Simple Minds' Jim Kerr Says The Band Never Wanted To Record Their Biggest Hit

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[@RR64434]

New Gold Dream is still one of my favorite albums of all time

[@thekingsservant1793]

YES

[@thewrongopinion7811]

Same

[@nickharris9761]

The Hunter and The Hunted with Herbie Hancock is superb

[@danielward7008]

Fully agree. New Gold Dream is their masterpiece. The band knows it and so do all true Simple Minds fans.

[@metsot]

Thanking Jimm for his contribution to music ..one of the greatest vocals in popular music.

[@rmzidann]

One of the best bands in the last 45 years!

[@suzyilutz2947]

The man aged fantastiques! He is still good looking today and still can sing as sweet as before. Love you!!

[@frankford1115]

What a nice, well mannered, respectful man. No pretense at all.

[@davidmauldin2439]

Thanks for adding me......when I first listened to SM I was 22 years old battling the worst suicidal depression from a life of abuse. I had become extremely religious and was attracted to the cover of New Gold Dream. The songs were mystical, transcendent and I projected my own life into the music.......Sparkle in the Rain raised my consciousness...it gave me chills....out-of-body-experiences........I survived.... I earned three degrees and have worked in hospitals, taught public school 20 years...I think I am a pretty happy person today...6 years ago I found Graffiti Soul.......wow......a few months ago I came across Walk Between Worlds.....again its a life changing experience....Last Monday saw them for the first time!

[@jezza10181]

Hope you have recovered, and are now doing well thanks to SM :)

[@stellamemory2098]

I remember when I was in hospital getting over a breakdown summer 1985 and the sun was shining on the rain on the window. I thought of Sparkle in the Rain and have loved it ever since.

[@Adam-nw6ry]

Thanks for listening to my music and for all the love and support . I appreciate it. Without fans like you I’m nothing. I love you ❤️

[@viktormuerte]

Sparkle in the Rain is a brilliant album.

[@evansakinyemi9270]

My fav

[@totofan962]

...with Mick, Derek and Mel. The best line up ever.

[@tobygray497]

Jim Kerr has a great speaking voice.

[@sageantone7291]

Singing voice, too.

[@12345fowler]

@@sageantone7291 +1 I made up my mind on this when listening to the vocal intro of Belfast Child. It is thrillingly beautiful. Great voice and great singing.

[@mir1246]

Yeah. He just sounds like a mix out of russian and italian. Lol.😊 He could do a great syncro for some mafia movie. Hehe. ❤️

[@tetedepoulet8651]

Which Jim Kerr?

[@emmannamontini7252]

He used to have a stutter when he was younger but he’s grown out of it

[@janejohnstone5795]

Nice deep, voice...down to earth man,.Nice man...love his accent.

[@jenniferfranklin-mcinnis6669]

No one-hit wonder here, only 40 years of awesome! See you soon in Detroit

[@sageantone7291]

Was there.

[@ajh21313]

Where and when did you see them? I live in Livonia and didn't hear a thing about... My first song was "Promised you a miracle" and "Up on the catwalk"... Love them since 81/82

[@Adam-nw6ry]

Thanks for listening to my music and for all the love and support . I appreciate it. Without fans like you I’m nothing. I love you ❤️

[@donwest3342]

Jim Kerr and Simple Minds were awesome! Loved their music! It''s great to see Jim. Brings back many fond memories back in the eighties!

[@okgo8315]

me too👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@hondac7028]

Glittering prize and summertime my favourite. 👌

[@sandraduranie1975]

One of the most beautiful voices of 80's

[@Adam-nw6ry]

Thanks for listening to my music and for all the love and support . I appreciate it. Without fans like you I’m nothing. I love you ❤️

[@annemason9748]

So agree. I could listen to him speak all day. Love a good Scottish brogue!

[@metsot]

How true.

