Rory Campbell

b. Scotland. One of the leading pipers to emerge from the Scottish folk revival of the 90s, Campbell has played with many of the scene’s leading bands in addition to establishing a solo career. He was taught to play the pipes by his father, renowned piper and Gaelic singer Roddy Campbell, during his early teens added the whistle to his instrumental inventory. He played with several traditional pipe bands and also appeared live in his father’s group Gleus. In the early 90s Campbell was a founding member of the pioneering new folk band Deaf Shepherd with which he went on to record three albums. During his tenure with the band he recorded his solo debut (1996’s Magaid A Phipir) and collaborated with Deaf Shepherd bandmate Malcolm Stitt on the excellent duo album Field Of Bells.


In the late 90s Campbell joined another exciting Scottish folk band, Old Blind Dogs, and also worked with Caledon and Fred Morrison’s Big Spree. His work with Stitt continued on the Nusa project, with the duo adding an experimental edge to their sound by incorporating DJ Bryan Jones into the line-up, alongside the rocking rhythm section of Donald Hay (drums) and Neil Harland (bass). This line-up completed the challenging NUSA in 2001 and subsequently began using the moniker as they assumed band status. Jonny Hardie of Old Blind Dogs replaced Stitt as the band began work on a new album, during which period Campbell announced his departure from Deaf Shepherd. The collaboration with Hay and Hardie finally saw fruit in 2007 on Intrepid, although the album was credited to Campbell alone.