Don't You (Forget About Me) Original Demo 1984 - Forsey & Schiff

[@shovons]

The rare, original demo of the iconic song produced for the film 'The Breakfast Club' by musicians Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff in 1984. The director, John Hughes liked it so much that he included a version with vocals removed in the opening scenes of the film, just after the David Bowie quote shatters and the students arrive at school. This was later presented to the band 'Simple Minds' who eventually agreed to produce their version for the film. It ended up being perhaps the most successful track they made!

[@myusernamewassoass]

Shovon thanks for explaining

[@matthewpulley]

Shovon crazy that simple minds initially didn’t like it and didn’t want to do it! Now their biggest hit and put them on the map in the US!

[@shovons]

@@matthewpulley Hey Matt. Thanks for getting in touch! Like you, I'd been searching for this version of the song that appears in the the opening scenes of the film, without lyrics for many..... many years! I love this version, with the flourishes that the guitarist played. I could not find it anywhere. Then by chance, a month or so ago, while searching for it again, I found out that the guitarist who played on the original demo was Steve Schiff. I found a podcast produced by 'Simple Blasphemy', made 8 months ago, in which they interviewed him. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKexpaxmj9eJfas . At 26 min 30 sec, they talk to him about the history and the production of this track. They mentioned in the interview that a version of it could be found online. I took my chance and emailed them and asked about the whereabouts of the demo as it can't be found anywhere. I asked them if they could possibly contact him to ask if a version existed that I could get a hold of. Well, they really came through! They got in touch with him and he very kindly, put this up on his SoundCloud for me! When I heard the opening bars, I knew it was the version I'd been looking for, all these years! Three days later, it was removed, for whatever reasons? Thankfully, I'd copied the track. I've re-uploaded it here because I feel it doesn't deserve to go missing again. It's an important part of the history of the iconic track! Hopefully, I will not be asked to remove it anytime soon!

[@matthewpulley]

@shovon wow! Very cool story! So glad you saved it. When I found out several years ago that a snippet of the original version could be heard in the movie after the Bowie quote I had always wanted to hear the complete version! Like you, I knew this was the original when I heard the opening. BTW, had the chance to see simple minds live twice a few years ago. They are amazing live!

[@spurv]

@@matthewpulley Yeah, but ... who wants to be on the map in the US, if that's the price for it ;-) Oh wait ....

[@foodbucketstudios]

This blows me away at how well put-together the song was before Simple Minds even touched it. All the groundwork laid out- even the drum line. They (Simple Minds) put polish on it, but the shine was already there. Props to Forsey and Schiff! Thank you for posting this.

[@ericlindsey3069]

There is no way whatsoever that this song would have been that HUGE without Simple Minds and Jim Kerr's voice. Simple Minds had really just blossomed and come into their own - and went on to make many great records. But, this version - you're hearing it through the prism of knowing the massive hit, which gives it a recognition this demo never would have gotten. Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry probably couldn't have made it the hit it was either. All the elements came together at the right moment to make the magic that hit single was...an iconic song from a movie. You can't plan that stuff.

[@Mike-jv4rz]

@@ericlindsey3069 I just had the opportunity to meet Keith Forsey while on vacation in Mexico just recently- A very pleasant an down to earth man, told us some stories, turns out Simple Minds initially rejected the song. Later they changed their minds no pun lol, and the became famous for their version of it.

[@foodbucketstudios]

@@ericlindsey3069 I'm going to respectfully agree to disagree on whether I formed my opinion of this version based on the knowledge of knowing it became a great hit in the 80s. When I heard it back in the day, I honestly didn't know WHO did the song...?.. I DID know that the song, the drum-line and other details appealed to whatever makes me like a song or not. I liked it and when I found out who did it, I thought, "These guys are good!". Hearing it as this demo version (a rough, not fully produced version at that!) still hits whatever buttons I have that make me like a song. Again, Props to Forsey and Schiff! I stand by my opinion of this song being pretty well fleshed out before it was offered to Simple Minds.

[@foodbucketstudios]

@@Mike-jv4rz I agree. Doing the song definitely didn't hurt Simple Minds' career, and it most likely helped them get a wider recognition so that more listeners could appreciate their other works. Simple Minds is an amazing band- and Forsey/Schiff wrote an amazing Demo/Song. That's NUTS you got to meet Forsey! How COOL!

[@Mike-jv4rz]

@@foodbucketstudios Was awesome- You just never know who you're gonna meet in this world.

