22 Nov, 2011 Jim talks about 5X5 LIVE
I imagine the announcement of next year’s 5×5 shows will cause some excitement among those who are particularly keen on the music that became the cornerstones of our early career.
I have little doubt about this, particularly when considering that over the years there has been consistent requests from many who desired the chance to witness us revisit those early days of Simple Minds.
Happy days then for them, but also for ourselves! It may well be a challenge to go back to those albums and do them proud as we attempt to reconjure in parts the moods of the shows that took place at the beginnings of our band. Then again, it is always a musical challenge, whether moving forward or, in this case looking back. (Be under no illusion, we are indeed moving both ways next year as a result of our decision to put together these sets, while simultaneously continuing a forward momentum through the writing and recording of much new music.) Above all however, there will a real pleasure for us to highlight many songs that have been perhaps unfairly overlooked as we evolve continuously, hurtling forward year after year, adding yet more songs to our abundant repertoire.
I guess nostalgia and an even more mysterious sense of deja’vu are hard to avoid when you have had a long life or indeed a lengthy career. In our case, as we enter into our 35th year of existence, I find that barely a working day goes by without something occurring that fleetingly reminds me of incidents, conversations, gigs, events, travels and adventures etc, that happened so long ago. Those memories are a huge part of the narrative to our lives and I suspect that some of the music we created has become part soundtrack to the lives of those who generously spent their time listening.
Nothing in my opinion can seemingly transport us back to a time and place in the way that music does.
The 5×5 shows will hopefully confirm all of this and more.
It’s going to be great, believe me!
Jim Kerr