Runrig

Biography

Runrig were a Scottish Celtic rock band formed on the Isle of Skye in 1973. From its inception, the band's line-up included brothers and songwriters Rory MacDonald (bass, vocals) and Calum MacDonald (percussion). The line-up during most of the 1980s and 1990s, which was the band's most successful period commercially, also included Donnie Munro (vocals), Malcolm Jones (guitar), Iain Bayne (drums), and Pete Wishart (keyboards).
At the height of their success during the 1980s and 1990s, Runrig were described by Billboard as one of the "most celebrated" Gaelic language bands in Scotland. Their 1995 single "An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)×An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1An Ubhal as Àirde (The Highest Apple)3:482Abhainn an t-Sluaigh5:183The Greatest Flame5:004Flower of the West6:43" made history by becoming the first song to be sung in Scottish Gaelic to chart on the UK Singles Charts. In 2007, they re-released their 1983 debut single "Loch Lomond×Loch Lomond1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksALoch LomondBTuireadh Iain Ruaidh" with the Tartan Army, entitled "Loch Lomond (Hampden Remix)×Loch Lomond (Hampden remix)16 November 2007 · Single · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Loch Lomond (Hampden remix)7:422Clash of the Ash3:16". It debuted at number one in their native Scotland, remaining on the top spot for four weeks, and in the United Kingdom, debuted at number nine, earning a Silver certification from the BPI.
In 2016, the band announced their retirement from recording and performing following the release of The Story, (2016) and announced their final tour The Final Mile in 2017. In August 2018, Runrig performed the final shows of their farewell tour, entitled The Last Dance, in Stirling City Park beneath the castle ramparts. An estimated 52,000 fans attended The Last Dance.

Formation and early years (1973–1987)

Initially formed as a three-piece dance band known as 'The Run Rig Dance Band', the band played several low key events, and has previously cited a ceilidh at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow as their first concert. The band was formed in 1973 with brothers Calum and Rory Macdonald and their friend Blair Douglas. Donnie Munro joined the following year and they started to expand outside their native Isle of Skye. Douglas left the band in late 1974 and was replaced by Robert Macdonald. This line-up continued until 1978, when Douglas re-joined and Malcolm Jones became guitarist, both displacing Robert Macdonald. In the same year, Runrig's first album, entitled Play Gaelic×Play Gaelic1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Dùisg Mo Rùn3:50A2Sguaban Arbhair4:12A3Tillidh Mi3:40A4Criogal Cridhe4:43A5Nach Neònach Neisd a Tha E4:06A6Sunndach3:54B1Air an Traigh2:49B2Dè Nì Mi / Puirt2:56B3An Ròs4:04B4Ceòl an Dannsa2:42B5Chì Mi'n Geamhradh5:22B6Cum ’Ur n’Aire6:15, was released. All the songs were in Gaelic. It was re-released in 1990 as Play Gaelic, the first legendary recording. In 1979, Blair Douglas left Runrig again to pursue a solo career. 1979 also saw the release of Runrig's second album, The Highland Connection×The Highland Connection1979 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Gamhna Gealla3:38A2Mairi2:56A3What Time2:30A4aFichead Bliadhna5:23A4bNa Luing Air Seoladh2:27A5Loch Lomond5:02B1Na H-Uain a’s T-Earrach3:28B2Foghar Nan Eilean ’783:15B3The Twenty-Five Pounder2:22B4Going Home3:49B5Morning Tide4:41B6Cearcal a Chuain2:47 on the band's own label, Ridge Records. A somewhat transitional album, it features wailing electric guitars and ballads. The album also included the original version of "Loch Lomond×Loch Lomond1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksALoch LomondBTuireadh Iain Ruaidh". A later version was to become their signature song and closing song at concerts.
The third Runrig album, Recovery×Recovery1981 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1An Toll DubhA2Rubh nan CudaigeanA3'Ic Iain 'Ic SheumaisA4RecoveryA5InstrumentalB1'S Tu Mo Leannan / Nightfall on MarscoB2Breaking the ChainsB3Fuaim a' BhlairB4Tìr an AirmB5The Old BoysB6Dust (released in 1981), was a thematic record dealing with the rise and politics of Scotland's Gaelic community. 1980 saw the arrival of drummer Iain Bayne (from Scottish folk/rock band New Celeste) and keyboard player Richard Cherns. In 1982, Runrig re-recorded "Loch Lomond" as their first single. They signed to a small label called Simple Records in 1984, and two singles were released. The first was "Dance Called America×Dance Called America1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksADance Called America3:44BNa h-Uain a's t-Earrach (slower version)3:39". A longer version of the second single "Skye" appeared on the Alba Records compilation A Feast Of Scottish Folk Music, Volume One along with an early version of "Lifeline", both of which were previously unreleased on albums, and "Na h-Uain a's t-Earrach" which was the B-side to "Dance Called America".
The band then engaged the services of producer Chris Harley who brought to their recordings the benefit of his experience as a solo artist and a singer with The Alan Parsons Project and Camel. Runrig's fourth independent studio album, Heartland×Heartland1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1O Cho Meallt3:062This Darkest Winter4:313Lifeline4:114Air a' Chuan5:115Dance Called America4:356The Everlasting Gun4:287Skye3:338Cnoc na Fèille4:429The Wire5:3010An Ataireachd Àrd4:3211The Ferry4:1412Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh (instrumental)2:42 (released in 1985), combined Gaelic sounds with anthemic rock music. Richard Cherns left the band in February 1986 and was replaced by ex-Big Country member Pete Wishart.