[@garrettkelley1148]

I don't think there is a more 80s high school picture than this

[@BrooksSmithMusic]

Nah, having been in high school in the '80s, I can assure you that this looks like a movie poster, not a real slice of high school in the '80s. But I still love it.

[@taichiroyamamoto7303]

I love the Simple Minds version! It's more powerful and reminds me a very good moments in my life!

[@fredvegerano9607]

You said it all!

[@makaras]

Sounds like David Bowie - thanks so much for sharing - never heard this

[@Jcastillo494]

I thought exactly the same

[@randyheaton6062]

YEs I thought that too! Bowie could have sung this version. This is a great start and SM polished it into even greater greatness!

[@johngonzalez624]

I hear Jack Hues and Richard Butler, too.

[@jezza10181]

I was thinking more Psychedelic Furs

[@johngonzalez624]

@@jezza10181 Richard Butler is the lead singer of the Psyche Furs, so we agree.

[@charlesware5767]

No bigger 80's song. This is rare air. Forsey and Schiff could be in the rock hall of fame just for this song. Iconic.

[@VanielDeeform]

This and Tears For Fears ~ Everybody Wants To Rule The World is there with it. Both out in 1985.

[@valeriebeacham441]

Recently listened to The Rockentours' podcast with Jim Kerr as their guest. Supposedly, the songwriters had Bryan Ferry in mind for this song, but turned it down. Based on this version, definitely could have been sung by Ferry.

[@insalinity5558]

The way this is sung here, I could also imagine Bowie or the Psychedelic Furs doing a great job with this.

[@johngonzalez624]

@@insalinity5558 Wang Chung, too.

[@caspa9158]

Was looking for this for YEARS!!!!😀 Thank you for posting. This finally explains the different sounding riffs in the movie. They used a mashup of this original demo and the extended Simple Minds version.

[@sqmilenews7052]

Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill are on ITV right now (8.9.23) talking about this demo, recalling it put their backs up when told about a song for a movie that "sounds like Simple Minds." Jim: "We'd been writing a lot of stuff and we had never done anyone else's song. The way it was presented to us was a bit weird. They said: 'It'll be great, there's this song for a movie and guess what? It sounds like Simple Minds,' and we took the hump. "We write our own stuff, so it was more that than anything else. To be fair if you go online and hear the original demo it's a good song, but it's a wee bit generic, y'know half a dozen bands could have done it, but Charlie and the guy's gave it (pumps clenched fists). "We're glad we changed our mind."

[@carolineweibel3730]

Yeah just seen that myself, great info, dint know that...Fab tune, Jim looks Fab to..😊

[@leevanfleet]

Without simple minds this song would have sunk without a trace and never been heard again.

[@mattsephton]

it would have still been in the movie

[@brendanfromireland]

I don't agree, I think any charting artist at the time that took this on would have done well with it.

[@preving]

Billy Idol's version is actually pretty good as well..

[@pameladiamond9603]

Simple Minds turned this great song into a masterpiece! 😀

[@makaras]

2:20 - love those synth keys

[@WildJay]

The vocals on the demo are much closer to that of Richard Butler of Psychedelic Furs. I wonder how their version would have sounded.

[@MedardKrzisnik]

Woow, already great in its demo form.

[@foodbucketstudios]

Agreed. The song was pretty much already there.

[@iainc170nj]

Richard Butler vocal vibes on the verses, and a bit of Ziggy era Bowie on the "will you stand above me" parts.

[@svenlabots1869]

Curious that no-one seems to have notest that this song was originally intended for Billy Idol, who declined recording it. So the song was offered to Simple Minds who turned it into the smash hit it eventually became. Billy Idol's reply was that it was his worst carreer move ever and recorded his own version years later.

[@glenndouglas8822]

And his version, like his version of..LA Woman is god damn awful.

[@rmzidann]

His version is rather ordinary. Simple Minds refused at the first few request, but Forsey was persistent. Simple Minds is on a different league than Billy Idol.

[@hector3730]

naw it wasnt

[@amydearing9866]

The core of the song is there but Simple Minds gave it its magic

[@zackhamblen]

That bass lick is so damn tight

[@shovons]

Damn right!👍

[@simonandthelyricalpoets]

Thank you for sharing the demo version of this iconic song - I always like to hear a song performed by the original artist. Simple Minds did a wonderful job of interpreting this too, and providing one of the essential components to any 80s soundtrack.

[@rossydv]

Unexpectedly fantastic!!! Absolutely love the rawness.

