By JACKIE MOE
The fiery fusion of Celtic rock and bagpipe brilliance of the internationally acclaimed Red Hot Chilli Pipers will rock the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on May 3.
Hailing from Scotland, this energetic ensemble performs a unique blend of traditional Scottish tunes and contemporary rock anthems.
But wait, before one starts humming ‘Californication,’ let’s clarify – this is not the Californian funk-rock legends Red Hot Chili Peppers. No, these kilt-clad virtuosos bring a whole different kind of heat to the stage.
Since the nine-piece ensemble of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers won the top prize on the United Kingdom’s televised talent show ‘When Will I Be Famous’ in 2007, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have performed stages from New York to Beijing to Melbourne and everywhere in between.
The band appeals to die-hard fans of Celtic music, as well as those curious to see what happens when bagpipes meet rock ‘n’ roll. RHCP director and co-founder Willie Armstrong shared his favorite career moments with the band, musical process, and more with Backstage SoCal.
Can you tell us about the origins of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and how the band came together?
The band started with three pipers and two drummers and we only played at corporate events. In 2007, we won a nationwide TV show ‘When Will I Be Famous.’ After this, we were then asked to play gigs and concerts throughout the world and that’s when it really started to grow.
The band name was due to a misplaced CD. One of the original members asked his then girlfriend to place his CD’s in genre order. Rock and pop in one pile and traditional bagpipe music in the other. The Red Hot Chili Peppers CD ended up in the bagpipe pile and when he asked his girlfriend why that was, she replied ‘I thought it said Red Hot Chilli Pipers.’
What inspired the unique fusion of traditional Scottish bagpipe music with contemporary rock and pop tunes?
Bagpipes are a popular instrument but really only popular for people who play bagpipes or already have an appreciation for bagpipe music. We wanted to broaden the genre to appeal to a far bigger audience. We therefore merged bagpipe music with rock music and created the unique genre ‘Bagrock’.
How do you approach arranging and adapting modern songs for bagpipes and other traditional instruments?
It requires a good deal of thought and preparation. There’s basically nowhere to hide. Almost everyone on stage has a music degree and are top grade Scottish musicians. You have to avoid karaoke as everyone would see through that; musicians and audience. We need to remain true to the tradition but also take into consideration the needs and wants of a wider audience.
So there are rock and pop covers, but mostly they’ll be segued with the traditional bagpipe tunes. We also have an amazing vocalist who takes the lead melody part obviously, but also this gives us a chance to cleanse the ears of the audience.
That’s the real trick here, read the room and act on audience feedback, change is a good thing and keeps everyone creative.
What is your Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts audience going to experience?
Most people would think that they are coming to a concert or a gig, it is a show. We have a fantastic lighting rig. We employ the best sound and light engineers. We have choreography and two top grade highland dancers who are identical twins!
We believe there are emotional elements in the show and these emotions will range from joy and elation to melancholy.
What are some of the biggest challenges in merging different musical styles, and how do you overcome them?
Bagpipes only have one octave so that is extremely tricky; you have to also avoid Karaoke bagpipes at all costs, so there’s a great deal of work that goes into that, for every song chosen. There will be perhaps 60 discarded.
The band always play in B-flat as that is the key for the bagpipes – all too often. I hear different bands trying to emulate our sound, however the trick really is to ensure all instruments and singers are in the same key or a key that compliments the B-flat of the bagpipes – otherwise it just sounds disorganized and not as pleasant to the ear.
What are some of the most memorable moments or experiences from your time performing as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers?
Opening the mainstage at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan in front of 80,000 people. Playing mainstage at Proms in the Park, Hyde Park London in front of 70,000 people. Getting to number 4 in the mainstream singles charts and being asked to collaborate with Tom Walker.
Being an ex fire brigade I was always drawn to what I could do for charities. It’s been very rewarding raising money for the various people in need over the years. Again though there is a balance to that.
I really prefer to keep these things to myself and therefore I know I’m doing it for the right reasons. I also realize that advertising these events is crucial to the success. I always take the view that one day it might be me that’s needing help so perhaps selfishly I can ask for that one day without feeling guilty.
How do you balance staying true to your Scottish roots while also appealing to a diverse international audience?
The balance is in the music – 50% Scottish traditional music and 50% well known rock and pop tunes. They are intermixed and we tried to avoid karaoke as this would be too easy and not very musically endearing to our audience.
Because the band originated from Scottish pipe bands, we thought we should wear a uniform as all pipe bands normally do. All band members wear exactly the same; red socks, black kilts, red sporran and black shirts. We think this adds to the stage dynamic and sets us apart from other bands in the genre.
The band has achieved significant success both in Scotland and internationally. What do you attribute this success to?
Logistically – although there are bagpipe and guitar bands, there are no bands with three bagpipe players that play melodies and countermelodies. No other band carries with it a world champion snare drummer that cuts through the rest of the sound when required. No other band wears a uniform like us on stage. This is because we were initially formed from a top grade 1 pipe band.
Emotionally – Bagpipes are an extremely emotive instrument – particularly for those with Scottish routes, but the feeling of melancholy and having that sentimental connection to music is universal.
Can you share any insights into the creative process within the band? How do you collaborate and come up with new ideas for arrangements and performances?
Every band member is very creative – for example the bass guitarist Ruaridh has composed some fantastic music for the bagpipes. Every band member has come from different musical backgrounds – so when we get together in a studio – there will be a variety of high end ideas coming to the table from some of the best musicians in Scotland – this is a very fun part of making our shows.
It isn’t just the musicians who will continue to up their game; the lighting engineers and sound engineers also have a say in this process and they have come up with some fantastic ideas as well when it comes to performance and dynamics. The most important part is audience feedback, we often adapt if we feel its necessary following performances.
What is your favorite song to perform and why?
We play a track at the very start called Thunderstruck. It is a very tricky piece of music that encompasses everything that is unique about our sound. I always find this is the most rewarding part because you still have 1 hour 30 minutes of crowd interaction and enjoyment to look forward to.
Your music often brings people together from different backgrounds and cultures. How does it feel to be a part of such a unifying experience through music?
It is pretty amazing. Especially post pandemic it makes you realize how you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. A lot of us were wondering if it would ever come back. There is no better feeling to be back in the room with my mates making music and to then be back out there – sharing that with such appreciative audiences from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
What are your future plans and aspirations for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon?
There will be a very exciting announcement coming in the second week of April which will be the culmination of 22 years of hard work and determination by all past and present band members. Watch this space.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Where: Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos
When: Friday, May 3, 2024, 8 p.m.
Ticket Prices: $69/$59/$39
More info: cerritoscenter.com, or 562-916-8500
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