George Bowie's GBX bagpipe remix tops country music charts

Glasgow Times

13-05-2025

Clyde 1 Presenter George Bowie achieved this feat on Sunday with his remix of Cammy Barnes' Whiskey Roll.
The idea for the remix came from a few Facebook friends who messaged Bowie's wife, manager, and co-producer, Ellene, suggesting a GBX remix of the song.
(Image: Supplied)
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Bowie, Ellene, and their production partner, Outforce, created a rave version of the bagpipe anthem, which quickly gained popularity after being performed at Clubland Live.
The song, dubbed 'Raveheart' by international fans, amassed millions of views online.
Bowie said: "It was all a bit mad – a couple of people on socials messaged Ellene saying they thought we'd like the clip Cammy had posted and would we think about remixing it.
'She messaged Cammy asking if he fancied doing something and he was up for it, we jumped into Outforce's studio a couple of days later and the remix was done and ready to go in no time.
"It felt like it had something special and it just happened that I was playing Clubland at the Hydro on Sunday, so we asked Cammy to surprise the crowd by playing it live with us.
'It went crazy – at the time it felt like a really big moment and watching it back, it was.
"It was well over a million views on the Clubland post alone within a couple of days.
'We shot a video there and the demand has been huge, so we released the remix on Friday and Cammy joined us again in Aberdeen that night to perform it live – this time punters knew it was coming so the reaction was even madder.
'And now we are No 1 in the country chart and No 13 in the main chart.
"The annoying bit is it means my missus was right again."
George, Cammy, Outforce (Image: Supplied) Cammy Barnes, who recorded Whiskey Roll as an idea, was taken aback by the success.
He said: "It's really hard to take all this in, I didn't even plan to release the original it was just an idea.
"The reaction was wild – really crazy with 10,000 people all going mad when the bagpipes kicked in especially."
The GBX and Outforce remix of "Whiskey Roll" was released on Friday due to the overwhelming global response.
(Image: Supplied)
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Bowie, said: "It's special, it really is – it was all so random and accidental and sometimes that brings a different feel, it's more real and natural."
Cammy said: "The remix is definitely going on my album later this year, even if my manager says no.
"I was dead against using bagpipes at all since leaving the Red Hot Chili Pipers, I just wanted to sing – but I am seriously rethinking all that now."