Artist profiles

Lostboy! A.K.A Jim Kerr

Leading on from the successful album launch and subsequent showcase tour earlier this year, Jim Kerr is now set to tour UK and Europe extensively with his solo project Lostboy! AKA. Announcing the "LOSTBOY! AKA JIM KERR - ELECTROSET TOUR" Kerr said "Although already working on a follow up album I am delighted to be also touring Lostboy! AKA simultaneously. This solo project is still a very new challenge and I find it exhilarating. I am sure these dates will further prove that Lostboy! AKA is as strong live as he is on record and I cannot wait to get in front of those who have supported me so thoroughly to date. The "Electroset" format in particular will be interesting to perform. Featuring a mixture of live and programmed sounds it brings me back full circle to my own roots as a fan and part pioneer of early '80's electro music. The live set will of course feature much of the debut album, however I do intend to also revisit some Simple Minds cult classics especially from the Empires and Dance to New Gold Dream era, not to mention a few other real surprises. All in all people can expect a night of energetic and emotional music that could be categorised as electro pop, rock and dance!"
Produced by Jez Coad (behind the desk on the latest two Simple Minds albums that peaked on both sales and radio charts around the world) who is also playing guitars and keyboards, the album features Charlie Jones on bass (five albums with Robert Plant, two with Page/Plant and three with Goldfrapp) while drums are recognizable from the first beat: Mel Gaynor, Simple Minds‘ drummer since 1983 is the master behind the drum-kit.

“Lostboy! Aka” is by all means a solo album by Jim Kerr. The decision to use a new brand like Lostboy! is to underline the intention of the Scottish singer of developing a parallel career with Lostboy! together with the never-stopping success of Simple Minds.

The album has a wide spectrum of sounds and emotions. From the electro-alternative of “She Fell in Love With Silence” (which echoes Joy Division memories), to the recognizable Simple Minds sound of the instantly classic “Shadowlands”, pop gems like the title-track or “Bulletproof Heart” through leftfield episodes like “Nail Through My Heart” or “Return Of The King”.
Not one filler song. One Alternative Pop masterpiece after another. Without doubt, one of the albums of the year. A record for all Simple Minds fans, but also an album for all the fans in love with the British sound that made the world better after the Punk cultural revolution in 1977.

"Somehow I had tuned into the boy that I used to be, the passionate kid that I had left behind,
and mysterious as that all was, there was no denying how thrilled I was to be reconnecting
with the energetic outlook and liberating values at the core of that distantly familiar character.
Rapidly I then began considering what kind of songs could be created if I could immerse
myself "now" in engaging fully with that young ghost. LOSTBOY AKA! is the result of that
curiosity, and I am exhilarated by it. No mere dance with the past - thanks to the vision of cowriter
and producer Jez Coad - much of these songs feel to me that they could be signals from
tomorrow. Its only a first step, but I can easily imagine taking this new relationship much
further in parallel with the continuing great story of Simple Minds."
(Jim Kerr, March 2010)

Lostboy! will let the fans get a taste of the new album through the website www.lostboyaka.com
The song “Refugee” has been made available as a free download.
The official Youtube Channel by Lostboy! will also be regularly updated with outtakes, remixes and videos. www.youtube.com/user/lostboyakaa project of www.ear-music.netearMUSIC is a project of Edel
contact: earmusic@edel.comLostboy! and earMUSIC will announce in the next days the first European Club tour. Concerts in various European cities will be added shortly to the already confirmed gigs in Aberdeen, Glasgow and London. The complete list will be announced on all Official Lostboy related websites

Jim Kerr:

James “Jim” Kerr is the founder and the voice of Simple Minds, one of the most influential British
bands coming out of the Post-Punk musical revolution in 1978 along with bands such as Joy Division,Magazine and The Buzzcocks.
Simple Minds worked hard for years releasing independent albums that are now described as a
primary influence from bands like Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Cardigans, Kasabian and many others. After their “independent” years the band developed into stadium stardom together with U2, without losing the edge and the style of their beginnings. Jim Kerr and Simple Minds sold over 40Millions albums and enjoyed Top 5 Chart success all over the world with singles like “Don‘t You (Forget About Me)”, “Alive And Kicking”, “Mandela Day” and many others.
Jim Kerr’s musical culture has been strongly influenced by Punk Rock and by the love for heroes
such as Bowie, Kraftwerk, Genesis and The Doors. No surprise that all these different influences
have forged one of the most unique and brilliant voices and personalities in Pop Rock. After a period that Jim Kerr often has described as Simple Minds “dark age” (the 90s, where the band nevertheless produced a number of brilliant albums) Simple Minds have been enjoying a new phase of great success and creativity. Their latest two studio albums (“Black And White” and the most recent “Graffiti Soul” which charted all over the world) have been critically acclaimed and brought the band into the Sales Charts all over the World.
For more information please check:
www.lostboyaka.com