THE iconic band Simple Minds will celebrate 40 years in music next year with a major world tour which includes a date in Bournemouth.

“Simple Minds are different now,” says Jim Kerr.

“We’re not a stock rock band, but we haven’t changed our line-up to be cool.

“We’ve done it because it’s great to have so many amazing players on board.

“I’m grateful for the career we’ve had, but I’m mad enough to think we can still hit new levels. This is what we do – write, record and play live.”

Charlie Burchill adds: “The perception that we’re now gathering pace is down to our attitude to playing live.

“There have been lots of different incarnations of Simple Minds, but we’ve always kept our identity. A legacy can be a burden if you allow it to be. For us, it’s been empowering.”

Simple Minds are also releasing a career-spanning compilation 40: The Best Of – 1979-2019 on November 1 via UMC collating their early fan favourites with their era-defining hits such as Don’t You and Alive and Kicking.

The collection also includes a gloriously euphoric new track – a cover of King Creosote’s celebration of weekend revelry For One Night Only.

In addition, the new live album Live In The City of Angels will be released this Friday.

Along the way, they have landed five UK number one albums, topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic, sold over 60 million albums and packed stadiums around the world.

* Simple Minds will play the Bournemouth International Centre on April 15 at the BIC. Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday, October 4 and are available from simpleminds.com.