For the better part of 20 years, Craig Reid has been one half of the Scottish duo the Proclaimers. Most famous for their happy-go-lucky hit "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," the group has just issued Life with You, its seventh studio album. The double-disc affair features an equal share of ballads and ripostes to uppity Brits. Meticulously recorded by Steve Evans (Robert Plant, Siouxsie Sioux), it's an excellent return to form for the guys who aren't known for being prolific. In a recent transatlantic phone interview, Reid discussed the new disc and the band's long history. - Jeff Niesel

I can't believe the Proclaimers are still together after 20 years. Has the band's longevity surprised you?

Um, I don't think we even thought about it. We started in bands when we were about 15 years old, with me on drums and [twin brother] Charlie [Reid] on guitar. We wanted to make a living making music. We achieved that finally in 1987. The fact that we're still here is surprising. We didn't think about it. We just wanted to get off the unemployment queue.

Did the band ever come close to breaking up?

No. Not ever. Not even during the periods when we didn't put out any records. Even then, we always knew we would come back.

I read that you guys were initially teased in school and turned to music as an outlet. Is that true?

No. The fact that we went to school in Scotland just meant everyone was teased. We would have done music whether we were teased or not. We started in 1975/76 and in those days to even attempt to make music in the place we lived in was seen as something unattainable. That prepared you for later rejection.

You were more punk rock in the early days, right?

Yeah. We were a punk band. The band did get progressively better. In the end, we felt we could do something much better. That's why we started as the Proclaimers in 1983. We eventually got a break when we toured with the Housemartins in 1986. We got a record contract in 1987 and became a success quite quickly.

The new album has a good energy. Talk about how much fun it was to record.

I think it was fantastic. We recorded at Rockfield in Wales and we did it with Steve Evans who's been in the business for a few years. He's a fantastic producer. He worked longer on the vocals than any producer we've ever worked with. He did a great job. He was great with musical arrangements. It was great working with him.

Did you get a "Bohemian Rhapsody" vibe when you were in the studio since that's where Queen recorded that hit?

Personally, I didn't. The fact that it's on a farm in Wales, that was the vibe I got. You can't get away from that. I know there were so many great records made there. The guy who owns it is great to talk to. He has all those anecdotes. It was a really intensive four weeks. I just enjoyed the fact that we were there.

I like the Wreckless Eric cover. Have you ever met him?

Yeah. He's a great guy. He did quite a few shows with us in the UK and came on stage with us a few times. He lives in France now. He came up with us to perform "Whole Wide World" several times.

And who is "In Recognition" directed toward?

It's directed toward people in the arts and politics who are on the list in Britain and think the honor system is a bit of nonsense and then get to "sir" this or "dean" this. If you said you didn't believe the system, that would be alright. I think they are a joke. There are so many of them who had a go at the class system and then take a knighthood.

They really court it, too.

They do. You see guys like Elton John and Mick Jagger doing it. Mick is a fantastic musician but he was angling for a knighthood for years. They do no charitable work whatsoever. You've gotta admire his brass neck. Is the money and fame and girls not enough for you?

What's the strangest context in which "I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)" has been used?

Oh. Lemme think. One of the most touching was there was a guy from somewhere in the North of Scotland who was killed in Afghanistan. Every time this record came on, they'd all dance and strut about. They played it at his funeral last year. It's been played at so many different things, I've lost count.

The Proclaimers, Jeremy Fisher: 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, House of Blues Cambridge Room, 308 Euclid Ave., 216.241.5555. Tickets: $15.