ALEX DUTHART 1986 MAX RAYNE SALUTE 

Hi its great to see Big Alec. Alec was and remains the KING OF PIPE BAND DRUMMING I SAY YOur a guttless wonder any1 that puts a thumbs down shame on you.!!

I was privileged to have been a piper (1978 to 1986) in B.Cal., and was thrilled when we were told that Alex Duthart was joining us. He had been an idol of mine, since I was a teenager - a great innovator and pioneer of the complex drumming played today.

Alex Duthart. My inspiration for 50 years of pipe band drumming. The man behind the high standard of drumming today.

I had the priviledge to be there the night this performance was held. I am a volunteer with the Stone Mountain Highland Games and a drummer, as well. I was in awe of Alec and his prowess with a drum. We miss him and continually think of this giant of a drummer in Scottish Pipe Bands!!! RonFowlie60

Brings back lots of memories - I was a piper in B., Cal. from 1978 to 1986. What a band - what opportunities , being flown all over the world to perform !

The perfection of the technical arrangement was only second to the Brilliance of The Music. Fantastic!

They talk about Shotts and Dykehead being legendary now, they were legendary when Tom MacAllister and Alex Duthart had them.Let's hear more of this kind of music.

superb, crisp, inspiring.

I understand we all have the priviledge of watching this clip beacuse of you. The video was a gift from your son Drew who kept it safe all these years. He loaned it to me on vhs tape when he was playing with us. I understand you had a part in that safe keeping also. We have you to thank for this incredible clip. I was there also. Awesome memory.

A beautiful sight! Pure magic!

A privilege to see this video - thank you for sharing.

R I P Alex.

amazing !! great playing !!

This rocks!!

To govangadjie47< I salute your comments about the master of all pipe band drummers. However, I remember him talking at a drum clinic in Manchester (early 70s) and he showed us all backsticking for the very first time. He paid tribute to the "superb Swiss drummers" who first showed him the art of backsticking. Alex was the master in pipe bands (no doubt) but he rightfully acknowledged the Swiss guys. Best regards, Tony U'

The pitch of these drums is much lower than going into the 60's & 70's. By the late 70's early 80's the pitch had begun to rise considerably with Kevlar heads. See some of my clips on the various SRS snares with different heads. However, Alex played a single snare back in the 40's with Dalziel. He's pictured in 47 with it.

this would of been a couple of weeks before he passed , R.I.P God

Imagine an airline having its own pipe band..

one word "Great "

Fantastic!

Awesome Video!!

Wow, thanks for this information.

I think by 1949 or 50 Premier had introduced the dual snare which was not technically engineered for Pipe bands but was integrated from the Royal Ace line & so it became the choice over military single style bottom snares. Sorry read posts from bottom up.

Dave...would you upload the American Medley from this same performance? It's an awesome set!

My favourite drum salute! Apart from Alex Can anyone name the other drummers? I can only recongnise Eric Ward but I am sure the others must be well known.

They are one and the same man. Or, I should say, were, since he has passed away.

The Highland snare "side" drums have snares under both top and bottom skins. Is this original with Scots pipe bands? I have a 1950 Scots Guards album with this crisp drum sound, different melodic style, lower pitch, but heads are snared even when the heads were hide and rope-tensioned. I played conventional marching band in the mid 60's but snare drums were only bottom-snared and very thundery, not crisp like this and modern sound. Who gave us this snare sound?

Actually credit for backstick I believe should go to John Bosworth. Everytime I ever heard him speak of it & its beginnings he acknowledge Bosworth as the source. I think Alex took it another level but I'm pretty sure the credit is Bosworth's. He was a pipe band drummer even used to be a judge & teacher when I was a kid but probably better known for what he did outside the pipe band realm. Yes, Alex always acknowledged the contributions to pipe band drumming from the Swiss.

I would disagree. Or rather, I would argue that the Max Rayne the salute is referring to is not the same one you talk about. Max Rayne was the owner of the Invergordon Distillery. Alex played in the Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band for many years.

i had is drumsticks so he must be good!!

Sorry...in response to an earlier thread regarding who Max Rayne was.

Who gave us the sound,....tough question. I have an interesting clip featuring as best I can date around a 1937 Ajax New Century Fidelity marching snare. Dual snare like a pipe bands snare. AMAZING crispness even off just the bottom snare. The oldest Premier dual snare I have dates to the early 1930's but not a marching snare. The oldest (Royal Scot) ..not technically, if you will dates to around late 40's 48-49. Dual snares much like the famous Super Royal Scots of the 60's & 70's.

Wow, Isn't the first guy from let to right Mr. Alex Duthart? I've always thought it was him. Heh. He really looks to be the one "in charge" at the video.

Yes. Can anyone name anyone else in the line?

I have this full program on VHS but it is badly deteriorated. Any idea on where I can get a digital copy?

Is that Eric Ward second from the right?

*from LEFT to right...

Mlljliljh🧔🏽‍♂️🎉🥰