The Proclaimers are a Scottish group from Auchtermuchty, Scotland, active since 1983. The line-up centres on identical twin brothers Charlie Reid and Craig Reid, and the group’s members also include Steven Christie, Clive Jenner, Garry John Kane, Erica Nockalls, Gary Taylor and Zac Ware. Their music is associated with alternative rock, indie rock, rock and soft rock, and they are also tagged as Scottish, folk, pop and 1980s music.

Career

Charlie and Craig Reid are born in Leith in 1962 and grow up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. Before forming the band, they play in several punk rock groups at school. The Proclaimers form in 1983 and begin to attract wider attention after a fan in Inverness sends their demo to The Housemartins, who invite them to support them on their 1986 UK tour. That exposure leads to an appearance on the television programme The Tube in January 1987.

The band releases eleven studio albums from 1987 onward, along with two compilation albums and a DVD. They tour extensively across Europe and other continents.

Best-known songs and releases

The Proclaimers are best known for “Letter from America”, “I’m On My Way” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”. “Letter from America” reaches number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and the album This Is the Story goes gold. Their follow-up album Sunshine on Leith includes “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” and “I’m On My Way”. Their EP King of the Road reaches number 9 in the UK in 1990.

In 2007 they record a new version of “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” with the comedy characters Andy Pipkin and Brian Potter for Comic Relief. That version reaches number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.

Politics and other activities

The Reid brothers support Hibernian Football Club, and “Sunshine on Leith” becomes associated with the club and is played at home matches for important fixtures. They appear at Easter Road in 1990 during the “Hands Off Hibs” campaign. The band also supports Scottish independence, and members have at various points been active for the Scottish National Party. In 2007 Charlie Reid says he switches his support to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest at the SNP’s funding from business interests.

The Proclaimers also take part in campaigns and charity work, including support for Kenny Richey’s release from death row, a 2010 show with Billy Bragg in support of Reprieve, and backing for The Lighthouse Foundation, AICR, Drake Music Scotland and 500 miles.