Mainstream success and challenges (1987–2001)

The period from 1987 to 1997 marked Runrig's most successful run, during which they achieved placings in both the UK albums and singles charts, and toured extensively. With, for the first time, major-label support which was provided by Chrysalis, Runrig's fifth studio album, The Cutter and the Clan×The Cutter and the Clan1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Alba4:012The Cutter3:513Hearts of Olden Glory2:144Pride of the Summer3:595Worker for the Wind3:306Rocket to the Moon5:007The Only Rose3:518Protect and Survive3:239Our Earth Was Once Green4:0110An Ubhal as Àirde3:47 (1987), which had originally been released on the independent Ridge Records label before being re-released on Chrysalis, brought the band wider audiences in the United Kingdom, as well as in other parts of Europe. From 1987 to 1995, Runrig released a total of five studio albums through Chrysalis Records. Along with The Cutter and the Clan, the four albums released by the band under Chrysalis Records include Searchlight×Searchlight1989 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1News From Heaven3:362Every River4:463City of Lights4:254Èirinn4:555Tìr a' Mhurain3:546World Appeal2:217Tear Down These Walls4:098Only the Brave3:589Sìol Ghoraidh5:2110That Final Mile3:0711Smalltown4:0212Precious Years4:45 (1989), The Big Wheel (1991), Amazing Things (1993), and Mara (1995).
On 22 June 1991, the band attracted around 50,000 people to an outdoor concert held in Balloch Country Park, near Loch Lomond. This was the largest number of people to attend a Runrig concert. Following the release of Mara, lead singer Donnie Munro grew more involved in politics. In 1997, he left Runrig to stand for a seat in the House of Commons for the Labour Party. However, he was not elected.
Runrig began searching for a new frontman, and in 1998 they announced their selection of Bruce Guthro, a singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia. Runrig's tenth album, In Search Of Angels×In Search of Angels1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Maymorning5:442The Message5:193Ribhinn Donn3:584Big Sky6:335Life Is4:016Da Mhile Bliadhna4:407This Is Not a Love Song5:258A Dh'Innse na Firinn4:479All Things Must Change4:1510Cho Buidhe is a Bha I Riabh4:0211Travellers2:5912In Search of Angels3:32 (1999), was released amidst some uncertainty about the band's future. Since their contract with Chrysalis had ended, Runrig chose to release In Search Of Angels on their own label, Ridge Records. As a result, the record received much less promotion than the previous five, and sales were considerably smaller. Runrig was also faced with the challenge of acclimatising their fans to a new lead vocalist. The band toured extensively in support of the record, and in 2000, they released a live album entitled Live at Celtic Connections 2000×Live at Celtic Connections 200028 August 2000 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Rocket to the Moon6:392Protect and Survive4:193Big Skye7:274Sìol Ghoraidh6:525The Only Rose5:246A Dh'Innse na Fìrinn5:297Edge of the World5:368Hearts of Olden Glory4:459Rubh nan Cudaigean / The Middleton Mouse3:1810Maymorning5:4811The Message5:3312Cearcal a' Chuain3:1313Pòg Aon Oidhche Earraich4:2514Skye10:05, allowing fans to hear songs previously sung by Donnie Munro by their new frontman, Bruce Guthro. At the end of 2000, the band released of an authorised songbook entitled Flower of the West – The Runrig Songbook which included lyrics, sheet music, photographs, and background information for 115 of Runrig's songs – nearly every album track and single from the band's first ten studio albums.

