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The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twins Charlie and Craig Reid. They are best known for their songs "Letter from America" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" which became the theme song to the film Benny & Joon, and to the charity event the Terry Fox Run, as well as a Labatt's Blue commercial.
Career
Formed in 1983, the Auchtermuchty pair leapt to public attention after a January 1987 appearance on UK popular music programme "The Tube" on Channel Four; "Letter From America" peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart, while the album This is the Story went gold. The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured "I'm Gonna Be..." and "I'm on My Way" (later further popularised by its use in the soundtrack of the film "Shrek").
The brothers are also famous fans of Edinburgh based football club Hibernian F.C.. "Sunshine on Leith" is played at every home match and the refrain from "I'm Gonna Be..." is played when Hibernian score. They are also well known as supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party. Many of their songs reflect their political views, such as "Letter From America" and "Cap in Hand".
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way" were both major chart hits in Australia so much so that the band very successfully toured the major cities of Australia in 1989. They were supported on the Sydney and Canberra legs of that tour by indie rock band The Mexican Spitfires. Helped no doubt by their inclusion on the Shrek soundtrack, The Proclaimers have remained popular in Australia (with all ages) with "I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles" and "I'm On My Way" regularly played on Australian radio and at suburban parties and especially RSL clubs.
In 1994, their cover of "Get Ready" featured in the soundtrack for the hit film Dumb and Dumber.
In 2001, The Proclaimers were subject to renewed interest through inclusion of "I'm On My Way" on the soundtrack of the animated hit film Shrek. In 2003, the pair were performing the same track on Australian variety show Rove Live, when they were "blown up."
In 2005, they were the opening act at Edinburgh 50,000 - The Final Push, the final concert of Live8 at Murrayfield Stadium on July 6, 2005. They played "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" to symbolise the conclusion of The Long Walk To Justice.
On April 30, 2006, The Proclaimers appeared on the hit cartoon show Family Guy, due to the show's creator Seth MacFarlane being a fan. They appeared in episode "You May Now Kiss The...Uh...Guy Who Receives", where Stewie Griffin says Brian's homesexual cousin will fit in the Griffin family like Peter fit in the Proclaimers.
As of May 2006 "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" had remained in the iTunes download chart since December 2004. The 1988 album "Sunshine on Leith" sold over 25,000 copies last year.
On May 16, 2006 the twins announced their participation in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey from his death row sentence, including them playing at a charity concert.
On July 9 2006, The Proclaimers played the Main Stage at T In The Park.
Discography
Albums
- This is the Story (1987)
- Sunshine on Leith (1988)
- King of the Road (1990) appended to Sunshine on Leith when re-released in 2001
- Hit the Highway (1994)
- Persevere (2001)
- The Best of The Proclaimers 1987-2002 (2002)
- The Best of The Proclaimers 1987-2002 (2002) *
- Born Innocent (2003 2004 [US)
- Finest (2004) only
- Restless Soul (2005)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||
| US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK | |||
| 1987 | "Throw the R Away" | - | - | - | - | This is the Story |
| 1987 | "Letter From America (band version)" | - | - | - | #3 | This is the Story |
| 1988 | "Make My Heart Fly (band version)" | - | - | - | - | This is the Story |
| 1988 | "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" | #3 | #21 | - | #11 | Sunshine on Leith |
| 1988 | "Sunshine on Leith" | - | - | - | - | Sunshine on Leith |
| 1989 | "I'm On My Way" | - | - | - | - | Sunshine on Leith |
| 1990 | "King Of The Road" | - | - | - | #9 | King of the Road (ep) |
| 1994 | "Let's Get Married" | - | - | - | #21 | Hit the Highway |
| 1994 | "What Makes You Cry" | - | - | - | #38 | Hit the Highway |
| 1994 | "These Arms of Mine" | - | - | - | - | Hit the Highway |
| 2001 | "There's a Touch" | - | - | - | - | Persevere |
Album covers
| Cover | Year | Title |
| 1987 | This Is The Story |
| 1988 | Sunshine On Leith |
| 1994 | Hit The Highway |
| 2001 | Persevere |
| 2002 | The Best of The Proclaimers 1987-2002 |
| 2003 | Born Innocent |
| 2005 | Restless Soul |
References
External links
"The Proclaimers"