Inside Story

Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr Reflects on 48 Years of Friendship, Fights, and Music


After nearly five decades of music, friendship, and the occasional screaming match, Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill are still standing — and still playing. Speaking to Billboard, Kerr reflected on their remarkable 48-year partnership and the passion that keeps the band alive today.

“We still have our rows,” Kerr admitted, laughing. “But there’s no scars. No wounds. We get up the next day, go to breakfast, and it’s like nothing happened.”

That fiery dynamic has fueled Simple Minds’ longevity, with the band currently wrapping up their first full North American tour in seven years. They’re celebrating their new live album, Live in the City of Diamonds, and the 40th anniversary of their 1985 global breakthrough, including the iconic The Breakfast Club anthem “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”

Though initially hesitant to record a song they didn’t write, Kerr now credits the band’s distinctive live energy for turning the track into a timeless classic.

Looking ahead, the Scottish rockers will tour Europe this summer and return to the studio to complete their next album. “It’s all about creativity,” Kerr says. “It keeps the story alive.”


Photo Credit: dwphotos / Shutterstock.com


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