Rock and roll and the pennywhistle

Henkersbraut · Post by **Henkersbraut** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:30 am

Tak_the_whistler wrote:But how about a whistler in a "metal" band? That would be interesting as well....

It is interesting, check out:

Skyclad (at least the one CD I've got with them would fit into the metal category)

Subway to Sally; metal with medieval tendencies (follow my web-link for more)
In Extremo; medieval metal/rock
Schandmaul; medieval folkrock with metal tendencies

The last three ones are German and might be a bit hard to come by, but they play more or less metal, all with tinwhistle, hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes (++).

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:32 am

alex wrote: Of course, I read a great article in the paper a few weeks ago about Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson and his flute - showing that woodwinds DO belong in rock music. Now if only he'd learn whistle...

Any idea if Ian ever comes out to sign autographs, etc after concerts? I'll be at the Tanglewood show tomorrow, and I just MIGHT have one of my wooden whistles with me for Ian to try out...

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:37 am

It's not rock & roll but Bela Fleck and the Flecktones use pennywhistle on one of their tunes. I think it's on Hoe Down. They also have a guy playing jazz bassoon. Very cool.

Tak_the_whistler · Post by **Tak_the_whistler** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:50 am

Henkersbraut, thanks!

Checked "Subway to Sally" at amazon.de. I think they're o.k..
I wonder which whistle they use, though?

madguy · Post by **madguy** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 7:59 am

Lee, thanks for your input, you've come up with some great ones - though I have to admit, I'm one of the very few who absolutely can't stand House of the Rising Sun

~Larry

madguy · Post by **madguy** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 9:32 am

Blackbird and Rocky Raccoon work very nicely with a whistle, thank you, Lee!

~Larry

madguy · Post by **madguy** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 9:34 am

By gawd, I just thought of another one from the Beatles' album ( always mistakenly called The White Album).... Julia. I'm gonna try it right now!!!

~Larry

Henkersbraut · Post by **Henkersbraut** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 2:50 am

Tak_the_whistler wrote:Henkersbraut, thanks!

Checked "Subway to Sally" at amazon.de. I think they're o.k..
I wonder which whistle they use, though?

Eric uses Generation whistles (C, D and F as far as I know).

scoutcow · Post by **scoutcow** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:40 pm

One of the best bands I know is Eluveite, they call themselfs a Celtic Pagan Metal band. They also play the tin and low whistle and an irish flute and they also have two 'Schäferpfeife' (old German pipes: http://home.tiscali.de/instrumente/scha ... elsack.htm )
And I'm also going to play in a metalband and i'm playing tinwhistle, low whistle and highland bagpipe and I'm going to buy a medieval bagpipe to play in the band.

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:27 pm

Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphy's, and Real Mackenzies are all Celtic influenced punk rock bands featuring various traditional instruments and tunes.

There is also a group called Off Kilter that takes a very rock spin on celtic and a celtic spin on rock.

Also....Hayseed Dixie is a group that exclusively does bluegrass versions of classic rock. Bluegrass is easily transferrable into a celtic format.

Personally....I can play most of Hotel California on whistle and a few other rock songs including Seven Nation Army(white stripes), Basket Case(green day), and bits of Come Sail Away!

Sometimes I just get bored and try to figure out songs that get stuck in my head.

I should also add that I find most rock melodies to be fairly weak when unaccompanied.(at least many of the ones I've tried)

scoutcow · Post by **scoutcow** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:33 pm

I can play Eluveitie - Your Gaulish War / Eluveitie - Aidu / Subway to Sally - Nacht der Söldner on the tin whistle and In Extremo - Bitte Bitte / In Extremo - Herr Mannelig / In Extremo - Horizont / In Extremo - Küss Mich on the bagpipe

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:59 pm

I was seriously considering starting a series of threads entitled
"Impress your friends/Annoy your kids", wherein I would list
which songs on the current top40 could be played along with
on a D whistle. But then I took a nap instead.

walrii · Post by **walrii** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:52 am

pete humphrey wrote: What about Led Zepplin Stairway to Heaven & any Eagles song(yes they are popular in UK) pete

I'm working on "Seven Bridges Road" on the whistle as an execise in learning by ear. It sounds nice on the whistle but the Eagles harmony is so pervasive in my head that the whistle doesn't quite sound the same. (Could also be my ear is outta whack!) Of course, any player of the "Fipple Flute That Cannot Be Named" worth his salt has learned the recorder part on Stairway.

walrii · Post by **walrii** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:03 am

For the Beatles fans, add "Yesterday" and "When I'm Sixty-four." 64 takes a half-hole or two.

Anglorfin · Post by **Anglorfin** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:07 am

The Italian Power Metal band, Elvenking, uses whistles or a similar instrument in a lot of their songs. You can usually hear them in the background but some songs, including the intro to their first album, are done almost exclusively with the whistle. Since they're going for a folkish feel, the whistle parts transfer very easily into standard keys.

Also check their Myspace for more songs. It's a pity some of their better songs that have the whistle aren't featured though.