[@stealthnoid]

so much 80s... love it

[@HitMan1515]

Agree!!

[@angelawangrevelain9403]

Just been listening to Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill taalking about this ahead of their upcoming tur. They said they rejected the song bcause Forsey told them it sounds like a Simple Minds song and they were miffed because they had lots of their own, but after listening to this demo (reason I on here now) but seeing how they could make it their own sound th rest is history. A really brilliantly written piece withe the SM magic!

[@diamondunicorn1983]

Lord,could imagine how David Bowie would have done this...with Stevie Ray Vaughn or Peter Frampton on guitar?

[@Irisplove]

The vocal is soooooo Richard Butler!

[@SniffyPoo]

probably both smokers

[@matthewpulley]

THANK YOU! Been wanting to hear a complete version of this for a long time!

[@ForGoodnessSake3G]

Love the Forsey Schiff sound, really the better element of mid 80s rock pop... Sounds as though some genes from Icehouse, DNA from Men without Hats, a smifge of Alphaville and the shadow of an Idol vibe has been chucked in an aural blender and produced a funky skeleton for The Minds to put some muscular flesh on courtesy of Mel Gaynor's incredible drums, Burchill's brilliant guitar and iced by the midas lyrical touch of Kerr with his Lalala refrain that captured millions in audiences live. Brilliant.

[@christianmiles6415]

Great version ❤

[@martinmunioz1979]

Great original versión ❤

[@soepil]

Very interesting. Thank you. :)

[@Imagezone61]

Love this original version!

[@dhevingovender8611]

Thank you for posting this. I've always been curious as to the demo version that was presented to Simple Minds. I can understand that at first listen, they might have felt that it wasn't an ideal fit for them. But in the end, they really put their stamp on the song and credit to Keith Forsey for a brilliant production job on their version.

[@brendanfromireland]

It was a really good song as a demo!

[@fredvegerano9607]

This is awesome!!!!!!And now I would love hear the MOVIE VERSION of Simple Minds ... with an instrumental intro ... that doesn't resemble the world famous single!

[@MattZ42]

Isn't that just the 12" version?

[@fredvegerano9607]

@@MattZ42 Not at all,the movie version have a instrumental intro and a instrumental bridge too!The 12" version and single edit,was later edited for radio airplay!^^

[@MattZ42]

Gotcha. That seems to be a thing with John Hughes movies. I could never find the same mix of Funky Cold Medina he used in Uncle Buck when Candy gets to the school.

[@fredvegerano9607]

@@MattZ42 That's a cool song too!Yeah!I don't know why they do that! They should just leave it as they appear in the movie!

[@alanpontone6599]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4W0Y2yadtdqgdk

[@mauriciovaldez8615]

Amazing! Bowie - alike

[@VanielDeeform]

And more so Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs, who was also admittedly a Bowie man like most 80’s singers...

[@apollozero]

Sounds nothing like Bowie.

[@johnobrien7860]

Its very similar to the famous version. Even that growling bending guitar at the beginning. I like this . Of course SM are fantastic too.

[@ojocritico6105]

Amazing!!!

[@andrewbicseymusic]

So great. Especially that tiny lead guitar part.

[@apollozero]

Simple Minds did not produce their version. Keith Forsey who wrote the song did, after trying to get the band to record it with him since he was doing the soundtrack album.

[@phasecontrast]

Nice find

[@brudzool]

people passed on this song. Unbelievable. They could have just released it themselves.

[@ericlindsey3069]

Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music fame passed on the song. Perhaps he was too busy.

[@marcofioravanti4176]

Awesome find!

[@DANIELMartinez-iw7hj]

Listening to this demo, I think that if Simple Minds had rejected the song, they could have offered it to Pychodelic Furs and it wouldn't have been bad at all....

[@Happyman-od7zp]

Love this one!!

[@zombiefulci3301]

Jim Kerr and Simple Minds made this song magic, thank God their version was used

[@onshiplessoceans1675]

What's amazing to me, about this, is how much of the song is there already YET how far Simple Minds took it from this pretty good but not great demo. If the demo had been released, I think the song would have fizzled. This has the vibe of The Fixx or maybe a Psychedelic Furs deep cut. The aesthetic lift given by Simple Minds is light years better. Again, this is pretty good. Theirs is a masterpiece.

[@kyropter]

Simple Minds initially turned down the offer to record this song. Then Bryan Ferry turned it down. Next Billy Idol turned it down. Then Cy Currin from The Fixx turned it down. When Simple Minds finally did record it, and it became their biggest hit, for a few years the band wouldn't play it in concert, because lead singer Jim Kerr didn't like it singing it - reportedly, he specifically hated the "Vanity and security" line.

