The Proclaimers

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox musical artist

The Proclaimers are a Scottish rock duo formed in 1983 by twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid (born 5 March 1962).<ref name="beginning" /> They came to attention with their 1987 single "Letter from America", which reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom, and the 1988 single "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", which topped the charts in Australia,<ref name="musicau">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=aus>Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:

First active from 1983 as an acoustic duo,<ref name="beginning" /> the Proclaimers moved toward band-oriented rock in later works. The Proclaimers' style draws from a diversity of influences, including country, folk<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="stuffnz" /> and punk rock.<ref name="esquire" /> Their playing range has included roots rock,<ref name="Monger" /> alternative rock<ref name="AllMusic2" /> and folk rock,<ref name="telegraph" /> and their music is typified by their Scottish accents.<ref name="allmusic" /> The Proclaimers often tour internationally<ref name="allmusic" /> and have released 12 studio albums since 1987, the most recent being 2022's Dentures Out, as well as three compilation albums and a DVD.

History

Early lives

Craig and Charles Reid were born in Leith on 5 March 1962 and grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. When they lived in Auchtermuchty, they attended Bell Baxter High School.

Pre-Proclaimers (1970s–1982)

Alluding to the early careers of Craig and Charles Reid in 1989, Bill Wyman of Chicago Reader commented that the pair "got into music through punk".<ref name="reader">Template:Cite news</ref> After Craig received a beaten-up drum kit and Charlie a guitar,<ref name="courier2">Template:Cite news</ref> the pair played in several punk rock bands. The first of which was called the Hippy Hasslers, the name of which was borne out of the brothers' dislike of hippie counterculture, with Craig Reid commenting in 2005 "we loathed anybody with long hair, we hated Deep Purple".<ref name="haverin">Template:Cite news</ref> Their next band was called Black Flag;<ref name="reader" /> the group were unaware of the like-named American punk band at the time.<ref name="ryan22">Template:Cite news</ref> The brothers were also members of a band called Reasons for Emotion alongside Kai Davidson, later of hardcore punk band the Cateran and an early manager for the Proclaimers.<ref name="beginning">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group split up in 1981.<ref name="haverin" /> Craig Reid, in a 2016 interview with Esquire Middle East, relayed that he loved punk acts such as The Clash, The Jam, the Sex Pistols, as well as "all the mid-60s stuff… The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks".<ref name="esquire" />

Formation and This Is the Story (1983–1987)

Becoming aware of the potential of playing as a duo, the Reids established the Proclaimers as an acoustic duo in 1983.<ref name="beginning" /> Discussing their early sound, actor Peter Mullan said that the Proclaimers played "a mix of post-punk and folk".<ref name="shortlist">Template:Cite web</ref> During this time, the duo attracted a regional fan-base, with Inverness having an especially dedicated community of supporters.<ref name="allmusic" /> Many of the duo's songs, such as "Letter from America" which was written in 1984 and reflected unemployment rates of the day, were written in this period.<ref name="bbc30">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Proclaimers recorded a demo album with the assistance of Kevin Rowland of Dexys Midnight Runners.<ref name="bbc30" />Template:When The demo fell into the hands of English indie pop band the Housemartins,<ref name="bbc30" /> who invited the Proclaimers to support them on their 1986 tour.<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="bbc30" /> First opening at the Hummingbird in Birmingham,<ref name="bbc30" /> the tour afforded the duo the opportunity to perform on Channel 4 pop programme The Tube in January 1987,<ref name="Logan2007">Template:Cite news</ref> and Chrysalis Records quickly signed the pair.<ref name="allmusic" />

In 1987, the duo's John Williams-produced debut record This Is the Story was released through Chrysalis,<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="bbc30" /> and displayed a minimalist sound lauded by Timothy Monger as "sparse but spirited".<ref name="allmusic" /> For release as a single, the album-track "Letter from America" was remixed by Gerry Rafferty,<ref name="bbc30" /><ref name="allmusic" /> embellishing the song with a full-band sound.<ref name="bbc30" /><ref name="allmusic" /> The single peaked at No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart,<ref name=occ>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="allmusic" /> as the duo appeared on Top of the Pops for the first time on 12 December 1987,<ref name="bbctotp">Template:Cite web</ref> while the album This Is the Story went gold.<ref name=bpi>Template:Cite web</ref> On their 1987 breakthrough, Neil McCormick of The Telegraph opined that the pair "stuck out like a pair of sore thumbs" amidst the "ersatz glamour of Eighties pop".<ref name="Telegraph01" />

