Iconic 80’s band Simple Minds are back down under

An iconic rock band are back on our shores and have incited a very unique reaction from their Australian fans.

There are few things in this world more exciting than seeing your favourite musical acts perform on stage.

For the true fans, it can be a dream come true.

But have you ever thought how your idols feel about the whole thing?

Sometimes, it might be a dream come true for them too.

Walking up to the majestic white sails of the Sydney Opera House, it is easy to see why so many visitors from all over the world flock here each year.

With the Harbour Bridge right next door, there is a sense of tranquillity that washes over you as you realise you’re in one of the most iconic cities in the world.

There is something magical the first time you lay eyes on these famous landmarks, and for the lead singer of Simple Minds, Jim Kerr, it has been a moment he has never been able to forget.

Scottish band Simple Minds are back on our shores. Picture: Supplied

“The first time we arrived in Sydney was back in 1981,” the 64-year-old musician told the enamoured crowd of just over 2,600 fans who had flooded into the Opera House’s Concert Hall.

The legendary Scottish band, known best for their hits ‘Don’t You’ (1985) – made famous by the iconic 80s movie, The Breakfast Club – ‘Belfast Child’ (1989), ‘Glittering Prize’ (1992) and ‘Promised You A Miracle’ (1982), kicked off their highly anticipated Australian tour last week.

Warming up the excited crowd, Kerr revealed that playing at the Sydney Opera House had been a dream of theirs for more than 40 years.

“I think we arrived at the airport at about 6 o’clock at night, and we were on the cheapest fares imaginable,” he said with a smile.

“I think we had to change planes around eight times. We never knew anyone who had ever had jet lag, so we didn’t know anything about it.

“And we arrived, and we read in the paper that Echo and the Bunnymen are playing.”

The band rose to popularity in the 1980s. Picture: Supplied

“They’re playing in Manly. We gotta go. It doesn’t matter that we’ve been on a plane for three days.

“We’ve gotta go. How do you get to Manly? So we came right here, we saw the Opera House.

“I remember saying to Charlie ‘You stick with me kid …’ and now we’ve f**king done it.

“Anyway we go to Manly, and we saw the Bunnymen. We didn’t know the ferry stopped.

“Great memories, and from that moment on, it's been our dream to play at the Opera House.”

Frontman Kerr was joined by guitarist Charles ‘Charlie’ Burchill, 64, who is one of the co-founders of Simple Minds.

The pair are accompanied on this tour by acoustic guitarist Gordy Goudie, Ged Grimes on bass, drummer Cherisse Osei and Sarah Brown on backup vocals.

In a bid to simply blow the minds of as many fans as possible, the band was ambitiously performing two concerts in one night – with the first kicking off at 630pm and the second starting at 930pm.

Simple Minds have always dreamt of playing at the Opera House. Picture: iStock

With the rockers being in their sixties, some might assume this could have been a bit of an impossible task – with Kerr revealing that even one of his mates had their doubts.

“I brought a pal with me from Glasgow … and when we were walking back from dinner last night he says to me ‘so how’s it going to work tomorrow night? You’re doing two gigs …’” he explained.

“I said, what do you mean? He says ‘so will you just take it a bit easy at the first show?’

“I said, ‘I thought you were my f**king pal. You’re insulting us’.

“Simple Minds and go easy? We don’t know the meaning of the word.”

The musical legend was not lying, launching right into some of Simple Minds’ classic hits as well as a few newer tracks.

Despite being a seated venue, most of the crowd stood for the entirety of the show and danced the night away with passion.

The band were excited to be back in Australia. Picture: News.com.au / Jasmine Kazlauskas

But there was one moment that brought the entire theatre to a complete standstill.

“We’re going to change the mood here,” Kerr announced.

It became so deafeningly silent, you could hear a pin drop.

After a dramatic drums intro, Kerr launched into the band’s powerful song Belfast Child, a heart-wrenching tune the band has not played in Sydney since 1989.

The spine-tingling lyrics are about The Troubles of Northern Ireland and was beautifully performed.

For many years, Kerr declined to play it for the pain he said it brought.

But on that night, despite nearly 3,000 people being in the theatre, there was a poignant silence that completely enveloped the atmosphere and captivated us all.

From this solemn moment, it was not long until the band had us all our feet again.

Frontman Jim Kerr was very interactive with the crowd. Picture: News.com.au / Jasmine Kazlauskas

It was no surprise as the crowd went wild for ‘Don’t You’, while ending the night with an encore of ‘Alive and Kicking’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’.

Formed in the seventies, and named after a lyric – ‘so simple minded’ – from David Bowie’s seminal 1972 single ‘The Jean Genie’, Simple Minds have become one of the most successful bands ever to come from the UK.

The group has sold over 60 million records worldwide, having number one singles on both sides of the Atlantic, and number one albums the world over, including five UK number one albums.

Their most recent and critically acclaimed album Direction of the Heart reached number 4 in the UK album charts and top 10 in multiple countries.

Most of the crowd were on the feet for the whole performance. Picture: News.com.au / Jasmine Kazlauskas

“Concerts are the life blood of Simple Minds, it’s where we and our audience come alive and energised through music,” Jim Kerr said about their world tour.

“Four decades on from when we first set out, this global tour will demonstrate that Simple Minds are still alive and kicking!”

The band will headline the beloved Red Hot Summer Tour, alongside iconic Australian band Icehouse, who have been friends since their early days of touring.

These outdoor shows will take place centre stage in Mornington, Yarra Valley, Bribie Island and Perth.

Simple Minds have headed up to Queensland and played at Bribie Island last night. They will play a show tonight at the Gold Coast.

The group will conclude their Australian tour in Perth on February 21.

Originally published as Iconic 80’s band Simple Minds are back down under