FrankBeMe

It's possible for shows to have happened in March. In 69 we did a standstill contest in April. In 72 we did a few small corps standstill contests in January and February. We also had our first field contests the second weekend in May that year.

Military tattoos in Europe are huge. I've played in a few. There are some in the states, I'm not sure just how well attended they are but they bring in groups from around the world just as they do in Europe. I'm not sure if they would be as big here if there were more...I think the popularity of the ones here is because they're rare. I love those things!

There were times when Legion and/or VFW Nationals wouldn't be until September, sometimes even October. Corps that went were guaranteed nothing except a few $$ from their posts. There were no shows to do on the way to and from either. If you made finals, you got paid according to your placement, which was never a whole lot. For many, the trip would be deep in the red money wise. Now--I can't imagine how anyone could pay some of the dues...errr tuition out there today. Staff costs have to be ridiculous. Why do corps need 50 staff members? errr "faculty?" (maybe that's why the higher pay--the term "faculty" presents the illusion of actual credentials.) Fuel prices are up and are only get worse. The ex-head of Shell said a few days ago that $5 a gallon is coming in the next year...and that's just the start. How much will dues..errr tuition go up to cover that? And you have to wonder---who are these kids and families that can afford dues...errr tuition? Are sub middle class kids being left out? Are world class corps becoming only for rich white kids who can afford it? I don't know....

I heard a story from way back about Reilly and Archie....don't know if it's true or not. Archie had a guy that danced barefoot. At one show some Reilly people spread out thumb tacks on the field on his spot. True or myth?

Did you ever see the libretto from the 1971 Cavie's show that they passed out in the stands?

And who does that? Brewers have 33 spring training games. You better check your facts there Cop.

The difference is that they all play 81 games in their home city. You're really grasping for straws when there's no comparison.

Growing up, my dad got VFW magazine and the October issue had the results of VFW Nationals. It was called the Million Dollar Pageant of Drums. All the results were in there for corps, bands, drill teams, color guards etc with the prize money given out according to placement. I think the highest 1st place money for a corps was $1200. Of course, the total prize money for all groups didn't come close to $1,000,000, or even $50,000. In 1971, the last big VFW Nationals in Dallas, Madison couldn't do their costumes and dancing. Cavaliers didn't go at all...they went to Legion Nationals in Houston instead. In 72, the only DCI finalists who went to VFW were Cavaliers, Kilties, Argonne Rebels and Bridgemen. From then on, very few big names went and eventually VFW would end the drum corps portion of their contest and concentrate mainly on bands and drill teams. When we went to Legion Nationals in 71, we went straight down from Menominee to Houston with no shows on the way. That's just how it was then. 10 jr corps showed up...9 made finals. We were the smallest corps there and at the finale we stood between Argonne Rebels and Hawthorne Caballeros. I don't think we went past either one's drumline we were so small. Shows had already changed enough that the VFW felt it had to ban things that Madison did during their show, which did hurt their placement. VFW was pretty hardline conservative....and prohibiting the new show design was all they could do....they weren't going to change. Corps could dance and skip and wear costumes all season long until VFW Nationals...there they couldn't do what they had done all summer. VFW wasn't going to change. I think Legion wasn't as conservative as VFW. In scoring, DCI used Legion rules the first couple years that included 30 points for total GE.

Just saying....the premise is wrong in this case. And since the director sees cheaper air fares as a big incentive, why should a kid who is actually from Madison spend money flying to Indy? At least Blue Stars had their spring training in the same area code as LaCrosse.

For example---based on Mr. Cop flying from Los Angeles to Madison. The director said flying to Indy is cheaper than flying to Madison....well.... Given their January camp dates, a flight from LAX to Madison is $280.80. LAX to Indianapolis on the same dates is $359.80. Perhaps more research is needed on the Scouts part. I believe that $280.80 is less than $359.80. So, that assumption by the director that it's cheaper to fly to Indy is wrong, at least from LAX.

Or maybe it's the other way around.

Ok...umm Cop. What I see is an open, public, statement from the executive director, who has a Kentucky area code. In the statement, he essentially disses the city of Madison, Madison Public Schools, Dane County Regional Airport, the city of Whitewater, the town of Baraboo, the University of Wisconsin and our weather. So with that, can you tell the residents of the city of Madison, which I am not, although I do live in Dane County, why a portion of their already high enough taxes should go to the city of Madison giving money to the organization? They won't answer, since there are only about 12,000 people (about 5% of the population) who have ever heard of the Scouts, they are totally in the dark that this past year, the corps has spent no more than two entire days in the city itself. Why should the locals donate to what is to them, essentially an invisible entity? Are these great things that are going to be done in Madison going to be visible to all? Announcements that this event or service is provided by the MDBCA, Inc? If they're not, then the public won't know. They need something visible, not a group that pulls into town for a day for their home show and a month later to get their picture taken in front of the capitol. Locals tend to support what they can see. It's not just here, it's much of drum corps, at least world class. Instead of a local talking to another local about what they have seen a group do, they are now wondering whatever happened to them. And that's a sad statement on the activity that the locals are left hanging.

So it's Madison in name and address only. There is a Madison, IN.

