Livingstone joins Toronto Police; band to reprise El Mocambo gig
The Grade 1 Toronto Police Pipe Band has added former 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band Pipe-Major Bill Livingstone to its roster. Livingstone committed to playing with the band after attending a practice on February 6th and joins several pipers with whom he once played in the 78th Frasers.
Livingstone had been with the 78th Fraser Highlanders for 29 years, all of them as pipe-major, and was a founder of the group. He left the band in August 2010 after resigning as pipe-major following a string of disappointing showings at the World Pipe Band Championships and a 2010 Ontario season during which his band did not win a competition. He announced his departure after Doug MacRae was elected Pipe-Major of the 78th Fraser Highlanders in September 2010.
Now playing under Pipe-Major Ian K. MacDonald, Livingstone joins former band-mates Michael Grey and Brian Pollock, as well as former 78th Frasers Pipe-Sergeant Sean McKeown and piper John Hugh MacDonald, who also departed the 78th Frasers in late-2010.
“Continuing to play in the 78th as a corps piper was my initial intention when I stepped down,” Livingstone said. “But the actual business of letting go has been much more difficult than I imagined. Knowing how much I loved the band, and the music we have strived to produce, I began to see that I would likely be fairly grumpy about things if they weren’t what I would have done. Rather than put myself in that situation I decided not to play at all. But I’m a player, and while I have had a somewhat freakishly long career, I can still play.”
Livingstone added that he sees his new band as “a pretty inventive outfit, and they’re willing to throw their hat over the windmill and I love that. Clearly they focus their energy on moving the music in a fresh direction. It’s a good fit for me.”
The Toronto Police also confirmed that the band will stage a concert on May 21st, returning to the El Mocambo night club where the band performed in 2010 and made a CD from the show. The band also confirmed that it will not be competing at this year’s World Championships.
In other related news, former Toronto Police Leading-Drummer Doug Stronach has joined the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, SFU Pipe-Major Terry Lee has confirmed.
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Just when I thought I was out
not to quibble with the Editor, but the post makes it sound as though I decided to step down after a disappointing season”….implying some causal connection between the poor season and my decision…as we say in the law
they’re willing to throw their hat over the windmill” are they? I’m not sure if i understand that correctly
Wow! I mean…WOW! Good for my old mates! Will be another interesing season in Ontario! Look forward to seeing and hearing everyone! PS Did I mention….WOW”?”
Can’t keep a good man down.
Corrie Street’s got nothin’ on the drama in our little world…..
I said it before and I’ll say it again,”get judging Bill. With you on the panel and Rab Mathieson I can hear some real inovative medleys being played and perhaps the worlds competition getting a good kick into the 21st century.Glad your still playing though. regards Neil S”
Congrats to Mr Livingstone, I think it is great that you are still doing what you love, I am sure the Toronto Police are very excited about having you and the wealth of knowledge you bring to their band. I would imagine my old band mates are going to learn a great deal from Ian, Mike and Bill. Good Luck guys, Steven T
Actually, I think Al Pacino said it best in Godfather III; Just when I thought I was out…they pulled me back IN!” “