Biography
Scottish rock band Simple Minds have been on an extraordinary journey – from humble beginnings in post-punk 1970s Glasgow to becoming one of the UK’s most successful and pioneering bands – selling over 60 million records, achieving six number one albums, topping the American chart with ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, and playing sold-out stadiums across the globe.
2022 saw the release of their eighteenth studio album, ‘Direction Of The Heart’, which reached #4 in the UK charts.
Simple Minds have achieved five No.1 albums as well hitting the top spot in countless other territories including Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Australia and New Zealand.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is that people say to me what Simple Minds are you talking about? The avant-garde, the art-rock, the pop, the ambient, the instrumental group, the political, the folk, the stadium band? We’ve been on one hell of a journey. To play all those different styles but at the same time be quintessentially Simple Minds is an amazing thing.” Jim Kerr.
Simple Minds have been musical pioneers for 40 glittering years. Catching the mood of the post-punk era, when the angry sounds of 1977 were splintering into a thousand different shapes. They went on to become one of the great bands of their generation, deploying rousing choruses and booming atmospherics to provide a soundtrack that has endured.
Topping the American chart with Don’t You (Forget About Me) and in the UK with Belfast Child and selling over 60 million records, they have seen three of their 20 studio albums reach number one in the UK – Sparkle In The Rain, Once Upon A Time and Street Fighting Years – a chart-topping feat equalled by their live album Live In The City Of Light and the compilation Glittering Prize. A spellbinding touring band, they have graced the world’s biggest stadiums, starring at Live Aid and playing three momentous London shows in honour of Nelson Mandela.
2022 saw the release of their eighteenth studio album, ‘Direction Of The Heart’, hitting #4 in the UK charts.
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"To stay alive and appreciate every second you've got, it's what it's all about."
It was words to that effect Mike Peters said when he and his wife Jules sat with me and Charlie on our last visit to Wales last year.
As always when in their company, so good it was ...just to sit and talk, we almost forgot that we were due on stage within minutes.
But it was time to go to work and so they accompanied Simple Minds as we made our way from the dressing room to the steps leading to the stage, hugging and shaking hands as we were about to walk on. We had no idea then when we would next see each other, but hoped sooner rather than later?
Some months later we were delighted to know that Mike Peters was due to join the line-up of acts performing at our Simple Minds, Bellahouston Park show in Glasgow, this coming June. I had also mentioned something about having him over to my house the night before the Glasgow event, no big deal just something to be arranged nearer the time.
Over the next day you'll read a lot of comments describing Mike as a beautiful person, a Welsh hero, and so much more.
All will be absolutely true. He was loved and admired by so many.
On behalf of Simple Minds we send our condolences.
Jim Kerr
"To stay alive and appreciate every second you've got, it's what it's all about."
It was words to that effect Mike Peters said when he and his wife Jules sat with me and Charlie on our last visit to Wales last year.
As always when in their company, so good it was ...just to sit and talk, we almost forgot that we were due on stage within minutes.
But it was time to go to work and so they accompanied Simple Minds as we made our way from the dressing room to the steps leading to the stage, hugging and shaking hands as we were about to walk on. We had no idea then when we would next see each other, but hoped sooner rather than later?
Some months later we were delighted to know that Mike Peters was due to join the line-up of acts performing at our Simple Minds, Bellahouston Park show in Glasgow, this coming June. I had also mentioned something about having him over to my house the night before the Glasgow event, no big deal just something to be arranged nearer the time.
Over the next day you'll read a lot of comments describing Mike as a beautiful person, a Welsh hero, and so much more.
All will be absolutely true. He was loved and admired by so many.
On behalf of Simple Minds we send our condolences.
Jim Kerr
TOUR OPENING LIVE TONIGHT IN SANTIAGO, CHILE.
Opening night of any tour is always a prime moment, but after the long gap between visits it feels extra special to be back in Latin America - kickstarting the second part of Simple Minds Global Tour - here at the foot of the world-famous Andes ...Mountains in Santiago, Chile.
Doing what Simple Minds do best, we are as enthusiastic as always to again be out on our travels, playing live.
See you all out there somewhere in the coming months!
Jim Kerr
"Gracias a todos por venir a ver Simple Minds en vivo en Santiago, ¡nos vemos esta noche!"
SEE SIMPLE MINDS LIVE IN 2025!
Tickets for the 2025 Simple Minds summer shows in the UK & Ireland are on sale now!
See Simple Minds Live across North America this year.
Get tickets via link in bio.
TOUR OPENING LIVE TONIGHT IN SANTIAGO, CHILE.
Opening night of any tour is always a prime moment, but after the long gap between visits it feels extra special to be back in Latin America - kickstarting the second part of Simple Minds Global Tour - here at the foot of the world-famous Andes ...Mountains in Santiago, Chile.
Doing what Simple Minds do best, we are as enthusiastic as always to again be out on our travels, playing live.
See you all out there somewhere in the coming months!
Jim Kerr
"Gracias a todos por venir a ver Simple Minds en vivo en Santiago, ¡nos vemos esta noche!"
SEE SIMPLE MINDS LIVE IN 2025!
