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far from St Fillans in Perthshire where we used to have a recording studio in the 80s. “I love the hiking and the walking. The landscape is amazing.” Another draw north is Glasgow studio Gorbals Sound. The band recorded their 16th album Big Music there in 2014 and came back for their 17th album, Walk Between Worlds, which is out on Friday. Jim added: “All over the world studios are closing but in Glasgow, almost magically, here’s one of the best studios we’ve ever been in. “So that’s where we work. We bring people there.” He likens his band to Glasgow and acknowledges both have had to change. Jim said: “When we started in the late 70s, I don’t think it’s unfair to say Glasgow was on its knees.
“It was the end of the industrial age and it really was looking to find itself. It had to reinvent itself.
“And Simple Minds have had to constantly reinvent themselves. So has Glasgow.
“A lot of cities don’t or can’t. A lot of those northern cities in England where the industries were are stuck. “But you have to hand it to Glasgow and all the people who played a part – it constantly reinvents itself.” But there is one potential change that Toryglen boy Jim hopes will be ruled offside. While arguments rage calling for Scotland games to be played at other stadiums, including Murrayfield and Celtic Park, Jim wants to see Hampden continue as the home of Scottish football.
He said: “We felt very fortunate as football fans to grow up in the shadow of that.
“We saw some amazing nights when we had great Scottish players and memorable nights there.
“We enjoyed some of the greatest nights in our life there. They are burned in our memory.
“It would be great if they could sort out whatever the problems are because I’m from that generation where it’s hard to imagine Hampden not being there.” ● Jim and bandmate Charlie Burchill will be signing copies of new album Walk Between Worlds at HMV Argyle Street, Glasgow, on Friday at 5.30pm. Simple Minds play the Barrowland on February 13.