Scotty

I prefer the word; "Contrived", as in "This is the most contrived thing I've ever heard of.".

Or, even better, the '83 - '84 Red Vans deck shoes.

<img src="http://xkingsmen.com/photos/1970/images/scan0056.jpg"> http://xkingsmen.com/photos/1970/images/scan0056.jpg

1981 Spartacus 1982 Spartacus (second time around) 1979 1978 1983 1984 1989

Interesting. If this eventually becomes a by-product of the amplification rule, I might have to change my view on ampliication. Just think; Amplification = smallerpits = less clutter on the front sidelines = more focus on the horns, battery, and guard = a more enjoyable show. I LIKE IT!

Does this mean that we'll all get credit for designing the New VK's first show? Does compensation come with that? ^OO^

Agreed. EVERYTHING bows down to Spirit's finale that year.

If you liked 1992, you should try 1988. As Felix the cat was fond of saying: "You'll Laugh So much, your sides will ache, your heart will go pitter pat.."

JMC, who are you? I marched in the tenor line both years. I briefly dated Sherilynn Adams in '83 and bus partnered with Lisa Arrelanes in '84 (both from the CG). I remember Michelle (Shelley) very well, and hope she's doing well. Scott Newton

Tina, How's it going?!

Ron, I think you may be slightly misinformed. "Mylar" was invented in the 1960s, and was used by drumlines up through the mid-'80's, when Kevlar, and then later other forms of woven fiber drumheads took over for the snare drums, such as the material used in the remo White Max head (Mylar is still used for many bass and tenor heads). While these newer types of heads allow for tighter tuning and higher pitches, the actual volume, or Sound Pressure level is lower, due to the lack of head compression that these materials allow (especially, Kevlar). In effect, less air is being compressed inside the snare drum, and therefore much less movement of the bottom head and activation of the snare guts. So, we can state that snare lines, in general, are not nearly as loud as they were in the late '70's and early '80's. Bass lines these days, are MUCH quieter, since the drum sizes have become smaller and the mallets have gone from heavy aluminum shafted mallets, to lightweight, more articulate wood-shafted mallets. Lighter weight + smaller beater head on a smaller drum = lower sound pressure level. They simply aren't moving as much air through the drum. Tenor lines have become quieter as the tuning moves higher and lines move from mallets to lighter weight tenor "sticks". While this facilitates greater speed and articulation for more complex rudimental passages at greater tempos, again, less air is being moved through the drums, and therefore the SPL suffers. Another problem with modern tenor drums is that the chamfered cut on all modern top of the line tenor drums is too shallow, and does not direct nearly as much fundamental tone forward as did earlier designs such as Slingerland's Cut-A-Ways. While these newer tenor drums may have a so-called desirable deeper tone, that tone does not project forward as well as the older designs. One of the comments we have heard regarding our two outdoor KAC performances is that our hornline is much louder than our drumline. This can be attributed, in part, to 1) the G-bugles the hornline is using, and 2) the use of modern heads and mallets in our snare and bass lines. You are quite correct about the Bb horns though. They are indeed quieter than their G Counterparts. Even my wife, who knows little about drum corps, can tell the difference.

That sounds like Dane. On tour, he would usually take about 4 showers a day. Definitely into keeping cool!

The Santa Clara Vanguard marched 8 quads all year in 1980 (technically, two sets of 4: 4 "High" Quads and 4 "Low" Quads). They played complementary parts that flowed from one set of 4 to the other. Amazing.

Lance, let me start off by saying, Yes, we all miss Dane. Yes, my brother and I are both doing the Kingsmen thing. Jeff marched tenors in the Freelancers in '82 and '83. He also marched Blue Knighst in the Snareline in '81, and was at USC when Wanamaker came on board and switched them over to a corps style line. He marched snare there his first year, and quads for 3 yearsa after that. We're enjoying the Kingsmen thing quite a bit. The rehearsal schedule is completely reasonable. The parts are late '70's old school, which is fitting considering the music selection, the old school colorguard, etc. We're only slated to play at Semis next year, as DCI has determined that Finals night is strictly for the Junior Corps (and rightly so, I think, considering the 27th Lancers Alumni blew the doors down at Finals in '94). Tad was also my first serious instructor when he came down as Freshman from Northern California in 1979 and helped out with Granada Hills High School. He's still the most powerful Tenor drummer I've ever met. He pushed us HARD! I've had Tad as an instructor at Granada, CSUN and USC! On a separate note, when CSUN cancelled their football program a few years ago due to Title IX restrictions, the music department axed the marching band. I do think they still have a pep band for Basketball, but it's just not the same. The old practice field on Nordhoff to the East of the Music building is planted with trees, and they are planning to build a new instructional building there. I also think that the stadium at the North Campus will soon be coming down to make way for a Mini-Med expansion. All vestiges of the old days are slowly coming down. Too bad these newer state schools don't know how to build any traditions.

1984 Freelancers Yell: "Live, from Sacramento, the Freelancers!". The entire corps, with the exception of the contras, sings the first verse of "With You I'm Born Again". It was only supposed to be the hornline, but by the end of the season, we are all humming it. That tune also closes with the corps singing.