Tickets for the 2025 Simple Minds summer shows in the UK & Ireland are on sale now!
See Simple Minds Live across North America this year.
Get tickets here: https://www.simpleminds.com/tour
What’s your favourite live album? #SimpleMinds #LiveMusic @GreatestHitsRadioUK
What’s your favourite live album? Jim recently caught up with Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio to share some of the records that have inspired him over the years.
Simple Minds’ new live album 'Live in the City of Diamonds' is out now on 2LP, 2CD and digital: ...http://simpleminds.lnk.to/LiveInTheCityFA
The 'Live in the City of Diamonds' 2CD edition is out now! It features a 24-page media book filled with exclusive photos and tour notes. This special edition includes 24 tracks recorded live during the band's 2024 show at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome, featuring 6 bonus tracks not ...available elsewhere.
Get your copy here: http://simpleminds.lnk.to/LiveInTheCityFA
The ‘Live in the City of Diamonds’ 2CD edition is out now! It features a 24-page media book filled with exclusive photos and tour notes. This special edition includes 24 tracks recorded live during the band’s 2024 show at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, featuring 6 bonus tracks not available ...elsewhere.
Get your copy through the link in bio.
"All we wanted was to be in ‘a great live band’ and to spend our lives taking our music with us around the world. Decades later we still relish that challenge every night on tour. Live in The City of Diamonds captures both the spirit and fever of Simple Minds live at this moment in ...time.” – Jim Kerr
'Live in the City of Diamonds' is out now on 2LP, 2CD and digital: http://simpleminds.lnk.to/LiveInTheCityFA
"To stay alive and appreciate every second you've got, it's what it's all about."
It was words to that effect Mike Peters said when he and his wife Jules sat with me and ...Charlie on our last visit to Wales last year.
As always when in their company, so good it was just to sit and talk, we almost forgot that we were due on stage within minutes.
But it was time to go to work and so they accompanied Simple Minds as we made our way from the dressing room to the steps leading to the stage, hugging and shaking hands as we were about to walk on. We had no idea then when we would next see each other, but hoped sooner rather than later?
Some months later we were delighted to know that Mike Peters was due to join the line-up of acts performing at our Simple Minds, Bellahouston Park show in Glasgow, this coming June. I had also mentioned something about having him over to my house the night before the Glasgow event, no big deal just something to be arranged nearer the time.
Over the next day you'll read a lot of comments describing Mike as a beautiful person, a Welsh hero, and so much more.
All will be absolutely true. He was loved and admired by so many.
On behalf of Simple Minds we send our condolences.
Jim Kerr
TOUR OPENING LIVE TONIGHT IN SANTIAGO, CHILE.
Opening night of any tour is always a prime moment, but after the long gap between visits it feels extra special to be back in Latin America - ...kickstarting the second part of Simple Minds Global Tour - here at the foot of the world-famous Andes Mountains in Santiago, Chile.
Doing what Simple Minds do best, we are as enthusiastic as always to again be out on our travels, playing live.
See you all out there somewhere in the coming months!
Jim Kerr
"Gracias a todos por venir a ver Simple Minds en vivo en Santiago, ¡nos vemos esta noche!"
SEE SIMPLE MINDS LIVE IN 2025!
Tickets for the 2025 Simple Minds summer shows in the UK & Ireland are on sale now!
See Simple Minds Live across North America this year.
Get tickets via link in bio.
The ‘Live in the City of Diamonds’ 2CD edition is out now! It features a 24-page media book filled with exclusive photos and tour notes. This special edition includes 24 tracks recorded live ...during the band’s 2024 show at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, featuring 6 bonus tracks not available elsewhere.
Get your copy through the link in bio.
“All we wanted was to be in ‘a great live band’ and to spend our lives taking our music with us around the world. Decades later we still relish that challenge every night on tour. Live in The ...City of Diamonds captures both the spirit and fever of Simple Minds live at this moment in time.” – Jim Kerr
‘Live in the City of Diamonds’ is out now on 2LP, 2CD and digital.
The new live album from Simple Minds ‘Live in the City of Diamonds’ is out now!
Available to stream and on 2LP & 2CD through the link in bio.
KEEP MOVING IF YOU WANT TO STAY HEALTHY!
"Nine months! Isn't it time to get out of that rut and create some excitement?"
Eh?
I had to look around the room to see if ...this doctor was referring to me?
Meanwhile, the chat kept coming as he continued on the theme.
"A stay-at-home mentality can lead to mental and physical stagnation. You don't want that do you?”
Stay at home?
At that moment my hall entrance was almost blocked by a large suitcase already packed.
So too a car booked for the journey to the airport in a few days - that terminal I know as well as the sunspots on the back of my hands...
....I thought he might be impressed by next hearing how touring is only part of what Simple Minds do. How over these last months we had been pushing to complete a dozen new songs, and how in-between we had also completed work on a forthcoming book, contributing plenty of heart and soul to it.
"So when was your last live show exactly, and when is your next?”
“Last August when we completed the first half of our tour. The second half starts in Santiago next week - with 268 days in between.
