John Fisher Accepts LD Post With 78th Frasers

John Fisher of Victoria, British Columbia, will be the new Lead Drummer of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band.

Fisher, who has not played with a pipe band since the 1980s, was previously the lead drummer of the now defunct City of Victoria. He also served alongside Alex Duthart in Shotts & Dykehead for several years in the 1970s.

For the last 15 years, Fisher has continued to teach and study pipe band drumming, and is still a revered name in the scene. He has taught at numerous workshops, and is in high demand as a studio musician.

Bill Livingstone, Pipe-Major of the 78th Frasers, said, “It will be an honour and a pleasure to work with a musician of John’s calibre.”

The 78th Frasers are centred in the Toronto area, while Fisher’s home is in Victoria, over 2000 miles away. Unconfirmed reports have stated that Fisher rejected an offer to tour with Elton John in favour of the opportunity with the 78th Frasers.

Fisher takes over from Mike Hunter, who resigned from the band to dedicate more time to his family and profession. John Fisher is the fifth leading drummer of the 78th Frasers since the band started in 1980.

In other pipe band news, Donald MacPhee resigned as Pipe-Major of the Grade 2 Dumbarton Pipe Band immediately following the Cowal Championships. MacPhee had led Dumbarton for less than a year.

There are also unconfirmed reports that both Brian Lamond and Paul Turner, Pipe-Major and Lead Drummer, respectively, of Dysart & Dundonald have both resigned from that band.

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