Hello, My Name is Jim
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Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill of Simple Minds
lthough Scottish art-rockers Simple Minds enjoyed massive support in Europe and elsewhere, mainstream success in the United States remained elusive through the early‘ 80s. The band had gained a modest foothold with college radio airplay for songs like
6 illinoisentertainer. com july 2025 the shimmering“ Promised You a Miracle” from 1982’ s New Gold Dream( 81-82-83-84) and the anthemic homage to Glasgow“ Waterfront” from the 1984 album Sparkle in the Rain.
A trio of events sent the band’ s status rocketing in 1985. First was the release of“ Don’ t You( Forget About Me)” on The Breakfast Club soundtrack, followed by a globally witnessed appearance at Live Aid, and then the release of Once Upon a Time with singles including“ Alive and Kicking” and“ Sanctify Yourself.”
The band is currently undertaking its extensive Alive and Kicking Tour of North America, celebrating those 40th anniversary milestones alongside a deep catalog of transcendent alternative pop. Singer Jim Kerr spoke from the road with Illinois Entertainer’ s Jeff Elbel. Simple Minds performed at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on last month.
IE: Do you remember your first performance in Chicago? The earliest I found was in 1981 at Tuts Nightclub for Empires and Dance. JK: Oh my God. Now that you say that, I remember the gig. It was always a big deal to go to these famous cities. We grew up with American culture. I do remember Tuts because it was one of these gigs were they kindly give you a t-shirt from the club. It was a cool t-shirt that I probably wore for the next couple of years.
IE: The Pharaoh with sunglasses logo! JK: You got it! There you go.
IE: This Alive and Kicking Tour is named after a standout single marking a milestone anniversary. JK: We’ re delighted to have the chance to come back and work pretty extensively. Promoters are always looking for an added angle to wrap it up, and indeed, it is 40 years. In fact, I just found out that yesterday was the 40th anniversary of“ Don’ t You( Forget About Me)” being top of the Billboard charts.
IE: The song“ Alive and Kicking” is the antidote for bad moods. It’ s bottled euphoria. JK: Oh, beautiful. That’ s a great way of summing it up.
IE: Is that kind of emotion easier or harder to write and perform?
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