After Chile, it is Argentina. Brazil. Mexico. Followed by the US and Canada, then heading back to the UK and Europe.
Regrettably, I was sounding like ‘Billy Big Balls.’
“We’ll do 49 concerts across 14 countries throughout the months ahead. That’s in addition to the several thousand we have played so far in our career. In fact, 50 years on from forming the band as 18 year olds, we tour as much as ever. Not many our age can do 5-6 gigs a week if needed? But we can, no problem.”
Unlike the doctor I once saw in Dublin, who replied when informed that I no longer took drugs, drank alcohol, smoked, ate meat, and had not done so for decades.
"Careful! You don't die of boredom!"
All this Monaco based Doc had to say in response was.
“Sounds like a lot of sitting around on your ass recently. Good luck with the tour. Keep moving if you want to stay healthy!”
Jim Kerr
SEE SIMPLE MINDS LIVE IN 2025!
Tickets for the 2025 Simple Minds summer shows in the UK & Ireland are on sale now!
See Simple Minds Live across North America this year.
Get tickets via link in bio.
Here’s a closer look at ‘Live in the City of Diamonds’, out this Friday 💎
'She's A River' - Johnson Somerset’s extended remix was nominated as one of the best ever. (Listen on Youtube)
SO WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SIMPLE MINDS REMIX?
This month marks 40 years since ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ was first released in the UK.
Do you remember where you were when you first heard it?
“There's a rule in Rock 'N' Roll. You're only as good as your drummer." Joe Strummer, The Clash.
“We must be shit hot then?” Charlie Burchill, Simple ...Minds.
@cherissedrums
SEE SIMPLE MINDS LIVE IN 2025!
Tickets for the 2025 Simple Minds summer shows in the UK & Ireland are on sale now!
See Simple Minds Live across North America this year.
Get tickets via link in bio.
Once Upon A Time (Live in The City of Diamonds) - Out Now
Stream the new live track now, and pre-order ‘Live in the City of Diamonds’ on 2CD & 2LP through the link in bio.
‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, live on @thejonathanrossshowofficial.
Watch the full performance on YouTube.
📹 @ciaramcmullanmedia
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The Pyramid Music mix of Simple Minds' latest single ‘Your Name in Lights’ is out now! Stream and download the new mix here: https://simpleminds.lnk.to/YNIL_PyramidMixTW
Simple Minds are now on Bluesky.
Follow them here: https://bsky.app/profile/simplemindsmusic.bsky.social
Simple Minds in LA 🎬 Last week, the band stopped by @JimmyKimmelLive and @TheSoCalSound to celebrate the launch of their Alive & Kicking Tour, coming to North America this ...year!
Tickets and more info: https://www.simpleminds.com/north-american-tour-alive-kicking-2025/
#AliveAndKickingTour
Jim Kerr joined @TheSoCalSound’s More Music In The Morning show to discuss Simple Minds' upcoming North American tour and the band's journey from their Glasgow beginnings to global ...success.
Watch the full interview: https://bit.ly/4aHWF1E
Tune into @JimmyKimmelLive this Wednesday at 11:35pm EST/10:35pm CST on ABC to watch Simple Minds perform 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' and discuss their upcoming North American Tour.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Simple Minds’ momentous 1985, a milestone year in their legendary career, Simple Minds today release a special 9-track digital edition of their album Once Upon ...A Time.
https://www.simpleminds.com/once-upon-a-time-40th-anniversary-ruby-edition/
Alive & Kicking Tour: North America 2025
We’re thrilled to announce that Simple Minds will bring their Alive & Kicking Tour to North America this year – joined by special guests ...@softcellhq and @M0DERNENGLISH!
Sign up for pre-sale: https://simpleminds.os.fan/north-american-sign-up
To celebrate the anniversary of their first live show at Glasgow’s Satellite City on 17th Jan 1978, Simple Minds have released the video for 'Your Name in Lights', the soundtrack to their... critically acclaimed documentary 'Everything Is Possible'.
https://simpleminds.lnk.to/YourNameInLightsVideoTW
40 years ago this month, Simple Minds performed a series of shows at Glasgow’s legendary Barrowland Ballroom.
Credit: Media Scotland
Join the Simple Minds mailing list to be the first to know what’s coming in 2025! Plus watch the video diary by @Cherissedrums, with a behind the scenes look at the 2024 Global Tour and interviews ...with the band.
Sign up here: https://simpleminds.os.fan/exclusive-simple-minds-content
Simple Minds are happy to announce that 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' has surpassed 1 billion streams on @Spotify! Thank you to everyone for a great year of streaming in 2024.
What’s your favourite live album? #SimpleMinds #LiveMusic @GreatestHitsRadioUK
‘Live in the City of Diamonds’ is out now on 2LP, 2CD and digital. #SimpleMinds #LiveMusic #Vinyl
Simple Minds - Sons And Fascination (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - Let There Be Love (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - This Fear Of Gods (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - Promised You A Miracle (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - Sweat In Bullet (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - Alive And Kicking (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - Glittering Prize (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)
Simple Minds - See The Lights (Live in the City of Diamonds) (Official Audio)