[@flavia7581]

De los 80, 90 y 2000 en adelante🤩❗️

[@laxeystu8096]

Yes, if you want to hear that song sung well, you have to go back that far

[@darrenbrisson4336]

Always loved simple minds one of the best bands ever

[@hotshot5792]

'New Gold Dream' and 'Son's & Fascinations' are masterpieces... can hear a Joy Division influence?

[@hermanbruner2913]

Definitely, especially on Sons, also Empires has many JD influence. While NGD is in absolutely top 3 of the best LP of all New Romantic tune.

[@hopeburton82]

Once upon a time at least for me was the best album of the 80's ; it truly was a musical masterpiece and I never get tired of listening to it...

[@Adam-nw6ry]

Thanks for listening to my music and for all the love and support. I appreciate it. Without loyal fans like you I’m nothing.I love you ❤️

[@corfukitty]

What a nice down to earth man!

[@salvadorromeromolina3719]

C MOON CRY LIKE A BABY IS ONE OF MY FAV SONGS EVER

[@salvadorromeromolina3719]

SPARKLE IN THE RAIN IS STILL ON MY TOP 10

[@athansky25]

Timeless. Classic. Nostalgic. May 2020 still Ecstatic. Simple Minds great music awesome! Love Jim Kerr's powerful voice ! 🎤🎶🎧🎸🎹🥁 😉

[@toddspeck9415]

Awesome interview. Really like that Scottish accent. Thanks for all your classic songs, Jim Kerr.

[@Birdy-1]

Lovely interview, Jims!

[@tracysnow349]

Absolute so hard for me to find Jim Kerr actually talking at this point. I loved the interview. I was having quite the laugh. Fabulous! Thanks for sharing it!

[@Adam-nw6ry]

Thanks for listening to my music and for all the love and support. I appreciate it. Without loyal fans like you I’m nothing.I love you

[@patrickkelcher4757]

I went to their concert in Christchurch nz in 2017 with my brother

[@gixxerboy555]

Jim Kerr with The Simple Minds...are true Legend...

[@alanfox934]

' Jim ' The Legend ! Thanks for posting this great video

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

Which Jim?

[@leno2357]

Great voice... great Band .... Simple!!! Hi from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@TeamTrumpUSA]

Make America the 80's Again Simple Minds 2020

[@dennisdudley2746]

Don't you forget about me spring 1985,I just got my first job as a dishwasher at a Chinese restaurant, 9th grade so many good memories, from a truly magical time in my life, I would sell my soul to go back, best song however, Belfast child

[@billstewart7457]

I met Jim recently in Frankfurt both travelling g to Hlasgow. What a lovely guy. Genuine. Talked about his early life in Glasgow nd was keen to know about me (Kilmarnock boy). What a pleasure it was to meet him.

[@robertcorrie3194]

One of the best bands ever... They ruled Tiffanys then....early 80's....I Travel....Lovesong....Celebrate...Chelsea Girl ...American I could do a pint of Red Stripe now

[@laurelwood791]

Talent. Talent. Talent. Music as we knew it. Pre-2000, a world and entire world that no longer exists.

[@Adam-nw6ry]

Thanks for listening to my music and for all the love and support. I appreciate it. Without loyal fans like you I’m nothing.I love you

[@colinwatt3958]

Jim's memory eluding him. SM recorded Lou Reed's Street Hassle on Sparkle in the Rain

[@MartinJG100]

'Drat'. Haven't heard that expression for years. Straight out of the kid's comics and cartoons of the time.That dates you, Jim!

[@gixxerboy555]

My Hero..Jim Kerr...grew up with his awesome music..thanx Jim..

[@sylviacarter9574]

Absolutley amazing love this band

[@thiscorrosion900]

It didn't hurt that the song itself was just feckin' brilliant on its own!

[@RONNYMORRISMUSIC]

LOVE this interview.

[@velvet_realm]

nearly every track of 'em is brilliant. there are very less bands in the world with sooo much hits and great tracks

[@CarlosSouza-mj2nr]

We should be thanks God to sent to us, people like Jim Kerr. Thanks God for this!!!

