13 Dec, 2010 Truly a Super Fan!
We lost one of our greatest supporters this week. A fan who had been with Simple Minds since our first days right up until the present, one who had hung in there with us through all the tremendous highs as well as the inevitable lower points.
No mere spectator she was also an activist on our behalf, particularly in securing us our first ever rehearsal space when she convinced the local parish priest to permit us to use the dining hall of St Brigid’s Primary School in Toryglen.
When for some reason Father Sheery decided a few weeks later that for reasons unknown we would not be allowed to continue using the hall, she wasted no time at all in throwing on her coat and running up to the chapel to give the 6ft 6inch domineering Irishman a telling off that he admitted he would never forget.
Day’s later normal service was indeed resumed, and we were mysteriously allowed to continue using the hall. In doing so we were able to take the first steps towards playing out our fantasies of becoming a rock band.
From then on in and without ever interfering, Mum – a super fan – was with me every step of the way.
Above all I recall her standing behind me as I announced out of the blue to my father that I wanted to be an “artist” and had no intention whatsoever of working in any other profession.
Dad, understandably confused by the pronouncement, thought I was off my nut!
Instantly dismissive, Mum firmly insisted that he hear me out.
In the end, and after weeks of discussions and much disagreement, he relented. In doing so he became as much a supporter as she was. When I later asked her why she had supported me in my mad crusade, she simply shrugged and said, “I wanted my kids to be happy!”
To be fair, all the parents of the original members of Simple Minds were great and contributing supporters. That includes the Burchill’s, McGee’s, Barnwell’s, Donald’s, followed by the Mac Neil’s and the Forbes. As for my own, I can never recall them not being right there for me whenever I needed.
Follower’s of my Facebook page will have recently seen the post where I detailed how proud my mother was of all the Simple Minds fans and follower’s of the band. She had been at countless shows and had never witnessed anything other than the great and positive atmospheres created by those who come to see us. She constantly said to me “ Jim, your fans must be the best in the world! ”
Who was I to disagree?
In the all the years that have passed and within all the success and reward that was to come our way, I can barely recall my mother asking me for anything – outside of embarrassingly enquiring if both Charlie and myself would continue to contribute to running costs of the community hall in Toryglen, the district where we both grew up. She was always delighted when we instantly agreed as the community meant so much to her.
If I was to choose what to me has been the greatest day in my career I am sure I would decide that the Mandela Freedom Concert at Wembley Stadium in ’88 was our “best day at the office.” My father was in the audience with tears of pride in his eyes, mum on the other hand was back at home visiting an elderly neighbor who lived alone and had been hospitalized.
Before I start to make mum sound like some Saint I should also declare that only a day earlier she had to be physically restrained from personally visiting the home of a notoriously ignorant politician who had declared in a front page newspaper article that I was “nothing more than left wing scum,” all as a result of my support for the Anti Apartheid Movement.
When I enquired what she intended doing when she came face to face with my slanderer, she retorted. “I would easily have torn the few remaining hairs out of his head!” A year later when I told her that the same poor fellow had died of a sudden heart attack, she stared at me blankly and said “Good!”
Last week when the worst snow – storms in 25 years were to hit Glasgow, Mum decided that she was really bored lying around the house.
Sensing her increasing anxiety I said we should ignore the weather warnings and go out for a drive – mid blizzard. This we did and we skidded through the ice that lay on the desolated roads around the areas of Glasgow where she grew up and worked as a sixteen year – old factory girl. We also drove through the street where she gave birth to me, all through it she was reminiscing and detailing how happy her life had always been.
From there we went into a city centre shop where we choose some clothes for her to wear over Christmas – her favourite time of year. She looked so pretty as she wandered in and out of the changing room. I will never forget the smile on her face that day!
Jim Kerr
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