Jim Kerr - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Jim_Kerr

Jim Kerr
James Kerr (born 9 July 1959) is a Scottish
musician and lead singer of the rock band Simple Jim Kerr
Minds. Commercially successful singles released
by Simple Minds include "Don't You (Forget
About Me)", "Glittering Prize" (1982), "Someone
Somewhere in Summertime" (1982), "Waterfront"
(1983) and "Alive and Kicking" (1985), as well as
the UK number one single "Belfast Child" (1989).

With Kerr as their lead singer, Simple Minds have

achieved five[1] UK Albums chart number one
albums, Sparkle in the Rain (1984), Once Upon a
Time (1985), Live in the City of Light (1987),
Street Fighting Years (1989) and Glittering Prize
81/92 (1992); they have sold more than 60
million albums.[2] They were the most
commercially successful Scottish band of the Kerr performing at the Isle of Wight Festival
1980s.[3] Simple Minds have also achieved with Simple Minds, 2024
considerable chart success in the United States, Born James Kerr
Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy and New 9 July 1959
Zealand.[1] Toryglen, Glasgow, Scotland

He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Jim Kerr, on 27 May 2010. Kerr's voice has been Years active 1977–present
described as "David Bowie's rich baritone melded Spouses Chrissie Hynde
with Bryan Ferry's velvety croon".[4] (m. 1984; div. 1990)
Patsy Kensit
(m. 1992; div. 1996)
Early life
Children 2
James Kerr was born in Toryglen, Glasgow, into a Musical career
family of Irish Scots ancestry,[5] He had a Genres Rock, folk, punk rock, post-
stammer during childhood and in his early teens. punk, new wave, pop rock,
[6]
alternative rock
Instruments Vocals
Member of Simple Minds
Career
Website simpleminds.com (http://simple
minds.com)

Simple Minds (1977–present)

Establishment

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Jim Kerr - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kerr

In 1977, he was one of the founding members of the 6-

piece punk rock band Johnny and the Self Abusers.
Calling himself Pripton Weird, he played keyboards and
shared vocals with John Milarky. Allan McNeill was also
involved with the band, and went on to be the manager
of the pop band Hue and Cry. The band lasted 8
months, during which time Kerr emerged as one of the
main songwriters. In November 1977, they changed
their name to Simple Minds, quickly reduced to 4
Kerr performing with Simple Minds, 2009
members, then increased to 5, then 6, then back to 5
before a period of stability ensued.[7]

Breakthrough
Simple Minds achieved major commercial success throughout the 1980s, releasing the UK
number three album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) in 1982, and then scoring four
consecutive UK number one albums with Sparkle in the Rain (1984), Once Upon a Time (1985),
Live in the City of Light (1987) and Street Fighting Years (1989) and one UK number one
single, "Belfast Child" (1989), followed by a fifth UK number one album with Glittering Prize
81/92 in 1992.[8]

Recent activity
Kerr continues to record and tour with Simple Minds, who released their latest album Direction
of the Heart in October 2022. Three UK club dates in the spring of 2010 featured both new
material and Simple Minds' back catalogue and a full European tour followed.[9]

Solo work (2010–2012)

"Shadowland" was released as the first single from the album. The album version of the song
was made available to listen as an audio stream on 13 March 2010. A new remix, more suitable
for radio airplay, was done by Cenzo Townshend whom Jim Kerr chose because of Townshend's
previous work with Simple Minds' latest album Graffiti Soul.[10] A promotional single with the
new radio mixes of the song was shipped to radio stations on 4 April 2010.[11][12]
"Shadowland" was originally meant to be released as a commercial physical release, but it was
eventually only released as a download single on 9 May 2010. The three tracks on the download
single were the same three tracks previously available on the "Shadowland" radio promo single.
[10]

The album version of "Refugee" was premiered on Billy Sloan's show on 7 March 2010. A week
later, the full album version of "Refugee" was made available as a download from the initial
www.lostboyaka.com website.[13] On 13 April 2010 "Refugee" was released as the lead track of
the Welcome Gift 1 free download twin pack which was released as part of the main website
launch of www.lostboyaka.com.[14] In addition to the previously released album version of
"Refugee", the free download twin pack included the track "What Goes On" (Scary Monsters
Mix), which was exclusive to this release. The package also included the artwork and a text file
requesting that the tracks not be uploaded to any other site.[14] "She Fell in Love With Silence"
was released as a single on 15 August 2010. The single was released in both digital and physical
formats.[15][16]

