Act of Love

"Act Of Love" dates back to the very early days of Simple Minds. They performed the song at their very first concert, January 17, 1978 at a Glasgow club called Satellite City. They also included it on a demo tape that earned them a record deal a year later. When it came time to record their first album, Life In A Day, they had moved on from the song and were no longer playing it. In the 2010s, a DJ got a hold of the demo and used the guitar riff to create a new track, which brought it back to mind for the band. They recorded a new version of the song and released it on January 17, 2022, the 44th anniversary of that first concert. In October, they included it on their album Direction Of The Heart.

The song finds the band soldiering forth with faith is a weapon and love as a shield. Simple Minds lead singer Jim Kerr says it became "our rallying cry, our banner," as they pursued their dream. The band was certainly motivated, and became quite popular in the '80s with hits like "Alive and Kicking" and "Don't You (Forget About Me)."

Simple Minds had some down years in the late '90s and early '00s but have remained productive and popular since forming in 1977. They've gone through a number of lineup changes that has helped keep their sound fresh, but have always been anchored by their creative team of Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill. When Kerr appeared on the Songfacts Podcast in 2022, he was asked why the band has endured for so long. His answer: luck. "We were lucky when Charlie and I met each other in the street when we were kids," he said. "Charlie's been my best friend and songwriting partner ever since. Now, is that not luck? I think that's luck right there for a start."