Simple Minds are back!!!! The iconic ’80s band, still led by frontman Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill, are back on the continent for their first appearances in five years: with a whopping 23 years passing since their last extensive North American tour. Simple Minds wowed critics last February with the release of the band’s critically acclaimed eighteenth studio set, Walk Between Worlds.

Simple Minds kicks off its 31-city trek tonight (September 24th) in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at Sands Bethlehem Event Center and will hit the Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and the Southern states before winding things down on November 11th in Orlando, Florida at Hard Rock Live Orlando.

Pulse asked Jim Kerr why Simple Minds have waited so long to embark on a major North American tour: “A gazillion reasons. I think the promoters thought it was over, to be really frank with you for the longest time. Then, we didn’t stuff for a long period, and then everything had kind of moved on. And we didn’t wanna do any of those really weird ’80s packages-stuff. And then we kept hangin’ for a good band tour to with and it never really turned up — and then, before you knew it; two decades have gone. But what’s important is, that we’re here now, got a lot of catching up to do, a lot of provin’ourselves to do and really grateful for the opportunity.”

Simple Minds will perform in Chicago on Monday, October 15th at The Chicago Theatre.