- "Somehow I turned into the boy I used to be, the passionate kid that I 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 familar character. Rapidly
I then began considering what kind of songs could be created if I 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 co-writer and producer Jez Coad - much
of these songs feel to me that they could be signals from tomorrow. It's 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."
- "Frankly many artists have various bands and projects on the go. Grohl, Jack White, Albarn,
Nick Cave. McCartney launched The Fireman. Never possible before when record companies would insist that you were
exclusive to one thing. Sometimes it is difficult for an audience to perceive an artist having more than
one profile. The very good ones have made it work." - Jim.
- During the latter half of 2009 (and whilst preparing for the Graffiti Soul Tour)
Jim was overflowing with ideas and spent many separate productive sessions with Charlie,
Andy and
Jez. It was assumed this was all work for Simple Minds, but the work with Jez
was separate.
- "Two years ago we did a tour to commemorate our thirtieth anniversary.
And I think something about that did impact on me more than I’d thought at the time. Basically to have a thirty year career is blessed; I love
the band and I love the people I work with. But something crept in: is there only one act in life? Is there only one story to life? And that
question seemed to resonate louder and louder. At the same time, my daily work was getting much more prolific and there was this volume of
work which was starting to appear: some of which felt that it could work with Simple Minds, and a lot of it felt like it was coming
from a different place. So the idea started to arise: what am I going to do here?" - Jim
- "Four days after I finished in Rockfield, I demoed some vocals on four new tracks; we’ve finished them off in demo form. I’ll
tell you why; the world just feels like a better place when you’ve got a few new songs up your sleeve" - Jim speaking
to Todd Richards.
- The news of a solo project was broken by Billy Sloan. Writing in his column at the end of 2009, he briefly stated: "Simple Minds' singer
Jim Kerr's first ever solo project will be a mix of inspired cover versions and original compositions."
- "Glasgow journalist Billy Sloan mentioned Lostboy! in his tips for the coming year. Nice
of him even if he did not get the name quite right. Cute seeing this idea that I have been
carrying around in my head, being referred to in a newspaper. Finally made it so real as opposed to some loopy dream." - Jim
- Most of the writing and initial recording of the album took place between September and December 2009. Backing vocals and percussion were added during January 2010
with the final mix being prepared in February 2010. During this period, the only song title to emerge connected with Lostboy! AKA was
Remember Asia, which Jim mentioned during October.
- "Spent the days leading up to Christmas in snow bound London doing vocals on most of the songs.
The voice seems to have a lot of strength to it, no surprise considering how much it has
been used this year. No need to warm up, just walk up to the microphone, open my mouth,
and it sounds pretty good." - Jim
- "I didn't want to do just a Jim Kerr solo album (boring!) or form an alternative band
(as I’m already in a great one!) But the spirit in the new music was of things I listened to when I was 18 - 23; I could feel the young ghost
coming back; I was connecting back to the lost boy." - Jim
- The idea of reconnecting with a youthful, forgotten past was not new. The Lostboy name emerged on the bonus covers disc of Simple Minds'
Graffiti Soul - which was called Searching For The Lost Boys.
- "But as I was working through, and listening hard, to the stuff that I was doing, then there was a spark that really took me back.
There was a great recollection back to the kid I was when I was eighteen to twenty-three: there was something about the attitude of the music,
something about the language of the words, it almost felt like I was reconnecting with that young spirit, that young ghost (as I’ve been calling it).
And I just thought, if I hadn’t gone off on the Simple Minds journey, I wondered what was in his head then. And I started getting this
idea of Lostboy and writing from this alter-ego or connecting with a younger alter-ego. And as I started thinking about that, I started
getting really excited also about, not only the idea of doing it, but the idea of starting from the very beginning. Because
Simple Minds, or any band lucky enough to have a story as we have, no matter what you do - and I think we’ve been good at writing
new chapters recently - you’re always going to have to refer to your past. And that’s cool but... it’s really cool starting something with a blank page." - Jim
- Jim was quick to clarify the project, communicating directly with fans through his Jim Kerr and
Lostboy! AKA Facebook accounts.
