"Jim Kerr: The Voice Behind Simple Mind’s Global Legacy"

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Jim Kerr: The Voice Behind Simple Minds’ Global Legacy"

Taking a Walk hosted by Buzz Knight delves deep into the illustrious career of Jim Kerr, the charismatic frontman of Simple Minds. Released on April 29, 2025, this episode offers listeners an intimate look into Kerr's journey, insights into the music industry, and the enduring legacy of his band. Below is a detailed summary capturing the essence of the conversation, enriched with notable quotes and structured for clarity.

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1. Introduction to Jim Kerr and Simple Minds

Buzz Knight opens the episode by highlighting Jim Kerr's pivotal role in shaping the music landscape with Simple Minds, renowned for hits like "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and "Alive and Kicking." Kerr’s extensive experience spans decades, making him a revered figure in the industry.

Buzz Knight [02:07]: "Jim Kerr, it's an honor to have you on Taking a Walk."

2. Personal Inspirations and Early Musical Awakening

Kerr reminisces about his formative years and the moments that cemented his lifelong connection to music. A poignant story unfolds about a summer evening that ignited his deeper curiosity for diverse musical genres.

Jim Kerr [05:02]: "I had a great opportunity last year where the BBC asked me to do a program... that's when I knew there was another kind of music other than just the pop hits that we listened to on the radio."

He recalls the impact of hearing The Doors' "Raiders on the Storm," which not only deepened his appreciation for complex music but also intertwined personal significance when his father shared a similar experience connected to the song.

3. The Formation of Johnny and the Self Abusers

Discussing the late 1970s, Kerr delves into the punk rock movement's influence on his decision to form his first band. The punk philosophy of inclusivity and raw expression resonated with him, breaking the barriers traditionally associated with the working class and artistic pursuits.

Jim Kerr [10:22]: "There was this punk thing that came along with the theology, very simple theology that said, you know what? Anyone can give it a go."

Despite acknowledging the lack of musical training ("We knew we didn't have the chops"), the band’s authentic energy quickly captivated audiences, fostering a loyal following and setting the stage for Kerr's future endeavors.

4. Sustaining Creative Energy and Gratitude

A significant portion of the discussion centers on how Kerr and Simple Minds have maintained their creative vitality over the years. He attributes this sustained energy to a combination of gratitude, a sense of purpose, and the intrinsic joy derived from performing.

Jim Kerr [14:20]: "We don't even have to try to remember how lucky, how fortunate we are. When you feel like that, you're just... you retain the early energy that you had."

Kerr emphasizes the transformative power of live performances, where both the band and the audience experience a shared emotional journey, reinforcing the band's commitment to delivering memorable shows.

Jim Kerr [17:15]: "A constant among so many things is when one leads with gratitude as well."

5. The Significance of Live Performances and Live Albums

Kerr discusses the importance of live albums in capturing the essence of Simple Minds' performances. He reflects on how live recordings serve as a snapshot of the band's evolution and their ability to connect with audiences globally.

Jim Kerr [25:24]: "They pump people up to go out to see you all over the world. They go, that's a great live band."

He shares anecdotes about recording live albums in iconic cities like Paris and Amsterdam, highlighting the unique atmosphere and enthusiastic reception from international fans.

6. Political Activism and Impactful Performances

A standout moment in the conversation is Kerr's recounting of Simple Minds' involvement in Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration in 2008. This performance underscored the band's commitment to using their platform for meaningful causes.

Jim Kerr [25:55]: "When Jerry Mandela came and asked us to get involved in this concert... it was an amazing thing."

Kerr reflects on the profound impact of such performances, noting Mandela's gratitude and the vital role artists play in societal movements.

Jim Kerr [28:47]: "When Mandela was eventually able... he came to London to thank the artists... he said that gave us the very oxygen we needed to continue."

7. Reflections and Closing Thoughts

As the episode nears its end, Kerr shares heartfelt reflections on his journey, expressing gratitude for the enduring support from fans and the opportunities to make a difference through music.

Jim Kerr [29:11]: "I enjoyed every minute talking to you all the best."

Buzz Knight reciprocates the sentiment, thanking Kerr for his time and contributions.

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Notable Quotes with Attributions and Timestamps

• Jim Kerr [03:31]: "For all the obvious reasons right now, I'd love to take a walk with my old dad... walking and talking and thinking was our thing."

• Jim Kerr [05:46]: "That's when I first developed a deeper curiosity about music."

• Jim Kerr [14:20]: "A combination of things... realizing how lucky we are... does not diminish as well as realizing how lucky we are."

