Founder and frontman of The Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the phenomenon of Bagrock, bagpipe rock-star Stuart Cassells (32) has left the band. After nearly 10 years since forming the band, Stuart has decided it is time to step down from Bagrocking stages to pursue his other goals and opportunities.
'I feel it is time for some new challenges in my life and a chance to fulfill other goals. I have had some absolutely amazing times in the band and I would never have imagined the success we’ve had. I want to thank all the great musicians I’ve had the pleasure of performing with and I’m excited about the new chapter in my life'
Always a natural showman, Stuart was the recipient of The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2005 and was the first person to gain a degree in bagpipes from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He went on to record with rock group The Darkness for their second album ‘One Way Ticket to Hell and Back’ and for the Harry Potter film ‘Goblet of Fire’. Phil Collins commented on his piping:
'I must say that I am one of those people who find the sound of Bagpipes exciting, invigorating and inspiring. So when Stuart’s CD starts there is an emotion, energy. This recurs time after time with memories of the early Who, believe it or not. His pipes are like the open string Rickenbacker of Pete Townshend. Not much between them' Phil Collins
Despite achieving much success in traditional bagpipe competitions when he was younger, Stuart got great pleasure and satisfaction from entertaining with the bagpipes and soon found himself in great demand all over the world performing at a variety of functions and engagements. It was in 2002 whilst a student at the RSAMD, Stuart thought that there was a demand for a new, modern bagpipe group that could take the bagpipes to a wider audience by putting on show and taking the formality away from bagpipes.
For the last two years, Stuart has been suffering with the condition called ‘Focal Dystonia’ also known as Musicians’s or writer’s cramp. This has meant he has had to have various different treatments to allow him to perform to his high standard, including Botox injections into the arm. He is hoping his time away from performing will allow him to fully focus on recovering from focal dystonia and he can hopefully rejoin the band for a few special gigs in the future.
It is almost impossible to explain the contribution which Stuart has made to the Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Stuart has had input into almost everything you see and hear at a Chilli gig or on a Chilli album or DVD. His talent and his vision were the very reasons that the band came to be in the first place. It is desperately sad for us all that this awful condition from which so many musicians suffer has forced Stuart to make this decision but, like all things in life, your health has to come first. Needless to say he will be very much missed by everyone but especially by the fans and his fellow musicians.
When they write the book of Scottish traditional music, Stuart Cassells will feature prominently in its pages as one of the most talented and respected pipers of his generation. His contribution to the piping world cannot be underestimated as, with the creation of The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Stuart managed to inspire countless numbers of young Scots to find a new love and a new excitement for bagpipes.
Whatever he does in the future we are all right behind him and cannot thank him enough for bringing so much pleasure to so many people. Take a bow Stuart and thanks for the memories.