Simple Minds' Hidden Prog Roots | Music News

Music News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

Simple Minds weren’t just synth-pop icons—they were prog rock rebels. From their early days touring with Peter Gabriel and recording “Biko,” to their psychedelic-fueled sound shaped by Genesis, Yes, and Neu!, they built a sonic universe that defied genre. Produced by Pink Floyd’s John Leckie and Gong’s Steve Hillage, their music blended rock, trance, and dark futurism, with Mick MacNeil’s bagpipe-like synths adding mystery. Their 1982 breakthrough “New Gold Dream” stunned critics and inspired U2, while Dave Gilmour, Phil Collins, and more hailed them as innovators. Even today, they’re…