[@jackwest3282]

For a long time I always thought that song was actually by Billy Idol til I found the sound track CD in a store. lol

[@soulkiss1001]

billy idol covered the song much after sms version and idols version wasnt a hit

[@azapro911]

Such a shame that they were only big in the U.S. during the Once Upon A Time era.

[@3DPeter]

they were big in europe from the start.

[@azapro911]

3DPeter Fully aware of that, they were big in Britain and Europe up to the mid '90s. Street Fighting Years ended their fortunes in the States, a lot of the audience over there only new their 'Don't You Forget About Me' side, a return to art and intellect put the dance rock crowd off.

[@thankyou2532]

azapro911 the entire once upon a time album was excellent,dont you forget about me was not on that album and they had hits with sanctify yourself and al the things she said,after that they only had one good song untl about 3 albums ago around 2011

[@disco4754]

Big in Australia too!

[@joaoignacio1978]

SM was and still is big in Brazil. New Gold Dream is a masterpiece. I love Real to Real Cacophony (which I knew through the the compilation 1978-1982). Once Upon a time is quite different, very pop and "arena lookalike", but it still one of the most important popular records from the 80s (and includes one of the best songs ever from SM, Sanctify Yourself. After Once Upon a time, I must admit, they lost the creativity and Kerr have tried to be the Scottish version of Bono.

[@thiscorrosion900]

No band really wants to be worrying about following up a huge chart hit. Last thing to put pressure on about.

[@chunkyboyjames]

The weird thing is that “Alive and Kicking” isn’t their biggest hit in the UK. Over here it’s “Belfast Child”, which has lyrics about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. It’s an incredible track, and rightfully is regarded as not only one of their biggest hits, but also one of, if not the, best tracks they ever recorded.

[@aidenfermanagh6207]

Lovely and haunting tune.

[@khandallah4725]

depends... . i consider "seeing out the angel" explores a larger sensual spectrum plus pushing the electronic genre towards the arena without relying on an admittedly emotive subject. ie take out the theme, how good is the song really? i am going to play them back to back. i may be back with an edit to apologize?!? EDIT: golly firstly "belfast child" reminded me how much i loved "waterfront" era minds. as for the track, fantastic production > trrevor horn featuring jim kerr! < wow i will now listen to street fighting years just to take in that production. my statement still stands that if the subject was different i do not believe the song warrants the kudos. horses for courses, obviously im an old man. ps the song did remind me of this mortal coils "song to siren' and now i am listening to the roxymusic version of this tim buckly tune. thankyou chunkyboy james.

[@nmssis]

saw them at Radio City...fantastic.

[@daleparfitt7243]

Greatest band on earth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😂🐱

[@janejohnstone5795]

Scots,..have good strong voices...deep and melodic.

[@cledisonism]

Só canta, você eo melhor

[@Proudtobegerman]

I have seen them so many times...but I really hate the current line up.. They were so much better in the early years..bring back Mel Gaynor and Derek Forbes...PLEASE

[@steverascoe7069]

TRUTH!

[@lmrclmrc9195]

So thruth!

[@christophwegener5489]

And also the great Michael McNeil on Keys

[@bacchuslax7967]

Promised you a miracle is still my top tune from SMs

[@grantbinder2500]

Simple Minds music has always been relevant, and never gets dated. Their new music in the past 10 years sounds just as great and stays true to their creative and melodic roots.

[@kazjeffs1]

and billy idol passed on that song, it was written for him, his biggest regret but SM did it justice, they didnt need it though, Simple Minds are in the top 10 best bands ever....

[@robertwhicher7714]

Wot song was that

[@petergomez7490]

@@robertwhicher7714 The obvious Breakfast Club song, Don't You Forget About Me...Jim Kerr would later say The Smiths should have sung it.

[@AlexLopez-rx8lw]

With good reason. No other guy should have the lead vocals on that one. Keith Forsey knew it. The Breakfast Club just launched it to #1.

