Bagpipe World Record set in Federation Square in Melbourne

EDIT: Please note that YouTube blocked the sound during the song due to copyright reasons. If you want to hear the whole thing, go to my Facebook page, TakinARide. Sorry about that! Or go here for the full unedited story with full versions:
https://takinaride.com/show-review-wo...

November 12, 2025: An Australian World Record was set on this day for the largest bagpipe ensemble. The last record was 333 bagpipers set in Bulgaria in 2012. They were hoping to get 350 here. They got 374! Actually, 375, because one bagpiper showed up late (I saw this because he had to go right through where I was standing). They were playing along to "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock 'n Roll)" by AC/DC.

Careful counts were created. I overheard one of the event people say they think there were 15,000 there. Being in front, I couldn't believe Federation Square could hold 15,000. More like 1,500. But looking at the pictures afterwards from other newsources, maybe there were 15,000 people there!

There were so many people, many of the bagpipers couldn't get through the crowd at first! And an hour before it started, I only counted like 17 bagpipers. But as we got closer to 4:30pm (the time of the even), more and more and more showed up. Then more. Then a couple troops of school children.

All in all, it was a magical event. They did a practice run through of the song (with the video playing on the screen in the background; which was filmed just a block away), then a real take after everyone had been counted. An actor was there who's birthday is on the 13th, so they played a little "Happy Birthday" to him. And a little later broke into an impromptu version of "Amazing Grace" which was incredible. Then the presentation of the World Record plaque.

Oh! And two of the members of the Rats of Tobruk, Kevin Conlon and Les Kenfield, who were in the video for "It's A Long Way" were there leading the group!