November 26, 2023 • 12 mins
Clairsy & Lisa spoke to Iva Davies from Icehouse & Jim Kerr from Simple Minds, the two 80's powerhouses are coming together for a show in King’s Park in February plus they’ve released a cover of T-Rex’s Get It On.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are so looking forward to next February the twenty first,
Simple Minds and Ice House together in Kings Park. Tickets
are on sale now through Ticketmaster and joining us this
morning all around the world. We're going Jim Kerr from
Frankfurt and Ivor Davies is in Sydney.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Good morning, my lad's good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
So are you guys you met back in nineteen eighty one.
This is not your first rodeo. What do you remember
of meeting each other back in eighty one?
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Ah? Well, I was kind of four worn because I
had a friend who had sed me Vinyl, so I
knew about this band and it was actually between us
and our manager at the time. I think you always
had its eye ad on what was happening on the
other side of the world, and what was happening was
(00:52):
this young band from Scotland called Simple Minds, and that's
where we kind of picked up on that song Love Song.
I think was the very first thing that Australing heard
of Simple.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Mind in data was and you, Jim, yeah, same thing.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I mean it was a mutual friend and result. It
was almost like in a student exchange where Eive and
the guys came close to ut and UH two with us,
and then we got the chance to come ashore with
the first team, which was such a big deal and
such a thrill and still in I mean especially for
me then back then, because I have to tell you
(01:33):
my my family was meant to be one of the
ten Bob poems. We were really yeah, yeah, yeah, and
something happened Mom's family and she cooled out at the
end of it and often thought, what if you know,
I had come then I could have been Ivor's guitar rodeo,
you know. But it's nice to be coming back.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
And the connection with Australia, the fans, and you know,
even that connection early on with the help of Countdown
and Molly, it was it just felt like it was
meant to happen. And the love from the Australian fans
is still there after all these years. But back in
those days it was critical, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah, Well, the support was we had a brand new
national station with with Double J and I remember being
kind of in awe of the technology that Simple Minds
had going on, because we thought we were pretty smart.
We had we had a bunch of new new sympthesizers
and stuff that these guys were like in a different league.
(02:34):
And you know when I heard love song and I'm oh, man,
I want one of those things.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Absolutely, the two bands have come together to record t
Rex's Get It On.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Jim Well, why that song? Why that particular song?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I was laughing there. That's true. We did evolve the
new gear, but we couldn't really please I've n the guys.
In fact, all the Australian bands could play like Billy
or so. But coming to the track, which again is
such a pleasure because obviously Ivan and I are both
(03:12):
huge fans of Reps yes Mark Bolan, and when we
decided to do a song, just so happens that this
was the first record ever bought as a teenager. Well,
the album that the song comes from, Get It On
it as an album called Election Warrior. So all these
years later, you know, to get a chance of saying
(03:32):
one of our favorite songs and to do one of
our favorite bands. And thanks for Ivan. The guys they
do great well, they do great songs of their own,
but they do great cover them.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Yeah, yeah, and I've had last time we caught up
when you met your love for David Bowie, but your
incredible love for Mike Bolan and the stuff he came
out with t Rex, and even the fact that you
had a song like Baby Also Strange, which was so
much influenced by that style. Mate, I didn't realize how
your depth of love for the man.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Well when we were we started out as a covers band, obviously,
and a lot of bands do. I think it's probably
the majority of bands to And I was trying to
think of how many songs of Tarannosaurus Rex and t
Rex that we used to play, and the list, you know,
I kind of got the seven songs, and then the
list kept going and I went, wow, you know, we
(04:22):
were playing really early stuff. And it's all thanks to
a girlfriend who had a massive record collection and she
dumped me, and thanks to her that I got introduced
to all that music very early on. And this is
such a classic song. We couldn't resist really, not.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Just cover bands.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
By the way, Iver, I saw us a set to
play on the steps at Sydney Opera.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
House next month.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Is it true that you first played there in the
seventies as part of an orchestra.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
It's absolutely true. I think I turned eating by about
three weeks and as part of the Conservatorium of Music,
which was, you know, the leading institute of music in Australia.
I had just become a full time student. I was
in the senior orchestra and we were told to go
down the road to that new building that isn't finished
(05:16):
yet and we performed the very first two one act
Australian operas actually they were written by Australian composers in
the Opera House. This is months before the Queen actually
officially opened the Opera House, so you know I was
there in that orchestra pit well while I was still
(05:37):
building it around me. I'm always readible.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I've always believed Eva that your classical training would have
to have been one of the things that really set
you apart as a great musician. Would you agree that
there is nothing like having that, you know, as broad
a background as that.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I would agree wholeheartedly, except that the massive liability that
came that was that Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistoles
had just announced to the world to qualify as a
proper punk band. You can't know actually what you're doing,
you can't play an instrument at all, and so I
kept that a very very very very big secret for
(06:17):
a very long time. I just want to know.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Jim has told us in the past that he's preserved
his voice, that beautiful voice, by not talking and going
to get drinking out the shows. So have you done
the right thing with you, good mate over the years
and gone out drinking with Charlie Birchall, the Simple Minds guitarist.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Well, we certainly did in that first tour. And I
remember we went out one night. Now I think we're
in a club in Manchester or something like that, and
I remember very specifically it was. It had a kind
of mezzanine level, so you look out over the dance
floor and you know, it was dark and incredibly loud.