• Jim Kerr [17:15]: "A constant among so many things is when one leads with gratitude as well."

• Jim Kerr [25:55]: "We are being asked to add our voices to something that really was important to us and important to a lot of people of our generation."

Conclusion

The episode provides a comprehensive exploration of Jim Kerr's personal and professional life, highlighting his unwavering passion for music, dedication to live performances, and commitment to social causes. Through candid storytelling and insightful reflections, listeners gain a profound appreciation for Kerr's influence and the enduring legacy of Simple Minds.

For those who haven't tuned in, this episode is a treasure trove of inspiration, showcasing how music transcends mere entertainment to become a powerful catalyst for change and personal fulfillment.

Transcript

[Dutch Pet Care]

Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.

[Country Music Festival Announcer]

The biggest stars in country music will be taking the stage at our 2025 I Heart Country Festival presented by Capital One. Ladies and gentlemen, Brooks and Dunn, Thomas Rhett Rascal Flatts Cole Swindell Sam Hunt Megan Maroney Bailey Zimmerman Nate Smith Special Guest Dasha Diehard Country Festival Let's Go Stream only on Hulu Saturday, May 3rd starting at 8pm Eastern, 5 Pacific Explore.

[Holly Fry]

The winding halls of historical true crime with Holly Fry and Maria Tremarchi, hosts of Criminalia, as they uncover curious cases from the past. The legend of the Highwayman suggests men dominated the field, but tell that to Lady Catherine Ferrers, known as the wicked lady who terrorized England in the mid-1600s. Her legend persists nearly 400 years after her death. Highwaymen are in the hot seat this season. Find more crime and cocktails on Criminalia. Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jim Kerr]

Taking a Walk if you go on with a bit. Yeah, I'm not really It's a Tuesday night in some in the boondocks. There's no boondocks. There's no Tuesday night. It's the only night in the world when you go on stage. Cause it's the only you're in the there and then. You're in the here and now. The there and then tomorrow night doesn't exist last night's but I think when you attack it like that, the rewards come back 10 times.

[Buzz Knight]

Welcome to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast and today we're joined by one of the most iconic voices in music, Jim Kerr, the charismatic frontman of Simple Minds, known for their hits like don't yout Forget About Me and Alive and Kickin. Jim has been a driving force in the music industry for decades. Jim Kerr joins Buzz Knight now on the Taking a Walk podcast.

[Jim Kerr]

Jim Kerr, it's an honor to have you on Taking a Walk, sir.

Well, how could I? How could I resist a title like that? Taking a Walk. I mean I still from the earliest Days, that was my whole thing. And I'm still a walker, I'm still a hiker, I'm still a whatever. That's how I get around. So for that reason alone, although I hear many great things about your, your show, but for that reason, you had me at the title.

Oh, you're so kind. Thank you. So, since it's called taking a walk, though, I do have to ask you this devilish question of mine that I do start out the podcast with. If you could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, who would that be? And where would you take a walk with them?

Oh, wow. God, that is a devilish question. You're absolutely right. For all the obvious reasons right now, I'd love to take a walk with my old dad, that's for sure. He's no longer here, but he was a walker and he and I were very fortunate we got the chance, especially once my band got successful, I was able to take him with me on quite a few trips and we would go off piste. You know, there would be the gig and the tour and all that, which of course was what it was all about. But as soon as there was a day off, we would go off around whatever city or whatever desert or whatever national park, walking and talking and thinking was our thing. So I've been very lucky in my life, the amount of people I've met, everyone from Nelson Mandela to the Dalai Lama. And if I had mentioned those names, you would have. I'm sure you would have said, yeah, well, I can understand that. But I'm still going to go with my old dad.

That's a good one. And I will tell you, many folks who I asked the question, they either bring up their, their dad or their mom as someone they would like to take that walk with. So, you know, and I can't disagree.

The people who taught us to walk, the people who taught us to take our first steps.

Yeah, that's so great. Well, congratulations on the City of Diamonds release Live in the City of Diamonds, which goes across four decades, which clearly shows how much joy you have in performing live and continue to have in performing live. There's also a documentary we'll talk about as well, and the making of that. But I did want to ask you, what was the earliest moment you knew you were connected with music for a lifetime?