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Jim Kerr released his first solo album Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr on 17 May 2010 under the name
"Lostboy! AKA". Explaining the project name and ethos, he commented "I didn’t want to start a
new band. I like my band (laughs)...and I didn’t want a point blank Jim Kerr solo album
either."[17][18]

The first Lostboy! AKA 10-date (European) tour occurred from 18 to 31 May 2010. In August
2010, Lostboy! AKA embarked on a 12-date "Electroset Radio" tour for various European/UK
radio stations but the band played only 4 dates (three in Germany and one in Spain). A third
Lostboy AKA! tour, a new 25-date "Electroset" (European) one (featuring Simon Hayward and
Sarah Brown) was scheduled from 18 October to 3 December 2010 but the band played only
nine shows before the rest of the tour was cancelled after the performance on 13 November
2010 in Dublin, Ireland because of Jim's mother Irene who had become ill with a recurrence of
cancer.[19] The second Lostboy! album, The Return Of The Lostboy!, was first mentioned by Jim
Kerr in February 2010 during the post-production work on the first album. Jim Kerr wrote,
demoed or recorded up to 25 songs for the new album. Its release was planned after Simple
Minds' 2013 world tour but was indefinitely postponed.[20]

Other work
Kerr helped organise a 90th birthday party for Nelson Mandela at Hyde Park, London on 27
June 2008.[21] The event came 20 years after Kerr and Simple Minds played a role (releasing
the single Mandela Day amongst other activities) in the 70th birthday concert at Wembley
Stadium, which was held to demand Mandela's release. Mandela attended the 2008 event in
person.

The 2006 single "The Deep Blue Sea by Dutch singer-songwriter Mir, formerly of the band
Twarres, features a vocal collaboration with Kerr.

Personal life
Kerr married Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders, in 1984. They divorced in 1990.[22]
They had one daughter named Yasmin born in 1985.[23] He subsequently married actress Patsy
Kensit in 1992 and divorced in 1996.

Jim Kerr is a Celtic fan.[24] In 1998 he was part of a consortium together with former player
Kenny Dalglish and others that unsuccessfully tried to take over the club.[25]

Mark Kerr, the vocalist's brother, is also a musician, playing in groups such as the hard rock
band Gun.[26]

Kerr lives in Taormina, Sicily with his Japanese partner Yumi, where he owns the hotel Villa
Angela.[27][28] He has Italian citizenship.[29]

Discography

Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and peak chart positions

Peak chart positions

Title Album details UK UK
BEL BEL
FRA GER ITA
[30][17] (FL) (WA) [31] [31] [31]
Ind. [31] [31]

Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr Released: 17 May 2010 94 8 46 14 149 60 46

Label: earMusic

Singles

List of singles

Title Year Album

"Shadowland"

"Refugee" 2010 Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr

"She Fell in Love with Silence"

See also
Clan Kerr

References
1. "History Of Simple Minds" (https://www.simpleminds.com/history-simple-minds/).
Simpleminds.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
2. " "When I say that there are a few songs about faith, I don't mean it in a religious sense..."
hmv.com talks to Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr" (https://web.archive.org/web/202207011
30509/https://www.hmv.com/music/simple-minds-interview-2018-jim-kerr-walk-between-worl
ds). HMV. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original (https://www.hmv.com/music/simple-
minds-interview-2018-jim-kerr-walk-between-worlds) on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 14 April
2018.
3. David Roberts, ed. (2006). British Hit Singles and Albums. Guinness World Records
Limited. p. 500. ISBN 978-1904994107.
4. Sutton, Michael. "Jim Kerr" (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jim-kerr-mn0000343169).
AllMusic. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
5. "Mcapozzolijr.com" (https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193833/http://www.mcapozzolijr.c
om/simpleminds.html). Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved
13 February 2014.
6. "February 26, 2016" (https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/100317830048162/9686648
89880114). Facebook.com. Archived from the original (https://www.facebook.com/simplemin
ds/posts/968664889880114?fref=nf) on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
7. "Dream Giver Redux | welcome" (http://www.simpleminds.org). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved
1 September 2011.
8. "Simple Minds Official Chart History" (https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28243/simple-min
ds/). Official Charts company.

