Heaven or Las Vegas - Derek Forbes Interview

Derek Forbes helped form Scotland’s most successful rock band, Simple Minds. He is now collaborating with a number of other prominent musicians on Fourgoodmen. Here he took some time out to answer a few questions with Heaven Or Las Vegas on his new venture.

HOLV: First off Derek, how’s life treating you?

DF: Life is good for me at the moment. I’ve just started teaching kids, Drums,Guitar / Bass and Piano. My wife is working on a huge historical film, which is the biggest ever made in Scandinavia. She is in Sweden at the moment. Her job is make-up artist. I'm very proud of her. My kids are doing really well, and my dog is bonkers.

HOLV: Can you tell our readers a little bit about Fourgoodmen, how did the band form?

DF: Fourgoodmen started life as ' A Few Good Men'. I met our tour manager to be, James Newall, at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. We were watching friends of mine who play in Dead Men Walking. Our singer to be was summoned over, after I had told James of my world domination plan. Ian Donaldson then chatted with me for ages about my idea, and started pitching in with some ideas of his own. After that night , it took a while for us to hook up, but we did in the end. James managed to get us a gig for the closing ceremony of the special Olympics in Glasgow, in front of 15,000 people. We played 4 songs and went down a storm. The line-up was myself on bass. Steve Harris ( Gary Numan Band), on guitar, Jim Prime,(Deacon Blue) on keyboards, Ian Donaldson (H2o) on vocals, Jane Button (H2o and the Skids), vocals and Malc Button on Drums. That's how it all began...

HOLV: You don't have an album out yet, is there one on the cards or are you concentrating on your live music for the moment?

DF: Mick MacNeil and I are working on music for the band, which, when ready, we will pass on to Ian for vocals. We hope to record 2 songs for download round about September. Live work is a bonus for us.

HOLV: You've played with a couple of bands over the years, most notably Simple Minds, is gigging still as much fun for you?

DF: Yes, gigging is still fun, and always will be. I particularly like the band tradition of going for Indian food after the show. The performing is paramount, and this goes without saying, except that I have just said it..

HOLV: Bands from Scotland are getting a lot of critical praise at the moment such as Lucky Pierre, The Twighlight Sad, The View etc Do you sense the music scene north of the border is really heating up?

DF: Yes, there are great bands coming out of Scotland at this time. This is not unusual when you think of all the bands that have appeared in recent history...Travis, Blue Nile, Franz Ferdinand, The Gems, Paolo Nuttini, K T Tunstall, Snow Patrol, and that other girl with the big knockers.

HOLV: Lastly, as a member of a Scottish super group is there any other fellow countryman you'd love to see joining the band for a jam?

DF: It was a real honour to play in Kirk Brandon's Spear of Destiny. He is one of the best singer, song writers and performers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. If you haven't heard Spear, I strongly recommend the album ' Loadestone ' on Easter Snow Records. Of course I am on it, what do you want from me ...blood???

Fourgoodmen have a couple of gigs coming up including

The Barra Festival - July 28th

Rotherham Football Stadium – August 26th

The Retro Festival – September 2nd

Interviewed By Hammond