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Our Secrets Are The Same: Friendship & Fame at the Heart of Simple Minds
A ROUGH TRADE AND UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025
'Brilliantly entertaining' MOJO
'A rollercoaster tale' Classic Pop
'Endlessly vivid' i Paper
'A beautifully candid bromance . . . the shared vision and the strength of their bond is palpable on every page of a book that even casual fans should devour' Record Collector
'A bruised but brilliant story' God Is in the TV
'Burchill and Kerr take it in turns to tell the story of the band and the story of their friendship. The result feels very Simple Minds, full of ambition, steeliness and proper humour' Herald, Music Books of the Year 2025
The long-awaited memoir from Simple Minds' founder members and lifelong collaborators, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill
A candid, moving and kinetic story of self-realisation through the power of music, Our Secrets Are The Same is the remarkable joint memoir by Simple Minds' founder members, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. It not only reveals the inner workings of one of the most innovative and successful British bands of the past half-century, but the deeply personal tale of an extraordinary friendship which powered teenage dreams into visionary action.
Exploring key songs, places, years and events in the Simple Minds story, and told in the distinct voices of both men, Our Secrets Are The Same explores a bond which has encompassed stratospheric highs and humbling lows, marriages and divorces, fatherhood, fickle fame, tricky inter-band dynamics, the occasional explosive bust up, and a ruthless streak to rival the Sicilian Mafia.
Their connection is grounded in shared experiences and a set of values and codes so deeply ingrained they don't need to be spoken. For Our Secrets Are The Same is not just the story of two rock stars, but of two sons, brothers, partners and parents who have never forgotten where they come from. Two men who have remained deeply bonded to their roots and each other, while fulfilling a teenage dream to form a world-class live band and take their music around the globe.
Fascinating and funny, evocative and inspiring, this unforgettable memoir captures a unique journey through life and music, and a friendship like no other.
'Brilliantly entertaining' MOJO
'A rollercoaster tale' Classic Pop
'Endlessly vivid' i Paper
'A beautifully candid bromance . . . the shared vision and the strength of their bond is palpable on every page of a book that even casual fans should devour' Record Collector
'A bruised but brilliant story' God Is in the TV
'Burchill and Kerr take it in turns to tell the story of the band and the story of their friendship. The result feels very Simple Minds, full of ambition, steeliness and proper humour' Herald, Music Books of the Year 2025
The long-awaited memoir from Simple Minds' founder members and lifelong collaborators, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill
A candid, moving and kinetic story of self-realisation through the power of music, Our Secrets Are The Same is the remarkable joint memoir by Simple Minds' founder members, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill. It not only reveals the inner workings of one of the most innovative and successful British bands of the past half-century, but the deeply personal tale of an extraordinary friendship which powered teenage dreams into visionary action.
Exploring key songs, places, years and events in the Simple Minds story, and told in the distinct voices of both men, Our Secrets Are The Same explores a bond which has encompassed stratospheric highs and humbling lows, marriages and divorces, fatherhood, fickle fame, tricky inter-band dynamics, the occasional explosive bust up, and a ruthless streak to rival the Sicilian Mafia.
Their connection is grounded in shared experiences and a set of values and codes so deeply ingrained they don't need to be spoken. For Our Secrets Are The Same is not just the story of two rock stars, but of two sons, brothers, partners and parents who have never forgotten where they come from. Two men who have remained deeply bonded to their roots and each other, while fulfilling a teenage dream to form a world-class live band and take their music around the globe.
Fascinating and funny, evocative and inspiring, this unforgettable memoir captures a unique journey through life and music, and a friendship like no other.
- GenresMusic
411 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 24, 2025
one of the best music autobiographies i have ever read. insightful and inspiring
January 12, 2026
I’ve loved the music of Simple Minds since the mid eighties and was really looking forward to reading this book. It didn’t disappoint as it displayed the characters of Jim & Charlie as I would have perceived them to be.
Hard working, positive, funny, creative, with an unbreakable bond so rarely found in the music industry these days. Reading about their childhoods in Glasgow all the way through to their lives now in Sicily, it’s a tremendous story. I have been to see them live on numerous occasions and would totally agree that they are one of the best live acts ever as they have evolved organically, not because it’s the right thing to do. I hope they continue to perform live for years to come and that I can see them in Taormina on stage for myself. Thanks for all the music Jim & Charlie..
