Simple Minds head to Birmingham show
They formed in the punk era and found their mojo through a shared love of David Bowie, Kraftwerk and electronic dance.
Simple Minds went on to create some of the biggest and most powerful rock anthems of the past 40 years, as they headlined arenas around the world.
Yet when they visit Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Sunday, they’ll be doing something they’ve never done before.
The bombast and overblown production will be gone. The foot-on-the-monitor, raucous choruses will also be muted. And in their place will be stripped back, tender tunes as the band perform stripped back and acoustic.
Frontman Jim Kerr can’t wait. He says: “The concert stage is where Simple Minds do their best work, it is where we forged our distinctive live reputation. For that reason we look forward immensely to taking Simple Minds Acoustic out on tour.”
Simple Minds are not natural acoustic adventurers, but they have done a remarkable job in adding fresh nuance to brilliant songs without trampling on sacred memories.
The tour follows the release of the band’s Acoustic album, last year, which coincided with their receipt of an Ivor Novello award.
Jim says: “We were halfway through the so-called follow-up to Big Music and experience has taught us it is always good to take a break halfway through.
“It means you come back to it with a real perspective.
“We spent a couple of months seeing what we could make of this acoustic album and we are delighted with the results. But it was a surprise because if anyone had said to me two years ago, I’d have said, ‘I cannae see that.’”
The acoustic record has been a pleasure and has had a collaborative feel to it, with KT Tunstall featuring on Promised You A Miracle.
Jim adds: “I think the gigs will be great. We were mulling over the acoustic album concept and one of the original ideas was to get a few guest singers.
“On the day of the Our Heroes show, we decided against having guests on the album because it would become a duets thing. Then we went along to the soundcheck and KT Tunstall was playing.
“We were big fans and she was off the scale at that soundcheck. I said to Charlie, ‘I think we should ask her to do something because she’s great.’
“Before we had time to ask, you pushed us together for a photo and she said, ‘I’d love to do something with you guys.’ That was fate.”
