Simple Minds
April 19, 2027, Hallenstadion, Zurich
—only Swiss show—
Today, Simple Minds announce their brand-new studio album, *Sacrosanct*, which will be released on January 29, 2027, via BMG. The first single, “Beginner Boys,” is available starting today. The band has also announced the European leg of their “V” tour featuring special guest Level 42—they’ll be stopping at the Hallenstadion in Zurich on April 19, 2027
In the four years since the release of “Direction Of The Heart” in 2022, Simple Minds have been busier than ever: They released a critically acclaimed documentary spanning their entire career, published a joint autobiography, and performed live concerts worldwide, where they were repeatedly hailed as one of the greatest bands of their generation. Last year alone, as part of their hugely successful “Global Tour,” they played to over 1.5 million people, drawing some of their largest audiences since 1985. During this remarkable period—and inspired by the success of their tour—they took the time to compose and record their new album.
Their 2025 North American leg inspired Kerr and Burchill to revisit their art-rock and new wave roots, after witnessing fans in cities where they had never played before react ecstatically to early songs like “Sons and Fascination.” This atmosphere shapes the entire album *Sacrosanct* and its eight brilliantly composed songs, which are characterized by both simplicity and an ethereal directness. On this album, the longtime partners present themselves in an extremely confident light—it is one of their most vibrant albums in decades, recapturing the magic and grandeur that lie at the heart of Simple Minds.
“Beginner Boys,” the album’s first single, was written as Kerr watched his twin grandsons grow up and reflected on what it means today to raise a good man— “how strength, tenderness, courage, and gentleness can still go hand in hand, even when the culture around them sends mixed signals. It’s less of a statement than a question, one that I hope they’ll spend their lives answering for themselves.” With Kerr’s remarkably understated vocals paired with Burchill’s unmistakably shimmering guitar, the song radiates an infectious euphoria. The opening track, “Elysium”—inspired by The Magazine and named after the paradise of Greek mythology reserved for those who have lived well or fought hard—serves as the natural counterpoint to the album title “King of the Underworld,” which is about whoever or whatever reigns over our desires—all the way to the life-affirming “Jerusalem” (State of Mind), influenced by William Blake’s vision of a Jerusalem that was less a city and more a longing for a better world. “Our Secrets Are The Same” directly addresses the lifelong bond between Kerr and Burchill—a song about a remarkable friendship: two eight-year-olds who met on a street in Glasgow and, even after a good fifty years, still finish each other’s sentences. The album’s “most pop-oriented” moment comes in the form of “Songs,” a tribute to the power of songs to inspire us on good days and pull us out of depression on harder days, when hardly anything else helps. The two closing songs on “Sacrosanct,” “Alive In This Moment” and “The Next Right Thing,” explore nostalgia from different perspectives. The former, with a characteristic, rousing Burchill-style guitar intro, is about resisting the urge to return to the past and instead staying in the present, while the elegiac beauty of the latter focuses on the passage of time and the loss of those we love.
Regarding the choice of the album title, Kerr said: “We called the album *Sacrosanct* because, after a lifetime in this business—nearly fifty years of writing songs together—it no longer feels like a career, but rather something close to a faith. Calling the album *Sacrosanct* is no exaggeration. It’s simply honest.” *Sacrosanct* is an artistic triumph and, alongside *Walk Between Worlds* and *Direction of the Heart*, the third part of an impressive trilogy. “Recording albums and performing live are just as much a part of our lives today as they were at the beginning of our career. We’re grateful to everyone who supports Simple Minds’ new music, and we look forward to seeing you all on our upcoming world tour.” Jim Kerr
The “Simple Minds V Tour 2027” promises a comprehensive live music experience, an all-encompassing celebration of music spanning five decades—presented by a band that has not only managed to remain relevant to every new generation but also continues to create music and perform with the same energy that has defined their career.
Translated with DeepL
