Simple Minds begins this concert at the beginning. Not with "Don't You (Forget About Me)," not with "Alive and Kicking," and not with any of the stadium-sized anthems that transformed the Scottish group into one of the biggest bands of the eighties. Instead, they open with "Act of Love," a song dating back to their earliest days that remained unreleased for decades. It is a revealing choice, because 40 Years of Hits is less a greatest-hits show than a chronological journey through one of the most remarkable transformations in popular music.
It is a fascinating progression to observe in real time.
The early material retains traces of the band's more adventurous origins, while later songs reveal the increasingly expansive melodies, grand arrangements and emotional directness that propelled them toward international success. Hearing those different eras placed side by side highlights something that is sometimes overlooked: Simple Minds changed dramatically over the years without ever completely losing their identity.
The presentation matches the scale of the music. Divided into two sets, the show unfolds against an impressive backdrop of video screens and carefully designed visual effects that complement the songs without overwhelming them. At the centre of it all stand Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, still serving as the band's creative nucleus after more than four decades.
One noticeable omission is the near-total absence of material recorded after Good News From The Next World in 1995. Some fans may regret the lack of representation for the later catalogue, but such choices are probably unavoidable when dealing with a body of work this extensive. Every additional deep cut inevitably comes at the expense of a beloved classic.
And there are a great many classics.
"Belfast Child," "All the Things She Said," "Waterfront," "Someone Somewhere in Summertime," "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and "Alive and Kicking" all receive rapturous receptions. Yet some of the evening's most rewarding moments come from New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84), the album that arguably sits at the centre of the band's story. Songs such as "Glittering Prize" and "Hunter and the Hunted" capture the moment where the darker textures of the early years began giving way to the luminous, expansive sound that would define their commercial peak.
Jim Kerr's voice has retained far more strength than many singers of his generation, allowing him to navigate this demanding material with impressive confidence. Beside him, Charlie Burchill continues to demonstrate why he deserves far greater recognition among guitarists of his era. His playing is never flashy for its own sake. The distinctive tone, melodic phrasing and carefully constructed solos have always served the songs first, and they remain among the band's defining characteristics.
By the time "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself" bring the evening to a close, resistance becomes futile. Decades after their release, these songs still possess a remarkable ability to connect with audiences of every age.
Nostalgia undoubtedly plays a role in evenings like this. But nostalgia alone does not sustain a catalogue for forty years. Songs do. Simple Minds has plenty of those.
