Riding the New Wave to international fame in the ‘80s, Simple Minds has instantly recognizable hits even as the band members remain a bit of a mystery. Most ‘80s music fans know that Jim Kerr is the lead singer, but are likely to be stumped to name another member. Director Joss Crowley’s rapturous 2023 documentary aims to shine a light on the fascinating dynamics of the band while documenting their unlikely rise to fame and continuing passion for performance.
Buy Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible DVDCrowley utilizes archival footage and new interviews with the band and assorted celebrities to explore their origins. Yes, new interviews, because they never really went away, even if you haven’t stumbled across any of their continuing new music in decades. It’s shocking when Kerr first enters the frame, as it’s initially unclear who the wizened old man is, completely stripped of rock-star trappings and appearing like any other old bloke out on a neighborhood stroll. His nonchalance immediately makes it clear there’s no subterfuge to be had here, he’s done putting on airs and just wants to openly chat about the good old days.
Those old days start very early, with Kerr and childhood friend/guitarist Charlie Burchill forming the nucleus of the band while still in high school in the post-industrial blight of Glasgow, Scotland. That’s Burchill in profile on the DVD cover, forever in the shadow of Kerr but no less integral to their ongoing success. Band members have come and gone, but apparently without much acrimony, as a few are interviewed for the film with obvious affection. Other luminaries speaking out include Molly Ringwald, Dave Gahan, author Irvine Welsh, producer Jimmy Iovine, and Live Aid head honcho Bob Geldoff.
If your knowledge of the band begins and ends with their breakout hit from The Breakfast Club soundtrack, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, the most shocking revelation in the film is the fact that the song was handed to them by their label, who were also considering Bryan Ferry or Billy Idol. Kerr and Burchill reminisce about their initial rejection of the song, priding themselves on their artistic integrity but finally relenting and ending up with the biggest hit of the band’s career.
Recognizing that most viewers only care about their heyday, Crowley primarily focuses on the band’s meteoric rise in the ‘80s. That story will be familiar to viewers who were around for it, but Crowley glosses over what’s happened since then. Aside from a brief reference to his marriage to Chrissie Hynde and their daughter, Kerr keeps his stories strictly to band business, as does Burchill. The band has remained active without ever calling it quits, rapidly approaching their 50th anniversary in 2027, but while Crowley includes some recent performance footage, he mostly ignores the last 30+ years.
This isn’t so much a “rise and fall” story as a rise and fade, with the guys still just as dedicated to their craft but recognizing their vastly decreased relevance, even as we never really get into the details about what they’ve been up to since their peak. Kerr’s most telling observation is when he talks about riding to a recent club gig as they drive past a stadium they sold out once upon a time. He’s not bitter, and both men recognize they’ve had fabulous lives beyond their wildest Glasgow-boyhood dreams, fully proving that everything is possible.
Simple MInds: Everything Is Possible is available on DVD on August 12th.