Sunshine on Leith, Hit the Highway and hiatus (1988–2001)

File:The Proclaimers 1988.jpeg
The Proclaimers in a publicity shot for Chrysalis Records, 1988

The 1988 follow-up album, Sunshine on Leith, featured a rock-driven sound as the Proclaimers worked with a band for the first time.<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="ctribune">Template:Cite news</ref> Ranging in lyrical-themes from familial joy to Scottish nationalism,<ref name="latimes">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="allmusicSoL">Template:Cite web</ref> the record featured the singles "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", which went to number one in Australia<ref name=aus/> and New Zealand,<ref name=nz/> and "I'm on My Way".<ref name=occ/> The album was a particularly big hit in Australia in 1989, being that year's 12th biggest-seller, reaching No. 2, and attaining a 2× multi-platinum certification by the ARIA.<ref name="musicau" /> Craig Reid described this success as their "biggest ever".<ref name="musicau" /> Attaining certifications of 2× multi-platinum in Canada,<ref name="musiccanada">Template:Cite web</ref> at the time of June 2009 Sunshine on Leith had sold a worldwide total of 2 million copies.<ref name="Scotsman2009">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> The album was a critical success, with Rolling Stone in May 1989 lauding it "a wonderfully guileless treasure of an album".<ref name="RS">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Sunshine on Leith's following concert tour included a performance at the 1989 Glastonbury Festival, playing to an audience of over 65,000.<ref name="setlistfm1">Template:Cite web</ref> The Proclaimers had a hit with their EP King of the Road,<ref name="Larkin80">Template:Cite book</ref> which reached number nine in the UK in 1990.<ref name=occ/> The EP's titular song, a Roger Miller cover, was included in the 1990 film The Crossing.<ref name="imdb">Template:Cite web</ref> The Proclaimers appeared on American singer-songwriter Chris Harford's 1992 album Be Headed, performing on the song "Sing, Breathe, and Be Merry".<ref name="DeLuca92">Template:Cite news</ref>

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" belatedly peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1993,<ref name=hot100>Template:Citation</ref> after appearing in the movie Benny & Joon, becoming their only chart single in the United States.<ref name="Larkin80"/> This popularity saw the Proclaimers supporting American glam metal band Bon Jovi, alongside 10,000 Maniacs, at the Madison Square Garden concert on their I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Tour.<ref name="ca">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sunshine on Leith peaked at No. 31,<ref name="billboard94">Template:Cite magazine</ref> shifting close to 700,000 units in the US by 2001.<ref name="MTV">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Proclaimers' third studio album, Hit the Highway, was released in 1994.<ref name="Larkin80"/><ref name="allmusic" /> Continuing in the band-oriented rock direction of Sunshine on Leith,<ref name="allmusic" /> Hit the Highway fell short of previous successes.<ref name="allmusic" /> Irrespective, the record spawned the hit "Let's Get Married",<ref name="allmusic" /> charting in the United Kingdom, Canada and Austria. The Proclaimers recorded a cover of "Get Ready" by the Temptations for the 1994 screwball comedy film Dumb and Dumber.<ref name="vice13">Template:Cite news</ref> Cameron Matthews of Vice praised the song "a rocking cover" which gave "a Scottish twist to the ... original".<ref name="vice13" />

In 1994, the Proclaimers appeared at Canadian alternative music festival Edgefest alongside Toad the Wet Sprocket and the Lemonheads.<ref name="CAProclaimers">Template:Cite web</ref> The Proclaimers kept out of the public eye for much of the late 1990s, mainly due to family commitments.<ref name="allmusic" />

Return and subsequent releases (2001–2005)

