Derek Forbes
Encyclopedia
Derek Forbes is a Scottish
bassist
and sometime guitarist
, best known for his work with Simple Minds
(with whom he played from their 1979 debut album
, Life in a Day until shortly after their 1985 hit
, "Don't You (Forget About Me)
").
His departure from the band
was due to stylistic musical differences with the rest of the band during the recording
of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and prior to the release of Once Upon a Time
. Forbes reunited with the band briefly during the recording of Néapolis
. Forbes quit the band once more after touring for Néapolis, again citing his differences with the band and their musical direction.
After Simple Minds, Forbes went on to play in number of other bands, including Propaganda
(Germany) and Oblivion Dust
(Japan). He currently he plays in Fourgoodmen, a Scottish new wave
covers
band.
In 2009, Forbes was voted Scotland's Greatest Ever Bassist by the readers of Dear Scotland, and his life and work is the subject of a biography in both print and film by writer/director Ethan Dettenmaier
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and sometime guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, best known for his work with Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
(with whom he played from their 1979 debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Life in a Day until shortly after their 1985 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, "Don't You (Forget About Me)
Don't You (Forget About Me)
"Don't You " is a song known for its being in the soundtrack to the film The Breakfast Club and performed by the band Simple Minds in 1985. The songwriters were producer Keith Forsey "Don't You (Forget About Me)" is a song known for its being in the soundtrack to the film The Breakfast Club and...
").
His departure from the band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
was due to stylistic musical differences with the rest of the band during the recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and prior to the release of Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time (Simple Minds album)
Once Upon a Time is the seventh studio album by Simple Minds, released in 1985.Although already successful in their native UK and Europe, the band had also now become popular in the US, mainly due to the Keith Forsey-penned "Don't You " which appeared on The Breakfast Club soundtrack and had become...
. Forbes reunited with the band briefly during the recording of Néapolis
Neapolis (Album)
Neapolis is Scottish rock band Simple Minds's eleventh studio album, released in 1998.Simple Minds decided to musically reinvent themselves yet again, this time reaching back to their Kraftwerk-inspired, early electronic pop days...
. Forbes quit the band once more after touring for Néapolis, again citing his differences with the band and their musical direction.
After Simple Minds, Forbes went on to play in number of other bands, including Propaganda
Propaganda (band)
Propaganda is a German synthpop group, formed in 1982. They were one of the initial roster of acts signed to Trevor Horn's ZTT label, between 1984 and 1986, during which they released the critically acclaimed album A Secret Wish....
(Germany) and Oblivion Dust
Oblivion Dust
Oblivion Dust is a Japanese post-grunge/alternative rock band very influenced by early 90’s American rock bands, but with a trademark sonority that makes the band unique...
(Japan). He currently he plays in Fourgoodmen, a Scottish new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
band.
In 2009, Forbes was voted Scotland's Greatest Ever Bassist by the readers of Dear Scotland, and his life and work is the subject of a biography in both print and film by writer/director Ethan Dettenmaier
Ethan Dettenmaier
Ethan Dettenmaier is an American screenwriter, producer, and director.-Early Career:After starting out in the mail room at Warner Bros., he landed a position with Bel-Air Productions and Producer Steven Reuther He went on to become a script doctor for Idiom Films and has since scripted work for...
.