Armour Home brand director and audio industry legend, Alex Munro, announces his retirement

If Alex Munro had his way, there wouldn't be any fanfare at all. In true Alex fashion, he'd quietly slip into retirement without any fuss. But after more than 47 years in the audio industry, we couldn't let this milestone pass without saying thank you.

Today we celebrate the retirement of an audio industry legend and our Brand Director, Alex Munro.

Born and educated in Scotland, Alex has never lost his love for home. Whether proudly following Scottish rugby or greeting colleagues with his unmistakable gentle Scottish burr, he's brought warmth, humour and quiet humility to every conversation. Those who know Alex know that his calm, considered approach has earned him as much respect as his remarkable career.

Alex began his career as a Development Engineer at KEF in 1979 before going on to hold senior leadership positions at KEF, Tannoy Group and Federal Signal. He joined Audica (commercial audio solutions) in 2004, and following its acquisition by Armour Home in 2009, became instrumental in the development of our brands, leading pricing, forecasting, product strategy and training, while working closely with our Sales, Marketing and Technical Support teams.

Alex's career also took him around the world, opening and delivering professional audio, lightning and video systems for hotels and nightclubs in cities including Baghdad, Tel Aviv and Damascus. Along the way, he collected more than a few unforgettable stories - always shared with the dry wit and quiet humour that those who know him will recognise.

Alongside his commercial achievements, Alex also served as Chairman of the British Section of the Audio Engineering Society, earning the respect of colleagues across the industry.

Alex's knowledge, integrity and passion for great sound have left a lasting legacy at Armour Home (Goldring, QED, Q Acoustics) and far beyond.

Thank you, Alex, for everything you've contributed over an incredible career. We wish you a long, happy and well-deserved retirement. Congratulations! 🎉

With a career as long and distinguished as Alex's, it's no surprise that he's collected plenty of memorable musical moments along the way. To celebrate his remarkable journey, we've asked Alex to share some of the songs and memories that have stayed with him throughout his life.

ALEX'S MILESTONE MUSICAL MOMENTS

FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK

It wasn't Christmas Eve, but not long after, when I went to New York together with my new wife for the first time. On a cold crisp day, we walked down through the avenues until we came to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. We took the ferry out past Liberty, stayed on when we docked and as we turned back towards Manhattan the early dusk of winter meant that the lights were all turning on. Whenever I hear this song on it's like being back in New York.

BERLIOZ TE DEUM

Conductor, Claudio Abbado walked into the after-party like a rock star with a long black coat and a beautiful woman on each arm. He had just presided over a unique performance of Belioz Te Deum in Edinburgh's Usher Hall. In his memoirs the composer wrote that "the work calls for an organ that can compete on equal terms with the rest of the orchestra.' Unfortunately, this concert hall didn't have one and we had to use high quality speakers to convey the sound and scale of the organ in another venue in the same city.

LIFE ON MARS

The first time I saw David Bowie singing and playing live was during his Ziggy Stardust Tour in the 1970s. One of the many memorable moments was when they played Life on Mars, surely among his finest songs ever. Many years later I discovered that the highly distinctive piano part had been created and performed for the studio recording by Rick Wakeman, who was later to play a central role in a completely different type of band called Yes. Unlike many musicians from that period, he is very modest and retiring about his collaboration with Bowie.

MOULIN ROUGE

The movie Moulin Rouge directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann tells the story of a young English poet/writer (played by Ewan McGregor), who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan (Nicole Kidman). Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, the Director challenges his main actors to really sing though they are not normally vocalists. There is a memorable roof top scene when they sing a duet (surprisingly well) with Hollywood views of Paris as a backdrop. When I visit Paris for fun I normally stay in that area and have breakfast in a caf' with the same views and whenever I watch the movie in my home cinema it transports me back to being there.

RADIO GAGA

I wasn't able to be at the Live Aid Concert, so along with some neighbours we set up a screen and powerful sound system in the garden and watched almost all of the concert outdoors eating great food from a barbeque. By this time the band, Queen had passed their peak and to many in the crowd were there making up the numbers. I'd never particularly liked them so wasn't paying much attention. What we had all forgotten was that it wasn't just about music and fashion, Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest live music performers in the history of rock music and hit a special peak that day. The rendition of Radio Gaga and crowd response electrified the stadium and reached out to us in our garden 65 miles away. I never just listen to the studio recording on headphones. It has to be the video recording of that day on great speakers to give any chance of feeling like BEING THERE.

BRAHMS PIANO CONCERTOS

The Usher Hall in Edinburgh has choir stalls behind the stage and for a particularly popular concert the audience can use them. It's a very different experience sitting facing the audience being addressed by the Conductor and you feel like you are not just observing a performance but being part on one. Alfred Brendel was the pianist at the performance we were at and produced a highly polished, confident and dynamic interpretation. These remain among my favourite pieces of music and when I listen to the recordings at home.

I GOTTA FEELING

'

The Black-eyed Peas created the best party video ever with 'I Gotta Feeling'. Can you remember what it felt like when you were a teenager preparing to go out on a Friday or Saturday evening? That feeling of eager anticipation was so often better than the arriving. But this was a special evening, a Cup Final at our national stadium with a son's team playing. At half time it was a 50 / 50 but the DJ played that special song by the Black Eyed Peas, it lifted all our hearts, and we went on to win and celebrate the night away. Now every time I hear that song it not only takes me back to every great party I've been to but being there in the stadium that very special evening.

ROUTE 66

During the Rolling Stones' Bridges to Babylon Stadium tour part of the show was to create a bridge from the main stadium-end stage to a tiny one halfway down the pitch, then the band would run across the bridge and without the benefit of all the lights, effects and all that show technology would play their older songs. The time I saw them they also played a rock & roll milestone, a Chuck Berry song called Route 66. I just need to hear those guitar chords or anything from the beginning of the Rolling Stones and I;m back watching the band.

EUGENE ONEGIN

It was a landmark birthday and we started the day driving back from a holiday in France. It was quite a tricky journey but we made it to Glyndebourne, suitably dressed and almost in time. It was for an opera we hadn't seen before and a sell-out in the beautiful wood-lined auditorium with excellent acoustics. One of the features of experiencing opera at Glyndebourne is that the intervals are long enough to eat dinner. It had been a long day and we were hungry, but the female lead did something in the lead up to the break, which created a massive reaction in the audience. In the very last few bars of the Act she picked up a bowl of water and as she reached the crescendo of the aria poured it over her own head. The whole audience gasped and filed out in silence. Almost any operatic performance I now listen to takes me back to being there in that very special place.