MELBOURNE, Australia — Bagpipes Melbourne World Record: The sound of hundreds of bagpipes echoed across Melbourne’s Federation Square on Wednesday as a massive crowd gathered to witness a moment of musical history. More than 370 bagpipers came together to play AC/DC’s legendary rock anthem “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll)”, claiming what is now being celebrated as a new Bagpipes Melbourne world record.
Dubbed “The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash,” the vibrant event celebrated not just the Scottish instrument’s iconic sound, but also paid tribute to one of Australia’s greatest rock bands. Federation Square — just a few steps away from the site of AC/DC’s iconic 1976 film clip where the band performed the song on a flatbed truck — turned into a sea of tartan, music, and nostalgia.
A Nod to Rock History and Cultural Unity
The 1976 video, filmed on Melbourne’s Swanston Street, famously showed AC/DC playing the song while riding through city traffic, amplifiers roaring from the back of a truck. Nearly five decades later, the same streets once again vibrated to the tune of bagpipes — this time, performed by hundreds of musicians from around the world.
Federation Square’s location added a special touch of symmetry: it sits just a short walk from the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where AC/DC is performing its first Australian concert in nearly ten years. The band’s co-founder and lead guitarist Angus Young, now 70, remains the only original member from that legendary truck performance who’s still touring today.
A Record-Breaking Gathering of Pipers
According to The Australian Book of Records, the event set a new benchmark: 374 pipers performed together, surpassing the previous record of 333 bagpipers held by a group in Bulgaria since 2012. The confirmation came after a meticulous count and verification by record officials on site.
Although the Guinness World Records organization — the more internationally recognized authority — hasn’t yet assessed the attempt, the Australian certifiers declared it an official national and world record for the largest bagpipe ensemble ever to play a single song simultaneously.
The feat was not just about numbers; it represented months of coordination, training, and passion. Many participants flew in from across Australia, New Zealand, and even Scotland to be part of the musical milestone. For several, it was an emotional reunion with AC/DC’s legacy, combining their love for the instrument with the spirit of rock.
Legends Return: Pipers Who Played With AC/DC in 1976
Among the hundreds of performers were Les Kenfield and Kevin Conlon, both members of the Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums, a band that played with AC/DC during the original 1976 filming. Nearly half a century later, they returned to perform the same song in front of thousands of cheering fans.
Kenfield, now in his seventies, reflected on the moment with emotion.
“It didn’t strike you at the time how big this event would become,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “Now, looking back, it’s one of the greatest things — probably the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
Their performance brought full-circle symbolism: the same musicians, nearly 50 years apart, honoring the same song in the same city, underlining how music bridges generations and cultures.
The Oldest Pipers and a Multigenerational Celebration
Event organizers said the oldest participant was 98 years old, a testament to how enduring the bagpipe tradition remains. The youngest performers were in their teens, creating a powerful display of continuity — an art form passed down from one generation to the next.
The scene at Federation Square was electrifying. Thousands of spectators filled the area, waving flags, wearing kilts, and donning AC/DC T-shirts. Many of the pipers had to weave through packed crowds just to reach the stage area. Once the opening notes of “It’s a Long Way to the Top” sounded, the atmosphere erupted into cheers, clapping, and chants.
After finishing the main piece, the crowd requested one more. The pipers obliged with an impromptu rendition of “Amazing Grace,” prompting an emotional singalong. Hundreds of phones lit up as people recorded the moment, preserving the sound of unity that blended rock and heritage music.
Fans From Around the World Join the Celebration
While the pipers made headlines for setting the Bagpipes Melbourne world record, AC/DC fans were equally instrumental in turning the day into a cultural spectacle. Many of them had traveled from overseas — particularly from the United States and Europe — just to be part of the band’s long-awaited homecoming.
Among them was Keegan Kohler, a 23-year-old electrician from Columbus, Ohio. He wasn’t at Federation Square when the record was officially set, as he had been waiting outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground since 4:50 a.m. to secure a prime spot for the concert later that evening.
Kohler, a self-proclaimed lifelong fan, has already attended the band’s Power Up Tour shows in Cleveland, Washington D.C., Detroit, and Pittsburgh. But for him, seeing AC/DC perform in their homeland was the ultimate dream.
“I think Aussie crowds are going to be way better than the U.S.,” Kohler said. “It’s going to be more eventful, more head banging, more excitement with the crowds.”
A Brotherhood Forged by Rock and Roll
At the venue gates, Kohler reconnected with Stephen Scott, a 33-year-old real estate agent from Charlotte, North Carolina, whom he had first met outside a concert in Detroit earlier in the tour. Scott has followed the band through Europe and the U.S., and finally made it to Australia for what he calls a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
“I’ve always talked about wanting to see them here,” Scott said. “This is the first real opportunity — and maybe the last. So we had to make it happen.”
His fiancée, Amber Thompson, 31, an artist, accompanied him on the 10,000-mile trip from the U.S. to Australia.
“I enjoy it, but I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” she laughed, pointing to Scott. “He’s the real AC/DC fan.”
A Fusion of Heritage and Rock Legacy
The Bagpipes Melbourne world record wasn’t just a numbers game. It highlighted the enduring bond between Australia’s cultural identity and its musical legacy. AC/DC’s use of bagpipes in “It’s a Long Way to the Top” famously merged traditional Scottish sound with hard rock energy — a blend that symbolized both rebellion and roots.
Nearly fifty years on, that same blend is still inspiring people across continents. For younger pipers, it was a lesson in musical heritage; for fans, a celebration of rock immortality.
Record Officials and Future Recognition
Officials from The Australian Book of Records confirmed that all requirements were met to authenticate the new record. Each performer was registered, photographed, and positioned strategically to ensure accurate counting.
Organizers have since reached out to Guinness World Records to seek international validation, which, if granted, would place Melbourne in global headlines once again — this time for uniting music lovers from two distinct worlds.
While Guinness has yet to formally assess the attempt, its acknowledgment would make this event the official largest bagpipe performance ever recorded globally.
Also read: Syrian President Al-Sharaa to Meet Trump: A New Era in U.S.–Syria Relations Begins
The Sound That Echoed Across Melbourne
As the final notes of “Amazing Grace” faded and the crowd dispersed toward the nearby stadium for AC/DC’s concert, the air still hummed with the lingering resonance of the pipes. The sound had rolled through downtown Melbourne, bouncing off skyscrapers and flowing through the Yarra River — a moment both nostalgic and new.
For the city known for its cultural diversity and love of live music, the day symbolized unity through sound. It was a reminder that, sometimes, history isn’t just made in stadiums or studios, but on streets filled with passion, memory, and the shared rhythm of community.
Also read: India Mega Zoo Vantara Faces Global Scrutiny Over Endangered Animal Imports
A Legacy Worthy of Rock and Roll History
The Bagpipes Melbourne world record will likely go down as one of the most distinctive musical moments of the decade — a celebration of art that crosses borders, generations, and genres. It reaffirmed AC/DC’s enduring influence, not just as rock icons, but as a symbol of how music can bring people together in the most unexpected ways.
From elderly pipers revisiting their youth to international fans traveling thousands of miles to honor a shared love for sound, this event was more than a performance — it was a symphony of memory, music, and Australian pride.
As AC/DC prepared to take the stage later that night, Melbourne had already played its part in rock history once again — and this time, with bagpipes leading the charge.
