May contain a heavy dose of Jim Kerr
DEATH BY CHOCOLATE Books have often been a source of inspiration for Jim Kerr’s lyrics and this song was no exception. The Japanese writer Yukio Mishima is one of Kerr’s favourite authors, along with Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov. Bulgakov is said to have inspired another Simple Minds track. Do you know which one it is?…
WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE Another example into the deep dive that Simple Minds Song by Song offers intrigued fans of the band. It’s a look at the band’s entire back catalogue that sits neatly in the palms of your hands. So what, dear reader, has this track got to do with David Lynch? Which elements…
Yours truly! It was wonderful to be invited on to In Your Room to talk to Mick, Derek and Brian about my book: Simple Minds Song by Song and to also ask them questions about certain songs from the back catalogue. We had great fun. I really hope you enjoy watching.
CITIZEN (DANCE OF YOUTH) Another quick examination of an under-appreciated track from the Simple Minds canon. This time the spotlight focuses on ‘Citizen (Dance of Youth)’. When fans think about the point in which Simple Minds became political they usually turn to Street Fighting Years, or at the very earliest Once Upon a Time. Where…
I WISH YOU WERE HERE Which song would you say was the most under-appreciated or overlooked track from Once Upon a Time? For me, it would be ‘I Wish You Were Here’. It is so overshadowed by the chart-topping big-hitters on the album, namely, ‘Alive and Kicking’, ‘All The Things She Said’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’….
Some further news on the book release front. For the Aussie fans this time. I am pleased to announce that local Australian book chains Dymocks and QBD will be carrying copies of Simple Minds: Song by Song. The release date is 1 November 2026. You can pre-order from Dymocks via the link HERE There is…
UPDATE: As you will see from what you will read below, the book was originally set for UK release on 30 September. In the early hours of this morning, it came to my attention that the UK release is being delayed by one month and will now be on Friday 30 October 2026. That’s right!…
Read full post “UK Release Delayed! Now – Friday 30 October 2026” »
Yesterday I caught up with my good friend Ronnie McGhie in Glasgow city centre (the lovely Ian Donaldson was also there). We got onto the topic of my imminent book release and Ronnie invited me on his Wednesday Night Live show on Irvine Beat FM. It just so happens that the UK release day for…