The Proclaimers 'take a look' at human rights

People Features

By April MacIntyre Feb 20, 2007, 0:31 GMT

Not so many years ago, a Scottish duo emerged on the music scene here in the States, and we were compelled to "take a look" at the Proclaimers, Charlie and Craig Reid.

The bothers Reid, hailing from Auchtermuchty, were two siblings who barnstormed the world with their "Letter from America," peaking at number three 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...(500 Miles)" and "I'm on My Way". Since this is the place where all the blood sailed away to, we Americans ate them up with fork and knife (and cap) in hand. I saw them at two separate venues here in Los Angeles during the eighties: The Wadsworth Theater at UCLA, and the historic Ventura Theater, and I loved how their Irish fiddler went cuckoo and trashed the stage Keith Moon-style during the "Oh Jean" song.But I digress. Curious to know what my favorite, melanin-challenged Scotsmen were up to, and frankly, being over Anna, Britney, Paris, Lindsay and Posh, I did some digging.According to various sources, the Reid brothers are also famous fans of Edinburgh-based football club Hibernian. "Sunshine on Leith" is played at every home match, and the refrain from "I'm Gonna Be...(500 Miles)" is played when Hibs score. They are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party.Now, the politically inspired Reid brothers are in the Scottish news supporting a death row inmate, Kenny Richey.Richey, 42, is serving his 21st year on Death Row, and still proclaims his innocence over his conviction two decades ago for an arson attack which claimed the life of a toddler, reports the Edinburgh Evening News.Charlie and Craig Reid allegedly wrote to Richey advocate Karen Torley to assert their belief that there was a "major miscarriage of justice".The Edinburgh Evening News reports that the brothers both signed the letter, which read: "It seems an unavoidable fact that there has been a major miscarriage of justice in the case of Kenny Richey. We are 100 per cent behind the campaign to free Kenny Richey."The Leith-born twin brothers are actively involved in campaigning for human rights.The Edinburgh Evening News revealed the Reid brothers performed a benefit last year for Reprieve, the human rights charity created by attorney Clive Stafford Smith, who represents Guantanamo Bay prisoners.Here's hoping the Reid brothers will come more than the 500 miles to play L.A. once again. At least so my son Sean can see them.

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LoisFeb 22nd, 2007 - 18:06:44

April -

The Proclaimers have appeared in LA recently, in April 2004 and in October 2005, both at House of Blues on Sunset. They also appeared in Anaheim, Solana Beach, and San Juan Capistrano. They'll be recording their new album perhaps next month, and will probably make it back here next year. Their website is www.proclaimers.co.uk. By all means make the effort to see them as their live show is amazing! They are also the friendliest people in show business.

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April MacIntyreFeb 22nd, 2007 - 19:28:50

Sorry I missed them those times, but the two times I saw them in LA was wonderful.Charlie and Craig- if you are reading this, please come back!!!!I understand the new album is out already? The number of hits this story as received tells me you have quite the fan base here.
I miss a lot of Scottish groups that popped up in the eighties, Del Amitri, Runrig...

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