Original members and core songwriters, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill formed Simple Minds in 1977 and went on to turn it into one of the biggest, most influential, eclectic and pioneering groups of the past half century. Simple Minds emerged from Glasgow's post-punk scene, transitioning from restless art-rockers to electro futurists and passionate pop contenders before becoming, finally, a global rock institution. Their critically acclaimed run of records between 1979 and 1985 are cited as a key influence by artists as diverse as Primal Scream, Mogwai, Manic Street Preachers, Moby, Peter Gabriel, Horrors and Chvrches. Their numerous global hits include 'Alive and Kicking', 'Promised You A Miracle', 'Waterfront', '(Don't You) Forget About Me', 'Belfast Child', 'Sanctify Yourself', 'She's a River' and 'Let There Be Love'. Simple Minds were recently the subject of critically acclaimed documentary, Everything is Possible, and continue to perform to huge crowds all over the world.
Graeme Thomson is the author of several acclaimed music books, including Under the Ivy: The Life & Music of Kate Bush; Small Hours: The Long Night of John Martyn; and Themes for Great Cities: A New History of Simple Minds. Graeme is pop columnist for the Spectator and writes on music, literature and popular culture for a number of publications, including the Guardian, Radio Times and Uncut.