[@ghoppr71]

Interesting, I could hear Billy's voice singing it. Just think of his voice in "Eyes Without a Face".

[@candandy6100]

I want Jim...NOW!!

[@ghoppr71]

Such a great Scottish accent, yet he sings "Don't You Forget About Me" in a perfect "American English" accent.

[@christopherallen9580]

La..la la la la...la la la la

[@khandallah4725]

some of us consider things went downhill after sparkle in the rain and :"dpnt you forget about me" was the catalyst that pushed them downwards.

[@franciscogamez2936]

Great Band !

[@accountprimario4824]

Simple Minds best band all the time🎸

[@seanf12012]

Should get Robin clark back. What a voice she had.

[@WussGawd]

Really should give Sara Brown a listen from the current band. She pretty much nails Robin's parts on the Once Upon A Time era songs.

[@scottishsteve3619]

@@WussGawd sorry I have to disagree. she's good but she has nothing on Robin.

[@SuperIce45]

Scottish Steve agreed. Robin is way better than Sara

[@philliphazell4211]

I like their earlier electronic sounding music . I Travel is genius but not so keen on the later rock sound .

[@khandallah4725]

yes i wish had caught them live round "sons and fascination" i was too young and lived on the other side of the world. did catch the new gold dream tour in newzealand at age fourteen. fantastic. i-travel? that was eno/devo level stuff. oh for time machine!

[@dixgun]

Never really knew the stories of those two big hits of theirs. 👍

[@angelaweedon3193]

I've liked sole minds since the late 80s. In early 90s, my husband in chswitzerland stopped me going to one of their concerts in CH. I always thought Jim Kerr was sensual.

[@virginiafernandez4435]

Oooou me too! 😍

[@havanakim]

Jim so Americanised....... Jeez I was at the first gig in Glasgow...

[@Jt87252]

Superrrrrb Jim

[@brianmillerthomas]

Don't You Forget About Me - you shouldn't have. New Gold Dream - one of the greatest recordings of all time. You win some, you lose some!

[@henrifischer1119]

on the same level as Depeche Mode. And Jim's voice is still bloody awesome.

[@thiscorrosion900]

Heartbeat under Heartbeat under Heartbeat under

[@magicmike6961]

as long as they dont call you Wayne kerr.

[@gilwillia]

Bono once said that they only wanted to be as big as SM. Tragic they lost Mick and Derek. Things never the same again.

[@thetroubadourlounge323]

@@peterkent1582 they continued to play with other bands and are still going strong. MM produced an album I did and also played on it

[@hermanbruner2913]

Derek and Mick had in my opinion the biggest influence on SM unique sound specially in their classic era, untill Sparkle. Bass was hypnotic, Lovesong and Premonition are absolutely bass masterpieces.

[@theladubfovi909]

“A Kerr-vention” … maybe call it a “Jim-Kerr-na” (gymkhana)?!! 😉. Great interview.

[@amandaburns4568]

god hes got more acents than bono🤣🤣

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

This turned out a very funny Jim Kerr situation.

[@Jt87252]

❤

[@vanseventy]

What I don’t understand is there was so much great music from Simple Minds as well as other 80’s bands that were never played on the radio. It’s all about the radio controlling the music being put out,nothin do with how well is does.Just like all the crap on the radio now. Most of it garbage,but it’s being pushed on the kids.

[@Dzanarika1]

Totally agree! Radios are over 😂

[@ericsilberstein667]

Great alt artist and alt band.

[@liamsmart8157]

Hi Jim it's Davie we were friends at school you will know me remember we had a laugh about the rhino and the hippo we met let me know if you get this would love to catch up been a long time.

[@fatfreddyscoat7564]

Billy Idol turned the song down but recorded a version: it’s not the same but it works really well with his voice. It’s on KZbin.

