IT'S been 25 years since Simple Minds, the most successful Scottish rock band of the 1980s, exploded on the music scene.

Their first single, Life in a Day, made it to a fairly unspectacular 62 in the UK charts, and it was to be a few more years before their fortunes changed.

But in the 80s they enjoyed unparalleled success as one of the UK's most popular live acts, and also notched up quite a few hit singles to boot - including Don't You (Forget About Me), Alive and Kicking, Sanctify Yourself and their number one smash Belfast Child.

Fronted from the beginning by charismatic singer Jim Kerr, the band continues to be a popular live act in its Silver Jubilee.

Kerr, who first met the band's other cornerstone, guitarist Charlie Burchill, in a sandpit in Glasgow's Toryglen housing scheme when he was eight, says: "Simple Minds have always been a live band. Although we've had the pleasure of making many albums and had a great reaction to the albums, I think the mainstay has been going on the road, going on tour, getting on stage and giving 100 per cent every night.

"It's always what we wanted to do. We grew up listening and watching live bands - great live bands - and we always hoped that we ourselves could be one."

Despite experiencing such enormous success in the 80s, the band went through a fallow period in the 90s, displaced by the new wave of young indie acts spearheaded by Blur and Oasis.

"For about four or five years we stepped back. Basically, we had run out of gas after working for almost two decades non-stop," admits Kerr.

"I'm glad to say that in the last year or so we've felt rejuvenated. Promoters were asking for the band to come and play both nationally and internationally and as those calls were starting to come in, we ourselves were feeling fresh about the whole thing again and we had a new desire to go out and rise to the challenge on a nightly basis.

"It's a long time since we've done any serious work in the UK. Every night we have to prove ourselves and that just makes it that bit more of a challenge once again."

As with every band who has enjoyed great success, Simple Minds have two distinct live audiences - the party faithful who have stuck with them through thick and thin, and those who would be happy just to hear the hits.

"One of the great things about the current live show is that we have managed to put together a set that keeps the 'greatest hits' audience happy, but at the same time we revolve," says Kerr.

"There's about ten hit songs we play every night, and then there's another ten or 12 that we revolve, and that keeps the hardcore happy.

"Looking around the audience last night I was surprised that there was a lot of younger people there. Having said that, everyone seems younger to me now!

"There also seemed to be a lot more women there, which was nice as well. So many bands either don't play live or can't play live or can play live for 40 minutes. We're a real live band and have a show that can last the two-hour duration."

Kerr is unruffled by the fact that many people now consider them "an 80s band".

"We're not the type to complain. In the 90s we stepped back for a period. As far as a lot of people were concerned, we lost our profile.

"Our day is about getting on and playing and writing great songs. If you're good enough and active enough there's a point where you just become a classic thing and it goes on.

"When I was 18 the music was the only thing in my life. It's not the only thing in my life now and I don't apologise for that."

So which music is Kerr currently listening to himself?

"The music I'm listening to at the moment is Simple Minds!" he laughs.

"We choose from a pool of about 60 songs now. I know the words, but some nights you go blank for a couple of lines - and then you panic!"

Simple Minds are at Bournemouth International Centre on Tuesday. Box office: 01202 456456.