- The Proclaimers
-
The Proclaimers 
The Proclaimers on stage April 2010.Background information Born 5 March 1962 (both)
Leith, ScotlandOrigin Auchtermuchty, Fife, Scotland Genres Folk rock, pop, power pop Instruments Vocals, acoustic guitar, tambourine Years active 1983–present Labels Chrysalis Website Proclaimers.co.uk Members Charlie Reid
Craig ReidThe Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid (born 5 March 1962). They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents. They have released eight studio albums from 1987 until the present, as well as two compilation albums and a DVD; their next studio album is expected for 2012.
In 2011, the band scored history in Scotland when two of their tracks, "Sunshine on Leith" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" were featured on Scotland's Greatest Album (2011).
Contents
History
Career
The band playing live in 2008
Craig Reid and Charlie Reid were born in Leith in 1962, and grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. When they stayed in Auchtermuchty they attended Bell Baxter High School. After several punk rock bands at school they formed The Proclaimers in 1983.
The pair came to public attention when an Inverness based fan sent their demo to the British band The Housemartins, who were impressed enough to invite The Proclaimers on their 1986 UK tour. The exposure of the tour won them a January 1987 appearance on the British pop music television programme The Tube on Channel Four;[1] "Letter from America" peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart,[2] whilst the album This is the Story went gold. The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way".[2] They had a hit with their EP King of the Road, which reached number 9 in UK in 1990.
In March 2007 they recorded a new version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" with television comedy characters Andy Pipkin (played by Matt Lucas) and Brian Potter (Peter Kay) for the Comic Relief charity. A long list of celebrities were featured in the music video for this new version, including David Bellamy, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Paul O'Grady, David Tennant, Frank Sidebottom and many more. This new version of the song reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
The band was one of The B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything.[3]
In addition, they featured in VH1's 100 greatest one hit wonders ("I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" having been their only US hit single).[4]
Influence
The brothers are fans of Hibernian Football Club, and "Sunshine on Leith" has become a theme song for the club, being played at home matches for important fixtures, such as the Edinburgh derby versus Heart of Midlothian FC, the club's city rivals. Charlie and Craig Reid appeared at their Easter Road stadium for the 'Hands Off Hibs' campaign in 1990 when Wallace Mercer, a wealthly Edinburgh businessman with direct connections to Hearts FC, attempted a takeover of the club but was defeated by fan pressure.
They are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party, expressing such views during their promotional tour of Britain in March 2007.[5] However in April 2007 Charlie Reid announced that he had switched his allegiance to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest at the Scottish National Party's receipt of funding from big business.[6] Many of their songs reflect their political views, such as "Letter from America" and "Cap in Hand".
On 16 May 2006 the twins announced their participation in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey, from his death row sentence in Ohio, including an appearance at a charity concert.[7] Also, in 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show supporting Reprieve, charity that fights the death penalty. The Proclaimers also support other charities such as The Lighthouse Foundation (addiction victims), AICR (cancer research), Drake Music Scotland (help disabled people through music) or 500 miles (amputees or disabled people in Africa).
Discography
EPs
- King of the Road (1990)
- 17 (Acoustic EP) (2009)
Studio albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Certification UK[2] US AUS 1987 This Is the Story 43 – 41 - UK: Gold
1988 Sunshine on Leith 6 31 2 - UK: Platinum
- US: Gold
1994 Hit the Highway 8 – – - UK: Silver
2001 Persevere 61 – – 2003 Born Innocent 70 – – 2005 Restless Soul 74 – – 2007 Life With You 13 – – 2009 Notes & Rhymes 30 – – Compilation albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Certification UK[2] US IRE 2002 The Best of The Proclaimers 5 – 24 - UK: Gold
2003 Finest – - – Soundtracks
- The Crossing (1990) (song, "King of the Road")
- Benny and Joon (1993) (song, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)")
- Dumb and Dumber (1994) (song, "Get Ready")
- Bye Bye Love (1995) (song, "Bye Bye Love")
- Bottle Rocket (1996) (song, "Over And Done With")
- Slab Boys (1997) (songs, "Maybe Baby" and "No Particular Place to Go")
- Shrek (2001) (song, "I'm on My Way")
- How I Met Your Mother (2007, 2009 – episodes Arrivederci, Fiero; Duel Citizenship) (song, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)")
- Mama's Boy (2008) (song, "Then I Met You")
- Burke and Hare (2010) (song, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)")
DVD
- The Best of the Proclaimers 1987–2002
(2002)
Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album U.S. U.S.
RockUK
[2]IRE 1987 "Throw the 'R' Away" - - - - This Is the Story "Letter from America" (band version) - - 3 - 1988 "Make My Heart Fly" (band version) - - 63 - "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" 3 21 11 7 Sunshine on Leith "Sunshine on Leith" - - 41 - 1989 "I'm on My Way" - - 43 - 1990 "King of the Road" - - 9 - King of the Road (EP) 1994 "Let's Get Married" - - 21 - Hit the Highway "What Makes You Cry?" - - 38 - "These Arms of Mine" - - 51 - 2001 "There's a Touch" - - - - Persevere 2007 "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
feat. Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin- - 1 7 Best of (2007 reissue) "Life with You" - - 58 - Life with You 2007 "Whole Wide World" - - - - 2008 "New Religion" (promo only) - - - - 2009 "Love Can Move Mountains" - - - - Notes & Rhymes References
- ^ Brian Logan (2007-02-08). "Pop idols". The Guardian. http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2008246,00.html. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 440. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ http://reviews.ticketmaster.com.au/7171-en_au/1057253/a-day-on-the-green-reviews/reviews.htm?page=2&scrollToTop=true
- ^ "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders". List. VH1. http://afrokayo.web.fc2.com/mdata_vh1_greatest_onehit_wonders.html.
- ^ "The Simon Mayo Programme". BBC Radio Five Live. 28 March 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/mayo.shtml.
- ^ SNP No More – The Sunday Mail
- ^ "Letter to America: Proclaimers join campaign to free death-row Scot". The Scotsman. 16 May 2006. http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=726212006.
External links
- Official UK website
- Official North American website
- Comprehensive Discography
- The Proclaimers Exclusive Interview
- The Proclaimers on Twitter
- The Proclaimers on Facebook
- The Proclaimers on MySpace
The Proclaimers Charlie Reid · Craig ReidStudio albums This Is the Story · Sunshine on Leith · Hit the Highway · Persevere · Born Innocent · Restless Soul · Life with You · Notes & RhymesSingles Categories:- Scottish musical groups
- Scottish nationalists
- Identical twins
- Musical groups established in 1983
- Sibling musical duos
- Sibling duos
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Scottish pop music groups
- Musical groups from Edinburgh
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
