4181jay

I'm with yer actualmarchingmember. I made the mistake of sitting backfield for the WMC contest the day before BD played cos it was cheaper(not much!). Right on the 50. Not a good spot even though the marching bands played a lot to backfield. Managed to obtain a seat on the 35 (frontfield) for the Sunday show. Cant remember anything of the music as all I could think was,"Christ the commentator is rude. Its the Blue Devils for gods sake. I've waited 22 years to see these so shut the f"%k up ignorant Dutch commentator." Then it hit me....... Seriously though, my point is, there has to be a focus. On the 35 the music seemed awfully quiet, I wish I could of afforded frontfield 50 seats, but a coppers pay......

bad luck blue eyes by the Crowes. Make a great ballad. Some great opportunities for screaming, emotional solos. It would be good to hear the 'high brass' version of dream of the return on a field too.

danielray- the first part of your post confirmed my feelings. The 2nd part....if only. We would have a much stronger activity from grass roots upwards if this came into practice. Hope some instructors share your views!

i have not conclusive answers but does anybody get a grip of the ones turned away? or are they lost 'til next year? Do the Div 1 corps who turn these kids away point them towards other corps? It is pointless attracting more kids if there are no marching spaces. Do the turned away kids get advice to march in div 2/3 to gain experience? Even David Beckham played in the lower leagues early in his career. (football, i know, but the only thing i can relate this to!)

good luck all, make sure you keep us updated.

looks like you got a good thing going there, love the lights.

sweeney, the drummer with the engineers marched with us at warrington. top bloke, mad as a hatter!

sopranos- any BD 81-86 plus Jim and the follically challenged madison soloist 83(cant narrow it down, love em all!) Mello-madison 88 flugle- the crossman guy Baritone- Northern Alliance 89 contras-BD 05 (Good lads, I'm the old dude in Kerkrade!) rifles- 83 madison flags- late 80's PR dancers- VK 88 guard (WOW, hot hot hot!) Snare- BD 83 Tenors- Boston 02.( i think they are cool) Bass- Bridgemen 83 Cymbals- SVC-nuff said Pit- Timp bridgemen 83 keyboards(unamplified)-Ian Rylance and mark norman other drums- BD guy at start of 89. The one staring into camera cymbal ride thing. Very cool! DM- madison 88 autumn leaves('coats 88) sophisticated lady/it dont mean a thing big noise from winnetka malaguena madison 88 version on ilkley moor bah tat they wouldn't win but would certainly make my day!

i see the thought process behind the worry but i would put it in the back of your mind. Charlotte for one is too busy smoking cigs and partying with my mate Girlie Gav to do this. Is there a rule on minimum time performing with the corps before finals? If there isn't, in theory, this could happen. cant see it though......

I remember we a chipped in and bought the drum corps triv game in the late 80's. Tough questions for a bunch of 17 year olds from the north of England! If anyone knows Craig Sherratt(Warrington and 91 Crossmen)ask him where it is please!

blue jacket, fastened at the collar open at the bottom. White plumes, drop sashes and spats. All, to me, instantly Blue Devils. The 88 and 89 uniforms fitted so well with the feel of the shows but I want BLUE! (and latin jazz!) On a sidenote there seemed to be a few marching bands in WMC who got their inspiration from the modern Devils uniform.

its a bind but you get used to it. £0.91 per LITRE at my local garage! nw uk prices are tough

Now THATS how to hook fans for life!

big difference for me is the show design and arrangements. Its all very sophisticated and I love watching the modern DVDs but when I'm in my car it has to be pre-90. Theres just something a little more free, maybe the demands since then have everybody a touch more uptight? I dont know if anybody else can hear it too but I seem to prefer a looser, more emotional arrangement than the technically superior ones of the modern times. This isn't a snipe at modern drum corps. I personally think that modern drum corps is the highest and most demanding performing art there is. I just miss the hornlines that were allowed to totally let loose, remember 88?

Apologies for the twist.... DCUK Invitational Classic, Villa Park, Aston, England 1 Northern Alliance 89.5 2 Green Lancers 89.45 3 Valley Sound 88.2 5 Dagenham Crusaders 87.0 6 Anchormen 86.9 7 Basildon Blue Eagles 86.8 8 Blue Barons 85.0 9 Beechmen 84.7 10 West Coast Cadets 83.8 11+12 tie- Warrington Corps, Conquest Alliance( we were all knackered after playing in northern alliance!) it is a fantasy comp after all!

DCI- 88- madison, BD, SVC, VK, Bluecoats. 5 of my top shows in one year. 83- bridgemen, madison, BD as far as my favourite year anywhere- DCUK 89.

channel one suite, legend of the one eyed sailor, chase the clouds away. history should repeat itself...one more time

we didn't have a ceremony in dcuk back in the day but there were a lot of shoes handed in at lost property in football stadiums around the midlands day after finals! We had our own private moment when leaving them and then a special moment with the corps. I always found leaving shoes was the most symbollic way of saying goodbye to the field. It seems very sad that staff moved your stuff as soon as you put it down. Nothing beats remembering that one last look at the shoes as you leave the stadium for the last time. Cue manly emotions, yes, I have got something in my eye!

it doesn't mean anything in the great scheme of things but to me they will always be sopranos and contras when played in drum corps. At home i play a fluglehorn in g that I've convinced the kids is officially called a fluglebugle! sad, but true.

good choices for your history night. I watch 88 on a regular basis, its probably the year I like the most performances. Madison blew me away, devils are sublime, bluecoats autumn leaves is spectacular and scv phantom of the opera my favourite year they played it. VK 88 must have the hottest gaurd ever, applause to the selection panel! 83 is another great year for me, bridgemen, bd and madisons strawberry soup still get played on my car cd.