Renewed popularity (2001–2009)

Having established that they could continue without Donnie Munro, Runrig set to work on their eleventh studio album. Among their independently released studio albums, The Stamping Ground×The Stamping Ground14 May 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Book of Golden Stories3:512The Stamping Ground5:213An Sabhal aig Neill3:184Wall of China / One Man3:495The Engine Room3:226One Thing4:577The Ship6:058The Summer Walkers4:539Running to the Light5:0210Òran Ailein / Leaving Strathconon6:0611Big Songs of Hope and Cheer4:2612Òran5:31 (2001) was Runrig's most successful. Moreover, critics who had given mixed reviews to In Search Of Angels, praised The Stamping Ground as the quintessential Runrig album. The band continued to enjoy support in the UK, Germany, and Denmark. However, with a Canadian frontman, Runrig began finding new fans in Canada and the United States. In 2001, Pete Wishart, the band's keyboard player, left after being elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tayside North for the Scottish National Party. In the 2005 election he was again elected, this time for the new constituency of Perth and North Perthshire and again for the SNP. Brian Hurren stepped in to take Wishart's place in the band. Wishart has been re-elected in each subsequent general election. The 2001 album The Stamping Ground was seen very much as a return to form after the lacklustre In Search Of Angels (1999), but 2003's Proterra divided opinion amongst music journalists and public alike.
In August 2003, Runrig played their 30th Anniversary concert on the esplanade at Stirling Castle, celebrating 30 years since the band's formation, and including visitors from previous line-ups, as well as guest artists including the Glasgow Islay Choir and Paul Mounsey. Runrig played their first U.S. concert, a benefit for the charity "Glasgow the Caring City", on 4 April 2006 at the Nokia Theatre in New York City. Founding member Blair Douglas joined the band onstage, playing accordion on several numbers. While the bulk of their 2007 tour was scheduled for Denmark, Germany, and England, an outdoor show, titled "Beat The Drum×Beat the Drum1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1(Stepping Down the) Glory Road3:292Satellite Flood3:513Harvest Moon6:454The Apple Came Down3:225Hearthammer3:496Pride of the Summer (live)3:467Loch Lomond (live)8:008Solus Na Madainn (The Morning Light)3:259Flower of the West4:5910Ravenscraig4:34", was held at Loch Ness on 18 August 2007. It was staged at Borlum Farm, Drumnadrochit and attended by 18,500 people in heavy rain. Because of the unusually large number of support acts, it had been likened to an all-day music festival, Runrig being the headline act. This was the first in what was to become a staple for Runrig – annually staging big outdoor shows in Scotland in summer.

Runrig re-recorded "Loch Lomond×Loch Lomond1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksALoch LomondBTuireadh Iain Ruaidh" and release it as "Loch Lomond (Hampden Remix)×Loch Lomond (Hampden remix)16 November 2007 · Single · LiveSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Loch Lomond (Hampden remix)7:422Clash of the Ash3:16" to raise funds for the BBC's annual Children in Need appeal. The song was released on 12 November 2007, and includes the Tartan Army, the name used to refer to supports of the Scotland national football team, and including Rod Stewart, on backing vocals. It reached No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart. "Loch Lomond (Hampden Remix)" was named "The Best Scottish Song Of All Time" in November 2008. The band were presented the award by Lulu. On 5 December 2008, during the penultimate tour date at The Barrowlands, Glasgow, the band was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall Of Fame, by the Scottish Traditional Music Awards Director.
On 29 August 2009, Runrig performed at Scone Palace for their third annual outdoor summer show (the second being at Edinburgh Castle in 2008). They were supported by acts such as the Peatbog Faeries, piper Fred Morrison, King Creosote, Kathleen Macinnes, and Blair Douglas (a former member of the group) and his band. The show was part of Scotland's Year of Homecoming 2009. To underline this, First Minister Alex Salmond made an appearance on stage (introduced by his SNP colleague and former band member Pete Wishart), and launched an initiative called 'SconeStone.' This aims to promote Scotland as a kind and compassionate nation through the "journey of kindness" made by the SconeStone across the world. Its keepers, each holding it for a week before passing it on, are expected to undertake a good deed. Its first keeper was the Reverend Neil Galbraith, who was presented with the stone on the same day.

