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.
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.
"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 discos.
In 1994, their track "Get Ready" featured in the soundtrack for the hit film Dumb And Dumber.
In 2003, the pair were performing "I'm on My Way" on a popular Australian late night 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 Live 8 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.
