Jim Kerr

Jim Kerr
Kerr performing at the Isle of Wight Festival with Simple Minds, 2024
Born
James Kerr

(1959-07-09) 9 July 1959
Toryglen, Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1977–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1984; div. 1990)
  • (m. 1992; div. 1996)
Children2
Musical career
GenresRock, folk, punk rock, post-punk, new wave, pop rock, alternative rock
InstrumentsVocals
Member ofSimple Minds
Websitesimpleminds.com

James Kerr (born 9 July 1959) is a Scottish musician and lead singer of the rock band Simple Minds. Commercially successful singles released by Simple Minds include "Don't You (Forget About Me)", "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).

With Kerr as their lead singer, Simple Minds have achieved five 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. They were the most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s. Simple Minds have also achieved considerable chart success in the United States, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy and New Zealand.

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".