After seven low-profile years, they released their comeback album Persevere in 2001.<ref name="Larkin80"/> Lauded by Canadian culture publication Exclaim! as a "remarkable comeback",<ref name="Exclaim01">Template:Cite news</ref> Persevere was to-date the only album of theirs to be recorded in the United States, and saw the duo tour North America in support of Canadian alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies.<ref name="paste">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Best of The Proclaimers the duo's first greatest hits album, was released on 15 April 2002. The album was hailed by Hal Horowitz as "a near-perfect summary" of their material.<ref name="Horowitz">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> Reaching No. 5 and being certified platinum in the UK,<ref name="occ"/><ref name="bpi"/> the compilation also charted in New Zealand.<ref name="nz"/><ref name="occ"/> The Proclaimers' fifth studio effort, Born Innocent, was released in 2003.<ref name="allmusic" /> Their first release on their own label, Persevere Records,<ref name="allmusic" /> the record was hailed as "a return to form" and saw the duo work with Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins.<ref name="allmusic" /> Born Innocent was ranked at No. 26 for Mojo Magazine's "Albums of the Year".<ref name="rocklist">Template:Cite web</ref>

Finest, the duo's second greatest hits album, was also released in 2003.<ref name="finestmonger" /> Released through EMI that September, the compilation was received less favorably than its predecessor,<ref name="finestmonger">Template:Cite web</ref> but was nonetheless certified silver in the UK.<ref name="bpi" />

Restless Soul and resurgence (2005–2012)

File:The Proclaimers - Parkpop 2008.jpg
The Proclaimers performing live in 2008

The sixth studio effort, Restless Soul, was released in 2005.<ref name="allmusic" /> In March 2007 a new version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", recorded for Comic Relief, reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=occ/> The revival of the hit featured guest vocals from sitcom characters Andy Pipkin (portrayed by Matt Lucas) and Brian Potter (Peter Kay),<ref name="allmusic" /> of Little Britain and Phoenix Nights, respectively.

A seventh studio album, Life with You, was released on 3 September 2007 in the UK, and April 2008 in the US.<ref name="popmatters">Template:Cite news</ref> The lead single, "Life with You", reached No. 58 in the UK, having been the only new Proclaimers single to chart since 1994,<ref name=occ/> while the record itself was their highest-charting in 13 years, peaking at No. 13.<ref name=occ/> Life with You enjoyed a generally praising critical reception,<ref name="metacritic">Template:Cite web</ref> with Boston Globe praising the record's politically edged content, remarking that "the Proclaimers are best when [...] proclaiming".<ref name="boston">Template:Cite news</ref>

File:Opening of Scotland House, London (7656779176).jpg
The Proclaimers with Lulu (centre) at the opening on Scotland House, 2012

Life with You's US release was promoted by an American tour, including performances in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Solana Beach in April and May 2008.<ref name="NME08">Template:Cite news</ref> Notes & Rhymes, the eighth Proclaimers studio album, was released in June 2009<ref name="allmusic" /> on the W14 label. They signed to Cooking Vinyl thereafter.<ref name="allmusic" /> The European release was on 15 June 2009, with the US release on 11 August 2009. It was simultaneously released as both the standard CD and a 'Special Limited Edition' 2-CD set, the latter being a double, slimline jewel-case. CD2 has ten tracks: four acoustic and six live. The acoustic tracks were produced by John Williams, who had produced the Proclaimers' debut album This Is the Story. The album, including the bonus CD, was also released as a digital download.

The duo were one of the B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything.<ref name="SMH-10Jun2009">Template:Cite news</ref> They featured in VH1's 100 greatest one hit wonders, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" having been their only US hit single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Like Comedy, in 2012, was the Proclaimers' ninth studio effort and their first to be released on Cooking Vinyl records.<ref name="allmusic" /> In its sound a foray into blue-eyed soul,<ref name="indire">Template:Cite web</ref> the record enjoyed a "generally favourable reception".<ref name="metacriticComedy">Template:Cite web</ref> The Proclaimers toured the United States in April 2013, performing as an acoustic duo once again.<ref name="ReidLyrics">Template:Cite book</ref> That summer, the duo toured music festivals in the UK and Canada.<ref name="ReidLyrics" />

25th anniversary and further releases (2013–present)

File:Proclaimers 27.jpg
The Proclaimers performing at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, New Zealand, March 2023