- "Until now, I never felt the need to make a solo record. I had more than enough to do with Simple Minds. But in the
last few years I've written more than I ever did and some of the songs didn't feel like I was in Simple Minds mode" - Jim
- "Mel Gaynor is the only musician who features on Lostboy! that I have played with previously.
As always he brought so much to the sessions. Some who have already heard his efforts on Lostboy!
are saying that it is amongst his best work. He certainly grafted hard while cutting eleven tunes in
around five days only. Obviously it felt great having him involved." - Jim
- A holding page for the new Lostboy website was quickly set up and launched during the last days of 2009. A short instrumental taster of the first few bars of Refugee
gave the first hint of Lostboy! AKA's new sound.
- "Should see the single page site today. Only a seed of what is to come but an important first
step obviously, without giving too much away. I am hoping it can be up for the first day of the
new decade. Symbolically that would be an appropriate birth date for Lostboy!" - Jim.
- However, the project really got going when Billy Sloan published an interview with Jim
in the Sunday Mail of the 7th March. The first single, Shadowland was announced, along with more details of the album, the idea
behind the personna of Lostboy! AKA and details of the first Lostboy! AKA tour.
- Jim was also interviewed on Billy's Clyde One radio show the
same evening. It included the first radio play of Refugee along with the first play of an exclusive remix of the track by
Simon Hayward especially mixed for the show. Both tracks, along with the first single Shadowland,
were quickly made available through Lostboy's Youtube Channel.
- As a "thank-you" to fans for their support, the album mix of Refugee was made available as a download to all those who'd registered with
the pre-launch website.
- The short promotional tour included small clubs in northern Europe. "This music is built to be played live. I'm convinced it will sound great." - Jim
- The main Lostboy website launched on the 13th April 2010. Based on the same engine running www.simpleminds.com it featured
an exclusive taste of the album's artwork and Welcome Gift 1 comprising the album mix of Refugee (which had been previously
offered) and the exclusive Scary Monsters Mix of What Goes On.
- The artwork was designed by Curious who'd previously worked on Simple Minds'
Graffiti Soul. Jim also considered working with photographer
Peter MacArthur, who took all the early Johnny And The Self Abusers and Simple Minds
pictures. However, MacArthur had moved to China.
- "I used Curious who also designed Graffiti Soul, a Glasgow company and I'm impressed. A
new project is such a different challenge particularly when it comes to deciding on design. I'm looking
for something which has an instant effect but also has space to grow through subsequent releases.
As with anything, the foundation stone has to be solid for the rest to grow in the way that I believe it can." - Jim
- Physical releases were issued through Edel records of Germany. Jim sent some demos to three or four
trusted people in the industry, and Max Vaccaro of Edel (who'd worked with Simple Minds in the past) replied
within half-an-hour and said "I want to do this."
- Rather than wait for the lawyers to finish the deal, Jim financed the project himself. He also
set up his own label, Tartan Noir Music, with Edel handling the distribution.
- The project didn't involve Charlie. "Charlie is a best mate and
it's normal you chat a lot about what you are doing. He knew I'd been writing but we never discussed it beyond me reassuring him I would not let things
get in the way of Simple Minds. There were times I wanted to call Charlie and get his input
but that's inevitable, as we are so intrinsically linked in most of what we do." - Jim.
- The album was issued on four glossy formats. The standard eleven track CD was joined by a limited edition LP (2000 copies),
a limited edition 7" pack (signed by Jim and limited to 3000 copies)
and a collector's CD digipak (which featured three bonus tracks).
- The LP was obviously pressed by a Simple Minds fan as
"ACT OF LOVE" is etched into the matrix.
- Lucky Man by The Verve was originally going to be on the bonus 7". However,
it was not finished in time and was replaced by Jet Black The Night.
- Other plans included an exclusive track for the Japanese version of the album and the recording of a
Pink Floyd track for iTunes - unfortunately neither appeared although
the Atmoxic remix of Refugee became the
iTunes exclusive.
- "My work on the debut is done - the record company will have it in their hands next week. This means my Babyboy!
has left the nest, leaving me to begin work on the follow up immediately. I will record it in October. A new
project/band needs quick momentum or it dies. Simple Minds recorded and released their first three albums inside
eighteen months. How come I can work so fast? It is the great team I have working with me!" - Jim.
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