MattTheHat 

Blind corner.

The ear buds merely took the edge off. Kinda.

ralphs

My cat did not like that video. He got startled and began furtively looking around for the cat making the noise.

KerryIrons

I used to work for a Scot who told me that he met a German tourist (WW II vet) in Scotland and the German said they called the Scottish bagpipers "The Ladies from Hell."

Koyote

I think they used that term for any troops wearing kilts -- Scots and Canadians. But yeah, it surely would've applied to the pipers.

genejockey 

I love bagpipes. My wife hates them. So I don't ever listen to pipers.

DangerousDanR

Mrs. Dan used to play both Great Highland pipes and Parlor pipes. I enjoy both., but a cat we had when she was playing GHPs would howl and bat at her, then run and hide.

ralphs

Thanks for posting, I hadn't heard that song in years.
RIP your dad, Denny Laine, and Linda McCartney.

veganbikes

I mean you have a person walking up and down the beaches at Normandy armed with a sgian-dubh (a small knife in your sock usually more ceremonial these days) and nothing else playing bagpipes wearing a kilt it is some scary doo-doo. You have to have a lot of chutzpah to do that will bullets are raining down on you and people around you are falling you are confidently rallying people to battle with nothing but a set of bagpipes bellowing out over the fog of war.

I have mad respect for Bill Millan (Lord Lovat's personal piper who helped storm the beaches). The German snipers thought he was crazy and didn't shoot at him apparently. Also respect for the folks who played people out of the trenches in the First World War absolutely mind blowing to be in that situation and playing music openly as hell is unleashing. Certainly yes I can see if you were there it can be tough but you were armed those folks had knives and a musical instrument as their weapon and weren't always advancing and might just be marching up and down while a hailstorm of lead is falling upon them.

DangerousDanR

He should also learn "The Athol Highlanders" for funerals of people nobody can stand...

Koyote

I just finished reading The First Wave, in which Lord Lovat plays a central role. He was a total badass. Would go into battle dressed like he was out hunting on his estate, complete with deer rifle. He refused to cower and duck when the shots were flying, which helped inspire his men to bravery.

TennBent

I used to play the pipes. My wife hates them, as well. Therefore, I couldn't play if she was around unless it was on the practice chanter or some smallpipes behind a closed door. I finally just gave it all up right around the time covid hit. Listening to recordings is also forbidden unless she is not around so I don't listen anymore, either. However, all is not lost. Right before covid hit, I discovered a family music group in Switzerland that I really like. The lead gal is an accomplished yodeler and I love yodeling. She only does it on some songs, not all of them. I do listen to them around the house while my wife is in earshot as well as play them in the car. My wife seems to be tolerant of it and, although she won't admit it, I think she actually likes some of their music. I'll take that as a win.

Oh and for those who might think my wife was too demanding, that's really not the case. Bagpipes are not for everyone and I completely understand that. In fact, she was unknowingly doing me a favor. I played in a couple of bands for a total of about six years back when folks didn't think about things like hearing protection. All of that playing and practicing indoors did the damage that eventually reared it ugly head and I have had hearing aids going on four years now. My hearing loss was estimated to be 20%, mostly in the higher frequencies. Honestly, if she hadn't kept me away from piping as much as she did, I would probably be mostly deaf now.

fredlord

I most definitely enjoy the occasional pipe.

Prowler 

I’m another fan of the pipes. I’ve made 2 or 3 trips to Maxville, ON for the games. Heard some very fine piping and got to stand right outside the circle many times. But I often wore ear plugs. One year there was a terrific thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon. Grade 1 competition was suspended and everyone driven indoors. I ended up in a cow barn with one of the top bands (SFU, if I recall correctly), still practicing in case the competition resumed. LOUD but great.

mikeoverly

We have a bagpipe guy. Only shows up on dark, rainy days and stands in the middle of a clearing. Not sure he's not a ghost.

Wildwood 

I recently took-up piccolo. Nobody encourages me. I can clear the house in 5 minutes, and call it my "give me space instrument". I understand 'the piper in the woods', and commiserate.

rsbob 

Sure, but what about e-pipes? Are they real bagpipe players or wannabes? And what about their manners on MUPs? Should they be banned? Should they be dB limited?

DangerousDanR

E_pipes are blasphemy. There is a skill to keeping the bag inflated. Those who play them should be roasted over an open fire, just like people who use any electronic groupset that isn't EPS.