Army band scoops Best Album Classical Brit Award for music recorded in Iraq
May 16th, 2009 - 4:59 pm ICT by ANILondon, May 16 (ANI): An army band, which spent time between recording in a makeshift studio in Iraq and patrolling the streets of Basra, has won the Best Album gong at the Classical Brit Awards.
The pipers of the Royal Scots Dragoon guards were halfway through putting together their album when they were deployed on a six-month tour of Iraq last autumn.
And instead of giving up the project, they shipped their recording equipment to Basra, and braved the 40-degree heat and the risk of grenade attacks to finish the work.
Against all the odds, the album described as “the most dangerous record ever made” was named the year’s best at a star-studded evening held at the Royal Albert Hall.
Major Angus Benson-Blair, who dedicated the award to all British service personnel, accepted it amidst a standing ovation.
“The award is obviously about the album, but I know everyone in the Armed Forces will see also each vote as supporting us in everything we do,” Sky News Online quoted him as saying.
“So on behalf of every single soldier, sailor and airman I would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you for every vote for the pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Thank you so much,” he added.
The album, Spirit Of The Glen: Journey beat off competition from established stars, including Katherine Jenkins and Andrea Bocelli.
And it marks the first time non-professional musicians have won a Classical Brit. (ANI)
- Andrea Bocelli Not To Sing A Duet With Jessica Simpson? - Sep 19, 2010
- Pope nominated for BRIT awards - Feb 15, 2010
- Glen Campbell gives a great performance at the Grammys - Feb 14, 2012
- Italian singer's Christmas carols top US charts - Nov 26, 2009
- George Michael wants Adele collaboration - Mar 02, 2012
- East meets West in novel music initiative - Nov 24, 2011
- Adele, Foo Fighters win big at 54th Grammy (Roundup) - Feb 13, 2012
- My relationship with Universal collapsed: Morrissey - Jul 16, 2011
- Italian tenor's album sales top five million - Dec 30, 2009
- Foo Fighters win five Grammy Awards - Feb 13, 2012
- Adele wins top honours at Grammy - Feb 13, 2012
- Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to get Lifetime Achievement at Classical Brits - Feb 09, 2010
- Emirates arrives in Iraq - Feb 03, 2011
- Lady Antebellum sweeps the list of the Grammy winners - Feb 14, 2011
- Adele Adkins beats Lady Gaga to top spot, matches Beatles record - Feb 21, 2011
Tags: andrea bocelli, army band, brit award, classical brit awards, degree heat, grenade attacks, katherine jenkins, last autumn, makeshift studio, pipers, pipes and drums, professional musicians, royal albert hall, royal scots dragoon, royal scots dragoon guards, scots dragoon guards, sky news, soldier sailor, spirit of the glen, standing ovation
