The city of Melbourne was thunderstruck on Wednesday as a massive ensemble of bagpipers shattered a long-standing record by performing a rousing tribute to AC/DC. A staggering 374 bagpipers gathered for “The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash” to play the rock anthem “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)”. This collective effort smashed the previous world record of 333 pipers, set in Sofia, Bulgaria, back in 2012.
The location of the record attempt was highly symbolic: Melbourne’s Federation Square on Swanston Street. This is the exact site where AC/DC famously filmed the song’s 1976 music video, with late frontman Bon Scott and the band playing on a flatbed truck. Even more poignantly, the massive Bagpipers AC/DC World Record tribute included two of the original members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band who featured in the iconic film clip.
Organizers aimed for 350 pipers but were blown away when 374 participants, including a 98-year-old musician, arrived ready to play. The event successfully merged the Australian rock legacy with the band’s Scottish roots, creating a loud, chaotic, and exhilarating spectacle. The performance coincided with AC/DC’s return to Australia for their global Power Up Tour, kicking off nearby at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Confirmed by the Australian Book of Records, the new Bagpipers AC/DC World Record is a fitting salute to Bon Scott, who features bagpipes prominently in the track. The massive synchronized performance demonstrated the enduring power of rock ‘n’ roll and Melbourne’s unique flair for celebrating its musical heritage in truly unforgettable, deafening style.
