Classical Brit goes to Dragoon Guards

The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards have become the first pipe band in history to capture a major recorded music award by winning Album of the Year for Spirit of the Glen: Journey at the Classical BRITs on May 14th at a gala ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

 

The award was also the first of its kind given to non-professional musicians.

 

The CD, which was a follow-up to the band’s 2007 recording, Spirit of the Glen, was recorded in part at the British base in Basra, Iraq, while on duty, making it, according to an official news release “quite probably the most dangerous album ever made.”

 

Spirit of the Glen also made history for a pipe band album by staying stayed at number-one for 14 weeks on the classical charts and gaining a place in the top-20 pop charts, outselling albums by, among others, Bon Jovi, 50 Cent and Elton John. It was nominated for a 2008 Classical BRIT, but did not win.

 

Journey was recorded mostly in a tent at the Basra airbase, while other parts were captured at the end of a runway. On some parts of the album, background noise of Basra can be heard.

 

“It’s important for them not to forget that they are not a band for me,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Felix Gedney. “They’re my tank gunner, my lorry driver, my signals operator. I see them very much as soldiers first.”

 

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards signed a £1-million recording contract with Universal Music in 2007.

 

As with the mainstream BRIT Awards, the Classical BRITs are determined by public vote.