bstar82

Hope for a full DATR show tomorrow night as well. It is pouring like crazy in Denver right now with a lot of dangerous thunder and lightning. There is no way any corps already here was outside tonight. The forecast calls for up to 5 inches of rain for the next 24-36 hours with the hardest rain coming tomorrow night. If the show was tonight, it would have been cancelled.

And I turned one year old 50 years ago today!

I'll be honest, I have not read all 68 pages on here, but here are my thoughts. I remember many years ago when Hop was quoted as saying something along the lines of "I would love to hear a saxophone, clarinet or flute solo in the middle of a drum corps show and just imagine how beautiful it would sound and it would add to the drum corps experience". I have this statement saved somewhere, but I believe it my have been part of a woodwind proposal some years ago. Now that synths are embedded in our activity, and capable of playing any non brass or percussion sound available, I can see where Hop's next point could gain a lot of votes in his direction. His new proposal could be something like, " Hey, since we are reproducing woodwind sounds on our synths, why not allow the real instrument in place of the synth and at the same time give woodwind players the chance to compete at the DCI level?" I agree with Garry P's statements regarding the Yamaha effect on Hop's organizations. To quote a line from the Shawshank Redemption, "The Warden has so many scams, he has kickbacks on his kickbacks" I have no proof of any type of this behavior, but it wouldn't surprise me a bit. Drum corps today is big business, with million dollar budgets, 30-40 member paid instructional staffs and yearly dues that number in the thousands of dollars. Is DCI in trouble? In my 37 years of being either a performer/staff member/volunteer and/or donor, I truly believe it is and a lot of the issues the activity is facing have been created from within. Some of the clues I get are from DCI's PR department include bringing back the parade during DCI week, adding a 2 night best seat ticket package which was only available in the Super 3 format for a long time and giving all of last season's age outs a free ticket to DCI in Indy which of course is designed with the thought that the age out member will bring some full paying friends along for the ride. And now this year, former members are invited back for a special 40 year reunion complete with an appearance on the field and invite only receptions at a price that quite a few on DCP have declined to "buy" for whatever reason. The inability to secure some sort of annual television programming on cable or possibly PBS cannot expand any type of mainstream audience and at the same time forces DCI to charge more for the product and function with less corps within its ranks. We are seeing more and more shows with 4-5 corps in smaller cities, in older and smaller stadiums, yet prices are in the $30 to $40 range. When I marched, I didn't have to be enticed with a free ticket to attend DCI. I once drove 3000 miles to see DCI and another year I rode a Greyhound bus three days to DCI in Montreal. Now that may not be the norm, but I loved DCI for the emotion and excitement it created for me. Dazzling brass charts, tight and mechanical sounding drum lines and incredible drill formations. IMO, a piccolo solo is not going to make me travel 3000 miles again in a car to see DCI. So if woodwinds are allowed, let's make sure the name DCI is retired and call this activity something that it really is. Summer Bands of America, The American Band League or the one I really like: The artists formally known as DCI. That was a joke, but any reference of a drum and bugle corps which includes woodwinds is a disgrace and insult to the members who all marched drum and bugle corps when it was just that. again just my opinion....

Jess Baker(?) the Reverand as Jack Bevins would call her, office manager of the Velvet Knights. Archie ??? cannot remember his last name, tour coordinator for VK in early 80's. Jayne Johnson, guard member in the Emerald Knights in the late 70's, I had hired her to be my guard tech and she was killed in a terrible car accident just a couple of weeks later in 1985 in Littleton Colorado. Bob Lendman. Search here and read "My tribute and story about Robert Lendman".

also David Lacey who marched Madison. BTW Was Eric Kile the same who marched Blue Stars in 82?

Plenty of them already done in the past for me: Shaft Eleanor Rigby On Broadway School's out for the Summer Hurray for Hollywood Nights in White Satin Story in your eyes Empire state of mind For the future, I would love to hear but probably will not happen: Roll with the changes Valerie Don't call us, we'll call you The closing credits from the movie,"The Greatest game ever played". The theme from the movie, "Hoosiers"

A DCI show in Juarez! Now that's a great idea to expand the DCI audience! Better spin real rifles though....

Elk and Mountain goats in Lyons, Colorado, Buffalo in Nederland, Co and Crocodiles near Hollywood, Florida.