50 Great Songs and break (2009–2012)

In March 2009, guitarist Malcolm Jones suffered a heart attack in Edinburgh whilst running to catch a train. This forced the band to cancel a sizable tour of Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Germany. After undergoing minor surgery, he took to the stage with Runrig again in May of the same year. During a routine check up with his doctors in June 2009, he was strongly advised to have heart bypass surgery, which forced the band to cancel a tour of Denmark.
The operation was a success and, although the band was forced to cancel their show at the 35th Tønder Festival in Tønder, Denmark, Malcolm returned to the stage in late August 2009, at the band's big outdoor Scottish Homecoming show for 2009 at Scone Palace, Perthshire, Scotland. However, on 28 February 2010, just a week prior to an extensive German tour, it was announced that Malcolm would have to have yet another operation which in turn forced the band to cancel/postpone their Spring dates in Germany, due to start on 3 March 2010. In a statement released by the band on their official website they noted that Malcolm's health was "good" and that the problem was "purely a technical one". They also emphatically stated that "All other concerts planned for 2010 will go ahead."
It was announced that the winter tour scheduled for winter 2010 would be the last tour for a year with the band planning no concerts in 2011 so that they could focus on other projects. The final date for 2010 was in the Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow which is traditionally where the band finishes their Scottish tours. In a statement released by the office, they promised it to be "quite a party". On 1 November 2010, the band released a four-disc compilation, entitled 50 Great Songs×50 Great Songs15 October 2010 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 50 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Wall of China3:372This Day4:223Clash of the Ash (album version)3:154Life Is (album version)4:015And the Accordions Played4:586Running to the Light (radio edit)3:257One Thing (album version)4:518Book of Golden Stories (album version)3:519The Ship5:2510The Stamping Ground (edit)4:2111The Wedding4:1012In Search of Angels4:1813In Scandinavia4:5414The Message (edit)4:5215Atoms4:4716May Morning (edit)4:4717Dance Called America (live)4:0818Flower of the West (live)5:42Disc 21Year of the Flood (remix)3:232The Old Boys5:153Empty Glens3:424Gabriel's Sword4:535Roadtrip4:326Mighty Atlantic4:067Hearthammer (edit)4:248Edge of the World4:529Pride of the Summer (edit)3:5610Hearts of Olden Glory (edit)4:2311The Ocean Road6:1212Proterra (edit)5:4613Every River (edit)4:4114Big Sky (edit)7:0015Protect and Survive5:1716Skye (edit)6:11Disc 31Abhainn An T-Sluaigh5:172Oran5:313Sona4:524An Dealachadh3:095An Sabhal Aig Neill3:216Siol Ghoraidh5:527An T-Iasgair3:198Chi Mi'n Geamhradh4:569An Toll Dubh2:2710Faileas Air An Airidh4:0611Alba4:5012Canada5:0913An Ubhal As Airde3:4814Pog Aon Oidhche Earraich4:4215Cho Buidhe's A Bha I Riabh4:0316Cum Ur N' Aire3:57. The release includes both studio and live performances, focusing primarily upon Bruce Guthro's time within the band.
After the end of the 2010 tour the band collectively made the decision to take a year off. Calum and Rory had been concentrating on a long-gestating project outside of Runrig. The duo call themselves The Band from Rockall and released their debut album outside of Runrig at the end of April 2012. Keyboardist Brian Hurren also released his debut solo album, which he wrote, performed and produced himself, under the name A Hundred Thousand Welcomes, the inspiration for the name coming from Bruce Guthro shouting the Gaelic equivalent of the phrase during "Beat the Drum×Beat the Drum1998 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1(Stepping Down the) Glory Road3:292Satellite Flood3:513Harvest Moon6:454The Apple Came Down3:225Hearthammer3:496Pride of the Summer (live)3:467Loch Lomond (live)8:008Solus Na Madainn (The Morning Light)3:259Flower of the West4:5910Ravenscraig4:34" at Loch Ness. Guthro released another solo album, while drummer Iain Bayne was appointed manager of English folk-rock band Coast. The band re-united as a six-piece again in the summer of 2012 for the Rewired Tour, with the big Scottish outdoor show held in August at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness.