[@DavidLazarus]

Please allow me to correct the tense of some of these compliments. Jim Kerr's voice IS great! and Simple Minds IS an awesome band. Despite my love for prog rock, I would choose Simple Minds to accompany me on a desert island as I could listen to them every day. As a bonus, they do great covers!

[@FoobsTon]

Early Minds were arguably prog rock.

[@DavidLazarus]

@@FoobsTon - Their music has progressive elements, yes.

[@ericwhitehead6451]

Love Simple Minds. Don't You Forget About Me was also offered to Roxy Music.

[@bassdemon4186]

Don't You was written with Billy Idol in mind but he rejected it. It will always sound like a Billy Idol song.

[@gazzer1312]

TF Billy didn't get it. All day a Simple minds track. And Bilky would not have got the world coverage support that simple minds had gotten with the song.

[@DadCanInJapan]

Loved their first 4 albums until "New Gold Dream" came out. I really wanted to like it and I listened to that album again and again but it did nothing for me. Then "Don't You Forget About Me" came out and I forgot about them. I wasn't interested in their music anymore. Still listen to their first 4 albums though.

[@LeonDonnelly23]

DadCan InJapan Same. First four albums I loved. Saw them live when New Gold Dream first came out and lost interest from then on. They were a great band at first.

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

Ohhh we have a few "I liked them before they became popular" comments!!!

[@DadCanInJapan]

@@mipmipmipmipmip But I WANTED them to become more popular. I bought New Gold Dream, listened to it and thought that every band can have an off album. But then I was surprised when it started becoming more popular. It didn't have the bite anymore. Same with Psychedelic Furs. Great songs until "Pretty in Pink" which was just a bland version of their "No Easy Street". And yet that was the song that made them popular. Why?!? I wanted them to be popular with the songs they were already making. No bite anymore.

[@vincentmcnabb939]

Jim now sounds like he comes from west or mid-Ulster. 🤔

[@thiscorrosion900]

I love "Alive and Kicking" but at the time I recall thinking it was a tad perhaps, overproduced and quite slick for Simple Minds. But I was but a wee teen lad so what did I know? It's still a solid tune with great vocal performances at least.

[@keogh1969]

What a surprise. Americans have never been to Toryglen

[@redsky106]

Remember when he had a flat in south queens ferry ,Edinburgh.,.many years ago

[@thegoose4715]

The Who By Numbers in the background I see

[@jtlampsu2]

The Kerr bear bunch!

[@carl6484]

Jim you’re the dogs son

[@adrianhooper6605]

LISTEN I HAVE LOVED SIMPLE MINDS FOR OVER 40 YEARS PROMISED YOU A MIRICLE LOVE SONG JOHNNY AND THE SELF ABUSERS VERRY EARLY SIMPLE MINDS STUFF TRUST ME I KNOW SIMPLE MINDS

[@adrianhooper6605]

NEW GOLD DREAM BEST ALBUM OF 1982

[@eponaepona]

"Drat." :) :)

[@philipritson8821]

Who didn't turn this song down?

[@lachlankerr]

Found out how to pronounce my last name wow

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

Accent big man

[@ajuk1]

So his Dad was 42 40 years ago?

[@thepanel2935]

... where's the "interview"?

[@rossforsyth2760]

Jim whits gaun on wi that accent!

[@maddymud]

art is not sports. Picasso doesn’t “beat” Van Gough. Mississippi John Hurt isn’t having a fret race with Eddie Van Halen - I can’t stand the overwrought worrying about chart positions

[@kirstinetermansen3227]

The dogs,. Went in peace, today's,. 10 years 24 hours Work unit,.

[@tonelar415]

this is where the DJ / radio guy could’ve busted out with J, Jimmy or James

[@escaton74]

I'm pretty sure Michael Jackson had no hit single in '85. Does he refer to USA for Africa?

[@quentindugger5389]

There was Jackson's only single in 85.

[@escaton74]

@@quentindugger5389 Jim confused MJ with Lionel Richie ("Say you say me" topped "Alive and kicking" during the first weeks of 1986)