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SCOTS Celtic drum band Clann An Drumma have admirers in high places - American President George W. Bush is one of their fans.
The world leader heard the band on the soundtrack of hit movie We Were Soldiers and raved about them to the film's director and Braveheart scriptwriter Randall Wallace.
Now the band, whose name means children of the drum, have become superstars in the US, with plans for more soundtracks and a music video.
Founder Tu-Bardh Wilson, 46, said: "Randall told us that when they were putting the music score together for the film, Bush heard the song and went mad for it."
The song, Sgt MacKenzie, was used in the Vietnam War movie after a friend of the band sent it to Randall.
He in turn played it to the film's star, Mel Gibson. Both loved the piece and were determined to use it in the movie about one of the war's heroes, General Hal Moore.
The song's writer and Clann An Drumma's co-founder Joe Kilna MacKenzie said: "I originally said they could do what they liked with the song, but they insisted on proper contracts and suddenly I was down in Abbey Road studios to record it."
Joe wrote the song about his great-grandfather, who died in the First World War.
He said: "I wrote the song not long after my wife died, so I was feeling pretty low.
"I was sitting looking at the picture of my great-grandfather and suddenly I saw him lying dying really clearly."
The image inspired the haunting lament which has stunned film- goers worldwide.
Joe, 46, said: "People keep going on about the money, but for me it is just great to have my great-grandfather's name remembered in this way."
In the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster and with the world on the brink of war, the song struck a particular chord with service men and women across the globe.
Joe has received...