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LAST year, Jim Kerr returned to the legendary Abbey Road studios for the first time in nearly four decades – and the experience couldn’t have been more different.
The Simple Minds frontman visited the studios made famous by The Beatles to watch an orchestra record for the band’s latest album, Walk Between Worlds, and this time he was able to fully appreciate his surroundings.
“We were on tour in Germany at the time and didn’t need to be there, but we wanted the thrill of seeing the orchestra,” explained Jim.
“For our first album in 1979, the producer John Leckie thought it was a great idea to scrimp and scrape for most of the recording so we had enough money to do a week in Abbey Road.
“Half the band was really energised by the surroundings, while the other half – including me – just shrunk. It was overwhelming.
“I was only 18 at the time and the entire week felt like I was going in for an exam. I was too aware of the history.
“When we went back last year, the first time since, I couldn’t believe how much Abbey Road had shrunk.
“It was great to return as a man after everything we’ve been through. I enjoyed what the studio stands for and I realised we deserved to be there.”
Simple Minds’ new album, which was released on Friday, has been receiving rave reviews and continues their recent creative purple patch.
They might never replicate the chart dominance of the ’80s and ’90s when they achieved five No.1 albums, but they maintain a loyal following and are still finding new fans.
One of the songs on the new record is Barrowland Star, a love letter to a place in their home city that is inextricably linked with the band.
Simple Minds star Jim Kerr on touring with ex-wife Chrissie Hynde 30 years after divorcing
It was the recording of their Waterfront music video at the Barrowland in 1983 that gave it new life as a concert venue.
“We’ve always written about Glasgow – Waterfront, Oh Jungleland, and Honest Town – and now this,” continued Jim, 58.
“Our parents, aunties, uncles and so on would go there for a great time, but it became infamous in the ’60s.
“It was closed when we were teenagers, so I had never been in it.
“But then we had the chance to re-open it with Waterfront. “It was the music video director’s idea to use the venue, thinking about tradition and carrying it on.
“We didn’t think anyone would turn up to be involved in the filming but the queue was massive.
“There’s a lovely story of when David Bowie played there. One of the stars from the ceiling fell during soundcheck and he picked it up and kept it.
“Charlie Burchill, (Simple Minds’ guitarist) and I were each presented with one and I have it framed.
“When Bowie passed, the star seemed to call out to me and I began to think about what it means to play in the Barrowland, so the song tries to evoke all of that and Charlie plays his most amazing solo on the track.
“If you ask Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop or any of the current bands what their favourite gigs are, Barrowland will always be on the list.
“I’m trying not to think what it will be like to play the song there, because I feel it will be emotional.”
Jim and the band will have the chance on February 13, as part of three special shows where they will be interviewed on stage as well as perform.
They’ll then head out on tour again in the summer, as part of the Grandslam tour with The Pretenders – led by Jim’s ex-wife Chrissie Hynde – and KT Tunstall.
Playing live has always been an integral part of the band’s philosophy and they firmly believe the show must go on.
They performed in Manchester last May just 24 hours after the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena.
“If the promoters said it had to be called off, fine, but we all felt we had to play,” Jim added.
“Sadly it’s not the first time we’ve had to do that. For instance, London in 1983, less than 24 hours after the bomb in Harrods.
“We perceive the world – good and bad – through music.
“They could push the button and we would think, ‘But we’ve got a gig tonight’.”
Simple Minds, Glasgow Barrowland, Feb 13
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