Tickets for OMD fans for the forthcoming Simple Minds concerts are now available. Please note the following website links.

Newcastle: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-newcastle

Birmingham: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-birmingham

Manchester: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-manchester

Sheffield: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-sheffield

Cardiff: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-cardiff

London: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-london

Glasgow: http://minisite.ticketline.co.uk/simpleminds-glasgow

The password for the presale access is graffiti soul (all lower case).

Please note that we are not responsible for the sale of tickets or for the content of third party websites.

An update on OMD's forthcoming concert with the Liverpool Philharmonic: The concert is now sold out. However, the Philharmonic have decided to release some sight-restricted seats (because the band are using a screen, they held these seats back from the original sale).

The seats available are in the first 2 rows in the stalls and the 2 front boxes. Tickets available via: www.liverpoolphil.com

More details on OMD's dates with Simple Minds:

The tour will feature Simple Minds performing songs from their new album Graffiti Soul (due for release on May 25th) along with a selection of their classic hits including I Travel, Love Song, Promised You A Miracle, Sanctify Yourself, Glittering Prize, Alive and Kicking, Waterfront, Don't You (Forget About Me), Up On The Cat Walk, Speed Your Love To Me and many more.

Discussing OMD's involvement in the tour, Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr comments: "Particularly in these times it is vitally important for us to give as much value to our audience as possible. Playing a full set of hits and other surprises, I know that OMD will contribute so much towards making each of these shows into memorable events!"

Photo: © 2009 David Ellis

"In 1979 Simple Minds were working at Rockfied studios during the recording of our second album. I clearly recall escaping into the local town and heading directly to the small record shop which was playing a track called Electricity by a group called Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. I bought it and played it non-stop as I eventually did with the accompanying track called Almost. I was downright jealous to be honest, and I still am when I hear those tunes and many more written by Andy and Paul. We're looking forward to sharing a bill with them and who knows, maybe we will even get to perform a song together!"

Andy McCluskey adds: "Two bands that started in the same year but 300 miles apart, two young neighbours in each band inspired by the same heroes but driven to make different music. Two unplanned journeys from abstract art to international hits. Indeed forty of them between us! It's going to be a wonderful tour!"

Tickets for the Graffiti Soul 2009 UK Tour will be £36 (subject to booking fees). A presale will be available for Simple Minds fans from tomorrow (Tuesday 21st April) and for OMD fans from Wednesday.

National Credit Card Hotline 0871 424 4444.

Book Online: www.ticketline.co.uk

Website: www.simpleminds.com

Tour Information: Graffiti Soul

**UPDATE** Ticket Ordering Links
(please note that clicking each of these links will take you directly to the booking page for that concert. The shortened URLs are for clarity only):

Newcastle: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Birmingham: www.theticketfactory.com

Manchester: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Sheffield: Will be over the phones/counter only. For web bookings: www.ticketline.co.uk is the only option.

Cardiff: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

London: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Glasgow: www.SECCtickets.com

Details are also flagged up on the OMD Events page.

What are your thoughts on OMD's involvement with the Simple Minds tour? Cast your vote on our Poll here on the news page.

Meanwhile, we have a new OMD Survey also looking for your input. With a new OMD album in the works, would you like it to be inspired by a particular period of OMD's history? Or would you like OMD to present a whole new sound?

OMD will be supporting Simple Minds on their live dates in the UK and Ireland this Winter.

A presale for tickets will be available for Simple Minds fans via the Simple Minds (www.simpleminds.com) website this Tuesday 21st April. This will be followed by a presale aimed at OMD fans on Wednesday. A venue presale will be available on Thursday and general sales start on Friday. Dates and venues as follows:

There will be news regarding OMD touring this Winter which will be flagged up here on the news page on Monday.

A treat for US music fans: Amazon have 773 free MP3 downloads available on their US site - and that includes the live version of If You Leave culled from the Architecture & Morality & More release.

The bad news is that it's available for the US only. Link here: Free Amazon MP3s

Andy McCluskey has been asked to create a piece for the new Museum of Liverpool when it opens next year.

Andy adds "It is a great honour and opportunity because they have given me 'carte blanche', but also a huge headache as the possibilities are endless. Anyone in town will see me wandering around with a note book for the next few months collecting ideas and information. It will be just like the old days when 'anorak Mac' used to research his songs!"

Work on the forthcoming Liverpool Royal Philharmonic gig also continues and Andy is impressed by the orchestral arrangements that he's heard so far: "I have heard the first few arrangements for the Philharmonic gig: Electricity and Sailing On The Seven Seas. Very exciting. The songs are recognizable but have a totally new feel. I can't wait to hear the songs that were not singles".

Andy also adds a cryptic note: .. and we have a very interesting opening piece .. you can start the guessing and the sweepstake now!

A brief note to say that the news of OMD's new album printed below is of course completely untrue. Always be wary of news that gets posted up on the 1st April! ;-)

Details of the new OMD album are now beginning to emerge - exclusively for OMD fans.

The new album is titled The Fire of the Mind (Agitates the Atmosphere) and features a wealth of new songs, including possible single Connected (which was previously available for a limited time on the OMD Downloads page).

A special OMD Discography preview page is now up here: The Fire of the Mind (Agitates the Atmosphere).

The album features a sleeve design by Peter Saville and sleeve notes by Paul Morley. Release date and further details to be announced.