
Introducing "Jim Kerr: The Voice Behind Simple Mind’s Global Legacy" from takin' a walk. Follow the show: takin' a walk Join @thebuzzknight for another legendary interview with a music icon. On this special episode of "takin ' a walk" Buzz talks with Jim Kerr, the frontman of Simple Minds. From the early days of the Scottish post-punk scene to global stardom with timeless hits like “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” Jim shares his journey through music, creativity, and the stories behind the songs that defined a generation. Discover how he balances artistry with leadership, the evolution of his sound, and his passion for connecting with audiences worldwide. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his music, this conversation offers inspiring insights into the life and legacy of a true rock legend. A Note to our Community Your support means everything to us! As we continue to grow, we’d love to hear what guests you might find interesting and wh...
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Buzz Knight
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Jim Kerr
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Or is my kid just swimming in.
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Jim Kerr
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. 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
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.
Unknown Host
Jim Kerr, it's an honor to have you on Taking a Walk, sir.
Jim Kerr
Well, how could. 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. You had me at the title.
Unknown Host
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?
Jim Kerr
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 gonna go with my old dad.
Unknown Host
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.
Jim Kerr
The people who taught us to walk, the people who taught us to take our first steps.
Unknown Host
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?
Jim Kerr
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 second hand 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 mum was making dinner, he 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, the clouds got kind of doomy and gloom, lad. Thunder. Didn't hear a lot of thunder. With thunder it 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 pulpits 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 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.
Unknown Host
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.
Jim Kerr
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.
Unknown Host
So what inspired you then to form Johnny and the self abusers in 1977?
Jim Kerr
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 and carried 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 shedd. 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 pub. 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 pound a week. Because I could see, I could see her value instantly. Beers were being bought.
Unknown Host
That's amazing how, how do you maintain such a great, great creative energy, you know, all these years I think, well.
Jim Kerr
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, in, in. Because the amount of you they know the amount of people that start bands and want to be musicians and wanna, you know, we're in the 0.01%, 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 so was 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 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 came 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. But those things alone have helped us maintain the approach and the energy that I'm glad that you may notice.
Unknown Host
Isn't it amazing though, how a constant among so many things is when one leads with gratitude as well?
Jim Kerr
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 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 the story. I mean, if you go on tour without. You go on tour, 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 retired and tour or you know, things got. I didn't have a good sound or get over yourself. Just get over yourself. Someone has invested so much to come and see you and I'm not even. It 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. What's good fam? The Black Effect Podcast Festival is back and taking over Pullman Yards in Atlanta on Saturday, April 26th and it's going to be a whole vibe. Doors open at 11am so you already know it's an all day celebration of black excellence and we're partnering with Nissan to bring you an event you won't want to miss. Cause it's all going down in the Nissan Lounge. If you haven't seen the all new 2025 Nissan Kicks or the Nissan Rogue yet, this is your moment. From available intelligent around view monitor to available Bose personal plus sound system, the all new Nissan Kicks is ready. Whether you're cruising through the city or hitting the highway, the Nissan Rogue S is more affordable than CR V and RAV4 with available HD enhanced intelligent around monitor with moving object detection and a standard VC turbo engine. So pull up to the Nissan Lounge to explore their cutting edge features. Snap some epic pics and see which ride matches your energy, music, love, culture and community all in one place. So come through, show out and make some memories. Tickets are on sale now@blackffect.com podcast festival. We're leaving today and entering a world of Cinderella Castle Sightseeing Tron Light Cycling.
Jim Kerr
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Buzz Knight
Welcome back to the Taking a Walk podcast.
Unknown Host
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.
Jim Kerr
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 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 fans 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 you 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 Means. I mean, our first ever live album was. It's still 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 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.
Unknown Host
They pump people up to go out to see you all over the world.
Jim Kerr
Right? There you go. Yeah. They go, that's a great live band. Which is still something to be.
Unknown Host
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?
Jim Kerr
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, the 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 Damers 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'd always been great agit 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 a generation. So it was an amazing thing. And obviously 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 does it really matter? Does the world really listen? And I'll never forget that when Mandela was eventually able 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.
Unknown Host
Mr. Kerr, Mr. James Kerr, 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, in Glasgow just hanging out and.