[@josepedrojose6522]

Vanity and Insecurity

[@kyropter]

@@josepedrojose6522 I suggest you check the official lyrics. The line is "Vanity and security"

[@josepedrojose6522]

On the internet you find two different lyrics, "Vanity and Security and Vanity and Insecurity" the original said "Insecurity" search for more lyrics

[@kyropter]

@@josepedrojose6522Ah, you are looking up lyrics on "the internet". Well that explains why you are confused. Look at the official "copyrighted" lyrics. The line in the song is "security". And if you listen to the song, it is quite clear that is what he is saying.

[@foodbucketstudios]

I'm kind of guessing Ego might have had an influence, too.... One of the biggest, most popular songs in your roster, and you didn't have a whole lot to do with its creation? That's gotta be a bit of a thorn in an Artist's side.

[@aquadiamondsekreto5280]

And all this time I thought simple minds were the master minds behind this production. Although simple minds did polish it up with the cool synths amd guitar effects, it was still handed to them on a silver platter. Interesting.

[@zombiefulci3301]

Jim Kerr was the only one that could belt out that tune, his voice is unbelievable

[@apollozero]

Simple Minds didn’t produce this, it was still produced by Keith Forsey who did this demo.

[@steveread3154]

Never heard this before, I knew it existed and thst Simple Minds added the 'hey hey heys' and 'la la las' to make it their own. Who is singing in this demo? Sounds very Bowie-esque

[@shovons]

It's Keith Forsey, the producer. You're right, he does sound like Bowie, I thought the same!

[@paulotto6015]

If you've seen Breakfast Club, you've heard the song. It plays in the background of the opening scene (sans lyrics).

[@guitarplayer8918]

@JorgitoYokiro This version is in the beginning of the movie though.

[@JoelManes]

Simple Minds got their name from a Bowie lyric.

[@tonelar415]

@@JoelManes i had 0 idea… makes so much sense

[@makaras]

2:42 - "dancing till 1 or 2 or 3" - genius lyric...should have stayed in the SM version

[@jiros00]

As well put together this was SM turned it into something special. The atmospherics and rich vocals are the main difference for me.

[@video2000_TV]

hard to put yourself into the position of 1984, hearing this for the first time and having to estimate if it will do any good. Kerr's restrained reaction therefore is understandable, SM had much better own material up their sleeves (even All The Things tops Don't You easily and would've fitted Breakfast Club as well). I think his distance towards the track is sincere - he could've easily put the damn track on Once Upon A Time and the album would've sold two millions more at least. that being said, his vocal delivery really made the track and imho he definitely should've deserved a writing credit for whatever he added. lots of could've should've would've in this topic, in any way this story will haunt Simple Minds forever, good or bad

[@SniffyPoo]

bery interesting

[@AlexanderZZ]

@Shovon, can you upload a file with a song somewhere? It seems to me that KZbin is cutting the quality

[@shovons]

I can try but to be honest, I ripped this from Steve Schiff's SoundCloud when it was briefly available for a few days. The original rip is unlikely to be of much better quality.

[@Jcastillo494]

Suena como a la voz de David Bowie.

[@AtonalMeasureRecords]

I think there must have been pressure from john hughes himself who loved british alternative rock and indie, if you look at any john hughes film in the 80s he plastered most of them with british band posters and odd tracks. from cabaret voltaire to the psychedelic furs.

[@MrMLD1972]

❤

[@toddcnoker]

Vocals remind me of Bowie!

[@ell1788]

Professor of rock brought me here

[@evangelistbrianbaker]

This demo is OK. But the Simple Mind version blows it away. No "Hey Hey Hey Hey" or " Ohhhhhhh.

[@stopppppped]

hello, is there the same version of the song "love theme" from the movie? as I know in the 1985 album there is only a reconstruction, but not the original from the film

[@carlosm.hernandezsolis6660]

A long time ago I read in a magazine that the track was offered to Bryan Ferry and he rejected and I understand that Billy Idol did the same....

[@thescarecrowcat]

Bryan Ferry would have done a great job, too.

[@shovons]

Yes, I got hold of this demo after I stumbled across a podcast done with Steve Schiff, the guitarist and co producer of this track: At around 26 min 30 secs he starts to talk about how he got involved and who it was offered to. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKexpaxmj9eJfas

[@carlosm.hernandezsolis6660]

Shovon Good bless KZbin, there’s is always a video... Thanks for the feedback!