I had a great opportunity last year where I was able to. BBC asked me to do a program, BBC Radio, on essentially my favorite ever rock group, who just happened to be American, the Doors. And the reason they asked me Was that the producers had heard me elsewhere telling the story of being in the back of my dad's car he had just got. It wasn't a new car, it was a secondhand car, but it was our new car. And it was a Friday night, summer night. And he came back with the car. We were all excited, and while mom was making dinner, said, come on, I'll give you a ride. And we went. The big thing about the car, you will laugh because I know being American, you the idea of cars not having a radio. But when I grew up, the first few years I grew up, most cars didn't have a radio. So not only was it his new car, the new family car, but it had a radio. And so we drove to the outskirts of the city, and being very Scottish, he said, I just gotta go into this pub and see a friend. He's always in there. And I'm just gonna have a 10 or 15 minute chat. You and your brother, you know, listen to the radio. Big deal. Great. And he came out and brought us some chips and crisps and stuff. And as we. I tell you, this is so unlikely. The weather in Scotland can change like that. And within, he said it'd be 10 minutes, he was probably there an hour. And within that hour, the weather changed. And as we were sitting in the car, the clouds got kind of doomy and gloom laden and thunder. Didn't hear a lot of thunder, but thunder was kind of scary. Lo and behold, as we're listening to the radio, this song comes on with the sound of thunder and rain at the beginning of it. And then there's this haunted voice and there's a killer on the road. His brain is squirming like a toad. Take a long holiday Let the children play oh, man. Raiders on the Storm Now, I would have been 10. And that's when I knew there was another kind of music other than just the pop hits that we listened to on the radio. And it's amazing, a couple of days later, driving in the same car, my dad, it came on. I said, I love this song. And my dad said, that's a great song. And then he went, that young fella just died. And I said, what? He said, yeah, he was in the newspaper, he just died. I said, what's his name? He said, jim. Same as you. Same as me. My dad's a Jim as well. And listening to that, there's such a haunted, the echoes, the whole thing. Beautiful poetry. Something bad's about to happen. I think in terms of your question, that's When I first developed a deeper curiosity about music.

Oh, what a beautiful story. And I always wanted to go back to Scotland from a trip about a year ago because we had this cool driver who had a soundtrack, actually that he put on to kind of accompany us on the drive. And that's the only thing that was missing. I mean, we had our share of great music, everything from Simple Minds to Genesis to the Straubs, but we didn't have any doors.

Wow, there you go. Well, I would have liked that because I'm a Genesis fan. And the Straub's was also a band that everyone respected.

So what inspired you then to form Johnny and the self abusers in 1977?

There was this just. I don't know what happened, but out of nowhere came this thing that was called punk rock. So obviously there was a huge music element to it, but it was more a philosophy. And the philosophy to mostly young British working class kids was like a bolt of lightning. Because not that we resented our stature in life or anything, the working class communities. And it was a great pride and that. But there was a feeling that if you were from working class, that you couldn't be an artist, you know, you had to come from Paris or Vienna or you have to go to the great art schools in London or whatever. It was just a step beyond. Not very many working class, certainly no people we knew. But out of nowhere, somehow this punk thing came along with the theology, very simple theology that said, you know what? Anyone can give it a go. And anyone kind of gave it a go. And we were one of those who gave it a go. It wasn't like you were going to be judged because you couldn't play like Eric Clapton a year before. You'd be judged because you couldn't play like Eric Clapton or you couldn't play keyboards like Rick Wakeman, or you didn't go to music college. It was something much more visceral like that. Have you got something to see and can you see it? And whether you said it through music or kids were starting their own fashion labels, some of which have become world beating. And still people were making little documentaries, publishing their own fanzines. Public. There was this great energy and we were swept up in that. We being Charlie Burchell, my songwriting partner, who lived in the same street as me in Glasgow. We met when we were 8 years old. And in our case, we took our whole passion for music. And this punk wave that came swept us up in it carries us along to the extent of. Rather than just sitting Saying, one day we're going to get a band. We got a band. We knew we didn't have the chops. We knew that we hadn't done the 10 years of wood shedding. But we got up, we plugged in, we did our thing, and something happens that usually never happens when people start a band. The audience went mental. They went crazy. When I say the audience, I'm talking about 50 people. But, you know, it was a little picture. They went crazy, like. And we know because we used to go and see the bands playing in bars and the audience never went crazy. They went crazy, which made us think we had a vibe. And before we came off, I found myself already haggling with the bar owner to try and get her free up from £10 a week to £12 a week. Because I could see, I could see your value instantly. Beers were being bought.

That's amazing.

How.

How do you maintain such a great, great creative energy, you know, all these years?

