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Maas was DCI's chief judge for a while. He always called it as he saw/heard it, based on what was performed that day, not on reputation of the corps or what others had scored them.

Yes, Fran, it was the '79 27th Lancers that really introduced the floating visuals. When we first saw them in June that year it was a whole new thing we were seeing.

I will say that it's refreshing when modern corps throw in a little bit of symmetrical design these days.

You want to kill the activity? Do that.

SEC Network (Go Gamecocks!) is showcasing College bands at halftime on their SEC+ digital channel. I found it easiest to watch through the WatchESPN app.

http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php/topic/155358-the-hawthorne-muchachos-what-really-happened/?hl=muchachos Above is link to discussion on the historical section, starts with a discussion be Dennis Delucia ('chachos drum instructor). Quite a tale - even involves a murder (of Garfield's DM) & a former Cavalier who was convicted for impersonating a physician (I am not making this up)

For the newbies, Rich Maas was a Central States Judging Association member when DCI first started. He brought new and innovative technology to the early Rules Congress sessions and judges' clinics. I remember him back in the early 70's when the meetings were in Itasca, Ill. showing us in the visual caption meeting a computer video of random shapes and progressions which we were to evaluate, consider in transitions, and rank and rate for difficulty and enjoyment. A very large man in all dimensions with a booming voice to match, he was well ahead of the times in his marching design as you noted but also in his discussions of where drum corps might develop and how judges were to score it.

1. Cavies 2000 or Cadets 2000 or Cavaliers 2001 or Blue Devils 1994 or Blue Devils 1999 or Blue Devils 2003. This one was hard. 2. Blue Devils 2004 or Blue Devils 2008 3. SCV 2004 or Blue Devils 1995 4. Bluecoats 2006 or Phantom 2003 or Carolina Crown 2004 5. Madison Scouts 1997 or Boston 2000 6. Blue Knights 2015 7. Carolina Crown 2004 8. Madison Scouts 2003 or Velvet Knights 1988 9. Honestly, no clue. 10. Blue Knights 2005 11. Crossmen 2004 12. Madison Scouts 2008

Still find time to party? Did they record a college frat party and say it's the Cadets and Blue Devils?

My top 12 is a bit 1990-present day heavy, but that's the times when I started watching this activity. It is a collection of MY FAVORITES!!! 1) Blue Devils 1996 "Club Blue: A Gangster Chronicle" (Just came out and threw down from the first note) 2) Star 1993 "The Music of Barber and Bartok" (This really could have been my favorite 1st place show, but I'll play nice) 3) The Cadets "Our Favorite Things" (A different, yet fantastic arrangement of Malenguena) 4) Carolina Crown 2011 "Rach Star" (Nothing but fun in this show, and the excellent performance) 5) Scouts 1997 "The Pirates of Lake Mendota" (I don't know that there has ever been a louder crowd response to a show, than the end of that show on Finals night) 6) Crossmen 1992 "Songs for the Planet Earth" (First show that I really "fell in love with," and realized I wanted to do this activity.) 7) SCV 1992 "Fiddler on the Roof" (Bottle Dance!!!) 8) Bluecoats 2008 "The Knockout" (That percussion feature with the basses just throwing down at the start!!!) 9) Blue Knights 2011 "An English Folksong Suite" (The percussion feature with the old time fife feel was awesome!) 10) Velvet Knights 1992 "Magical Mystery Tour III" (Still miss these guys, and the way they just did what they wanted regardless of what others thought) 11) Boston Crusaders 2005 "Ode to Joy" (A fun show) 12) Crossmen 2012 "Fragile" (Back in Finals after too long of a lay-off, move to Texas, and the thought by some alumni that the group would never make it "back")

Sorry for screwing up your thread.

I always loved the original way Crown got from Candide to their opening hit in 2008. They tried out this "false ending" where they ended Candide like normal, four gooks from anchor bass, they started marching off the field like they were leaving, then turned backfield, played the lead up to the hit, six counts of silence for a turn to the front, and then ... BOOM. Opening hit. I thought it was really great, but it didn't really fit. It took away from the momentum ... and doing it the way they eventually did it was MUCH more effective.

Maybe they'll bring back the costumes.

