In 1977 Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchi ll, along with drummer Brian McGee, formed a punk band named "Johnny & the Self Abusers", After one unsuccessful single, the bands line-up was quickly reshuffled and their name was changed to Simple Minds. Scotlands biggest ever band ... In 1978 Derek Forbes joined Simple Minds - initially he stood in as bass player as a favour, for a gig at the infamous Mars Bar in Glasgow. This was Forbes and McGee’s first ever gig together, and the start of, probably, the most popular and creative period of Simple Minds career.