[@VanielDeeform]

I didn’t realise Bryan Ferry had turned it down as well! . I was aware of Billy Idol, through the Behind The Music documentary and it made sense it was for him since Keith Forsey was not only his producer but there’s the lyric: “I’ll be alone, dancing you know it baby.” Referring to Billy Idol’s song Dancing With Myself. As much as I appreciate all artists, I really feel it was meant to be that Simple Minds were the ones, with how they made it. Damn glad to hear the demo. Rad in it’s own right. And you can hear Billy Idol playing it Live years later too.

[@shovons]

@@VanielDeeform Interesting detail that you noticed there! 'I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby.' - 'Dancing with myself'! I need to investigate this! 👍 Perhaps only Keith Forsey can explain.

[@brandonedge]

The vocal here reminds me of Psychedelic furs a bit. They could've done a good version. Simple minds version is perfect obviously

[@jayso9796]

Where are the brand new vehicles?

[@atlasofeurope]

Do you know who’s the one singing on this?

[@apollozero]

Keith Forsey

[@TyEdit]

It would’ve been cool to hear Billy Idol do this.

[@davidgriffiths883]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGaqp6WpiNGAlac

[@jokerfleckcast3196]

You can hear Billy's version. He recorded it 20 years later

[@200405InVision]

Now I know why I'm always confusing the movies The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink. Obviously The Psychedelic Furs influences. Although Simple Minds cover version of DYFAM is the more anthemic and definitive version. Seminal and pointing the way forward for their early 80s peers. IMHO.

[@mr7clay]

To say Simple Minds didn't write this is stretching it. Definitely great ideas here but they drastically improved every dimension of it, including reworking the melody and phrasing. They finished writing the song.

[@shovons]

I agree, Simple Minds finished it off and improved it with the nuances and the end build up that made it the hit that it was, eg: 'laaaa la la la lahhhh'. Apparently, they didn't say thanks and didn't acknowledge the origins from what I've heard. 🤔 They did use this as a 'scratch track' though. This fact comes from one of the producers. The 'orchestral hits/stabs' from the keyboard, that: 'da da, da da da dahhhh', the basis of this hit, comes from Forsey, the composer. If you're interested, you can find the link to the interview with Steve Schiff in one of the other comments I've made on here, after which, I managed to obtain this track. It is in my reply to Carlos Hernandez. 👍

[@arizonabay15]

What you are hearing here has *zero* to do with Simple Minds. It's a stand alone song written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff. They didn't "finish" writing it, the song is already complete.

[@80ssynthfan48]

No, they added a number of important touches to the song's arrangement. Arranging and writing are not the same thing.

[@karenengel291]

It's clear SM had a complete song when they got the demo - most of the entire vibe of their version was lifted directly off of this original. If the demo had been recorded in the same studio with the same production team it would have been even more obvious.

[@mr7clay]

@@80ssynthfan48 Fair point. Arrangement isn't writing but is like 95% of what makes pop/rock work. No one would agree to listen to only KZbin covers of all their favorite songs. But I believe the vocal melody changes made were not at all inconsequential. Melody is songwriting.

[@dct.vlogss]

no hate but i love the pp version so much more

[@rayj7273]

To me it sounds a bit like Men Without Hats.

[@T0nN9th]

An American Pie original soundtrack!

[@seanmaloney100]

Psychedelic Furs would have been a good pick for this song as well. Original vocals remind me of Richard Butler.😢

[@johnpatton4680]

Always assumed Simple Minds wrote it. Sounds so them...

[@dayglofreak81]

Vocals sound like the Psychadelic Furs.

[@daviddyer202]

Pretty obvious this track was written for Bryan Ferry. Pity he turned it down.

[@Xyoutube]

Ohhh it's good, but strange!

[@stanizer0]

Weird science😂

[@shovons]

😅

[@itmeyo0]

2manydjs 2x2 bring anyone here???

[@HighlandMike325]

Trying to picture Bryan Ferry singing it.

[@robblacklockjr.4569]

Bryan Ferry shoulda did it

[@paololo7385]

L' unico pezzo dei SM non scritto da loro... 😂

[@danielavaca4414]

And Billy Idol said no thanks.

[@emmawathen2256]

rob zombie

[@jedward5155]

Sometimes you get lucky and the right band is hired for the right song. Simple Minds destroyed it.

[@Kamandi1971]

im 52 its horrible