Piper to turn up heat on critics

Ryofu is preparing to release her first solo CD

A musician who plays heavy rock music on the Northumberland pipes will burn her instrument on stage to hit back at her critics.

Jacqui Powell-Swinburne, 38, who uses the stage name Ryofu, covers the likes of Black Sabbath and Frank Zappa.

But her style has enraged purists so much that she has received death threats and has been forced to employ round-the clock bodyguard protection.

Ryofu will burn her pipes at the finale of a Tyneside concert later this month.

Ryofu, whose father was a musician with the Joe Loss Orchestra, has vowed to continue playing the music she loves.

'Making a stand'

Her aim is to introduce the Northumbrian pipes to a new audience and she has already had a number of requests from youngsters asking for lessons.

She said: "I believe that anyone should be able to play any instrument in any way they want and burning the pipes is my way of making a stand.

"People call me the Princess of Darkness and tell me that I can't play my music. This is me saying I'll do what I want."

The burning of the pipes will be the climax of a show which will include dazzling lighting effects and pyrotechnics, including fire, smoke and roman candles.

Ryofu will perform her own heavy metal compositions and all proceeds will go to research into cancer, the disease which killed her father.

Ryofu, who will play the Customs House, South Shields, on 30 September, is currently preparing material for the release of her first solo CD.