The last time Simple Minds played an outdoor show in their native Glasgow, stadium concerts were an exotic proposition rather than a regular mortgage-busting rip-off. Two legendary gigs at Ibrox Stadium in 1986 captured the band at the height of their pomp around the release of their Once Upon A Time album. Frontman Jim Kerr remembers it well. ‘It encapsulated so much,’ he says. ‘It was post-Live Aid, post-“Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. It almost seemed like every teenager in Scotland was there. It felt like a moment.’

He’s not wrong. These were formative gig experiences for the first generation of Minds fans, celebrating the global success of the Toryglen toerags. A mere 39 years later, this most beloved of Glasgow groups go alfresco again, this time at Bellahouston Park as part of the Summer Sessions series. On this occasion, they will be playing for multiple generations of gig-goers but with a nostalgic glance back to Ibrox as they revisit that ‘86 album in its entirety for the first time. ‘We thought why not do it in Glasgow and make it a premiere? Or it could be the only time we ever play it, who knows?’ teases Kerr. ‘You can see we’re starting to think of that gig separate from the rest of the tour.’

Beefy renditions of some of their biggest hits, including ‘Alive And Kicking’, ‘Sanctify Yourself’ and ‘All The Things She Said’ await, recalling a time when they were tag-teaming with U2 at the top of the charts. Those who haven’t kept up with Simple Minds in the intervening years might be surprised by their ongoing verve. Kerr is still partial to the occasional stage lunge and guitarist Charlie Burchill scrapes skies with his stellar solos. Both are spurred on by a punchy band line-up including drummer Cherisse Osei and co-vocalist Sarah Brown, both stars in their own right.

‘The challenge for Simple Minds now is different,’ says Kerr. ‘Back then, we had to go on and prove ourselves: this is who we are. I’m no longer that person but you are still connected to your young self. You couldn’t be the person you are without that young person. So now we have to go on and say “this is what we’ve done with our lives” and when that’s at stake you don’t want to give less than 100%.’

With that in mind, Kerr and Burchill have recently signed off on Simple Minds’ latest five-year plan of action with more releases and tours. Kerr reckons it will be the group’s last such plan. ‘I think after we see this through, we maybe do things ad hoc. I wouldn’t want anyone to feel sorry for us but it’s a very selfish existence compared to everybody else around you, and we need to spend some time with family and friends while we’re hopefully in good health. We have no intentions to stop but maybe it’s time to not go out with such intensity.’

These days, Kerr spends most of the year in Taormina, Sicily, where he owns a luxe hillside hotel but, come June, he will be hunkered down in his Glasgow home. ‘I love the summer in Glasgow regardless of the weather. I love getting into the hills around Callander and Perthshire. I actually go there to escape the hot weather of southern Europe. Sleeping in my own bed is always a good one. Hope I’ve not left any milk in the fridge...’

Simple Minds will tour the UK throughout June and July; main picture: Jim Charlie.