- Title: Simple Minds look back at political activism ahead of 2020 tour
- Date: 22nd November 2019
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 21, 2019) (REUTERS) FOUNDING MEMBERS OF SCOTTISH BAND SIMPLE MINDS, SINGER JIM KERR (LEFT) AND GUITARIST CHARLIE BURCHILL (RIGHT), SITTING ON COUCH KERR LOOKING ON BURCHILL LAUGHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDING MEMBER OF SIMPLE MINDS, SINGER JIM KERR, SAYING: (ANSWERING IF THERE IS A CURRENT POLITICAL ISSUE THEY RESONATE WITH) "The issues ar
- Embargoed: 6th December 2019 14:46
- Keywords: Simple Minds Don't You Forget About Me song Berlin Wall Nelson Mandela world tour
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / UNIDENTIFIED AND VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS / VIKTOR VERSTER PRISON, PAARL AND SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA / BERLIN, GERMANY / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / UNIDENTIFIED AND VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS / VIKTOR VERSTER PRISON, PAARL AND SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA / BERLIN, GERMANY / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA00HB6MCP59
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Forty years since releasing their debut album, Scottish rock band Simple, known for addressing political issues in their music, have a dim view of current affairs.
Speaking to Reuters ahead of a world tour next year, the band's founding members lead vocalist Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill said the social and political problems of their youth still dominate news headlines.
"The issues are always the same. Racism, war, poverty, the geography changes. OK, apartheid ended, it was great to see that end for us ... It was great to see the Berlin Wall come down," Kerr said.
Formed in Glasgow in the 1970s, the group, whose name was inspired by a lyric from David Bowie's "The Jean Genie", has seen its line-up change over the years and but is still fronted by Kerr and Burchill.
Simple Minds, who this month released compilation album "40: The Best Of - 1979-2019" and kick off the anniversary tour in February, are known for 1980s hits like "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from teen film "The Breakfast Club", which gave the group their first U.S. no.1.
But Kerr said Simple Minds were "wet behind the ears" compared to rockers like The Who and the Rolling Stones.
They have no plans to slow down just yet, saying life on the road is "the thing that keeps us going" as they embark on a world tour next year.
"We were surprised after a 10-year career and I certainly don't believe we would have been touring (in) this particular year," Burchill told Reuters in a joint interview with Kerr.
(Production: Ben Makori, Vin Shahrestani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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