374 bagpipe players in Melbourne’s CBD broke the world record for the largest ensemble today while covering an AC/DC classic.
The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash has smashed a world record while covering AC/DC’s ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).’
Held this evening (November 12) at Federation Square, the world record attempt for the largest bagpipe ensemble needed to beat the previous world record of 333 pipers (Sofia, Bulgaria 2012) and was aiming for 350. They absolutely smashed it out of the park with 374 total playing along to the iconic bagpipe section of the AC/DC classic ahead of their opening show on the Aussie POWER UP tour at the MCG tonight.
The attempt was made just moments away from Swanston St, where the music video for AC/DC’s classic was filmed in 1976. The music video featured late singer Bon Scott playing alongside three members of Melbourne’s own Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band. In an homage, two of the members of the Rats of Tobruk, Kevin Conlon and Les Kenfield, were in attendance and part of the attempt.
Among the performers were students from Melbourne’s Scotch College, players from all around Victoria and the rest of Australia, and even a piper from New Zealand. The oldest member of the ensemble was a 98-year-old man, who got a hearty shout out from MC Dylan Lewis from Double J. Also in attendance (although not playing) was Gerard Butler, who got a celebratory performance of ‘Happy Birthday’ (he turns 56 tomorrow) by the pipers before proceedings ended.
Campbell Wilson, senior pipe major of the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band, called the event (and homage to AC/DC) a “spectacle” and said “as pipers, this is a very rare gig.” The crowd turnout also appeared to be in the thousands, with attendees packed in tight to see the action up-close.
With AC/DC set to light the stage on fire at the ‘G, it’s safe to say Acca Dacca fever has well and truly set in in Melbourne.
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