Both acts have previously played their own versions of the song which first emerged on Kraftwerk's 1978 album The Man-Machine. According to Simple Minds’ frontman Jim Kerr, "Kraftwerk were the link between a whole generation of kids in the UK that used synthesizers to define some of the ’80s' most glorious pop music," In our own way we want to honour their influence by performing 'Neon Lights'."

Andy McCluskey from OMD agrees. "Kraftwerk's contribution to music is timeless. Kraftwerk was the reason why we formed OMD. Simple Minds and OMD listened to Kraftwerk before we started making music, but eventually our individual styles of music ventured into different directions," he says.