XSM

XSM is a group featuring former Simple Minds members Derek Forbes and Brian McGee, along with Owen Paul McGee, Gary Irvine, Anthony William and George Porter. It is active from 2009 and performs material associated with the early Simple Minds years.

Background

The project centres on the partnership between Forbes and McGee, whose first collaboration begins when McGee co-founds the punk band Johnny & the Self Abusers in 1977 with Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. After one single, that group is reorganised and renamed Simple Minds. Forbes joins Simple Minds in 1978, originally standing in as bassist for a gig at the Mars Bar in Glasgow, and the two men play together for the first time at that show.

Forbes and McGee help define the sound of the early Simple Minds records. They contribute to songs including “Themes For Great Cities”, “Love Song”, “I Travel”, “The American” and “Changeling”, and they form a key rhythm section across the first six Simple Minds albums: Life in a Day, Reel to Real Cacophony, Empires and Dance, Celebration, Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call.

Related Simple Minds history

Brian McGee leaves Simple Minds in 1981 after extensive touring and later joins the Glasgow band End Games. Derek Forbes continues with Simple Minds through its later “Golden Phase”, working on and touring albums such as New Gold Dream 81,82,83,84 and Sparkle in the Rain. After the band reaches number one in the US with “Don’t You Forget About Me”, Forbes leaves. Within two months he appears as bass player in German band Propaganda, and later recruits McGee after the departure of Steve Jansen. Forbes and McGee then tour together again and record the album 1 2 3 4.

Line-up and performance focus

XSM’s performances draw on the songs Forbes and McGee wrote and performed during the Simple Minds period, and the band also includes new, unheard tracks. Owen Paul McGee, Brian McGee’s younger brother, sings lead vocals.

Earlier work

The available information also describes XSM as an Amiga demoscene music artist, alongside its group identity.