11 Facts About Jim Kilpatrick

Jim Kilpatrick MBE was born on 11 August 1956 and is a Scottish pipe band drummer, and leading drummer of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band.

Jim Kilpatrick has won numerous drumming titles as both a solo drummer and in pipe band competitions, enjoying his greatest competitive success with the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band.

Jim Kilpatrick's uncle Tom Brown is a pipe band drummer, and was leading drummer of Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band until he was succeeded by his son Gordon, who is Kilpatrick's cousin.

Jim Kilpatrick left to become leading drummer of Polkemmet Pipe Band in 1980, along with Robert Mathieson who came from Shotts at the same time to become pipe major.

Jim Kilpatrick has won the drumming title at the World Pipe Band Championships nineteen times, fifteen of those as leading drummer.

Jim Kilpatrick was suspended in 2012 for comments made on Facebook about the result the band received at the British Championships.

In October 2015, a statement released by Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band reported that Jim Kilpatrick had agreed to step down and retire from his position as leading drummer, and that corps member Blair Brown would be his replacement.

In 2016, Jim Kilpatrick became leading drummer of the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band, which was reformed to compete for the 2016 season.

Jim Kilpatrick has stated that this will be his final season of competition.

Jim Kilpatrick competes in solo events, and has won the World Solo Drumming Championships a record sixteen times.

Jim Kilpatrick has been involved in teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, as well as giving masterclasses around the world.