Jim Kerr is one of Glasgow’s most recognisable figures that has been the frontman of the band Simple Minds since the late 1970s.
The roots of Simple Minds can be found in the Southside of Glasgow through the short-lived punk band Johnny & The Self-Abusers who first performed in Glasgow at the Doune Castle in Shawlands. They released their only single “Saints and Sinners” in November 1977 with the band splitting on that same day. Simple Minds would then be renamed after a lyric from the Davie Bowie song “Jean Genie”.
Simple Minds’ first big breakthrough success was the album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) released by Virgin Records in September 1982 which included singles such as “Someone Somewhere in Summertime”, “Promised You a Miracle” and “Glittering Prize”.
To this day, they remain the quintessential Glasgow band that always puts on memorable gigs whenever they return to Glasgow as they still have their home city at heart as Kerr once said: “I never really left Glasgow. No doubt I’ve spent most of my grown-up life away from the city but I’ve always had somewhere to lay my head.”
From Toryglen to the Barrowland Ballroom - here are eight places in Glasgow which helped Simple Minds become famous.
9. Linn Park
Jim Kerr used to regularly visit Linn Park as child and fondly remembers jumping into the water and having picnics with his pals and cousins. It’s still a place he likes to visit to this day whenever he is in Glasgow. | Supplied
10. Nelson Mandela
Mandela Day is a song by Simple Minds written for the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute which was held at Wembley Stadium in 1988. Mandela would go on to visit Glasgow five years later when he received the Freedom of the City, | Getty Images