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A few years ago Simple Minds' lead singer Jim Kerr thought his music making days were over, but he and the band are touring again and will be playing in New Zealand next week for the first time in 20 years.
"When we first came down to New Zealand in '81, we came down as almost unknowns, but within a couple of months New Zealand and Australia both gave Simple Minds our first ever gold discs,"
Kerr has had a career spanning 30 years, album sales of 30 million and he is said to be one of Britain's wealthiest musicians.
"I think if you're going to have a 10, 20, 30 year career... you're not always going to be in fashion, you're not always going to be top of your game, but I guess when you've had a career that long it becomes a life and you've got to play through the good and bad. And if you do that, usually, you're perceived as being the real deal," says Kerr.
Not so long ago he felt the creativity had dried up, but after a break the band has come back with a new album and Kerr says he's feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed.
"Six or seven years ago, to be frank it felt, in regards to new songs, like getting blood out of stone, but right now I feel I could write a song everyday and i'm happy if we're doing a gig every night."
Kerr says that when the band takes to the stage in New Zealand they will be trying to live up to great nights they've had here in the past.
"When we first came down to New Zealand in '81, we came down as almost unknowns, but within a couple of months New Zealand and Australia both gave Simple Minds our first ever gold discs," says Kerr.
Simple Minds plays in Wellington on Monday May 15 and in Auckland the following night.
