved all the previously unseen early photos that were shown. Lots of really lovely early photos. I’d LOVE to raid that photo box!
Aspects of the footage of Jim and Charlie were great. Seeing Jim in Govanhill library and Charlie in the music instrument shop and them walking around the Clyde opposite Partick/Finnieston.
My fist-pumping moment came from Bruce expressing his…indifference, shall we call it, for Jimmy Iovine. I wanted to jump up and go over and kiss the TV screen. Lol. I shouted ‘I love you, Bruce!’ when he talked about Mr Bravado-in-a-baseball-cap. I was glad to find I am not the only one who has such feelings about Iovine. Jim loves those kinds of people though, so perhaps I should be thankful in the long run for not being part of the small esoteric group of people that Kerr holds in the highest esteem? I shall henceforth count my blessings of ostracised out-casting. Deem it as more of a badge of honour, rather than something I have spent far too much time and energy on in an endless lament that I was not deemed ‘worthy’.
I didn’t like the ending. And I won’t give out any spoilers but if you heard their recent interview with Billy Sloan back at the end of September, it will give you some idea of why the ending didn’t sit well with me. Charlie tried his best to pull it back, though, bless him.
The other highlight was the table talk between producers John Leckie, Steve Hillage and Peter Walsh.
There was a lot overlooked. Hard to cram it all in in just 75 minutes of airtime. As with the majority of recent retrospectives into the band, there is a large concentration on the formation, the early touring and recording – learning the craft, the first flush of success, then the full stadium bombast; only for the rushing past all that ‘off’ period to the present day where the ‘resurgence’ is confirmed.
There is the briefest snippet of new material to be heard right at the end.
Did I learn anything new? No
Was I entertained? Yes – but mostly down to seeing some previously unseen photos.
What was good about it? The table talk from Leckie, Hillage and Walsh. Bob Geldof being Bob Geldof. Bruce sticking it to Iovine. James Dean Bradfield declaring (in a roundabout way) he had the hots for Jim (who can blame him?!). Muriel Gray’s reaction to watching her interview with Jim and Charlie on The Tube in 1982. Mel’s words on Mick. Bruce’s words on Derek.
What was bad about it? Mick, Derek and Brian not being involved. Nor even someone like Duncan Barnwell or John Milarky. Dave Gahan was not required. There wasn’t enough from JDB. Molly Ringwald taking credit for getting John Hughes to get SM on The Breakfast Club soundtrack. There was too little from the other current band members. The bit with Jim at the football ground in Tao…what was that about? I don’t really know what that added to it, to be honest. Not forgetting his endless cliches. If I hear ‘we were one of the bands of our generation’ trotted out one more time, I swear….
My first impression with this inaugural watch? I’m in agreement with Marina Hyde of The Guardian’s rating of three out of five stars. It promised so much (not quite a miracle) and didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Having said that, I will watch it again. If for nothing else than to ogle over the photos…