Unipiper Explained
The Unipiper (born Brian Kidd; April 29, 1983) is a Portland, Oregon unicyclist, street performer, bagpiper and internet celebrity.
Life and career
Brian Kidd moved to Portland, Oregon, from North Carolina in 2007.[1] The Oregonian newspaper wrote in 2017 that he came up with the act that he would later name the Unipiper "shortly before he moved to Portland", but developed it in Portland,[1] where he was influenced by the city's receptiveness to quirky characters. He named his character the Unipiper when he moved to Portland.
The Unipiper is an American performance artist whose work regularly combines unicycling with playing the (sometimes flaming) bagpipes. The Unipiper first found Internet fame in 2012 when a video of him performing The Imperial March went viral. The video featured the Unipiper wearing a Darth Vader mask, while riding a unicycle and playing the bagpipes, and was subsequently featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[2] His other mainstream media appearances have included America's Got Talent and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[3] He has since branched out into performances referencing non-Star Wars fictional elements, including Game of Thrones, ,[4] and Pokémon.[5] [6] His antics as Uncle Sam have attracted international attention.[7]
In 2019, the Unipiper helped organize Weird Portland United, a non-profit dedicated to promoting artists and creatives in the Portland metropolitan area.[8] [9]
See also
Notes and References
- News: Turnquist. Kristi. Unipiper pops up in 'Gong Show' revival. June 21, 2017. first published online June 19. The Oregonian. June 24, 2017. B16. June 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170629184236/http://www.oregonlive.com/tv/2017/06/the_gong_show_returns_with_por.html. live.
- Web site: Brian Kidd is the Unipiper: the unicycling bagpiper. January 6, 2014. June 24, 2017. Chris Higgins. Boing Boing. December 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220121637/http://boingboing.net/2014/01/06/the-unipiper.html. live.
- Web site: Bike Guide 2014: The Unipiper--Behind the Darth Vader mask of Portland's one-wheeled mascot.. May 27, 2016. December 9, 2016. Willamette Week. Pete Cottell. December 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221034430/http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-22583-bike-guide-2014-the-unipiper.html. live.
- News: Watch: Unipiper presents 'Batman v Superman' in a theme song battle for the ages. The Oregonian. March 22, 2016. December 9, 2016. Edar Campuzano. November 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161108042333/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/03/unipiper_batman_v_superman.html. live.
- Web site: Musician balances on Pokeball while playing Pokemon theme on flaming bagpipes. CNET. Bonnie Burton. August 21, 2016. June 24, 2017. December 20, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220171638/https://www.cnet.com/news/musician-balances-on-pokeball-while-playing-pokemon-theme-on-flaming-bagpipes/. live.
- Web site: The Bagpipe Unicycle Guy Dressed as Charmander and Played the Pokemon Theme Song. Willamette Week. August 23, 2016. June 24, 2017. Sophia June. December 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221034856/http://www.wweek.com/culture/2016/08/23/the-bagpipe-unicycle-guy-dressed-as-charmander-and-played-the-pokemon-theme-song/. live.
- Web site: How many tricks can one unicyclist do? Brian Kidd, also known as the Unipiper, uses his flamethrowing bagpipes to deliver a classical score atop a unicycle. https://web.archive.org/web/20150715063913/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/viral-video/11736143/How-many-tricks-can-one-unicyclist-do.html. dead. July 15, 2015. The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. July 13, 2015. June 24, 2017. Vin Shahrestani.
- Web site: One of the City’s Most Popular Local Celebrities Has Started a Nonprofit Dedicated to Keeping Portland Weird. January 6, 2014. January 15, 2019. Andy Prewitt. Willamette Week. January 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190115220407/https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/01/15/one-of-the-citys-most-popular-local-celebrities-has-started-a-nonprofit-dedicated-to-keeping-portland-weird/. live.
- Web site: The Unipiper starts 'Weird Portland United' to make Portland even weirder. January 22, 2019. April 15, 2019. KGW. KGW. April 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190423061123/https://www.kgw.com/video/entertainment/culture/cassidy-quinn/the-unipiper-starts-weird-portland-united-to-make-portland-even-weirder/283-57e738a5-6a54-47c1-b42d-fe1be01db763. live.