greggmanX-Kingsmen

From an outsider’s perspective, it appears decisions are being made by a few influential people for the benefit of THEIR corps, and not the overall health of the activity. I’m guessing within five years, or less, DCI finals will consist of only 8 corps, not 12.

Blue Devils I know but, forgive me, who is Pioneer?

I think you're taking it WAY too seriously.

Bobby Hoffman, may he rest in peace.

You didn't see the Anaheim Kingsmen rifle line's performance at the Rose Bowl and the effect they had on the crowd, I take it?

I appreciated the honor of you allowing us to perform once again after being absent for almost 30 years. It was a once in a lifetime experience I will cherish forever. I understand DCI finals is ALL about the current marching members and not about alumni corps. That being said, when ESPN does the rebroadcast would you consider showing the Kingsmen Alumni Corp’s performance as part of the rebroadcast? Thank You, Spectemur Agendo

Well, just like we used to say back-in-the-day; The East in nice but West is BEST!

Well, you Rose Bowl "haters" can console yourselves with the fact that for the next TEN YEARS finals will be held in the cultural meca of Indianapolis.

From reading this board I thought only ENMITY existed between those of us who marched in the 70’s and the kids of today. But last night I saw the Phantom and Blue Devil kids go nuts for us and it was very moving. I realized even though our styles are different we can still have mutual respect and admiration for each other. After all, no matter what decade we marched what we do have in common is a love for the activity. I hope we can all focus on THAT instead of our differences. Thank you DCI for letting me (us) be 17 again for one night. It is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. That being said, I have to go back to bed now because I’m tired as hell from practicing from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the last week. Your Friend, Grandpa

Most of us are in our late 40's and early 50's. At our four-day camp we worked 9:00am to 10:00pm in 90+ degree weather. It wasn't a big deal when we were 17, but it is now considering our age. We're doing this for ourselves, as a celebration of the Kingsmen, and we're thankful DCI is giving us this opportunity. We're so excited about it that no cynicism or sarcasm, which is common on Internet message boards, can dampen it. We're gonna give it everything we've got because it really is "so very hard to go".

Best year for "Conquest"? Well, the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band (aka Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe) plays an outstanding version near the end of every football game the Trojans win - so we hear it often Fight On!

1972 - Anaheim Kingsmen playing "Ritual Fire Dance" 1974 - SCV Bottle Dance 1974 - Anaheim Kingsmen Color Guard during "Symphonie Fantastique" 1974 - Trooper Sunburst 1974 - SCV drum line rim-shot during "Send in the Clowns"

ABSOLUTELY!!!!! [/img]

Who mentioned anything in regards to anyone’s sexual orientation……….besides you? If I want to see men prance/dance around I’ll go to a ballet as I do most Christmas seasons to see the “Nutcracker”. I don’t care to see it in Drum Corps.

If you didn't want to start a fight why title your thread "Hypocrits"? Using your won logic, people who do not care for many attributes of modern drum corps must not like ANY change at all, ever. That's just stupid. We used to have to stand at attention while judges inspected our uniforms. That was abolished and that change was good. I could give you many more examples of good change in drum corps. However, the change of having males prance around in spandex while twirling rifles/flags, the desire for woodwinds, loss of military bearing, Pits the size of small towns, amps, etc., are examples of very bad change. That being said, I feel the current marching members of Drum Corps should set the rules of what they want to do since they're the ones putting in all the work. It's their activity now. That doesn't mean I have to like it, and I don't, that's why I haven't attended a show in years and only watch the top 2 or 3 corps on the ESPN2 replays – If I happen to catch it.

I'm all for a split. Let those whom want to have woodwinds, amps and other assorted abominations have their own division of "drum corps". They can call themselves M."D.C."B.I. (Marching "Drum Corps" Band International), or something like that. Let the kids, vis-à-vis, corps decide which division they want to participate in and see where the crowds gravitate.

[quote name='LSU GRAD 82' post='1789044' date='Mar 22 2007, 12:53 PM']OH MY GOD, who shot that ? As a professional photographer with 23 years experience, the totally distracting background elements of cars and houses totally ruined the shot. I hope you guys had another shot done in a better location with a clean background![/quote] The focus of that day was to put our new uniforms on for the first time in 30+ years and to get each person fitted - no small feat. Each section had their picture taken on a stage but the whole corps woudnt fit for a group shot. It was getting late in the day and the shot you're referring to was litterly a spur-of-the-moment thing. We take what we can get sometimes.

Personally, after watching a couple of performances from the 72-74 time frame, I think the champs of those years would be killed on today's sheets. I could see them maybe squeezing into semis. JMHO. Well it is JMHO too, but after watching modern drum corps the past couple years champs today would be KILLED on yesterdays' sheets using the tic system. However, I wouldn't go as far to say champs today wouldn't make finals.

The Kingsmen style was in place several years before the arrival of Bobby Hoffman. I don't think there is a single answer as how it evolved but the founder, Don Porter, was an ex-military man and that had something to do with it. Also, and an old- time Kingsmen rifle told me this; it was around the time of the women's lib movement and there was an attitude of "anything a man can do, I can do" Thus, the "tough" attitude of the color guard and their military bearing, which eventually spread to the rest of the corps. That’s my take but Vicki might have a different, more accurate, one since she marched before I did.

Hello

Anybody have any ideas? I also need some hand-held percussion instruments. I live in So Cal. Thanks for any tips

Nothing on E-Bay. Anybody? Thank you!

This is a picture of the 1978 Anaheim Kingsmen Winter Guard. They took 2nd place at WGI Western Regional that year. Themed shows and uniforms without cadets have been around a long time.

Anaheim Kingsmen indoor comp guard 1978. They took 2nd place at WGI Western Regionals that year.

I remember DCI prelims in Boulder in 1977. There were a small group of protesters with signs saying "DCI IS GAY". They were from some corps I had never heard of and I don't know what their beef was. I'm probably stereotyping here but I think gay men are some of the most talented and creative people around and the activity of drum corps would be less creative without them.