“Bag-Rock” Comes To The Middle East

Fusing rock and traditional Scottish music through the use of unique instruments such as the bagpipes, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are truly a one-of-a-kind band. Since becoming the first Western-group to perform live in Saudi Arabia back in 2010, the band has developed a taste for the Middle East and now Jordan’s on their map.

Formed in 2002 in Glasgow, Scotland, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers—an eight-member band playing a combination of bagpipes, guitar, bass, drum, keyboard, and percussion—started off as a five-piece act set on infiltrating corporate events as an alternative to larger and more traditional bagpipe bands. However in 2007, after winning BBC’s talent show, When Will I Be Famous, the band has become possibly the most famous bagpipe group in the world. Since then, the pioneering group has gained a celebrity following, such as Ewan McGregor, Sir Paul McCartney, and Phil Collins, to name a few, has won both the 2007 and 2010 “Live Act of the Year” awards at the Scottish Music Awards, and has had its music featured on the soundtrack to the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). The group has also released four highly successful CDs, as well as a live album and DVD, which went triple-platinum in Scotland.

With a BBC Radio Young Traditional Musician of the Year (2005) award, and a two-time world champion snare-drummer under its belt, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are known to put on an exciting live performance. As Steven Black—the band’s drummer—says, “We have a well-choreographed show and are always looking to keep the audience on the edge of their seats!” Ingeniously covering popular songs from all genres, the Chillis (as they like to call themselves) encourage audience participation; “…the more the better”, says Black. Not to mention, they are the first band to fuse rock and traditional Scottish music together: “You’ll never just hear the rock song being played on its own; there will always be a “traditional riff’”, he explains. Another highlight of their performance is the band-members’ traditional Scottish garb—plaid kilts and horse-hair pouches to boot.

Now a global phenomenon, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have taken their uniquely modern, yet traditional, sound all over the world—from the shores of New York to the far reaches of Asia. For some children in Saudi Arabia, the sound of the band’s primary instrument—the bagpipe—was a memorable first-time experience: “On our recent trip there, back in April, we did some workshops in the local schools and will always remember the children’s smiley faces when we let them hear the bagpipes. It was a great experience for the band and one that we will remember forever”, says Black. In addition to playing for the first time in Jordan this October, the band also recently played for the first time in both New Zealand and Australia. “We hope to establish and push ‘Bag-Rock’ out there”, he says.

As for the future, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are definitely planning to come back to the Middle East—Saudi Arabia and Jordan, for now. In the mean time, the band-members strive to remain level-headed and continue to perfect their skills so as to create the best music possible. “Everyone in the band has realized that we are very fortunate to be in the position that we are in and that you have to work hard rehearsing and practicing in order to remain at the top of your game while also pushing boundaries—music-wise”, says Black. Without trailblazers like the Chillis in the music industry who create new styles and redefine the status quo, audiences would’ve missed out on greatness far too long ago. Here, here for greatness!