Alastair was Pipe Major of the Queen's Own Highlanders when we were in Munster West Germany 1988-1993. He left to become Director of Piping at Carnegie Mellon Uni in Pittsburgh. Son of Norman Gillies and probably the most prolific piper winning more World titles than anyone else in modern times.
ALasdair was in The Black Watch regiment. I trained as a soldier at the same place (bridge of don , Aberdeen) with him. They wanted him so badly...lol! good on ya wee man.
well...only if you knew how great a band the Queen's own had back then...one of the best bands in the British Army in fact...you ever heard the story that he was put on charge by his CO once for not handling a machine gun with his gloves on cause his fingers were such asset to his regiment.
He has tiny hands and short fingers... doesn't seem to stop him though. Hard to tell on the video but he also has maybe the sweetest sounding set of pipes I've ever heard.
I played in a BB pipe bandin Glasgow with this guy in the early seventies. Alasdair was only 9 or 10 then and was probably the best player in the band then. Fatastic to see what he has achieved.
Yeah, Alasdair is probably the most successful solo piper of the day and perhaps ever. Almost into the double digits for winning the Former Winners at Oban...he set the record at seven when he beat Donald Macpherson, the former record holder
I saw Alasdair Gillies many years ago and I was in awe. I wanted to be as good, but never could be !! Its a joy to watch and listen now for me. I admire GW also, though I hear what BROCOCK is saying. Alasdair is the man.
ghostpiper 1, What I meant is that Alasdair is consistently the best player, 11 Silver Stars, Glenfiddichs, Silver chanters. Sure the Wee Man is a brillant player and on his day a match for anyone, including Alasdair, but for pure consistency Alasdair is hard to beat. Gordon has won silver stars, but not the Glenfiddich outright. I've heard it said that he has won the Silver Chanter but wasn't awarded the 1st prize!
Just honest to goodness piping from one of the best...Alasdair does not have to resort to bending or sliding notes to impress like a few others out there...
Ordinary? Yes, I mean, there are at least three or five people in the world as good as him. Where did you want your "Talking Out My Arse" trophy mailed to?
a true legend.
davidsoutar1 4 months ago
embraced the infinite way too soon. RIP Alasdair.
nowweareone 5 months ago
RIP
MrLaza72 6 months ago
Alastair was Pipe Major of the Queen's Own Highlanders when we were in Munster West Germany 1988-1993. He left to become Director of Piping at Carnegie Mellon Uni in Pittsburgh. Son of Norman Gillies and probably the most prolific piper winning more World titles than anyone else in modern times.
cabarfeidh100 10 months ago
Give me a whisky and a pint!
hellmanpatrick 1 year ago
He makes it look easy.
dubhslaine2 1 year ago
I know he was Queens Own....it was a joke sheep shaggers
hettyswole 2 years ago
I doubt very much that they're Naills he's playing, although he has a silver set.
770thedoctor 3 years ago
ALasdair was in The Black Watch regiment. I trained as a soldier at the same place (bridge of don , Aberdeen) with him. They wanted him so badly...lol! good on ya wee man.
hettyswole 3 years ago
No he wasn't in the BW. He was in the Queen's Own.
alvindurochermtl 3 years ago
ahahahahahha! just checking....I knew it was one of the heather loupers, bahhhh
hettyswole 3 years ago
well...only if you knew how great a band the Queen's own had back then...one of the best bands in the British Army in fact...you ever heard the story that he was put on charge by his CO once for not handling a machine gun with his gloves on cause his fingers were such asset to his regiment.
alvindurochermtl 3 years ago
Lol sounds like him....I was Kosb myself...another fine band.
hettyswole 3 years ago
They have some fine drummers in the KOSB I heard.
alvindurochermtl 3 years ago
Correct, hettyswole got over excited. Hettyswole just enjoy it. don't show off.
Brian
hiredpiper 3 years ago
I was also at Dreghorn and Brig Of Don and can definately say he was Queens Own Highlanders...as was his brother in law Findlay McGhee.
piper3116 2 years ago
I played his pipes when he visited Victoria British Columbia with his Regiment around 1992?
victoriabagpiper 3 years ago
He has tiny hands and short fingers... doesn't seem to stop him though. Hard to tell on the video but he also has maybe the sweetest sounding set of pipes I've ever heard.
keydetpiper 3 years ago
they're naills
resto776 3 years ago
I played in a BB pipe bandin Glasgow with this guy in the early seventies. Alasdair was only 9 or 10 then and was probably the best player in the band then. Fatastic to see what he has achieved.
solopiper 3 years ago
Yeah, Alasdair is probably the most successful solo piper of the day and perhaps ever. Almost into the double digits for winning the Former Winners at Oban...he set the record at seven when he beat Donald Macpherson, the former record holder
AHolt718 4 years ago
I saw Alasdair Gillies many years ago and I was in awe. I wanted to be as good, but never could be !! Its a joy to watch and listen now for me. I admire GW also, though I hear what BROCOCK is saying. Alasdair is the man.
coopermania72 4 years ago
in the world of piping...and its extensive ..we have many grerat ones...this fellow needs no lessons...and he knows it God Bless him and us...
Gaelforce10 4 years ago
This guy is no ordinary player, he is easily the best piper of his generation.
shoesgranite 4 years ago
Where did Brian come from? Was he an army piper and how long ago did he pass away?
770thedoctor 4 years ago
In his day before he took his own life Brian Hutcheson was every bit as good as, if not better, than Alasdair....RIP hutchy, gone but not forgotten.
cashlessgecko 4 years ago
ghostpiper 1, What I meant is that Alasdair is consistently the best player, 11 Silver Stars, Glenfiddichs, Silver chanters. Sure the Wee Man is a brillant player and on his day a match for anyone, including Alasdair, but for pure consistency Alasdair is hard to beat. Gordon has won silver stars, but not the Glenfiddich outright. I've heard it said that he has won the Silver Chanter but wasn't awarded the 1st prize!
770thedoctor 4 years ago
The best player in the world?
770thedoctor 4 years ago
No. A close second to Gordon Walker.
ghostpiper1 4 years ago
Just honest to goodness piping from one of the best...Alasdair does not have to resort to bending or sliding notes to impress like a few others out there...
BROCOCK 4 years ago
joedanho. your a wanker :) i hate you for saying that :)
gromone 4 years ago
extraordinary
there might be 3 ppl as good as him... maybe
goodmanbagpipes 4 years ago
ordinary
joedanho 4 years ago
Ordinary? Yes, I mean, there are at least three or five people in the world as good as him. Where did you want your "Talking Out My Arse" trophy mailed to?
Piobtastic 4 years ago 7
@Piobtastic hahahahaha
sacredsong 1 year ago
I like the jig version of Mrs. MacPherson.
Marcblur 4 years ago