(06:57):
I think Charlie probably had a couple couple of glasses
of lager by that point. And I don't know whether
you've ever spoken to a person with an incredibly thick
glass region his yep accent. I had a conversation with
Charlie that was about forty minutes long, and I reckon
I didn't understand about ninety five percent of everything that
(07:21):
he said. I just kind of nodded and yes, yes,
And it was a very interesting forty minutes the interpreter.
That's funny.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Charlie for forty years and ninety percent of the stuff,
I don't know what he's saying about.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
That's right, So you're not insane, Yes, as well, maybe.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
That's what.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I can see. That's why, that's how it was. Whatever,
whatever he's seen, it sounds great. So that's Sae.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
But haven't you too, You and Charlie nine each other
since you were in short pants?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Man?
Speaker 5 (07:55):
Were you seven or eight or something?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Well, we'll talking about interest.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Miss.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Was was a new housing scheme backing glass that was
still building it and literally, you know, moving in model
and we're going into the street. And because we're still
building it, there was you know, cements and sand castles
and that, and there's this kid sitting at the top
of the castle and it was Sharlie. And we've been
(08:20):
together ever since.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Now, Jim, if I just may be forgiven for falling
for one moment. I have been a huge Simple Minds
fan ever since Simple Minds came out.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I loved you know, I'm an eighties child.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Someone Somewhere in Summertime is one of my all time
favorite songs. One thing I've always loved to watch is
the fluidity that you always had of motion when you're performing.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
It was mesmerizing.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
But how are your knees these days?
Speaker 3 (08:50):
I still get away with that?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
How did you get into that robbery thing? You know?
I said this, going the poms and glassgown avoiding the
vocals coming up in the dark.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Du so you were ducking and waving.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
You got you got nothing? Yeah you.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yeah, well it was a beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
You gotta stay limba. Yes, hey, I know that. I
know that you had some health issues. Man, how are
you going? And now we were in you're actually in
Perth when a lot of stuff was going down earlier
in the year. But we were very concerned for you.
But you're you're all good.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I actually if I can give
a shout to the wonderful people at the emergency room
of the per hospital there, which I spent three days. Yeah,
and yeah, it was a very interesting time. So you
have many, many, many kind of tests and stuff. Later.
We seem to be queer at beginning of complaining today
(09:56):
and doing another big show this weekend. Last week and
we played as well, and I think the stage we're
on tomorrow night is one of possibly one of the
biggest stages we've ever been on. I've got to the
manager and sent me a photograph yesterday. And last time
we played in Adelaide, the bass player ran into me
and decked himself. And I said, well, it doesn't matter
(10:19):
how big big stages, Larry, I recoon, the bass player's
still going to run into me.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Since the directions gone, players, what did you ask you both?
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Actually, there's been a lot of music documentaries made recently,
some very good ones, and are you fans of these?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Would you consider doing.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
That release of documentary? And if there was something we
agree in t reposition, but directors call everything obvious, thing
is possible? And yeah, I think it did a good
a good job.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I look forward to that.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
How about yourself, ever, No, that's a very interesting year
and I'm looking forward to this simple mind. Yeah, I
don't know. It's we have been asked, and I think
there were plans, but I'm not really good at coming
back over stuff. It's tricky.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Yeah, absolutely, And have you seen being a Bowie fan,
have you seen Moonat's Daydream which was an incredible film.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Lister, When I said this, I mean that was next
level as a documentary. Wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Well, yeah, no, I haven't seen it, but I've seen
a number of things. And you know, my my big,
my big kind of passion with David Bowie was it
was actually his lead guitarist, Mick Ronson, who was from
the original band, and I kind of modeled my entire
sound on Mick Ronson. And there is an incredibly, incredibly
interesting documentary on Mick Ronson called The Side Bowie, and
(11:47):
I can recommend that to people because yeah, he's always
been a massive hero of mine.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Well, I've put that.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
On my list, dream on your list, and on that note,
we will look we will all look forward to Simple
mind documentary coming out in just weeks.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Jim Ducking and weaving forty plus.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Years, I'm gonna look at that in a whole new
way now, Jim Kerr and Iva Davies. We can't wait
to see Simple Minds and Ice House at Kingspark February twenty.