A third compilation, The Very Best Of: 25 Years 1987-2012, was released on 9 July 2013.<ref name="Monger13">Template:Cite web</ref> Peaking at No. 80 on the UK Albums Chart,<ref name="occ" /> the compilation was certified gold in the UK in June 2019.<ref name="bpi" /> In 2014, the Sunshine on Leith track "Cap in Hand", noted for its nationalist stance,<ref name="reader" /> came to prominence in the wake of the Scottish Independence Referendum that September.<ref name="scotsingles">Template:Cite web</ref> The song reached No. 6 in Scotland and No. 62 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="scotsingles" />

A tenth studio album, Let's Hear It for the Dogs, was released in April 2015.<ref name="allmusic2015">Template:Cite web</ref> The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and produced by Dave Eringa. As stated by member Charlie Reid, the decision to have Eringa produce Let's Hear It for the Dogs was brought about by an admiration for his work with Manic Street Preachers, and on the Johnson and Daltrey album Going Back Home.<ref name="dunstable">Template:Cite news</ref>

Their eleventh studio album, Angry Cyclist, was released in August 2018. Noted for its political lyrics attacking Brexit and the Trump administration,<ref name="courier" /> Angry Cyclist attracted a favourable reception,<ref name="mcAC">Template:Cite web</ref> AllMusic's Marcy Donelson lauding the record "one of [their] best",<ref name="allmusicAC">Template:Cite web</ref> and The Skinny praising the album-track "Classy" as "lyrical genius".<ref name="skinny">Template:Cite news</ref>

During Angry Cyclist's accompanying promotional tour, they performed in the United Kingdom, Asia, Canada and Australia,<ref name="scotsmanreviews">Template:Cite news</ref> to over 400,000 people.<ref name="proclaimers5">Template:Cite web</ref> The Proclaimers also opened at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival.<ref name="savage">Template:Cite news</ref>

In late May 2022, it was revealed on The Proclaimers' official website that the duo would announce a new studio album on 16 June that year, a date that was later put back until the 30th of that month.<ref name="proclaimersofficialhome">Template:Cite web</ref> On that date, the duo's twelfth album Dentures Out was announced for release on 16 September 2022. The news came alongside the release of the album's lead single "The World that Was" and the announcement of Manic Street Preachers frontman James Dean Bradfield's collaboration on the record.<ref name="nme2022do">Template:Cite news</ref>

Activism

The Reids are passionate fans of Hibernian, and the song "Sunshine on Leith" has been adopted as an anthem by the club which plays in that part of Edinburgh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2022, The Proclaimers sponsored the Hibernian Girls Academy Under 12s football team.<ref>Hibs Under 12 Girls Team Sponsors https://the.proclaimers.co.uk/hibs-under-12-girls-team-sponsors</ref>

The brothers are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and had been activists for the Scottish National Party, expressing such views during their promotional tour of Britain in March 2007.<ref name="fivelive">Template:Cite news</ref> However, in April 2021, the twins endorsed the Alba Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group has also voiced support for Welsh independence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2006, the twins participated in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey, from his death row sentence in Ohio, United States, including an appearance at a charity concert.<ref name="scotsman">Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2007, Richey accepted a plea bargain, which led to his release from death row and return to Scotland on 9 January 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also, in March 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show at the Electric Palace, Bridport, supporting Reprieve, a charity that seeks to end the use of the death penalty.<ref name="West Bay">Template:Cite web</ref>

Influences and style

Influences

Craig Reid has acknowledged 1970s punk rock as a major influence,<ref name="esquire">Template:Cite news</ref> citing Buzzcocks, The Clash, The Jam, the Damned and the Sex Pistols as inspirational.<ref name="esquire" /><ref name="stuffnz" /><ref name="spg07">Template:Cite news</ref> On the punk influence, Stuff New Zealand remarked that punk bands galvanized the Proclaimers into making "whatever music they liked, in their own way, using their own accents".<ref name="stuffnz">Template:Cite web</ref> Other notable influences were 1960s music, such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Van Morrison, Rolling Stones,<ref name="esquire" /><ref name="karas">Template:Cite news</ref> and 1950s American acts such as Chet Atkins,<ref name="mead22">Template:Cite news</ref> Ray Charles,<ref name="davesimpson">Template:Cite news</ref> Fats Domino,<ref name="davesimpson" /> The Everly Brothers, the duo themselves being described as a "post-punk Everly Brothers", George Jones,<ref name="mead22" /> Frankie Laine,<ref name="popfax">Template:Cite news</ref> and Jerry Lee Lewis.<ref name="davesimpson" /> Other influences include Dexys Midnight Runners,<ref name="esquire" /> Joy Division,<ref name="tc">Template:Cite news</ref> and Bruce Springsteen.<ref name="allmusic" />