Hard working, positive, funny, creative, with an unbreakable bond so rarely found in the music industry these days. Reading about their childhoods in Glasgow all the way through to their lives now in Sicily, it’s a tremendous story. I have been to see them live on numerous occasions and would totally agree that they are one of the best live acts ever as they have evolved organically, not because it’s the right thing to do. I hope they continue to perform live for years to come and that I can see them in Taormina on stage for myself. Thanks for all the music Jim & Charlie..
January 26, 2026
This was a much better insight into Simple Minds (or Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill) than Theme For Great Cities. Though the author of the latter helped in the writing of this book, his flourishes and excesses are kept in check by Jim & Charlie's acecdotes.
The book details their meeting at school, their friendship and how their families got on. It details the turbulent early years and the changes within the band. Jim and Charlie don't sugar coat some of their decisions, but overall they seem nice chaps, though both have their issues.
It isn't told in chronological order, so you need to keep your wits about you. It is told in alternating chapters (within chapters) by Jim and Charlie, and it is interesting to see their differing takes on some events, and their love for each other.
A quick, easy read.
The book details their meeting at school, their friendship and how their families got on. It details the turbulent early years and the changes within the band. Jim and Charlie don't sugar coat some of their decisions, but overall they seem nice chaps, though both have their issues.
It isn't told in chronological order, so you need to keep your wits about you. It is told in alternating chapters (within chapters) by Jim and Charlie, and it is interesting to see their differing takes on some events, and their love for each other.
A quick, easy read.
May 28, 2026
A book of brilliant friends
Yes, it will help to be a fan of Simple Minds to fully appreciate this book, but it's more than your average band memoir. At its core is a friendship, forged in the poorer corner of Glasgow. Two lads harness the character instilled in them by a humble environment and loving families to create a bond and band that exists to this day. I found it interesting that despite what some might term a deprived childhood they blossomed through reading and the arts, supported by parents who didn't always understand but always cared. They don't shy away from some of the more contentious episodes in the history of Simple Minds, which is refreshing, but what impressed me most is Jim's views of each album largely reflect my own. This is a great addition to Graeme Thomson's recent book on the history of Simple Minds.
Yes, it will help to be a fan of Simple Minds to fully appreciate this book, but it's more than your average band memoir. At its core is a friendship, forged in the poorer corner of Glasgow. Two lads harness the character instilled in them by a humble environment and loving families to create a bond and band that exists to this day. I found it interesting that despite what some might term a deprived childhood they blossomed through reading and the arts, supported by parents who didn't always understand but always cared. They don't shy away from some of the more contentious episodes in the history of Simple Minds, which is refreshing, but what impressed me most is Jim's views of each album largely reflect my own. This is a great addition to Graeme Thomson's recent book on the history of Simple Minds.
October 17, 2025
An Amazing "Journey "
From Glasgow to Scilliy via the world. Really well paced and devised book of the story of Simple Minds From Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill's perspective. It works really well covering the begging bits, the good bits and carefully and fairly the personal bits. There's a lot going on all the time throughout the book and yet it keeps a good pace and focus and humour...Glasgow is the route of everything. They're maybe a bit critical of themselves too...I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing...maybe good.
Put it this way I'll be buying this book for friends to read.
From Glasgow to Scilliy via the world. Really well paced and devised book of the story of Simple Minds From Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill's perspective. It works really well covering the begging bits, the good bits and carefully and fairly the personal bits. There's a lot going on all the time throughout the book and yet it keeps a good pace and focus and humour...Glasgow is the route of everything. They're maybe a bit critical of themselves too...I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing...maybe good.
Put it this way I'll be buying this book for friends to read.
December 9, 2025
From Glasgow to Taormina, the journey that Jim & Charlie have been on is a real eye opener for me. I’ve learnt so many new things about both of them. This book is a fantastic insight into the inner workings of my favourite band, Simple Minds.
February 12, 2026
This is more of a bio into their friendship. If you want the story of Simple Minds read Themes for Great Cities. This book deals with their friendship, starting Simple Minds and families. There is no dissection of why members left Simple Minds just the friendship.
July 29, 2026
Really good read
Really enjoyed reading this book about simple minds and the early days of how it all started true friendship between Jim and charlie really good story about the band and shows they did
Really enjoyed reading this book about simple minds and the early days of how it all started true friendship between Jim and charlie really good story about the band and shows they did
December 28, 2025
If you get past the self-absorption of two OAP former rock gods who peaked in the eighties and have since tried to come to grips with their loss of relevance, quite an entertaining memoir.
January 16, 2026
I've been listening to Simple Minds for over 40 years. To get such an insight into their history was amazing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews