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EXTRA EXTRA…
SCOTLAND’S PROCLAIMERS REMAIN “RESTLESS” AFTER “LIVE 8”
by Ernie Thomas
The Reids, best known to audiences as The Proclaimers, were invited by Sir Bob Geldof to kick off their latest world tour by opening the “Live 8” event that took place in their hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland on July 6.
“The day they decided to indeed produce one of the concerts in Edinburgh, we got the call asking us if we’d do it, and of course we said, ‘Yes’,” recalled Craig, the youngest Reid brother by 30 minutes.
The “Live 8” producers wanted the Reids to open the Scotland event by performing their international break out hit, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”. The song was originally released on the 1987 sophomore Proclaimers’ CD, Sunshine On Leith, but didn’t become a chart-topping hit until being featured in the soundtrack for the 1993 box-office smash, “Benny & Joon”.
“We went down the day before because we were supposed to sound check at about 6 o’clock, and at midnight we still hadn’t sound checked,” he recalled of the “Live 8” performance.
“Being the first act on stage, we couldn’t not have a sound check, so we waited around until morning when we finally got it. Then we went on for about four and a half minutes and saw 50,000 people just go absolutely nuts. It was quite a strange experience. It was a great honor to be a part of that whole thing, because it was for a great cause we supported [and historic].”
The
Proclaimers –– rounded out these days by keyboardist Stevie Christie,
guitarist Zak Ware, drummer Ross McFarlane and bassist
Garry John Kline –– will play for considerably less than 50,000 fans
tomorrow at Chicago’s Abbey Pub as they dust off “I’m Gonna Walk (500
Miles)” and other charted hits like “I’m On My Way”, “King Of The
Road” and “Let’s Get Married.”
Though The Proclaimers still headline large venues and perform at major festivals throughout Europe, the Reids have no qualms about scaling things back for U.S. visits.
“It’s not frustrating to us,” said Craig of their now playing large clubs in the U.S., opposed to Madison Square Garden, as they did in 1993 to 22,000 American fans. “We’d rather play to a club full of people who appreciate hearing what we’re doing now, than play to a half filled stadium of people just there to hear the old songs.”
Though most Americans know The Proclaimers from hearing songs in such hit film soundtracks as “The Commitments”, “Benny & Joon,” “Dumb & Dumber” and “Shrek.”, their new CDs have found a niche audience here and sell modestly well.
The Reids became record moguls in 2001 when their label Chrysalis Records was eaten up by today’s cannibalistic music industry. It was then, they released the first of now three albums via their own aptly titled imprint, Persevere Records.
“It’s certainly rougher not having a major label behind you when it comes to things like distribution and promotion, but it’s nice to have the freedom to do things your own way,” he commented.
Should The Proclaimers ever return to selling millions of albums again as they did back in the early ‘90s, the Reids would love to see Persevere grow larger and be home to other artists, but for now finances dictate that it remain simply a vehicle for their own music.
Restless Soul hit retail racks Stateside in August with an earlier July release in the U.K. and Western Europe; co-produced by Mark Wallis (The Smiths, U2) and David Ruffy (Sinead O’Connor, Prefab Sprout).
“We are doing quite a bit of stuff from it,” said Reid of their current live set list. “Probably about six songs from the new album and a few from (2003’s) “Born Innocent” album.
That album and this current one, are arguably the Reids strongest career albums to date. The latter day output is better written, performed and produced than the trio of titles – This Is The Story, Sunshine On Leith and Hit The Highway – all done for Chrysalis.
The Reids embraced the punk movement when it broke in 1976 with the Sex Pistols. “Charlie and I had been playing for about a year at that point. Punk really had an impact on us. We played in a lot of different bands after that, with me playing drums and him guitar.”
The Reids grew up in County Fife and Craig credits their father’s rock ‘n’ soul record collection for their love of so many musical styles – from seminal American rock by Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, to U.K. skiffle artist Lonnie Donnegan and Liverpool’s Beatles.
Those early influences are still with them as one listens to “Restless Soul.”
“What I Saw In You” recalls mid-’60s vocal duo Peter & Gordon; while “Turning Away” has a very notable Johnny Rivers-style guitar groove; and “The One Who Loves You” combines elements of U.K. skiffle with Yankee jazz flavorings.
Craig concluded his chat with The Times noting he and brother Charlie looked forward to performing in Chicago.
“We played the Abbey [Pub] in 2002 and again last year.” he said. “We’ve had a wonderful visit each time. We’re happy to be playing at a club we like and that likes us.”
The Proclaimers perform September 24 @ The Abbey Pub in Chicago, Illinois
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Fresh on the concert trail supporting their sixth career and third
self-released album, Restless Soul Scottish twins ––
Craig and Charlie Reid –– admit that they certainly had the
largest launching party for any of their CDs to date.