When exploring lyrical influences in a 2012 interview with The Scotsman, the Proclaimers cited Dexys' Kevin Rowland, The Blockheads' Ian Dury, Joe Strummer of the Clash, the Smiths vocalist Morrissey and Merle Haggard as their "favourite lyricists".<ref name="scotsman2012">Template:Cite news</ref>

Style

Described by Timothy Monger of AllMusic as a "charismatic amalgam", the Proclaimers' style of music incorporates elements of country,<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="stuffnz" /> folk,<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="stuffnz" /><ref name="ReidLyrics" /> new wave,<ref name="ReidLyrics" /> pop,<ref name="ReidLyrics" /> punk rock,<ref name="ReidLyrics" /> rock,<ref name="allmusic" /> rockabilly<ref name="stuffnz" /> and soul.<ref name="allmusic" /> Stylistically, the Proclaimers have been typified as alternative folk,<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> alternative rock,<ref name="AllMusic2">Template:Cite web</ref> Celtic pop,<ref name="scotsman2">Template:Cite news</ref> country folk,<ref name="artsdesk">Template:Cite news</ref> folk rock,<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> post-punk,<ref name="mtvnews">Template:Cite web</ref> rhythm and blues,<ref name="Monger">Template:Cite web</ref> and roots rock.<ref name="Monger" />

The vocals in the Proclaimers' music are characterized by distinct Scottish accents.<ref name="allmusic" /> Describing this to The Courier in 2018, Craig Reid commented "it was a conscious thing, because we were singing about where we live, our experiences and it just felt stupid to sing in an English or American accent".<ref name="courier">Template:Cite news</ref>

Impact and influence

Many bands and artists have cited the Proclaimers as an influence or inspiration, including the Balconies,<ref name="guardian1">Template:Cite news</ref> Barenaked Ladies,<ref name="barenaked">Template:Cite book</ref> Belle and Sebastian,<ref name="allmusic" /> Camera Obscura,<ref name="allmusic" /> the Concretes,<ref name="allmusic" /> Jens Lekman,<ref name="allmusic" /> Sondre Lerche,<ref name="allmusic" /> Loney Dear,<ref name="allmusic" /> Oppenheimer, Peter Bjorn and John<ref name="allmusic" /> and the Weepies.<ref name="allmusic" />

Recalling feeling an immediate kinship with the Proclaimers after discovering This Is the Story, Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies commented that "[the album] was perfect for us because it was exactly what we were; two guys with acoustic guitars, singing in harmony. It had all the energy of punk rock but just with acoustic guitars and voices".<ref name="barenaked" />

Many acts have performed cover versions of Proclaimers songs, including Imagine Dragons,<ref name="setlistcoveredby" /> L7,<ref name="setlistcoveredby" /><ref name="Rotunda">Template:Cite news</ref> and Todd Rundgren.<ref name="setlistcoveredby">Template:Cite web</ref>

Sunshine on Leith, a stage musical spotlighting the songs of The Proclaimers, was named in renown of the group's second studio album and its title track.<ref name="fame10">Template:Cite news</ref> The TMAAward-winning musical debuted in 2007,<ref name=Fisher>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Whatson>Template:Cite web</ref> and the film adaptation, starring Peter Mullan and Jane Horrocks, was completed in 2013,<ref name="TIFF">Template:Cite web</ref> grossing over US$4.7 million after debuting at No. 3 in the UK box office.<ref name="BoxOffice">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Guardianfilm">Template:Cite web</ref>

The song "Sunshine on Leith" was featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme Soul Music on 15 December 2020.<ref name="Soul Music">Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

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Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Result
1987<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Proclaimers NME Award for Best New British Act Template:Won
1988 Brit Award for Best New Artist Template:Nom
1994 "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" Best Song from a Movie Template:Nom

References

Template:Reflist

Template:The ProclaimersTemplate:Authority control

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