Yesterday I did some scanning of things that I had sent to me from Dutch fan Dennie. There’s quite a bit to get through and I only got about a third of the way through what I have been sent. I’ll post on the blog what I think are the most interesting and complete bits. Most of what I have ranges from early 80s to late 90s, with quite a bit of it centred around the mid 90s and the release of Good News From The Next World.
For now I’ll post a a few articles from Oor magazine from 1982 and 1985, as well as the first four issues of Shadowlands fanzine.
Highlights for me? How stunning Jim looks in the photos in Oor in 1982. He’s wearing the boots as well – sweet baby Jesus and the orphans! slick back hair. Strong eyeliner. WHAT AN ADONIS!
The other bit I’d like to highlight is on pages 12-13 of the first issue of Shadowlands fanzine. It’s in a section titled “In the beginning” – about the band’s beginnings, obvs. The part of it starts at the subheading “Herr Kerr” with words from Brian McGee and “a former colleague” (quote/unquote). It starts with a quote from Brian.
“At times I used to hate Jim, he’s too strong for my liking (but) no matter how hard everybody works, Jim works the hardest…he thinks all the time about the band, what’s happened and what is to happen.”
– Brian McGee, Shadowlands: Issue One, February 1993
Then after that, it continues:
“Jim Kerr remained an enigmatic figure to those around him. In Brian McGee’s opinion, ‘Trying to find emotions in that man or telling what he’s thinking is hard’. ‘Always the esoteric one, a bit quiet, arty’, reflects one former colleague, ‘secluded in the back of the tour bus writing lyrics for ages’, but he hastens to add that Kerr “was still a Glaswegian, still into shaggin’ birds and havin’ a good time’.”
Good to know! Lol. I never doubted it for a second. I think that is where a lot of the appeal has lain – from that duality. The Yin and Yang of him. Both learned and streetwise. Bookish but gangster. That soft spoken reserved boy who keeps himself in check amongst strangers, but is as cocky and “jack the lad” as they come around his mates. I’ve always found a kind of sweetness in that.
I don’t dare say any more, otherwise it really will become some awful saccharine piece of drivel! Lol
Anyway! Articles and fanzines following…
Remember to click on images for better viewing options.
Happy Kerrsday! Enjoy!
Shadowlands was mainly photos and interviews that had been released beforehand. As a young fellow I actually wrote them a letter telling them what a pile of shite I thought it was ? I received an angry reply basically telling me if I didn?t like it to fuck off ( which was fair enough) ?
Iirc there were a few issues of this person?s fanzine before they actually ran a fan competition to name the publication and ?Shadowlands? was chosen. ( I can?t remember what the early issues were called)
I wanted to call it ? Naked Eye? ( which to this day I still think is a better name)?
Naked Eye would be an awesome name.Supposedly from what is inside the first issue of it, Shadowlands was named by a ?Mr J Kerr? ?. so I?m guessing the name of it came from His Nibs. *shrugs*