First tickets are through Ticketmaster. Thank you for joining us from.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Frankfurt, Sydney and beaming into Perth.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Thank you boys, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Thank you see you in February.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
So you're here
We are so looking forward to next February the twenty first,
Simple Minds and Ice House together in Kings Park. Tickets
are on sale now through Ticketmaster and joining us this
morning all around the world. We're going Jim Kerr from
Frankfurt and Ivor Davies is in Sydney.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Good morning, my lad's good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
So are you guys you met back in nineteen eighty one.
This is not your first rodeo. What do you remember
of meeting each other back in eighty one?
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Ah? Well, I was kind of four worn because I
had a friend who had sed me Vinyl, so I
knew about this band and it was actually between us
and our manager at the time. I think you always
had its eye ad on what was happening on the
other side of the world, and what was happening was
(00:52):
this young band from Scotland called Simple Minds, and that's
where we kind of picked up on that song Love Song.
I think was the very first thing that Australing heard
of Simple.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Mind in data was and you, Jim, yeah, same thing.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
I mean it was a mutual friend and result. It
was almost like in a student exchange where Eive and
the guys came close to ut and UH two with us,
and then we got the chance to come ashore with
the first team, which was such a big deal and
such a thrill and still in I mean especially for
me then back then, because I have to tell you
(01:33):
my my family was meant to be one of the
ten Bob poems. We were really yeah, yeah, yeah, and
something happened Mom's family and she cooled out at the
end of it and often thought, what if you know,
I had come then I could have been Ivor's guitar rodeo,
you know. But it's nice to be coming back.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
And the connection with Australia, the fans, and you know,
even that connection early on with the help of Countdown
and Molly, it was it just felt like it was
meant to happen. And the love from the Australian fans
is still there after all these years. But back in
those days it was critical, wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah, Well, the support was we had a brand new
national station with with Double J and I remember being
kind of in awe of the technology that Simple Minds
had going on, because we thought we were pretty smart.
We had we had a bunch of new new sympthesizers
and stuff that these guys were like in a different league.
(02:34):
And you know when I heard love song and I'm oh, man,
I want one of those things.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Absolutely, the two bands have come together to record t
Rex's Get It On.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Jim Well, why that song? Why that particular song?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I was laughing there. That's true. We did evolve the
new gear, but we couldn't really please I've n the guys.
In fact, all the Australian bands could play like Billy
or so. But coming to the track, which again is
such a pleasure because obviously Ivan and I are both
(03:12):
huge fans of Reps yes Mark Bolan, and when we
decided to do a song, just so happens that this
was the first record ever bought as a teenager. Well,
the album that the song comes from, Get It On
it as an album called Election Warrior. So all these
years later, you know, to get a chance of saying
(03:32):
one of our favorite songs and to do one of
our favorite bands. And thanks for Ivan. The guys they
do great well, they do great songs of their own,
but they do great cover them.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Yeah, yeah, and I've had last time we caught up
when you met your love for David Bowie, but your
incredible love for Mike Bolan and the stuff he came
out with t Rex, and even the fact that you
had a song like Baby Also Strange, which was so
much influenced by that style. Mate, I didn't realize how
your depth of love for the man.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Well when we were we started out as a covers band, obviously,
and a lot of bands do. I think it's probably
the majority of bands to And I was trying to
think of how many songs of Tarannosaurus Rex and t
Rex that we used to play, and the list, you know,
I kind of got the seven songs, and then the
list kept going and I went, wow, you know, we
(04:22):
were playing really early stuff. And it's all thanks to
a girlfriend who had a massive record collection and she
dumped me, and thanks to her that I got introduced
to all that music very early on. And this is
such a classic song. We couldn't resist really, not.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Just cover bands.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
By the way, Iver, I saw us a set to
play on the steps at Sydney Opera.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
House next month.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Is it true that you first played there in the
seventies as part of an orchestra.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
It's absolutely true. I think I turned eating by about
three weeks and as part of the Conservatorium of Music,
which was, you know, the leading institute of music in Australia.
I had just become a full time student. I was
in the senior orchestra and we were told to go
down the road to that new building that isn't finished
(05:16):
yet and we performed the very first two one act
Australian operas actually they were written by Australian composers in
the Opera House. This is months before the Queen actually
officially opened the Opera House, so you know I was
there in that orchestra pit well while I was still
(05:37):
building it around me. I'm always readible.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I've always believed Eva that your classical training would have
to have been one of the things that really set
you apart as a great musician. Would you agree that
there is nothing like having that, you know, as broad
a background as that.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
I would agree wholeheartedly, except that the massive liability that
came that was that Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistoles
had just announced to the world to qualify as a
proper punk band. You can't know actually what you're doing,
you can't play an instrument at all, and so I
kept that a very very very very big secret for
(06:17):
a very long time. I just want to know.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
Jim has told us in the past that he's preserved
his voice, that beautiful voice, by not talking and going
to get drinking out the shows. So have you done
the right thing with you, good mate over the years
and gone out drinking with Charlie Birchall, the Simple Minds guitarist.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Well, we certainly did in that first tour. And I
remember we went out one night. Now I think we're
in a club in Manchester or something like that, and
I remember very specifically it was. It had a kind
of mezzanine level, so you look out over the dance
floor and you know, it was dark and incredibly loud.