Looks like they are trying to start the corps again. They haven't been around since 2011. Scroll down to the bottom of the page: http://www.gpvillage.com/eastms

People have been saying they'll flop every year since 2014 and come out with a dud the next year. Not saying it won't happen, but it's the same prediction every year. I'd hardly put 2015 in the same vein as Carolina Crown in 2010, I think you could make an argument for 2015 definitely being a championship caliber show. (Bias alert 2015 is actually my favorite Bluecoats show above 2016).

Editorial comment: We were robbed at CYO ... but I'm not bitter.

Looks like music only. I edit if I find the show marching and music together. Here you go:

Quit your job, or school or whatever and join The Kilties....it's too #### hot down there anyway.

The Vigilantes made DCA Class A finals in 2009, I think it was.... then they were gone about as fast as they arrived on the scene.

if not posted yet, here is the gofundme for the family started by Eric Sabach https://www.gofundme.com/26wxfafw looks like they are hoping to start a Memorial Scholarship Fund for young people in the performing arts

"Can someone explain how we went from symmetrical drill to not?" hmmmm......I think it was something like drill writers wrote symmetrical drills, and then they did not. Does that help?

I don't recall Doug Thrower arranging for another corps while with Bluecoats. Huge pickup.

:O Yay for Thrower!

Pacific Crest 2017 Design Staff Announced SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 BY STUART POMPEL While Pacific Crests 2016 caption heads will be returning for 2017, fans will see new names on our roster of designers. Brass Arranger and Music Director John Meehan resigned this past August after serving the corps for five seasons. John came aboard in 2012, explains Executive Director Stuart Pompel, and we experienced immediate success that year with The Spectrum. Hes been an invaluable member of the team, and has helped us develop our program and teaching in a myriad of ways! Doug Thrower To fill the void, Creative Director Steven Estudillo has hired Doug Thrower as the 2017 brass arranger/composer. Thrower holds that position at the Bluecoats and has done so for 25 years. Estudillo worked closely with Pacific Crest Creative Adviser, Scott Koter, to bring Thrower to Pacific Crest. I am incredibly excited to have Doug join us. He brings a wealth of experience that will help us realize our artistic vision. Thrower will continue working for the Bluecoats, as well. Jonathan Zuniga Percussion Arranger/Composer Pete Lucero will return next year, and he will be joined by Jonathan Zuniga, who will arrange and compose the front ensemble score. Zuniga is a Southern California resident and recently completed a four-year tenure with the Blue Stars. Ive worked extensively with Jonathan for more than a decade, says Estudillo, He is an incredibly talented designer who brings a sense of energy and sophistication. Zuniga will replace Brian Dinkel, who has shared his talents with the corps for the past two seasons. On the visual side, Angela Tousley is leaving Pacific Crest after eight seasons with the corps. She served as Color Guard Caption Head and Visual Designer for the first seven years, and in 2016 she moved to the design team as the corps Visual Coordinator. Estudillo, who doubles as the corps drill designer will coordinate the visual production of the 2017 show, but will be assisted by color guard instructor, David Crook. In addition to working on our color guard staff, David teaches dance at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis. Seth Murphy is Pacific Crests Program and Staff Coordinator. We are honored to have Doug Thrower as our brass arranger, and excited to see how the music design team brings Stevens vision to life for 2017. I wish to thank John Meehan and Brian Dinkel for sharing their talents with us. Most importantly, I want to thank Angela Tousley, who has been a full participant in what were trying to do here. She is incredibly talented, and PC is a better place because of her work. Pacific Crest 2017 Staff Program and Staff Coordinator, Seth Murphy Design Team Creative Director and Visual Designer, Steven Estudillo Brass Arranger/Composer, Doug Thrower Battery Arranger/Composer, Pete Lucero Front Ensemble Arranger/Composer, Jonathan Zuniga Visual Designer, David Crook Creative Advisor, Scott Koter Instructional Team Brass Caption Head, Luis Cardenas Casillas Percussion Caption Head, Pete Lucero Front Ensemble Manager, Dalia Berman Color Guard Caption Head, Jen Barton Visual Caption Head, Pablo Coppola http://www.pacific-crest.org/2016/09/2017-design-staff-announced/

I feel like the '93 recordings are fine...'95 and (even worse) '96 are another story. Not sure how that happened.