Editing Runrig (section)

=== Formation and early years (1973–1987) === 
[[File:SkyeBridge.jpg|thumb|right|Runrig formed on the [[Isle of Skye]] in 1973]]

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=#tbt 43 years ago today we played our first "concert", a ceilidh in the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow! Time flies.|url=https://twitter.com/runrig1973/status/725692295245357056|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref> 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]]'', 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]]'' on the band's own label, Ridge Records. A somewhat transitional album, it features wailing electric guitars and [[ballad]]s. The album also included the original version of "[[The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond |Loch Lomond]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/features/thetradtop100.shtml |title=In final BBC shortlist for top traditional Scottish song |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref> A later version was to become their signature song and closing song at concerts.

The third Runrig album, ''[[Recovery (1981 album)|Recovery]]'' (released in 1981), was a [[concept album|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]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/b0bgbvkr|title=BBC Radio Scotland – 22/08/2018|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and [[synthesizer|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".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rdhAAAAAIBAJ&pg=1665%2C1146199 |title=Loch Rock |work=[[The Evening Times]] |date=7 September 1984 |pages=25 |access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref> A longer version of the second single "Skye" appeared on the Alba Records [[compilation album|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 Rainbow|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 (Runrig album)|''Heartland'']]'' (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]].