(06:57):
I think Charlie probably had a couple couple of glasses
of lager by that point. And I don't know whether
you've ever spoken to a person with an incredibly thick
glass region his yep accent. I had a conversation with
Charlie that was about forty minutes long, and I reckon
I didn't understand about ninety five percent of everything that
(07:21):
he said. I just kind of nodded and yes, yes,
And it was a very interesting forty minutes the interpreter.
That's funny.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Charlie for forty years and ninety percent of the stuff,
I don't know what he's saying about.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
That's right, So you're not insane, Yes, as well, maybe.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
That's what.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I can see. That's why, that's how it was. Whatever,
whatever he's seen, it sounds great. So that's Sae.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
But haven't you too, You and Charlie nine each other
since you were in short pants?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Man?
Speaker 5 (07:55):
Were you seven or eight or something?
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Well, we'll talking about interest.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
Miss.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Was was a new housing scheme backing glass that was
still building it and literally, you know, moving in model
and we're going into the street. And because we're still
building it, there was you know, cements and sand castles
and that, and there's this kid sitting at the top
of the castle and it was Sharlie. And we've been
(08:20):
together ever since.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Now, Jim, if I just may be forgiven for falling
for one moment. I have been a huge Simple Minds
fan ever since Simple Minds came out.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I loved you know, I'm an eighties child.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Someone Somewhere in Summertime is one of my all time
favorite songs. One thing I've always loved to watch is
the fluidity that you always had of motion when you're performing.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
It was mesmerizing.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
But how are your knees these days?
Speaker 3 (08:50):
I still get away with that?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
How did you get into that robbery thing? You know?
I said this, going the poms and glassgown avoiding the
vocals coming up in the dark.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Du so you were ducking and waving.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
You got you got nothing? Yeah you.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yeah, well it was a beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
You gotta stay limba. Yes, hey, I know that. I
know that you had some health issues. Man, how are
you going? And now we were in you're actually in
Perth when a lot of stuff was going down earlier
in the year. But we were very concerned for you.
But you're you're all good.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I actually if I can give
a shout to the wonderful people at the emergency room
of the per hospital there, which I spent three days. Yeah,
and yeah, it was a very interesting time. So you
have many, many, many kind of tests and stuff. Later.
We seem to be queer at beginning of complaining today
(09:56):
and doing another big show this weekend. Last week and
we played as well, and I think the stage we're
on tomorrow night is one of possibly one of the
biggest stages we've ever been on. I've got to the
manager and sent me a photograph yesterday. And last time
we played in Adelaide, the bass player ran into me
and decked himself. And I said, well, it doesn't matter
(10:19):
how big big stages, Larry, I recoon, the bass player's
still going to run into me.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Since the directions gone, players, what did you ask you both?
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Actually, there's been a lot of music documentaries made recently,
some very good ones, and are you fans of these?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Would you consider doing.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
That release of documentary? And if there was something we
agree in t reposition, but directors call everything obvious, thing
is possible? And yeah, I think it did a good
a good job.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I look forward to that.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
How about yourself, ever, No, that's a very interesting year
and I'm looking forward to this simple mind. Yeah, I
don't know. It's we have been asked, and I think
there were plans, but I'm not really good at coming
back over stuff. It's tricky.
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Yeah, absolutely, And have you seen being a Bowie fan,
have you seen Moonat's Daydream which was an incredible film.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Lister, When I said this, I mean that was next
level as a documentary. Wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Well, yeah, no, I haven't seen it, but I've seen
a number of things. And you know, my my big,
my big kind of passion with David Bowie was it
was actually his lead guitarist, Mick Ronson, who was from
the original band, and I kind of modeled my entire
sound on Mick Ronson. And there is an incredibly, incredibly
interesting documentary on Mick Ronson called The Side Bowie, and
(11:47):
I can recommend that to people because yeah, he's always
been a massive hero of mine.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Well, I've put that.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
On my list, dream on your list, and on that note,
we will look we will all look forward to Simple
mind documentary coming out in just weeks.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
Jim Ducking and weaving forty plus.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Years, I'm gonna look at that in a whole new
way now, Jim Kerr and Iva Davies. We can't wait
to see Simple Minds and Ice House at Kingspark February twenty.
First tickets are through Ticketmaster. Thank you for joining us from.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Frankfurt, Sydney and beaming into Perth.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Thank you boys, Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Thank you see you in February.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
So you're here
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