I don’t want to tempt fate, but it’s very rare we have a bad gig
Simple Minds are still alive and kicking after 40 years. Lead singer Jim Kerr, 60, reveals to MARION McMULLEN that there was a point when they came close to calling it a day
SIMPLE MINDS know how to celebrate landmark moments in their career in style. It is 40 years since their first album was released and they are marking the event with new offering, Live In The City Of
Angels, out now, as well as a career-spanning compilation
40: The Best Of 1979-2019 available on November 1.
There is also a huge world tour next year with the European leg alone seeing them performing 38 shows across 12 countries.
“Someone was asking about stats for the band the other day and it was 3,000 gigs, 250 songs, things like how guitarist Charlie (Burchill) and I met when we were eight years old,” says singer Jim Kerr. “All these numbers kind of just roll off your tongue, but then you think about it and go ‘wow’.”
Simple Minds have not looked back since their debut album Life In A Day came out in 1979.
Since then they’ve landed five number one albums, topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic with iconic songs such as Don’t You (Forget About Me), sold more than 60 million albums and packed stadiums the world over.
The band, who emerged from the ashes of Glasgow punk outfit Johnny & The Self Abusers in 1977, played to a TV audience of millions when they appeared on the American leg of Live Aid in Philadelphia and were the first to sign up to play Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday concert at Wembley Stadium in 1988.
But Jim admits there was one time when the band came close to disbanding. “I can remember we were thinking of calling it a day at one time, but that might have been a songwriter thing,” he chuckles.
“In the 80s we brought out something like eight albums and were constantly touring and then in the 90s we brought out two albums. The wheels looked like they were coming off. We had to admit it was no longer our time and new things were coming along and times were moving on.
“Looking back, it was probably a good thing. We had time to have our families and all that stuff. I was already living in Italy and I had some plans but then we got to connect with it all again. I think it was the one time we came close to calling it a day... but it never happened.”
He says the live album is the first salvo in their 40th anniversary celebrations although he points out Simple Minds have actually been going for 43 years now. “The anniversary marks the release of the first album,” he explains.
“I can’t believe it’s been so long. It’s been a great career, but when we started, the only people who were still playing at that age were the old blues guys. For us it was all about the next gig, the next record and the next tour.”
Jim himself turned 60 earlier this year, but says he has never been one to make a fuss of birthdays.
“It’s like we are having a birthday every night when we are on stage,” he laughs. “It’s the best gift, but this year my family and friends were determined to make a bit of a noise.
“I honestly don’t feel any different to when I was in my 40s – as long as there are no mirrors around that is,” Jim jokes. “It’s hard to accept that I have been working with Charlie for so long now.”
The Scottish singer-songwriter says Simple Minds have always prided themselves on being a live band and new album Live In The City Of Angels, recorded in LA, captures them at the height of power.
“We hadn’t played America for 10 years or more mainly because the last time we had gone there it had not gone well. We were given this chance to go coast to coast and couldn’t believe the reaction. We completely sold out everywhere.
“It was pandemonium and everyone was up on their feet to the big songs like Alive And Kicking, Promised You A Miracle, All The Things She Said and Waterfront, and the new music as well.
“We wanted to capture all that on the album. It’s all about playing live and always has been for us, but you have to have the songs and make the records so people know you and know your work.
“Playing live is what we love most and I think I enjoy it more now. We have the confidence to do it and make sure it is good every night.
“We know what we are doing and we have the technology and sound to achieve what we want to. I don’t want to tempt fate, but it’s very rare that we have a bad gig.”
Jim laughs: “It is the best job. I often ask ‘is there any other line of work where you turn up in the office and before you even take off your coat everyone goes ‘Yeah, you’re great?’ Well, that’s what we get every night.”
Simple Minds Live In
The City Of Angels is out now. They play Resorts World Arena, NEC, on April 24.