Derek Forbes has spoken about his musical influences growing up in an exclusive interview with the Craven Herald – and revealed that one of his primary influences was the Beatles album, Rubber Soul.

The Simple Minds bassist, who will perform at Skipton Sound Bar next Friday (November 7), said he “vividly” remembers hearing his older sister playing the album on her record player; and added that his mother, a working nurse, tended to so many fainting young women during a Beatles concert in Glasgow that she had no time to enjoy the group’s set herself.

In what will be the first stop on a northern tour counting six legs in total, Mr Forbes and his band The Dark will perform Simple Mind classics at Skipton Sound Bar, and Mr Forbes will also participate in a Q&A and sign copies of his book.

Though he doesn’t specifically recall Skipton, he says he “loves” Yorkshire, mentioning the Bronte graves in Haworth (he is a fan of Wuthering Heights) and his happy memories playing with Yorkshireman Adrian Portas, of Spear of Destiny.

As for his former bandmates, with whom he recorded such singles as Don’t You (Forget About Me), Mr Forbes says he is still on sociable terms with some of the members - such as Bryan McGee.

Meta’s Super Bowl advert of 2022, to advertise its virtual reality headset Quest 2 and which featured animatronic puppets, used the 1985 single as its soundtrack.

Mr Forbes said of the ad: “I don’t remember seeing that, no.

“But I see the royalties.

“They come every month, so – that’s my mortgage.”

Asked by the Craven Herald to give his interpretation of his mysterious sacking from Simple Minds in 1985, Mr Forbes attributed it to newspaper stories about episodes like, but not limited to, arguments with his then-girlfriend.

That was the “basis for it”; and Mr Forbes implies that (in his opinion, anyway) Jim Kerr might have been jealous of Mr Forbes getting media attention for the episodes.

Five free tickets are up for grabs for Mr Forbes’ Skipton Sound Bar show.

Entrants should email will.abbott@newsquest.co.uk, writing ‘Skipton Sound Bar contest’ in the subject line and providing their answer to the question: Which member of Simple Minds came up with the musical idea for the 80s smash hit, Waterfront?

Entries close at midnight on Tuesday, November 5, and the winners will be contacted with further details on Wednesday, November 6.