Jim Kerr
James Kerr (born 9 July 1959) is a Scottish singer and the lead singer of the rock band Simple Minds, becoming best known internationally for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985), which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Other commercially successful singles include "Glittering Prize" (1982), "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" (1982), "Waterfront" (1983) and "Alive and Kicking" (1985), as well as the UK number one single "Belfast Child" (1989).
For other people named Jim Kerr, see Jim Kerr (disambiguation).
Jim Kerr
Singer, songwriter
1977–present
2
Vocals
With Kerr as their lead singer, Simple Minds have achieved five[1] UK Albums chart number one albums, Sparkle in the Rain (1984), Once Upon a Time (1985), Live in the City of Light (1987), Street Fighting Years (1989) and Glittering Prize 81/92 (1992); they have sold more than 60 million albums.[2] They were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s.[3] Simple Minds have also achieved considerable chart success in the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy and New Zealand.[1]
He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr, on 27 May 2010. Kerr's voice has been described as "David Bowie's rich baritone melded with Bryan Ferry's velvety croon".[4]
Other work[edit]
Kerr helped organise a 90th birthday party for Nelson Mandela at Hyde Park, London on 27 June 2008.[21] The event came 20 years after Kerr and Simple Minds played a role (releasing the single Mandela Day amongst other activities) in the 70th birthday concert at Wembley Stadium, which was held to demand Mandela's release. Mandela attended the 2008 event in person.
Personal life[edit]
Kerr married Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders, in 1984. They divorced in 1990.[22] They had one daughter named Yasmin born in 1985.[23] He subsequently married actress Patsy Kensit in 1992 (divorced in 1996) with whom he had a son, born September 1993.
Jim Kerr is a Celtic fan and an active supporter of the club.[24] In 1998 he was part of a consortium together with former player Kenny Dalglish, among others, that unsuccessfully tried to take over the club.[25]
Mark Kerr, the vocalist's brother, is also a musician, playing in groups such as the hard rock band Gun.[26]
Kerr lives in Taormina, Sicily, with his Japanese partner Yumi, where he owns the hotel Villa Angela;[27][28] he has italian citizenship.[29]