The Proclaimers know the exquisite delight of your songs being sung in football stadiums

About this episode

The Proclaimers have only had a handful of hits but they’re songs that have kept expanding for nearly 40 years. And the World Cup was a reminder of how far they’ve reached. Craig and Charlie Reid talk to us here about first adventures onstage, talent shows, the tour circuit, the new album ‘You May Offend’ and … … the moment the Proclaimers took off … first records bought in Woolworths in Fife (including the less-than-prophetic World Cup anthem Easy Easy) … the fraternal voices of the Everly Brothers … seeing Joy Division supporting Buzzcocks and feeling “the heat and charisma” of Ian Curtis … the unique way they write songs … getting royalties when your hits are sung in televised football stadiums … their first gigs playing Stones, Kinks, Clash and Pistols covers plus a Talent Show in ’77 on a bill with “a lassie singing Scottish ballads and possibly a performing dog” … recording at Rockfield and the ghost of Bohemian Rhapsody ... their new video imagining John & Yoko as they might be today … how easy it is to offend Gen-Z … and hitchhiking 60 miles to see Hibs and writing ‘The Joyful Kilmarnock Blues’ about it. Order ‘You May Offend’