Jim Kerr
Yep.
Unknown Host
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.
Jim Kerr
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.
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Podcast: Taking a Walk
Host: Buzz Knight
Guest: Jim Kerr, Frontman of Simple Minds
Release Date: May 2, 2025
The episode begins with a series of energetic advertisements promoting various brands and events, setting a lively tone for the show. At [03:07], host Buzz Knight officially welcomes listeners to the episode, introducing Jim Kerr, the charismatic frontman of the iconic band Simple Minds. Buzz highlights Jim's contributions to the music industry, notably hits like "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and "Alive and Kicking."
Notable Quote:
Buzz Knight [03:07]: "Jim Kerr, it's an honor to have you on Taking a Walk, sir."
Jim Kerr expresses his enthusiasm for the podcast's title, emphasizing his passion for walking and hiking as a means of staying grounded and connected. He reminisces about the deep bond he shared with his late father, with whom he frequently took walks during Simple Minds' tours. These walks served as a space for meaningful conversations and personal growth.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [04:32]: "I've been very lucky in my life... If I had mentioned those names, you would have said, yeah, well, I can understand that, but I'm still gonna go with my old dad."
The conversation shifts to Jim's early inspirations and the genesis of Simple Minds. He recounts a pivotal moment listening to The Doors on his father's new car radio, which ignited his deeper curiosity about music beyond the mainstream. Discussing the formation of Johnny and the Self Abusers in 1977, Jim delves into the impact of the punk rock movement. He highlights how punk's inclusive philosophy empowered working-class youths to pursue artistic expression without the need for formal training or prestigious backgrounds.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [11:23]: "There was this just... punk rock came along with the theology, very simple theology that said, you know what? Anyone can give it a go."
Jim attributes the longevity and creative vitality of Simple Minds to a combination of gratitude, purpose, and the sheer joy of performing live. He emphasizes the transformative power of live shows, where both the band and the audience experience a collective uplift. This mutual energy fosters a sense of community and purpose, allowing the band to sustain their creative drive over decades.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [15:23]: "It's all about how lucky, how fortunate we are...Never mind the success and the extra rewards that alone. So the great fortune in, in, in."
The discussion deepens into the significance of gratitude in sustaining a successful music career. Jim explains that approaching each performance with love and gratitude not only enhances the band's experience but also positively impacts the audience. This attitude fosters a loyal fanbase, as listeners feel valued and connected to the band's genuine passion.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [18:29]: "When you attack things with 100%, but also with gratitude, with love...is being of service."
Jim shares insights into the creation of live albums, explaining that they aim to capture unique moments and the spontaneous energy of live performances. He reflects on past recordings in cities like Paris, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam, noting the distinct atmospheres and dedicated audiences that make each venue special. Discussing their ongoing tour, Jim expresses excitement about connecting with fans in various locations and the enduring appeal of live music despite technological and societal changes.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [26:12]: "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."
Highlighting significant moments in their career, Jim recounts performing at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party. He describes the profound sense of purpose that comes from contributing to meaningful causes through music. Jim emphasizes the role of artists in social movements, sharing Mandela's gratitude for the artists' voices that provided vital support during the struggle against apartheid.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [30:24]: "Mandela came to London to thank the artists involved...he said that gave us the very oxygen we needed to continue."
As the episode concludes, Buzz Knight expresses heartfelt appreciation for Jim Kerr's participation, likening their conversation to a relaxed chat in a Glasgow pub. Jim reciprocates the gratitude, conveying his enjoyment of the discussion and wishing Buzz well. The episode wraps up with a reminder for listeners to follow the podcast and stay tuned for future episodes.
Notable Quote:
Jim Kerr [33:29]: "I enjoyed every minute talking to you. All the best."
This episode of Taking a Walk offers an intimate glimpse into Jim Kerr's journey with Simple Minds, exploring themes of creativity, gratitude, and the enduring power of live music. Through candid conversations and personal anecdotes, listeners gain a deeper understanding of what fuels the band's longevity and their impact on both fans and broader social movements.
Note: The episode features intermittent advertisements promoting brands and events, which have been omitted from this summary to focus on the core content of the interview.