It seemed like a good idea at the turn of the millennium. Ged Grimes ex-Danny Wilson bassist had settled down with the wife and kids and decided that his live gigging days were, on the whole, a thing of the past.
Far from being just a vehicle for global rock star Jim to relive his youth as some critics have suggested Lost Boy is a whole new project relevant to the relentless wave of 80s electronica which has swept the country, and the continent, over the past few years.
Were this album released by a bunch of 20-something new kids on the block, it would be lauded in the music press as a brave new offering for electronic rock-pop. Instead, it’s youthful music from a wise old head, drawn from 33 years’ experience but fired by the teenager still inside him.
Jim Kerr has come full circle.
“Let’s face it, Jim doesn’t have to do this. Simple Minds play massive venues and still sell records, but for me his enthusiasm is completely refreshing. To strip it back and get it all moving with a new band and have everything right in your face is amazing. He’s got the momentum going though and it’s like the real enthusiasm for where it all started for him.
“We play two or three Minds songs maximum, but relatively unknown tracks from Empires and Dance and Sons and Fascination. These songs were years ahead of their time. We’ve moved them on a bit and they’re almost more relevant now than they were when they were released.
“But 99% of the material is new stuff, and the reaction from the fans has been brilliant and the record has been getting some good airplay.
“This tour is just a bit of a toe-in-the-water thing. We did three UK gigs. The King Tuts gig was crazy it was packed and you could hardly get the five of us on the stage.
“But then I was touring with Deacon Blue and we supported Simple Minds on a few shows, we hung out for a while and then I got a call recently from Jim to say he had a new project and asked me if I would be up for it. I heard the album and said yes right away.
“It’s very expansive music, right back to early electronica and the album is just crammed with great pop songs, very catchy stuff and it’s going down a storm. I was a huge Simple Minds fan and Lost Boy is very bass-driven you can’t approach it lightly.
“We only met as a band two-and-a-half weeks ago and had two weeks’ rehearsal in Glasgow. But now you’d think we’ve been a band for ages. But I’m playing with such fantastic musicians, using all the experience we’ve all built up, it’s the people who make it.
“We’re already at the stage where Jim works above us, and if he wants to extend a song or cut it short, we just work around it. We’ve got enough built into the show and it’s down to the level of musicianship and experience in the band.”