More cowbell should do the trick! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLSf43SXEp4

Yup, it was high 60's here Monday, played 18 holes. At my workplace an hour west in the mountains, I just heard from a couple of coworkers a measuring pole there is at 41 inches of snow and round two is starting...

I recall years ago, many members of a corps all taking showers together if you get my drift. That was fun!

Don Whitely worked for KBTV which is now KUSA in Denver. At the end of this show, there is a performance of the Troopers at a Denver Bronco game in 1970 which I believe was against the New York Jets the year after they won the Super Bowl.. A couple of thoughts on this. If you look at the crowd, 90% of them stayed in their seats during the Trooper performance and as they ended their show towards the south end zone, you can the crowd giving them a standing ovation before the end of their show. Very chilling to see a non drum corps crowd give this type of respect to a drum corps. But then again the Bronco fans have always been big fans of the Troopers.

As many drum crops shows I have been to as a participant and a fan, yesterday was my 450th pro football game and that game is in my top ten of all time great games to be at and that includes multiple Super Bowls which tend to be somewhat boring once they get out of hand. The crowd was outta this world kinda like the way Madison upset DCI in 88 in Arrowhead. In fact I ran into a few BK age outs in the Bronco band, Stampede.

I recall one year, we were so short of bus drivers, our Vibe player doubled as one of our bus drivers. Can you imagine rehearsel all day long, then driving a bus anywhere from 4-8 hours afterwards? I recall being so scared of him having to drive, I would sit next to him keeping him company talking and all, as I remember seeing how tired he looked. And he was 19 at the time. He had the proper license to drive but still, can't imagine a corps being allowed to do this today.

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Marty during the summer of 82 as we saw Phantom on tour quite a bit. He gave me some really great tips and advice even though he didn't know me too well, just watching me play with another corps at our shared housing site possibly Beloit. Drum corps has lot some great icons lately, Bill Cook, Bob Lendman and now Marty. Rest in Peace to all of you.....

I love playing in corps sponsored tournments! I'll see if I can fly out there for the weekend and sign up, a great way to raise funds and meet new drum corps folks.

I agree with drummantx. The very very least that should have been done is the director sit down w/ the entire corps and staff after their final show/ parade/ performance sometime afterwards and lay out the remainder of the itinerary just as you have the daily schedule posted. It would have eliminated any confusion. But how would you plan on collecting outstanding debt the corps members still owe? I would hope it wouldn't be the same circumstance as not marching the parade. You still have a moral and professional responsibility to make sure every member is returned home safely. As much miscommunication as there was (i.e. leaving instructions w/ another staff member) it is possible there may have been as little as one member that were not aware they were required to march the parade in order to get home? On a side note read my tribute to Robert Lendman. In 1982, the Blus Stars were breathing their last breath financially and did not field a corps in 83 or possibly again thereafter. But Bob and Allison made a promise to every out state member and their parents that they would be returned home safely. And at that time, there was a lot of out of state members, most of them 1500-2000 miles from home. But Bob and Allison took the bull by the horns and personally drove those kids home from LaCrosse to Denver, Salt Lake, LA and the Seattle area. And there was very little if any money left in the coffers! Now the Blue Stars bus was the corps bus so they didn't have to deal with a charter company, but I know Bob and Allison didn't plan on spending an additional week on the road after an already brutal cross country tour. I guess I was fortunate to have somebody like Bob and Allison at the helm. What I"m probably trying to say to you John is, I understand you have personal issues and deadlines and I wish you well in dealing with your health, but don't you need to evaluate all of your personal factors before going on tour or at the least communicate to the corps and staff who is in charge when you are not present? I"m not attacking you, I'm just reading your post and your statement of the threat of leaving kids on their own imo is not the way to handle this even if it was just a way to get them to comply with marching in the parade. I have known many kids who started with Revo that have gone on to SCV, BK, Colts to name a few. I hope these types of situations would not be the reason why they left for greener pastures.