I think. Well, it's great that you mentioned energy, because it all comes down to that, I think, you know, your spiritual energy, your physical energy, your creative energy, you name it. But I think it comes through a combination of things. We don't even have to try to remember how lucky, how fortunate we are. And when you feel like that you're already, you know, you're just. You retain the early energy that you had, does it? It doesn't diminish as well as realizing how lucky we are. Because who wouldn't want to be, you know, who wouldn't want to have a life doing something that you love? Never mind the success and the extra rewards, that alone. So the great fortune in. Because the amount of, you know, the amount of people that start bands and want to be musicians and want to, you know, we're in the 0.0.0.1%, so we're incredibly fortunate. But along with that, and to an equal amount, there's a fantastic sense of purpose, especially when you're tooling because, well, what do you do? You know, you go. You turn up in a town and you go out that night, and it's always at the end of the night. Although, actually, I quite like watching the audience coming in as well. They come in and they have a certain kind of energy because they've been excited and the gigs there, and maybe they haven't seen you for a long time, maybe never seen you at all. They're had. They're going to a show, they're going to forget their problems of the day. But if you can Go on. And you can deliver beyond the odds to the extent that, you know, they come in with a spring in their feet, but by the end of the night, they're actually physically jumping up and down, regardless of their age, holding each other, hugging each other. Something is. Some transformation has happened in that. Let's face it, a lot of these venues are pretty cold, dank places. When there's no people in them, something beautiful has happened. And at the end of the night, you get the chance to take 20 seconds and see what you've done. It's a fantastic sense of purpose. And so I don't know how other people look at it or think about it, but those things alone have helped us maintain the approach and the energy that I'm glad that you may notice.

Isn't it amazing, though, how a constant among so many things is when one leads with gratitude as well?

I mean, you know, people ask for advice quite often, interviews, people will say, what piece of advice would you. I mean, I tell you what, what we found gratitude and. And it's not easy. Nothing's easy. But we found out this. When you attack things with 100%, but also with gratitude, with love, in our story, the doors close did actually open easier than we thought. Now, whether that's, you know, this karmic thing of just energy that you give off attracts a certain kind of energy as well, people say that. I tend to believe it because it's. It's a story. I mean, if you go on tour without. You go on tour to go on tour, and you think it's all about you, it's not about you. That's the last thing. If you. All about you. Stay at home playing your garage, you know, people say, well, I don't want to play those songs. I'm out. He won't stay in your garage and do that. You're going out to be of service. And I think when you have that attitude, people might not articulate it, but they sense it, they buy into it and they go into work the next day and they become your biggest sales people because they say to their friends, man, we were at this thing last night. It's the story of our career. They blew us away, or it was great, or I can't wait to see it again. On the other hand, if you go on, I mean, a lot of people, I'm a bit tired on tour or, you know, things got. I didn't have a good sound or it. Get over yourself. Just get over yourself. Someone has invested so much to come and see you. And I'm not even goes without saying they've invested financially, but they've invested emotionally. Their time they're looking forward to. They're coming with friends from school who they saw you back 20, 30 years ago. And if you go on with a bit. Yeah, I'm not really. It's a Tuesday night in some in the boondocks. There's no boondocks. There's no Tuesday night. It's the only night in the world when you go on stage because it's the only you're in the there and then you're in the here and now. The there and then tomorrow night doesn't exist. Last night's history. And I think when you attack it like that, the rewards come back 10 times.

[Buzz Knight]

We'll be right back with more of the Taking a Walk podcast.

[Dutch Pet Care]

Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 247 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peaceful mind when it comes to their vet care.

[Buzz Knight]

Welcome back to the Taking a Walk podcast.

[Jim Kerr]

So let's take it to, first of all, you know, live in the City of Diamonds and use that as a backdrop to this major series of tour dates that Simple Minds is going to have. I think it's a brilliant way to sort of pump everybody up for what they're about to see and get them all super excited. And you're playing a lot of big, big venues and places you probably have been and maybe some places that you have not been. So talk about, first of all, how much fun it was going back over City of Diamonds and then how you're looking forward to this tour.

