Metalhead drumming to a different beat

Rotorua's Angus Crowe has swapped his long hair and heavy metal drum kit for a leading role in one of the country's top pipe bands.

Mr Crowe is the former drummer for popular Rotorua heavy metal and hard rock band Harvest, which in 2007 won the regional RockQuest title.

Now in his early 20s, Mr Crowe has moved to Wellington to study commerce and the arts at Victoria University.

But, his love for the pipes and drums has seen him land the role of drum sergeant in one of only four grade one pipe bands in the country - the New Zealand Police Pipe Band.

Mr Crowe told the Rotorua Daily Post he started drumming about 13 years ago when he was living in Feilding.

"I told mum I wanted to learn the drums. She was a bit apprehensive about that but we happened to know a guy who taught me," he said.

However, Mr Crowe's pedigree cannot be questioned. His great grandfather was a member of the renowned Black Watch - an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland - in World War I.

He also served his time as a drummer in another grade one band, the Auckland and Districts Pipe Band, for whom he played for seven years.

He said he was a little nervous as this year will be his first as a drum sergeant. "But I'm excited more than anything".