Proclaimers

Music Home >> Music Genres >> Undetermined Music



< < < < < > > > > > More Info on Proclaimers Similar Undetermined Music Search Artistopia

Biography

The Proclaimers are a Scotland|Scottish musical ensemble|band composed of twin|identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid. They are probably best known for the songs " Letter from America (song)|Letter from America ", " I'm on My Way (song)|I'm On My Way " and " I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) ". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents. They have released nine studio albums from 1987 until the present, as well as two compilation albums and a DVD.

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).

History

Career

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 (person)|fan sent their demo (music)|demo to the British band The Housemartins , who were impressed enough to invite The Proclaimers on their 1986 United Kingdom|UK concert tour|tour . The exposure of the tour won them a January 1987 appearance on the British pop music television program me The Tube (television program)|The Tube on Channel Four ; "Letter from America" peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart , whilst the album This Is the Story|This is the Story went music recording sales certification|gold . The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured " I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) " and "I'm On My Way". They had a hit record|hit with their Extended play|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)|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.

The band was one of The B-52s|The B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything .

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).

Influence

The brothers are fans of Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian Football Club , and "Sunshine on Leith" has become a club anthem, 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 United Kingdom|Britain in March 2007. 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. 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|death row sentence in Ohio , including an appearance at a charity concert. Also, in 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show supporting Reprieve (organisation)|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
Year	Album	UK	US	AUS	Certification
1987	This Is the Story	43	–	41	British Phonographic Industry\|UK : Gold
1988	Sunshine on Leith	6	31	2	British Phonographic Industry\|UK : Platinum RIAA\|US : Gold
1994	Hit the Highway	8	–	–	British Phonographic Industry\|UK : Silver
2001	Persevere	61	–	–
2003	Born Innocent	70	–	–
2005	Restless Soul	74	–	–
2007	Life With You	13	–	–
2009	Notes & Rhymes	30	–	–
2012	Like Comedy	31	–	–

Compilation and Remastered albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions			Certification
Year	Album	UK	US	IRE	Certification
2002	The Best of The Proclaimers	5	–	24	British Phonographic Industry\|UK : Gold
2003	Finest	–	-	–
2011	This Is the Story (2 CD edition, Remastered and Bonus tracks)	-	–	-
2011	Sunshine on Leith (2 CD edition, Remastered and Bonus tracks)	-	–	-
2011	Hit The Highway (2 CD edition, Remastered and Bonus tracks)	-	–	-

Soundtracks

# The Crossing (1990 film)|The Crossing (1990) (song, " King of the Road (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 (film)|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 (song)|I'm on My Way ")
# How I Met Your Mother (2007, 2009 – episodes Arrivederci, Fiero ; Duel Citizenship (How I Met Your Mother)|Duel Citizenship ) (song, " I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) ")
#'' Mama's Boy (2008) (song, "Then I Met You")
# Burke and Hare (2010 film)|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
Year	Title	Billboard Hot 100	Modern Rock Tracks chart	UK Singles Chart	first= David	Album	last= Roberts	year= 2006	title= British Hit Singles & Albums	edition= 19th	publisher= Guinness World Records Limited	location= London	isbn= 1-904994-10-5	page= 440	Ireland
1987	"Throw the 'R' Away"	-	-	-	-	This Is the Story
1987	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)
2007	" Life with You "	-	-	58	-	Life with You
2007	Whole Wide World "	-	-	-	-
2008	"New Religion" (promo only)	-	-	-	-
2009	"Love Can Move Mountains"	-	-	-	-	Notes & Rhymes
2012	"Like Comedy Free Download"	-	-	-	-	Like Comedy
2012	"Spinning Around in the Air"	-	-	-	-

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Proclaimers


1. Edwyn Collins 2. The Proclaimers 3. Gerry Rafferty 4. Jack Bruce 5. Kalin Twins 6. Belle & Sebastian 7. Jerry Rafferty 8. Mental as Anything 9. Pilgrim 10. Sister 11. Stiltskin 12. The Pilgrims 13. The Scruffs 14. Wreckless Eric

Undetermined Music Artists