Our Secrets Are The Same

A ROUGH TRADE AND UNCUT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

Brilliantly entertainingMOJO

A rollercoaster taleClassic Pop

Endlessly vividi 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 devourRecord Collector

A bruised but brilliant storyGod 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 humourHerald, 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 dont 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.