The story took place during the summer of '95, in the atrium of the downtown Atlanta Hilton Towers during Dragon*con, an annual science fiction convention.
On Thursday night, July 13th, 1995 Michael LoBue was playing his pipes on the 5th floor landing. The acoustics were gorgeous in the atrium. When he had finished playing, a swarming of applause filled the air coming from various levels of the tall building. Many asked him, through out the remainder of the night if he would play again on Friday. "Of course," was his reply.
On Friday evening, July 14th, the piper played again. After a couple of tunes had been played, a hotel security man, politely asked the piper to go down stairs if he wanted to play. "No problem, thank you." The piper replied. So down the stairs he went to continue playing.
The sound of the pipes was awesome, traveling some 30 stories high, reminded many of a lone Cathedral. A huge crowd out of the 15,000 member convention were singing and enjoying the surroundings on various floor levels, when right in the middle of "Amazing Grace," a two hotel staff members and two security officers approached him. "You must stop playing now!" they exclaimed as if they were Lieutenant Warf or someone! They just could not wait for the tune to end.
The pipes finally stopped. The crowd booed and hissed at the hotel security men, then began stomping their feet and chanting "We want pipes!!!" "We want pipes!!!" "We want pipes!!!" The hotel security still would not let him play.
It was estimated that more than 500 members followed the piper out side. Playing for everyone on the downtown street corner, the sound echoed off near by buildings, traveling for blocks. The crowd grew thicker then finally formed an autograph line. Michael was given the name, "The Renegade Piper" by writer Elizabeth Bartlette, the first in line for an autograph.
By the next day, pin-on buttons were immediately manufactured saying, "Fan of The Renegade Piper" and were being sold in the dealer's room. Each year Michael returns to Dragon*con, making guest appearances, (on stage this time) and never ceases to amaze and capture the hearts of his science fiction fans. When all is said and done, he says, "It's time for a New Castle beer!"
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