40th anniversary and The Story (2013–2017)

In November 2012, ahead of their planned Rewired Tour, the band announced a special 40th Anniversary Concert at the Black Isle Show Ground in Muir of Ord, near Inverness. The 40th Anniversary show was a weekend of live entertainment featuring 'special guests', entitled "Party on the Moor×Party on the Moor31 March 2014 · Album · LiveSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Only the Brave4:252City of Lights5:003Road Trip5:544Big Sky7:485Maymorning8:386Dance Called America4:587Sìol Ghoraidh6:24Disc 21The Engine Room5:212Book of Golden Stories4:573Every River7:274Faileas air an Airidh4:015The Summer Walkers0:276Dust3:567An Sabhal aig Neill3:138Drum Section4:359The Cutter4:1910Edge of the World6:5511An Ubhal as Àirde4:47Disc 31Rocket to the Moon5:312Alba5:323Pride of the Summer5:244Skye9:175Going Home5:456Hearts of Golden Glory5:067On the Edge3:348Protect and Survive6:139Clash of the Ash4:5310Loch Lomond8:3311And We'll Sing7:14". Shortly after that they announced another "special" concert at Edinburgh Castle in July, entitled "Celebration in the City". On 28 April 2013 (to mark Runrig's first ever concert 40 years earlier) Runrig released their first single in 5 years entitled "And We'll Sing".
At Party on the Moor former members Donnie Munro and Pete Wishart performed onstage alongside the current lineup and Blair Douglas made an appearance via a short video highlighting the changes in the band's lineup since 1973. This was the first time Munro had performed with Runrig since 1997, and for many it was a powerful statement seeing Guthro and Munro singing together as there had been heated debates about who should be the band's frontman, and who was the better frontman among many fans and critics. The gig was hailed as a success by fans and critics many calling it one of the best concerts Runrig have ever staged. Bassist, Rory Macdonald said that "in many ways, it was the perfect Runrig gig" whilst drummer, Iain Bayne called it "the culmination of a lifetime's work".
In late 2013 it was announced that Runrig would embark on a Spring 2014 tour of England to continue the 40th Anniversary celebrations. Entitled "Party on the Tour" it would "draw inspiration" from the Party on the Moor show. Alongside the English dates, several European music festivals were announced for 2014. In December 2013 it was officially confirmed that Party on the Moor would be released on DVD. In January further details for the DVD were released. On 31 March 2014 Runrig released the full, uncut concert on both DVD, CD and, for the first time ever for Runrig, Blu-ray. The band announced in issue 74 of The Wire magazine and on their official Twitter feed that they had begun work on their 14th studio album. It was also announced (informally) that to accommodate for the time it takes to write, record and produce an album they would not be playing any further live shows in 2014 after the Tønder Festival, due to be held on 28 and 29 August 2014. In the summer 2015 issue of The Wire it was revealed that the album would be called The Story×The Story29 January 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Story5:242Onar5:383Rise and Fall6:074Elegy1:275Every Beating Heart3:526The Years We Shared3:437When the Beauty3:25818th July5:269An-Duigh Ghabh Mi Cuairt3:5610The Place Where the Rivers Run4:1011Somewhere5:18, and would be released in spring 2016.
On 12 November 2015 the title track, and lead single, received its first radio play on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. During an interview with the show's host Derek Murray, Calum Macdonald said that the upcoming album would likely be the last studio album that the band would release, also confirming the album's release date as 29 January 2016. On 13 November 2015, the single was released in both CD and digital download form accompanied by a music video. Shortly after the single was released, the band announced that along with a sizeable tour of the UK and Europe in 2016 they would both be headlining the 21st HebCelt Festival on the Isle of Lewis and staging an outdoor show at Edinburgh Castle in July 2016.

