Simple Minds and OMD will appear on stage together for the very first time when they perform Kraftwerk's "Neon Lights" on their forthcoming UK tour which kicks off at the Newcastle Metro Arena on 30th November.  

The news follows OMD's recent appearance in the BBC 4 television documentary 'Synth Britannia' that chronicled the rise of electronic and industrial pop music in the mid 70s and early 80s. "Neon Lights," originally released on Kraftwerk's 1978 album "The Man Machine," will be performed together by OMD and Simple Minds during Simple Minds' set on every date of their UK tour. Both bands have previously performed Neon Lights in their own right.

Says Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, "Kraftwerk were the link between a whole generation of kids in the UK that used synthesizers to define some of the 80's most glorious pop music. In our own way we want to honour their influence by performing Neon Lights."

"Kraftwerk's contribution to music is timeless," says OMD's Andy McCluskey. "Kraftwerk was the reason why we formed OMD. Simple Minds and OMD listened to Kraftwerk before we started making music, but eventually our individual styles of music ventured into different directions. Simple Minds' early electronic rock albums 'Empires and Dance' and 'Reel To Reel Cacophony' defined industrial electronic rock with 'I Travel', while OMD explored electronic soundscapes and minimalism with our early songs 'Electricity' and 'Messages'.

Simple Minds/OMD UK tour dates include Newcastle Arena (Nov 30), Birmingham LG Arena (Dec 2), Manchester MEN Arena (Dec 3), Sheffield Arena (Dec 5), Cardiff CIA (Dec 6), London Wembley Arena (Dec 7), Glasgow SECC (Dec 11) and Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre (Dec 12). Ticket Hotline: 0871 424 4444 or book online at http://www.ticketline.co.uk.  

Thanks for sharing the information Neil.... great to read even though I'm not going to any of the gigs...

Cool  

Hmmm. Not told hubby yet ...  but I hear of a tour with new album material planned for autumn  2010. I was  less fussed about the present tour, plus we are juggling a lot of balls at the mo, but this tour next year, I would love to go to at least some of it  

(No elections by then, hopefully!!)

Hopefully I will be able to do a couple, but I've got a couple of trips booked already, so my holiday time is being eaten up already....

Quoted from Sandra

Hmmm. Not told hubby yet ...  but I hear of a tour with new album material planned for autumn  2010. I was  less fussed about the present tour, plus we are juggling a lot of balls at the mo, but this tour next year, I would love to go to at least some of it  

(No elections by then, hopefully!!)

Snap!!!

(there will be a General Election next year Sandra!!!!   )