From American Songwriter · Jim Beviglia · · 1m
Simple Minds' Song Turned Down by Many
Simple Minds' 'Don’t You (Forget About Me)' was rejected by multiple artists before becoming a hit.
In brief
Simple Minds' 'Don’t You (Forget About Me)' was rejected by multiple artists before becoming a hit. Simple Minds recorded 'Don’t You (Forget About Me)' after being rejected by several artists, including Bryan Ferry and The Fixx, leading to its success as a No. 1 hit in the US. Originally reported by American…
The Song's Origin
Songwriters Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff created 'Don’t You (Forget About Me)' for John Hughes' 1985 film The Breakfast Club.
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)”
Initial Rejection
Simple Minds refused to record the song after receiving a demo cassette from Forsey at a show.
Multiple Artists Turned Down
Bryan Ferry, Billy Idol, and The Fixx rejected the song despite Forsey's efforts to pitch it.
Final Recording
Simple Minds recorded the song in hours after Chrissie Hynde convinced Jim Kerr it was high-quality.
US Success
The song became a No. 1 hit in the US after the film The Breakfast Club gained popularity.
At a glance
Simple Minds recorded 'Don’t You (Forget About Me)' after being rejected by several artists, including Bryan Ferry and The Fixx, leading to its success as a No. 1 hit in the US.