Well, I mean, the very act of putting out a live album and putting together a beautiful package and whatever it is, you know, the various formats, whether it's a double or a quadruple and all that, live albums by the very nature are old school. You know, that's what you grew up my generation. And if your favorite band put out a live album, I mean, it was intrinsically a fan's thing, a specific fans thing. Live tracks usually didn't get played on radio or anything. So it was usually capturing a moment. A band wanted to capture a moment in time, maybe in that moment in time, there would be songs the fans knew, but maybe there would be three or four where the live arrangement knocked spots off the record arrangement or the band happened to be playing really great at that moment. Because when you think, know the way, it's a bit back to front. You write songs, you've never played them and you go and record them and then you go and play them live. Well, it's not till you go and play them live you think, you know what, there's something about this live version. It could be the looseness of it or it could be the tightness of it. There's something in that spirited thing. And through the year, Simple Minds, I mean, our first ever live album was. It's quite a nice little thing we got going here. Our first album was recorded in Paris in 1986. 86 or 85. It was called Live in the City of Light. And then we recorded, at a certain point, an album of los in Los Angeles, Live in the City of Angels. Amsterdam is quite, actually is quite caused a bit of a furori because right now, as we speak, people from Antwerp and Belgium will jump up and down and say, we are the City of Diamonds. But historically, historically, historically, historically, Amsterdam was the original City of Diamonds. So that's not why we recorded there. We recorded there because of all the great places and of all the great audiences, they just happen to have this amazing venue there which is purpose built. It's purpose built for music. Not many venues are. So the logic there is quite easy to understand. But there's also a fantastic crowd and the band, we have a heck of a popularity for some reason in Holland, so all of that. But yeah, it was a moment in time. And in this world where since we have our career, things have come and gone and the changes that we've seen, tech mostly based on technology. Society's changed everything. The one thing I'm glad that has not changed for Simple Minds is playing live. We use technical tools, but essentially you turn up in town, you get up on stage that night and you put the band together and you try to catch some lightning in a bottle. And that's what the live records attempt to do. They try and capture a moment and.

They pump people up to go out to see you all over the world. Right?

There you go, yeah. They go, that's a great live band. Which is still something to be.

That's right, yeah. Well, in closing, I wanted to ask if you could take us back to June 27, 2008, the performance there for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party. What was that experience like?

I mean, you know, we've been, as I say, very fortunate. We've been able to play some amazing gigs. And especially that, you know, when you play Wembley Stadium or, you know, even back in the day, to turn up playing at. Live at JFK Stadium. But to play at these concerts, the first one, which was calling for the release of Nelson Mandela, I mean, political situation in South Africa was. Things were on the move, but certainly our government was dragging its feet. And there was a few things our government could have done politically that would have speeded up the protest. So when Jerry Damos came and asked us to get involved in this concert, it was kind of based. The year before had been Live Aid, the first big global concert. And Jerry saw how you could really. There had always been the great American. There always been great Ajit Prop and protest singers and stuff. But to put on where they were really calling for the end of apartheid, this was something that. Something that comes a time in your life where you think it's got to be about something more than just selling records and selling T shirts. We have a microphone and we're being asked to. I mean, you. You wouldn't want to do it every year, and you wouldn't want to do it every album. But we are being asked to add our voices to something that really was important to us and important to a lot of people of our generation. So it was an amazing thing. And obviously to. To. To then subsequently, because there is a voice in your head as well. Sometimes you think, well, we're getting a bit too big for a boots here, or we're getting out of our lane or, you know, does it really matter? Does the world really listen? And I'll never forget that when Mandela was eventually able, well, to be freed and on his way to becoming the president of South Africa, he came to London to thank the artists involved. And he said. He said when there was no voice allowed, somehow we always could hear the voice of the artists, the poets, the filmmakers, the documentary makers, the writers, the journalists. And he said that gave us the very oxygen we needed to continue. So it was an amazing experience.

Mr. Kerr, Mr. James Ke. I absolutely love speaking with you. I feel like we were just almost, you know, like we were at one of the pubs there in Glasgow, just hanging out and having a conversation. I appreciate everything you continue to give us and that Simple Minds continues to give us. And thank you, sir, for being on Taking a Walk.

I thank you. I enjoyed every minute talking to you all the best.

[Buzz Knight]

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dutch Pet Care]

Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24? 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch. You'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.

[Country Music Festival Announcer]

The biggest stars in country music will be taking the Stage at our 2025 I Heart Country Festival presented by Capital One Lazy ladies and gentlemen, Brooks and Dunn Thomas Rhett Rascal Flatts, Cole Swindell, Sam Hunt Megan Maroney, Bailey Zimmerman Nate Smith Special guest Dasha Iheart Country Festival stream only on Hulu Saturday, May 3rd starting at 8pm Eastern, 5 Pacific Explore.

[Holly Fry]

The winding halls of historical true crime with Holly Fry and Maria Tremarky, hosts of Criminalia, as they uncover curious cases from the past. The legend of the Highwayman suggests men dominated the field, but tell that to Lady Catherine Ferrers, known as the Wicked lady who terrorized England in the mid-1600s. Her legend persists nearly 400 years after her death. Highwaymen are in the hot seat this season. Find more crime and cocktails on Criminalia. Listen to criminalia on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.