JohnnySoprano

I liken the way that Pyle was treated similar to some (maybe many) of the guys we probably all marched with at one time or another. We never had the soap-in-a-sock blanket party, but we did have public snuggy's. The weakest link being targeted through the group. Good thing that movie came out after I aged out. You know how people like to copy cat. lighter subjet! lighter subject!!

Brasso . . you crack me up. Thanks!!!!

Why don't (or can't) corps or even high school marching bands play tunes any more. I lost touch with marching music from 1990 to 2003 and when I came back everything seems like it a soundtrack to a movie or something. IMO Back in the day, you could watch a show and drive home that night still humming your favorite tune. Good luck with that nowadays. Even with BD's Winged Victory show - I expected to really hear the meat and potatoes of that song (which is one of my favorite - Stymie showed me how to play the solo). What I got was a handful of "that sounds familiar . . .wait, what are they playing now?" Sorry . . .I wan't more than just a few complete phases.

Thanks. I wanted to show my loyalty to the corps I grew up with and the one I learned to love. Uniform fitting at BD was a surreal feeling to say the least.

Yeah, I was in the transition era too. I'm just saying . . .one year at one of the major regionals one of the corps had a contra take a tumble at the end of the show, which also took out at least 10 to 12 other members (they were all going backwards). They scored a perfect score in GE Visual that night. Needless to say our staff went bonkers during the critique. All's I know is if they were still on the tick system, the scores would still be in the low 90's just like they were back in 1980. By the way, when I read your second paragraph, meditation music and wind chimes started playing.

All this talk of "perfection" and most of us on this forum have actually marched in a DCI finals corps. Am I alone in thinking that there should be some sort of 'tick' method judging? I mean we were pretty clean in 1981 (SCV), but when I heard 94.00, even I said you gotta be kidding me. (Actually, I started saying that when I heard the scores from about 6th place on up. Don't flame me now! I'm just asking . . .

When I saw the show in Stanford (2nd or 3rd show of the year I think), the first thing I thought of was "look at all the hand prints and scratches". I must have been sitting to low in the stadium - the mirrors gave me a bit of motion sickness.

Personal trivia . . . of the years that I marched, the drum line took high drums every year except for one, 1981 SCV. I would have traded one of those drum trophys for another ring . . . oh yes I would.

Geez . . I mean after finals. They were talking about age outs. didn't VK march without shoes?? (jk)

Do the age outs still leave their shoes on the field? I remember my rookie year, 1979, and seeing all the black shoes where the Bridgemen were once standing. Still gives me goosebumps to think about it. And, yes, I did leave my crappy thift store bought black shoes after my last show with BD. My white "buck's" from my Vanguard days were given to Goodwill many years later.

Maybe they had to postpone due to lightning (inside the dome) Hee hee!

This IS DCI we're talkin 'bout right . . . maybe they are doing another pay-per-'score' thing. Doesn't anyone on this thread have a friend or family in the stadium with a cell phone???

I like Chuck Mangione (yeah, I know). But so many corps have done incredible renditions of his tunes. And as much as I love Stan Kenton's tunes, it's near impossible to hear Kentons Malaguena without memories of 78 and/or 81 Scouts over-riding the original.

I only gone to one show this year, DCI West @ Stanford. Of all the corps that night Blue Devils B blew me away. Get a time machine and send them to the days when I marched 79-85, and they easily would have been a top 12 corps. Bravo!

If my memory is correct, I do remember BD having an undefeated season in 1982. I was (at least the first to my knowledge) of the infamous "BLUE FLU". Jerry Seawright recounted a story with me that the makeshift infirmary/quarantine area in the hallways and more members than the healthy members that were bedding down in the gym. Hoping that they all get better soon. The last thing we all need is life long memories of "what if's"

Lee, Thank you so much! That's perfect. John

WTF? To quote Willy Wonka "Well, that's just weird." Pertaining to Aaron's comments about BD . . . I recently ran into a couple of kids here in the central valley who really want to march in SCV. When I asked them "Why not BD?", they pretty much said that they hated them. When further questioned, they couldn't really say why, they just knew that they hated them and would never march with them. I chaulked it up to the Yankee's/Cowboy's syndrome. Whenever any person/group appears to have too much success, they are deemed the villan (see "Are Blue Devils Evil? on this forum). I was really hoping that SCV was going to do better this year. Well, there's still a few weeks left . . .if not then . . .as the song goes "well maybe next year".

Hi All, I recently told a friend of mine about BD's cymbals spelling out "WEST IS BEST" on the bottom of their shoes. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of that picture? I thought I had one in my "stuff" but can't find it. Thanks Johnny

Oh yeah . . . Back in the days when tube tops, dove shorts and drum corps were synonymous. Giggidy

Are we talking about hair???? Doesn't anybody remember when BD's soprano line all had either curly or permed hair? Mike Quillen remembered. So shoot me for trying to bring back some Ol' skool.

I can't imagine anyone putting their drum corps experience down on their resume. Unless they are possibly applying for a job with a marching band or corps. I've worked for quite a few companies since I aged out and have only come accross a couple of people who even KNOW what drum corps is. Having to LIE about marching? Now that's just sad.

Hi, Anyone out there have a trumpet gig bag that they aren't using (would sell for cheap)? Prefer the type with foam padding and maybe cordura cover. Thanks!

Have you tried ripping the audio from the DVD's? I have heard that there is some software that allow you to 'capture' the audio from a dvd and turn it into a MP3 file. I've never tried it myself, though.

These are all great responses . . . I think. Hopefully I'm understanding the question correctly because I'm surprised no one has said "We Are The Champions" yet. Other than that song, and you'll all probably laugh at me, but everytime I hear the BeeGee's "How Deep is Your Love" thoughts of '78 Madison flood my memories (pun intended).