Jim’s Diary

A couple of weeks in now and our summer tour of festivals (mostly) is shaping up rather well with some great reactions from both audiences and media. Audiences in general, have always welcomed us, showing the kind of appreciation that many acts would die for...

I bought Paul Buchanan’s newly released album today, it is called Mid Air and I am delighted as always to have new music from a genuinely great music artist. Born and bred in Glasgow, as I am, I somehow feel I know Paul really well. I...

Ever get asked when are you at the most the happiest? I do, and I know the answer. Like most people I would have to say that things that involve friends and family make me the happiest. At a push I could easily say that...

Like the majority of the UK´s male, working class, of my generation, I was born into a household that worshipped sport. The sport we worshipped most was football and the greatest player on earth during my childhood years was a Brazilian called Pele. Boxing, for...

Re recent recording activity with Steve Osbourne Real WorldStudio. It´s been an inspirational last week with much endeavour and fairly long hours, but finally I feel we have a very good production for these songs. They do feel inspired by the 5x5 era, without that...

I have been musing within these blurbs for over 10 years now and anyone who has cast a glance over them with any regularity will know that I take any opportunity possible to highlight and praise the musicians that I have had the pleasure to...

Both Charlie Burchill and myself will attend a record signing on 21st April at Sister Ray Records in Soho London as part of the 'Record Store Day' event. To coincide with this year's 'Record Store Day', Simple Minds will also release a very special Limited Edition...

Easter means different things to different people. There is the religious foremost. Then of course there is the sweet tooth aspect that made the holiday so memorable to me as a kid. Many also see Easter mainly as the true start of spring, the first...

Hmmm. And just as we had settled into recording mode, tomorrow we will hightail it to the Arctic Circle for a one – off show in Tromso and we are looking forward to it immensely as well. It is always particularly good to go play somewhere...

Real World Studio is a residential recording studio in Wiltshire founded by Peter Gabriel. More than a recording studio actually, the complex is world famous within the music industry as Real World is also the label that has introduced so much world music over the last...

Considering how long I have been listening to artists in one shape or form, it still feels as wonderful as ever to be immediately stopped in my tracks and instantly inspired by the talented minds and attitudes of others who might be known mostly for...