JIM Kerr, lead singer with synth rock band Simple Minds, is a huge fan of Swindon’s own pop icons XTC.

Simple Minds’ own chart hits included Don’t You Forget About Me, which was featured in the film The Breakfast Club, Alive and Kicking, Promised You A Miracle and Sanctify Yourself.

Jim said: “XTC are one of my favourite bands. Andy Partridge is an amazing man; humourous and skilled. I enjoyed their recent documentary.’’

The singer/songwriter also recalls the warm welcome he had at Swindon’s Oasis in 2015 when he was full of cold and not really fit to perform.

“We had a warm welcome in Swindon and even though I felt so ill, it was the desire to give a response, to perform, that kept me going.’’

The singer also says, in his broad Scottish brogue, that he loves the Wiltshire accent! He will be hearing plenty of those when Simple Minds head back to Swindon this month to perform at Lydiard Park with Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders and K T Tunstall, as part of the Grandslam Tour 2018.

“Last time I toured with Chrissie I married her. I don’t think I’ll be doing that this time!’’ said Jim. “But we do get on well, very well, so it’s good to have her along. Chrissie was one of the first women in rock.

“And we have K T Tunstall, who toured with us in Europe. She’s so good we would go down to watch her before our set.’’

When they come to Swindon, Simple Minds will be playing a mix of the old favourites and some of the new songs from their 17th album called Walk Between Worlds, which they recorded at the famous Abbey Roads studios.

Jim says people were surprised that the new album did not have the insights into the issues of the day that many of his past projects had done.

Back in the 1980s, Simple Minds were very much into their politics, backing such organisations as Amnesty International.

They were the first band to sign up to Mandela Day concert at Wembley and wrote the famous song Mandela Day. They also penned Belfast Child about the troubles in Northern Ireland.

“I am interested, like everyone else, about the world today but what more can I tell you about Brexit or Trump that you can’t hear 24 hours a day? We wanted to transcend that in this album, to move on,’’ said Jim.

The new album has that sunshine sound with the Simple Minds iconic shimmering synths mixed with the riotous riffs of Charlie Burchell’s guitar.

Jim says it was Charlie’s music that inspired the summer lyrics.

“We have known each other since we were eight years old and get on well but we also know to give each other space.

“We live in different countries so send each other stuff on MP3s and then when we have six ideas we get together in the same room to flesh it out,’’ said Jim.

He now spends his time between his two homes, his hotel business in Sicily and his house in Scotland.

Simple Minds comes to Lydiard Park, Lydiard Tregoze, West Swindon on Friday, August 31. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk - Flicky Harrison