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9. "Lostboy! AKA: Simple Minds' Jim Kerr preps debut solo album, sets U.K. club dates" (http://
www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2010/03/07/lostboy-aka-jim-kerr-simple-minds-solo-album-tour-
dates/). Slicing Up Eyeballs. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
10. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka jim kerr singles | shadowland" (http://www.si
mpleminds.org/lbaka/discog/lb/s1.htm). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
11. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka jim kerr singles | shadowland promotional
issues" (http://www.simpleminds.org/lbaka/discog/lb/sp1.htm). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved
29 July 2020.
12. "italiancharts.com - Lostboy! A.K.A Jim Kerr - Shadowland" (https://italiancharts.com/showit
em.asp?interpret=Lostboy!+A.K.A+Jim+Kerr&titel=Shadowland&cat=s). Italiancharts.com.
Retrieved 29 July 2020.
13. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka: downloads | refugee" (http://www.simplemin
ds.org/lbaka/discog/lb/d1.htm). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
14. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka jim kerr downloads | welcome gift 1" (http://w
ww.simpleminds.org/lbaka/discog/lb/d2.htm). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
15. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka jim kerr singles | she fell in love with silence
download" (http://www.simpleminds.org/lbaka/discog/lb/sfilwsd1.htm). Simpleminds.org.
Retrieved 29 July 2020.
16. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka jim kerr singles | she fell in love with silence"
(http://www.simpleminds.org/lbaka/discog/lb/sfilws1.htm). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved
29 July 2020.
17. Official Charts (http://www.theofficialcharts.com/search.php) Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20070729033254/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/search.php) 29 July 2007 at the
Wayback Machine Five number one albums and number one single (retrieved 19 August
2007)
18. "pennyblackmusic.co.uk" (https://web.archive.org/web/20200808144021/http://www.pennybl
ackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=5525). pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Archived
from the original (http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=5525)
on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
19. "Dream Giver Redux / Tours / Lostboy! AKA Electroset Tour" (http://www.simpleminds.org/lb
aka/tours/t2010-3/index.htm). simpleminds.org. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
20. "dream giver redux | discography | lostboy! aka jim kerr albums | the return of the lostboy!"
(http://www.simpleminds.org/lbaka/discog/trotl/trotllp1.htm). Simpleminds.org. Retrieved
29 July 2020.
21. "wnycstudios" (https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/soundcheck/segments/307488-mand
ela-day). 28 March 2022.
22. "Chrissie Hynde Marries Colombian Artist" (https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bbReA
AAAIBAJ&pg=4840,578002). Lewiston Morning Tribune. 18 July 1997. Retrieved 13 July
2011.
23. "Homegrown Heroes" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121014190544/http://www.cleveland.c
om/homegrown/index.ssf?%2Fhomegrown%2Fmore%2Fchrissie%2Fvital.html).
Cleveland.com. The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original (http://www.cleveland.com/hom
egrown/index.ssf?/homegrown/more/chrissie/vital.html) on 14 October 2012. Retrieved
13 July 2011.
24. "Keep Celtic alive and kicking: Kerr" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/100432.stm).
BBC News. 25 May 1998.
25. Business: The Company File Celtic bid withdrawn (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2403
51.stm) BBC News 22 December 1998
26. "Swagger - Gun | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" (https://www.allmusic.com/album/swa
gger-mw0000822870). AllMusic. Retrieved 29 July 2020.

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Jim Kerr - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Kerr

27. "irishexaminer" (https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40838633.html).

28 March 2022.
28. "hotelvillaangela" (https://www.hotelvillaangela.com/a-letter-from-jim-kerr/). 28 March 2022.
29. Jim Kerr dei Simple Minds: "Dopo la Brexit ho scelto l’Italia, ripartiamo da qui" (https://www.il
giorno.it/milano/jim-kerr-simple-minds-1adeefb6) ilgiorno.it
30. "UK Charts > LOSTBOY AKA JIM KERR" (https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6281/lostbo
y-aka-jim-kerr/). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
31. "Lostboy! A.K.A. Jim Kerr – Lostboy! A.K.A. Jim Kerr" (https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?i
nterpret=Lostboy%21+A%2EK%2EA+Jim+Kerr&titel=Lostboy%21+A%2EK%2EA+Jim+Kerr
&cat=a). lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 15 February 2024.

External links
Penny Black Music (http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=552
5) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200808144021/http://www.pennyblackmusic.c
o.uk/MagSitePages/Article.aspx?id=5525) 8 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine Interview
with Jim Kerr, May 2010

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Kerr&oldid=1295071897"

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