An Australian World Record was set on this day for the largest bagpipe ensemble. The last record was 333 bagpipers set in Bulgaria in 2012. They were hoping to get 350 here. They got 374! Actually, 375, because one bagpiper showed up late. I know this because as they finished the counts, this one bagpiper had to go right by me to get in and I don’t think he made the official count. But he was there!
They were playing along to “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock ‘n Roll)” by AC/DC, right before the doors opened for AC/DC playing at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, which was about a 15 minute walk away. Careful counts for the bagpipers were done. I overheard one of the event people say they think there were 15,000 people here to witness this. Being in front, I couldn’t believe Federation Square could hold 15,000. More like 1,500. But looking at the pictures afterwards from other news sources, maybe there were 15,000 people there!
We showed up quite early, while they were trying to get everything organized.
Several television news reporters were covering this.
There were so many people, many of the bagpipers couldn’t get through the crowd at first! And an hour before it started, I only counted like 17 bagpipers. But as we got closer to 4:30pm (the time of the event), more and more and more showed up. Then more. And even more. Then a few troops of school children.
All in all, it was a magical event. They did a practice run through of the song (with the video playing on the screen in the background; which was filmed just a block away), then a real take after everyone had been counted. An actor was there who’s birthday is on the 13th, so they played a little “Happy Birthday” to him. And a little later broke into an impromptu version of “Amazing Grace” which was incredible. Then the presentation of the World Record plaque.
Oh! And two of the members of the Rats of Tobruk, Kevin Conlon and Les Kenfield, who were in the video for “It’s A Long Way” were there leading the group!
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