26. ‘Simply Red’

 

This morning in the oxymoron that is the ‘Manchester Evening News’, it was reported that ‘Simply Red’ are to split up after 25 years together. Due to the fact that Mick Hucknall wants to take his career in a new ‘retro R&B’ direction, it’s the end of the road for the band. However, I was slightly surprised that ‘Simply Red’ could actually split up, as I was under the impression that ‘Simply Red’ was, for the last 15 years or so, essentially Mick Hucknall with a number of additional musicians that could be hired and fired when he wanted them to be.

 

I did not think there was an actual band mentally, where moneys would be split equally between each members and whereby each would be as important as the rest. In fact, I thought that the last time ‘Simply Red’ had been a proper group was in the pre-‘Olive’ days when Tim Kellett was a member. I was under the impression that ‘Simply Red’ had become like ‘Aztec Camera’ and ‘Black’, with Hucknall only trading under a band name.

 

Even so, as this may look like I am going to launch into a critique of Mick Hucknall’s works, may I just add that I think he is great. He is one of the best ‘blue eyed soul’ singers that Britain has ever produced and one which I would rate on the same high level as those other British ‘Soul & Funk’ singers such as George Michael and Jay Kay.

 

Even though ‘Picture Box’ is a great album and probably the ‘Simply Red’ album that everybody here will say is the greatest, I actually like ‘Men & Women’ better, especially for ‘Infidelity’ and the late night 80s ‘cool jazz’ tones of ‘Maybe Someday’.

 

i find it hard to say anything nice about simply red, another band i just cant abide... however *rushes over to 'love the song hate the artist ' thread*

Why is that?

Why is that?

 

i dont like them! i dont like their music, so i took scant attention to them.

I think it was more a case of Mick Hucknell wanting to draw a line in order to move on. Dropping the name ends the brand really.

 

However, telling the press the 'band' is splitting is easier to explain.

 

Plus the direction he wants to move in might be more of a personal journey and perhaps wants to attach his name only to it.

I read it was upbeat 60s ‘R&B’ rather than ‘lover’s soul’.

He pretty much is Simply Red. This is just another case of creating news where there is no news...but it's certainly worked as the story is everywhere including my site where I've been none too nice about him.

Bloody w*n**r! Hate him! Hate him! Hate him! Hate him! Self aggrandizing arrogant sod! But then ....

Edited October 25, 200717 yr by grebo69

I wonder if the opinion was truncated before anyone called Liam was criticised.

huh? See the hate the artists thread. What the heck has this got to do with Liam????? I know he's an arrogant dick as well but I do like his music.

Edited October 26, 200717 yr by grebo69

Richie just read what what you wrote on your site. Really funny. Much more eloquent than my shot of bile. :P

Richie just read what what you wrote on your site. Really funny. Much more eloquent than my shot of bile. :P

 

lol.. so did i! i wouldnt object to it being posted here.

I like the 80s stuff they did like Moneys Too Tight, A New Flame, Do The Right Thing etc but their 90's stuff was pretty boring and rubbish tbh

Awful! Never liked a single thing he's done.