Kilpatrick was born in Whitburn, West Lothian on 11 August 1956, and started playing the snare drum at the age of 9 or 10.
[8] He has won the drumming title at the World Pipe Band Championships nineteen times, fifteen of those as leading drummer.
[10] This led to the resignation of pipe major Gavin Walker and the band withdrawing from all competition for the rest of the season, including the World Championships.
[11] In 2015, Shotts won the World Championships for the first time in ten years, breaking a run of four consecutive victories by Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.
[12] In October 2015, a statement released by Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band reported that Kilpatrick had agreed to step down and retire from his position as leading drummer, and that corps member Blair Brown would be his replacement.