RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers (Courtesy of the Artist's site, 2006)

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are three pipers and two percussionists who have all played at the highest level with some of Scotland's most famous pipe bands.

Stuart Cassells is the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005 he is also the first graduate from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with an honours degree in Scottish Music - Piping. His piping has featured on many recordings including 'One Way Ticket to Hell and Back' by the Darkness and on the soundtrack of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'. He has just finished his first recording, 'Blown Away', with FootStompin Records.

Willie Armstrong started playing the pipes at 14 years of age. Progressed to Grade 1 and played with the Glasgow Skye Pipe Band for 5 years, Willie started taking further tuition under Pipe Major Roddy McLeod MBE in 1997. Willie is also currently a member with the world renowned Grade 1 Pipe Band - The ScottishPower Pipe Band.

Kevin MacDonald began piping at the age of seven with the 47th Culter B.B in Aberdeen. Having moved to Central Scotland in the early 90's, he played under the tutelage of Lorne Brown at Wallacestone Pipe Band and Linlithgow Pipe Band. In 1997 he joined the grade one Glasgow Skye Pipe Band, led by Iain Roddick, before moving to the Royal Burgh of Stirling Pipe Band after Iain's retiral as pipe major of the Glasgow Skye.

Steven Graham has progressed from being the leading drummer of the Juvenile Lochgelly High School Pipe Band to being a member of the World famous drum corps of the House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band, the 2005 World Pipe Band Champions. This being the second time Steven has won the World Pipe Band Championship. He has recently graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with an honours degree in Scottish Music.
Malcolm McEwan is now member of the Grade 1 David Urquhart Travel Pipes and Drums having learned originally with the Annan Pipe Band and being the first percussion graduate from the RSAMD Scottish Music course.