Simple Minds star Jim Kerr spoke to Dave Fanning (standing in for Ryan Tubridy) this morning), ahead of their show tonight in Dublin's Olympia Theatre.
After the Manchester terror attacks (May 22nd), a number of gigs were cancelled in the city in the days afterwards. Simple Minds were due to take to the stage the night after in the city’s Bridgewater Hall, less than 24 hours later. They decided to go ahead and told their fans that the events ‘made them want to go out and play music more than ever’, he also said it would be ‘cowardly’ not to.
‘I’m sure if we have done that everyone would have understood, it would have been a disappointment, but we would have felt cowardly just leaving town – especially Manchester, a place that’s been great to Simple Minds since the earliest days.'
Blondie axed their gig at Hackney’s Round Chapel, which was set to go ahead on Tuesday night.
In The Olympia, they are playing a live acoustic set, inspired by their 2016 Simple Minds Acoustic album. The genesis of Simple Minds Acoustic can be traced back to a rare live session the band recorded for the Chris Evans Breakfast Show in September 2014, promoting their 16th studio album, BIG MUSIC. The reaction, to the band’s surprise, was overwhelmingly favourable.
They are doing their acoustic thing without losing their essence: The album consists of a dozen Simple Minds songs loved by millions, offered up in a stripped-down organic fashion.
Simple Minds formed in Glasgow in in 1977 - the band have achieved five UK number one albums during their career, and to date have sold 60 million records worldwide.
Some of the songs on Simple Minds Acoustic were recorded in Gorbals Studio, a former railway workers’ social club located a stone’s throw from the high-rise estates of the city’s South Side where the pair took their first musical steps. It was in this building that Jim and Charlie played their first gig, as teenagers in a school glam-rock band, and emotions were understandably high on their return.
The band for this tour feature Jim and Charlie, augmented by regular bassist Ged Grimes, backing vocalist Sarah Brown, acoustic guitarist Gordy Goudie and percussionist Cherisse Osei. Their 2014 album BIG MUSIC received across the board praise, with MOJO Magazine declaring it "their best album in 30 years".
On taking Simple Minds acoustic, Jim said: "The concert stage is where Simple Minds do their best work, it is where we forged our live reputation. Don't be fooled by the acoustic tag, however! These shows will be as energetic and passionate as ever."
Simple Minds play The Olympia, Dublin, tonight (June 8th)
