14 Jul, 2009 King Of The Castle
Artists that go on stage before us and successfully begin what is hopefully a memorable night for the audience really do us proud.
I am sure that those who came to our recent shows throughout Germany will agree that Arno Carsterns was quite special. The South Africans had something very unique and definitely merit much more attention. Both Charlie Burchill and myself were quite blown away by their imaginative skills, making sure that we were around most nights as they took to the stage. I will be keeping a look out for them and how they develop over the months to come, additionally I hope we get the chance to perform together again as it is always a pleasure to work with good people that are also great artists.
It is even more a pleasure to work with a great band that happen to be among our closest friends, as is the case with The Silencers who opened up for us in Paris. Having them with us again this week, and on a night that could be as memorable to us as anything previous feels absolutely right.
The Silencers at Edinburgh castle with Simple Minds is bound to be a show that does all to please the thousands that are making their way to Scotland’s most famous landmark. I myself intend to enjoy the occasion as much as I can and part of that involves making sure that I see as much of the Silencers set.
Their Blues for Buddha album was as good as any released in the late eighties and although mass popularity eluded them in the UK, they did nevertheless achieve considerable success in various countries. People who know the Silencers are more than aware of the quality of their songs. Anybody unfamiliar should seek them out.
DOWNLOAD A FREE SILENCERS TRACK HERE!
And so, on we go moving through July with shows coming at us before we have had much chance to think about them. Personally I look forward to Liverpool, but Taormina for obvious reasons is another favourite. Inevitably the uniqueness of a show that is set to take place in Venice and in no less a situation than Piazza San Marco means that it will be a truly special event among many for us. They are all in their own way unique in fact, they are all important also. A lesser gig does not exist in our view. All gigs become a thread in the tapestry, a line in our story.
And as for the Edinburgh concert itself? Well, as I said when we announced the show back in early December, it is an honour for us as a Scottish band to set up stage on the famous Castle esplanade. Edinburgh is one of the world’s finest cities in my view and the castle is surely the centrepiece within the magical setting. It is a monument that has entranced me since I was the smallest kid – and when making the almost annual family day trip through from our native Glasgow – was guaranteed to create maximum excitement among my brothers and I.
My family will be there again on Saturday, they are as excited and supportive now about Simple Minds as ever. In addition to them, there is bound to be a whole number of friends and colleagues that in one way or other have contributed their skills to help forward Simple Minds within our endeavours. En mass that Scottish support has been colossal and I am grateful that events have seen to it that I will be able to share together with them, and with all who are coming from far and wide, in what will be yet another landmark night within our band’s history.
Jim Kerr