I’m still wondering why it even matters to me these days, but it still does. Jim’s post today. It had that usual “ruthless” element to it that makes me uncomfortable. It has always been an element that doesn’t sit well with me in the psyche of Jim Kerr. Today’s post seems to make the allusion that no one ever made the decision to leave Simple Minds through “lack of enthusiasm” because it was detected by him first, and people were pushed before they fell, so to speak. Sacked before quitting, kinda thing.
Except…that didn’t really seem to be the case with Brian when he left. And…he left. Same case with Mick. Mick left, rather abruptly, by all accounts. I guess the point Jim was making in the post was…he was never going to go begging for them to stay. They left. Move on. No one’s irreplaceable, right? It all seems so callous. And it always runs in paradox to the endless talk of “loyalty” and “life-long fans” and “real fans” and all of that stuff.
Where does one maintain loyalty if it is deemed that EVERYONE is expendable?
Is it all just down to wanting to live a life in which you can declare that you have never regretted a single decision? What…? I’ll admit to finding reading these kinds of posts quite hard.
He ended the post by stating, “I never ever wanted to leave the field.” Really? So what happened that led to the building of Villa Angela? Why is there now the ‘fallback’ that is now pretty much surplus to requirements (in the strictest terms of VA initially coming into existence as ‘Plan B’)? Does she not stand by Mount Etna as a stark reminder of that crisis of confidence he has admitted to having in the past? Did I take in these details he’s shared incorrectly? That Simple Minds sailed VERY CLOSE to being ‘no more’? Because, seemingly, had Jim called it quits – that would be it. No more Simple Minds. Bad luck, Charlie boy!
And… we delude ourselves that Simple Minds is Jim AND Charlie…hmmm.
And, so, yes. I am still quite ‘invested’. But there was such a reciprocation I felt with it for such a long time that has now all but faded away. A rather slow and – although he would see my expression here as over-dramatic – agonising death. I never wanted it to die. I think it still is breathing final death strains… I don’t know? I feel as if I was pushed before I had the chance to fall. I’m not sure I wanted to fall, you know? I was not pushed with a hard hand…but gently nudged, edging ever closer to the cliff edge. But the final push was still a shock. “And my brother lays upon the rocks / he could be dead / he could be not / he could be you.”
He was never going to hold out a hand after he pushed me to stop me from falling. Once that slap on the back happens it’s “game over, kid.” I reached out and up as I fell, hoping to be caught. That “kid called hope, holding out his hand” wasn’t there.
What am I talking about? Fuck knows!
I still keep on wanting for it to be something! I don’t want to be left laying upon the rocks. Do I survive? Do I move on? Do I want to?
P.S. I’m still convinced the line he sings in Promised You A Miracle is “rhythm of life” not “in the game of life.” Listen closely and prove me wrong! (A fan’s a fan’s a fan…)
Wonder what prompted that? Seems like ol? Jimbo has heard something which has irked him.
It seems that way. Cryptic bitching at its best. There?s a band name! Cryptic Bitching! Lol. I shall get around to checking out Scaramanger (if I spelt that right?) at some point too.
It was a tough read that post by Jim. No doubt about that.
Especially in this day and age of being aware about Mental Health.
It does get over-used that term but should not be overlooked.
I see people on Facebook and other forums going on about the loss of Mick & Derek.
It does get a bit boring but then people who express that fact get attacked for stating that.
I’ve just had Bruce Findlay on YouTube today stating how good these first 5 years were.
I agree. In my opinion they’ll never top that.
Simple Minds have been Jim & Charlie for over 30 years but they were a part of something bigger 1979 – 1989.
Jim reminds me of Jon Bon Jovi in some respects. He’s the boss, cause to last so long someone has to be!
All the best Larelle!
Hey A&T, it?s great to hear from you! I hope you?re doing well?
Yes?I am always perplexed by the ever mercurial Mr Kerr, who can on the one hand seemingly exude copious amounts of empathy and pen a song like First You Jump, but then counter it with a kind of ?stoap ya greetin, ya wee jessie and do wan? kind of thing as well.
Love the band, admire him, but heaven forbid if you get too close to it, you know?
One day wanting to ?be of service?, the next day ?no one tells ME what to do.? Flip, flip, flip.
Sorry, A&T. I rarely talk to anyone about Minds stuff these days. I just write on here, avoid the FB Fan pages and perhaps I should just avoid the actual SM page too.
I need ideas for this blog, otherwise it?s gonna die. There are only so many posts of Jim?s nipples I can post! Lol
Hello again!
Can I just say on a personal note. I think it is amazing that you have met and interviewed so many people associated with the band. Former members, manager, art director, author and so on. For someone who keeps telling us they really didn’t start till 2014 that is some ride. You’ll probably get some not so nice comments from long-term fans cause quite frankly they are jealous. Screw them, more power to you Larelle!
Thanks so much for your kind words. The creme de la creme would be to interview Jim, of course, but that?s never going to happen.
I tried to get an interview with Sarah when her album came out and it looked as if it would happen but nothing ever came of it. Sometimes you just need to know when to cut your losses.
I?m trying to secure another interview for the blog, but nothing is happening on that front at the moment. I have a sinking feeling this one will also lead to nothing. Who knows? I may end up surprised. We?ll see. I won?t give up just yet but, yeah?
I?m finding it hard to stay in an optimistic mindset right now.