The Last Dance and disbandment (2017–2018)

On 26 September 2017, Runrig announced that after forty-five years they would be "pulling the curtain down" on both recording and performing. Following the announcement, the band announced a final concert tour entitled The Final Mile which would include dates in Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The tour concluded with a final show in Stirling's City Park entitled The Last Dance which took place over two days and was attended by over 50,000 people over the course of the two dates. During the tour, all members of Runrig were given the opportunity to be "front and centre" for a period of time during the setlist, from a drum set which included Iain Bayne and Calum MacDonald and keyboardist Brian Hurren who performed vocals during "In Search of Angels×In Search of Angels1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Maymorning5:442The Message5:193Ribhinn Donn3:584Big Sky6:335Life Is4:016Da Mhile Bliadhna4:407This Is Not a Love Song5:258A Dh'Innse na Firinn4:479All Things Must Change4:1510Cho Buidhe is a Bha I Riabh4:0211Travellers2:5912In Search of Angels3:32".
Original lead singer of the band, Donnie Munro, who left in 1997 to pursue a career in politics, joined the band to perform "Cearcal a’ Chuain" and "Cum ‘Ur n’Aire" alongside the Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir. To conclude the concert, Macdonald thanked fans for "45 years of memories you’ve given to us" and vowed that whilst the band "will not perform on stage as Runrig again, the music lives on".

Post–breakup (2018–present)

In September 2018, one month following their final performance in Stirling during The Last Dance, Sony Music released a box set compilation entitled Original Album Classics. In August 2019, the band announced the release of the concert on audio and film formats entitled The Last Dance – Farewell Concert. In 2021, BBC Alba broadcast The Last Dance from Stirling in April, marking the first time the performance had been broadcast on television, alongside other programmes devoted to the band over the course of the weekend spanning 2–4 April 2021.
Bruce Guthro, who joined the band in 1998 following the departure of original lead singer Donnie Munro, died on 5 September 2023 from cancer.

Artistry

Runrig's music is often described as a blend of folk and rock music, with the band's lyrics often focusing upon locations, history, politics, and people that are unique to Scotland. Songs also make references to agriculture, land conservation and religion. Many of the band's songs include references to Scottish history or culture. These include the band's name itself – which is a reference to a pre–agricultural revolution farming practice, run rig.

Membership

Roderick "Rory" Macdonald (1973–2018)
Date of birth: 27 July 1949
Place of birth: Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
Instruments: bass, lead, backing and harmony vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, accordion
Calum Macdonald (1973–2018)
Date of birth: 12 November 1953
Place of birth: Lochmaddy, North Uist, Scotland
Instruments: percussion, backing and occasional lead vocals
Blair Douglas (1973–1974, 1978–1979)
Place of birth: Skye, Scotland
Instruments: accordion, keyboards
Donnie Munro (1974–1997)
Date of birth: 2 August 1953
Place of birth: Uig, Skye, Scotland
Instruments: lead vocals, guitar
Robert Macdonald (1974–1978)
Instruments: accordion
Campbell Gunn (1975–1976)
Instruments: vocals
Malcolm Jones (1978–2018)
Date of birth: 12 July 1959
Place of birth: Inverness, Scotland
Instruments: electric and acoustic guitars, pipes, accordion, occasional bass
Iain Bayne (1980–2018)
Date of birth: 1 January 1960
Place of birth: St Andrews, Scotland
Instruments: drums, percussion, occasional backing vocals
Richard Cherns (1981–1986)
Instruments: keyboards
Pete Wishart (1986–2001)
Date of birth: 9 March 1962
Place of birth: Dunfermline, Scotland
Instruments: keyboards
Bruce Guthro (1998–2018)
Date of birth: 31 August 1961
Place of birth: Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
Instruments: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Brian Hurren (2001–2018)
Date of birth: 9 October 1980
Place of birth: Falkirk, Scotland
Instruments: keyboards, vocals, accordion