Jim Kerr
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Kerr is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Simple Minds
who achieved five UK #1 albums and a #1 single "Ballad of the Streets EP". He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr
, on the 27 May 2010.
in Glasgow. 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 successful Pop band Hue and Cry
. The band only lasted 8 months, during which time Kerr emerged as one of the main songwriters. In November 1977 they changed their name to Simple Minds, and very quickly reduced to 4 members, then increased to 5, then 6, then back to 5 before a period of stability ensued.
He continues to record and tour with Simple Minds, who released their latest album Graffiti Soul in May 2009. He currently lives in Taormina
in Sicily
, where he runs a hotel called Villa Angela.
Three U.K. club dates in the spring of 2010 featured both new material and Simple Minds' back catalogue and a full European tour followed.
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."
The 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 in Germany
& Spain
. A new Lostboy AKA! 25-date "Electroset" (European) tour (the third one) (featuring Simon Hayward and Sarah Brown) was scheduled from 18 October to 3 December 2010 but the band played only 9 shows till 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.
In 2013, Kerr is to release his second solo album, which will be titled and released after Simple Minds' planned 2013 world tour.
, lead singer of The Pretenders
, in 1984 (divorced, 1990). They had one daughter, Yasmin. He was subsequently married to actress Patsy Kensit
in 1992 (divorced 1996) with whom he had a son, James (born in September 1993).
Kerr helped organise a 90th birthday party for Nelson Mandela
at Wembley Stadium
in London on 27 June 2008. The event comes 20 years after Kerr and Simple Minds played a role (releasing the single Mandela Day
amongst other activities) in the 70th birthday concert (also at Wembley) which was held to demand Mandela's release. Mandela attended the 2008 event in person.
Jim Kerr is a Celtic FC fan and active supporter of the club.
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
who achieved five UK #1 albums and a #1 single "Ballad of the Streets EP". He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr
Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr
Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr is Simple Minds front-man Jim Kerr's first solo album released on 17 May 2010. The album entered the UK charts at #94 on 29 May 2010 and UK Independent Chart at #8...
, on the 27 May 2010.
Simple Minds (1978-present)
Kerr attended Holyrood R.C. Secondary SchoolHolyrood R.C. Secondary School
Holyrood Secondary School, commonly referred to as Holyrood, is a Catholic secondary school in the south-side of Glasgow, Scotland. Holyrood is widely known as being Europe's largest state secondary school. It is near Crosshill railway station, Hampden Park, A728 and the new, M74 Motorway...
in Glasgow. In 1977, he was one of the founding members of the 6-piece punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s 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 successful Pop band Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry is a pop duo formed in 1983 in Coatbridge, Scotland by the brothers Pat Kane and Greg Kane . They had a number of modest hits in the UK Singles Chart in the late 1980s, and early 1990s, and have released sixteen albums from 1987 to date.-Career:Their first single "Here Comes...
. The band only lasted 8 months, during which time Kerr emerged as one of the main songwriters. In November 1977 they changed their name to Simple Minds, and very quickly reduced to 4 members, then increased to 5, then 6, then back to 5 before a period of stability ensued.
He continues to record and tour with Simple Minds, who released their latest album Graffiti Soul in May 2009. He currently lives in Taormina
Taormina
Taormina is a comune and small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Messina, about midway between Messina and Catania. Taormina has been a very popular tourist destination since the 19th century...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, where he runs a hotel called Villa Angela.
Three U.K. club dates in the spring of 2010 featured both new material and Simple Minds' back catalogue and a full European tour followed.
Solo Albums (2010-present)
Jim Kerr released his first solo album Lostboy! AKA Jim KerrLostboy! AKA Jim Kerr
Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr is Simple Minds front-man Jim Kerr's first solo album released on 17 May 2010. The album entered the UK charts at #94 on 29 May 2010 and UK Independent Chart at #8...
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."
The 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 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
& Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. A new Lostboy AKA! 25-date "Electroset" (European) tour (the third one) (featuring Simon Hayward and Sarah Brown) was scheduled from 18 October to 3 December 2010 but the band played only 9 shows till the rest of the tour was cancelled after the performance on 13 November 2010 in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
because of Jim's mother Irene who had become ill with a recurrence of cancer.
In 2013, Kerr is to release his second solo album, which will be titled and released after Simple Minds' planned 2013 world tour.
Personal Life
Kerr was married to Chrissie HyndeChrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
, lead singer of The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, in 1984 (divorced, 1990). They had one daughter, Yasmin. He was subsequently married to actress Patsy Kensit
Patsy Kensit
Patricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit is an English actress, singer, model and former child star, known for her television and film appearances. Her films include Lethal Weapon 2 and she has been married to rock stars Jim Kerr and Liam Gallagher, as well as herself fronting the band Eighth Wonder...
in 1992 (divorced 1996) with whom he had a son, James (born in September 1993).
Kerr helped organise a 90th birthday party for Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in London on 27 June 2008. The event comes 20 years after Kerr and Simple Minds played a role (releasing the single Mandela Day
Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each 18 July . The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010...
amongst other activities) in the 70th birthday concert (also at Wembley) which was held to demand Mandela's release. Mandela attended the 2008 event in person.
Jim Kerr is a Celtic FC fan and active supporter of the club.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification Certification Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit... |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
UK Independent | ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
BEL (WA) Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
BEL (VL) Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... |
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| 2010 | Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr is Simple Minds front-man Jim Kerr's first solo album released on 17 May 2010. The album entered the UK charts at #94 on 29 May 2010 and UK Independent Chart at #8...
|
94 | 8 | 46 | 60 | 149 | 20 | 46 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
IRE Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
AUS | GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
ITA Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
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| 2010 | "Shadowland" | 46 | — | 48 | 65 | — | — | 41 | Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr |
| "Refugee" | 27 | 34 | 17 | 14 | — | — | 65 | ||
| "She Fell In Love With Silence" | 19 | 21 | 17 | — | 29 | — | — | ||
| "Kill Or Cure" | 35 | — | — | 41 | 32 | 45 | — |
External links
- Penny Black Music Interview with Jim Kerr, May 2010