Although I liked them both, at the time most people considered 71 Cavaliers and Madison as the death of drum corps. But we all know that the death came in 1992 with Bluecoat's jazzophonic Beatle's show.

Stan and me, The Barn, St. Louis 1976. Excellent article Mike....however...see message on Facebook from me.

That's what I was thinking at first...I can't remember which corps, but there was a sop or trumpet solo that wasn't in tune at all with the pit. So that explains that. Thanks!

Oh ok..thanks Andy. I thought it might have been one of those Hollywood embellishments of history that they like to do.

I received the finals dvds in the mail yesterday and have now watched all sixteen corps that performed that night. Background I haven't seen a show live since DCA 2004. I have no idea of what's evolved since then. I see what corps are playing and many times wonder why. I see the scores not knowing if someone got shafted and all that. In other words, I came into the viewing of the video totally blind, not knowing what to expect. And I do know that there is a big difference in seeing and hearing live vs what is on video. General observations 1. What happened to melody matters? Sure, the majority of the corps don't fall into that, just a few. In my mind, hornlines were not created to play nothing but accented eighth notes to highlight flag work. 2. Alliance and Corps Vets coexisting in the same city. I had expressed concern that Atlanta wouldn't be able to sustain two quality corps. Too many times one will succeed at the expense of the other. I was wrong. 3. Was it humid or something that night? There were so many intonation problems in ballads, just wondering why. I thought multi-key was suppose to solve things like that. The corps Buccaneers vs Minnesota Brass. I thought the spread should have been much less..perhaps even reversed. Both had well designed and well performed shows. Although with MBI, I didn't recognize anything until Sherehazad and then Caravan. Good to see Roger Grupp still at it! One thing I was wondering too--is there historical evidence that Roman legions actually goosestepped? Not to my knowledge so just wondering why Bucs put that in, as well as Phantom since the first time they did Spartacus. Aside from that--either of these would have been worthy champions in my opinion. Emprie--most entertaining show. Where else would you see a wicked witch doing rifle work. The combination of all three versions of the story was very well done. Definitely deserved the showmanship award. (but why was Dorothy blond?) Hurcs--well done....much better than the last time I saw them. Well put together, easy to get into show. Kudos! Cabs---looks odd without Jimmy Russo at the helm but life goes on. Typical Cabs..fast, loud and high. Great solo work as always! Kidsgrove Scouts--they may have deserved higher. Well designed show. I expected less coming from Europe and given the history of European corps at DCI, I really didn't expect much. I was pleasantly surprised! Alliance--I thought this show was going to be very morbid. To my surprise it wasn't, in fact, I really got into it! Great drumline!! I would have loved to have the bell ringer's drill! Corps Vets--first loud of the night of the competing corps. Very well done show, powerful hornline throughout. Great job! Bushwackers--interesting show..umm skulls? Decent hornline, good drill. Was that suppose to be a virgin sacrifice??? Just wondering! Renegades--what happened? Yes, the music was good...but what happened to you guys? Is loud no longer good? I was very disappointed at the performance....the concept was there but the performance of it left much to be desired. Sorry guys. Kilties--did they deserve their placement? After watching it and seeing the finalists, yes. A lot of people said it was too old style..and they're right. The music was challenging. The guard was perhaps the best they've had. I don't know-they have a lot of new blood and they are loud--although it was nice to hear actually dynamic differences. Maybe the arrangements were too chopped up....I'm not sure, but I think others are right that it will take a more complex show that's performed well to make it back into finals. This show was performed well and I did enjoy it. Fusion Core-I have never seen them (or Alliance either). I'm not sure what I was expecting...maybe it was more than what I saw based on their score, being the highest score ever in class A. It wasn't exciting but I agree it should have won..was a good performance and congrats! Grenadiers--how they beat both Gold and Govies is beyond me. They're the major example of intonation problems as well as forgetting the concept of melody matters. Their opener sounded like an exercise from a band method book. I didn't recognize anything they played--perhaps actual melodies would have helped and it would have helped without having to cringe at the tuning problems. Carolina Gold--ok--early 90s Minnesota Brass crime fighter shows. Perry Mason theme--check. Shot fired followed by scream--check. Dragnet them--check. After that--no idea what they were playing. Govenaires--typical Govies--great DM as always, nice sounding small hornline, decent drum line, best guard in class A, recognizable music and entertaining to the hilt! Should have been in second easy. Star United--my favorite of the entire night. Wow! These guys can put out some sound! Makes you wonder how a mini-corps can project and sound louder than a full sized corps. Well, they play their butts off and...gasp...they play in tune! Loved them! Overall..very disappointed in some, pleasantly surprised by others and wowed by a few. Only a few who I would watch again. Sorry for being blunt...but why apologize. I just reported on what I saw and heard. Perhaps this would have been written differently had I seen it live.

First it was vegetarian haggis and now this!!

I thought it was less than a year.

Whatever happened to that long term commitment DCI had with East Lansing and Jacksonville back in the 90s?

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RIP Rich Shocking...so young

Right after high school in 1973, I went to a USMC recruiting station. I asked the recruiter about the Commadant's Own. He never heard of them and didn't seem interested enough to hear about them. So I joined the Army instead. If only that recruiter knew his stuff...................

So, what bands were you in??