2011-Cadets 2010-Mad World 2009-Crown, Grass is always greener 2008-Blue Stars Le Tour 2007-PR On Air 2006-BD The Godfather 2005-Madison Carmen 2004-Cavaliers 007 2003-PR Harmonic Journeys, close 2nd Cadets My Favorite Things 2002-Crossmen 2001-Cadets Juxtaperformance 2000-Cavaliers Niagara Falls 1999-Bd Rhythms the edge of time 1998-Madison Power Pizzaz and all that Jazz 1997-Crossmen Color of Jazz 1996-Cadets The American West?, BD 1995-Cavaliers The Planets, Madison 1994-Madison 1993-BD Don Ellis 1992-BD Big Bad and Blue, close 2nd VK Magical Mystery Tour 1991-Cavaliers Cavalier Anthems, close 2nd BD Adventures in time 1990-SCV Carmen 1989-SCV Phantom of the Opera, VK Yo Mambo 1988-Madison, VK 1987-SCV 1986-Cavaliers Canzona 1985-SCV 1984-BD 1983-SCV, 27th 1982-Garfield Gershwin, Freelancers 1981-PR Spartacus the first year, close 2nd Cavaliers, 3rd honorable mention nowhere near top 12, Geneseo Knights 1980-Spirit, Madison, Bayonne 1979-SCV Verdi's requiem, Madison Granada Smoothie 1978-Madison 1977-Spirit, 27th 1976 Madison, BD 1975-Madison Sadly that is all I have seen :(

Is Gino Cip one of the soloists?

This is the most accurate statement ever posted on dcp!

Two or three moments for me, Saving all my money fron a part time job I had in the summer of 75 and taking a bus 1700 miles to see DCI finals in Franklin Field. Oh yeah, as a 14 year old and by myself! My parents didn't mind me going alone as I told them I had a middle school friend who moved there who I would stay with which I lied about but there was now way they would let me go alone. I took a small sleeping bag with me and a small shoulder bag w/ 2 days worth of clothes and some snacks in it. I knew I probably couldn't take my sleeping bag in the stadium, so I hid it under some trees near a park. I was going to sleep in the park Friday night before finals but it turned out to be a pretty scary place to say the least. So, I jumped on a city bus and just got off in an area that looked safe. There was a school nearby and I ended up sleeping near the football field. There was a corps staying there, I believe it was the Belvederes, but I'm not sure, but I figured it was the safest place to stay. Took the same bus line back into the city the next morning and took in the incredible performance of the Madison Scouts that night. I knew then and there I would march in a drum corps someday. Who that would be I had no idea at the time. Back then it was probably pretty odd for a Colorado kid to march with a California and a Wisconsin corps. DCI in Montreal 1982. Though I had seen Garfield numerous times that summer on tour, something about their finals night performance told me I was seeing something that would change drum corps and the history of it forever. Zingali's drill was amazing even though a lot of corps had started expanding their field coverage in 1980, this was truly a masterpiece. The 2nd year of their "new" concepts earned them their 1st DCI title in 83, but it was the 82 show that my gut told me that I was seeing the future and at the same time something historical. DCI week in Denver 2004. I never thought DCI would ever return to Denver in my lifetime and I told my friends that if it did, my life would be complete. Well I guess I'm living on borrowed time now. Hanging out in Washington Park watching all the D2 and D3 corps warmup. Now this is Wash Park where the cheapest home will run you 3/4 a million easily and all the bikers, joggers, and health nuts stopping in their tracks ( which they do for nobody in the park) and gawking at the sounds they were hearing. Hearing some of them calling their friends telling them what "cool" bands were in the park. And the snobs actually allowing the corps to walk over to South stadium w/o trying to break their ranks was a great sign of respect. I know too many speed bikers in that park who stop for nothing. You'd think they are all training for the Olympics. It was a great week for me in Denver even though it is not one of my favorite drum corps years.

Roof leaked. Upper decks had water flowing down to main level.

Ray Baumgard's Madison hornline of 75, and 76 isn't too shabby either. I agree with Michael on Spirit in 78 at Mile High. Boston Crusaders were marching 35-40 horns in 79 and I remember how people would talk about how loud they were. Anybody recall their line? Spirit in 1980. You really had to be there. There is no recording of any type that I know of that captures their power. Somebody here mentioned Star 92 versus Spirit 80. Star didn't measure up to Spirit or Madison 75 IMO and I saw Star eleven times that summer. In the last 20 years, I would say BD 91 or 27 AC in 94...

Severe thunderstorm warnings for Adams, Arapahoe and Denver County until 9PM, which is pretty much the entire Denver area. US Women's Open in Colo Springs has been in a weather delay for quite some time. That storm is headed this direction and others behind it coming in from the mountains. The weather has not been kind to our outdoor activities here lately.