bass5

At Mile High Stadium in 1976 they shot off fire work while they were "tabulating" the scores. They shot them off over the field so all the burning ashes were literally hitting the corps on the field. We were jumping all over the place dodging the stupid ashes some of which were the size of a frisbee. The Troopers were next to us and stood at perfect attention the entire time.

100 bass drums 49 cymbals 1 snair (just to have someone with a strong ego in the corps)

The incident in Birmingham with Argonne reminds me of a similar incident in South Boston when I was in the Scouts in 1976. It had been a terrible day for us, going from Montreal to Boston (to play for a Packer/Patriot preseason half time show) the horn bus lost its brakes in the hills of Vermont. Luckily the bus was able to coast to a stop and the guys from the horn bus split up and crammed in the aisles the other two busses. We made it just in time for the game without a chance to have lunch or dinner. The people at the stadium were great and fed us sandwiches. After the game we were let loose in a neighborhood in South Boston that had a pizza parlor and a few other little places to eat. Word got out that there were "blacks in southie" and the local white supremacist gang(s) came screeching into the neighborhood. With chains, tennis raquets and who knows what they came into the pizza joint screaming the F word and N word among others. The Madison brotherhood certainly held our own in support of our African American brothers but at least a couple of our guys had to go to the hospital for stiches. Truthfully I don't know if there were 7 or 20 black guys in that summer. It never dawned on me that it made a difference. I will say I was proud as ever to be a Scout that night. I believe it made it into the Boston Globe the next day. A representitive from the city of Boston came to speak to us the next day and told how lucky we all were to be from Madison. This story also is a good reminder that this kind of crap happens every where not just in the south. In fact we had 3 or 4 guys from Alabama in the corps. - one was an African American. Another aside to this story is that I remember coming "off the line" that night at the football game and seeing 99% of the audience who were heading out at half time hear our first note and turn around and sit back in their seats. For a "non-drum corps" crowd they went absolutely ####### for us. Stars & stripes with the Iwa Jima (sp?) flag presentation just blew them away. And as usual the following night (or so) afterwards at CYO the crowd loved the Scouts.

I just looked at the Madison Scouts Corps photo from 1938 (their first season) and there are 2 African Americans in the photo. There is also a photo and story of an "entertaining batton twirling drum major" who appears to be an African American. The Scouts web site has a great history section - check it out. I don't know how many African Americans are in the Drum Corps Hall of Fame but I do know Jimmy Elvord, the man who really developed that Madison Horn sound of the 70's is. His cousin Alphonso(Ricky) was Scouts Drum Major in 1974 (as well as M & M clean up man in 75 & 76).

I remember that show had a "fan-o-meter" to determine who won. Loudest crowd response won. I also remember being VERY hung over from the celebration the night before.

Was Todd Ryan still with the Scouts in '88?? Watching that show recently all I could think was "Man, can those guys march!"

I feel the same about the percussion section as I do Brass & Visual - Cleanliness first. I think the difficulty of parts in the drum line, brass and especially marching is boardering on too much. If it can't be cleaned up by the end of July then its too difficult. I don't believe only peole at shows in August should see and hear clean shows. Except for the top 3 or 4 corps at finals most corps IMHO have way too many issues with their shows. Back in the day a "grandstand" was defined as any mistake a person sitting in the audience could see or hear. Don't get me wrong, I do really enjoy and very much appreciate the difficulty in todays shows - just much more so when executed perfectly. SCV drumline in 2004 is a great example.

I guess marching in the 60's & 70's qualifies me as being from the "good ole days". I'd say that 'back in the day' the majority of members in drum corps were "off the street", as I was, and learned their marching, music etc. in drum corps. It certainly wasn't "exclusive" by any means and probably leaned more toward the lower middle class segment of society. I know I would never have been able to afford to fly to camps and pay a hefty amount for dues. That being said I know drum corps is much more talented now then back in my day. I know for a fact that I would not be able to march in the Scouts today with the talent level (or lack there of) that I had back then. The Scouts did try a predominantly "black style" show in 1976 (Shaft, Pick up the pieces & Mahagony). Didn't go over to well. Not to say if it had been written well that it wouldn't have.

Its listed on "todays headlines" on dci.org

Being a cymbal player/judge chaser in 1975 I know what you mean. I guess that would definately be considered "old school"!

Great shot Jofus and hot dogs will have the Wisconsin women chasing after you!!! I think every parade I marched in in Wisconsin as a kid had the "Wiener Mobile" in it. I sat at a ball game at Coors Field a couple years ago next to 2 young women who were the actual "Wiener Mobile" drivers. What a great gig to put on your resume!

The Student deferment was ended in 1971 (you could finish the semester you were in at the time of the draft but that was it) and the draft ended in 1973. Their were very few draftees taken in 72 or 73. I'd say the 70's weren't very affected by the draft but the 60's certainly were. I'd guess that alot more kids were drafted than those who could afford college so I'd think there were alot less kids 19 to 21 who were available for drum corps.

There was a guy with a video camera this summer that interviewed each member. It was very brief, I believe he just asked us our name & where we lived. He may have also asked what we played and when we marched in the Scouts, I don't remember exactly. Anyway I thought that the intention of these interviews was to include them in the documentary. As you mention, a list of each member in the credits would have been a cool idea also.

Well put davidfromthepit. Having been on the field and being announced as DCI champion may not be the biggest highlight of my life but it is WAY up there. After the Scouts won in 1975 I'll never forget Dave St. Angel telling us afterwards "gentelmen right now you are all the best in the world at what you do. Not many peole can say that in life." I don't think dotting the i would qualify to even get in the discussion.

Geno, Actually I was the "old man" in the battery in the alumni corps (51, having aged out in '76) that is why I believe I was refered to as "the oldest with the biggest", Guerno was the second oldest at 50 (aged out in '77) and Matthews and Robin were probaby both 49. "Sundance" was one of the 3 rookies in my bass drum line in 1976 (of course he could play circles around me). I was also the oldest marching Scout in 1976 being 21 years 11 months at finals. I guess I like the grandfatherly advice roll. In the alumni corps Bill Gandt (in the front line) of course had a few years on all of us, he marched 1952 -1957 I guess this topic is supposed to be about snare lines-so I'll let Matthews retain his "old man" title.

Well Geno that means you're either #3 and have lost your hair since then or #4 and grew a foot since then because I recognize the other 4 guys.

If you're in the drum line wear ear protection -especially during the winter months where you play inside all the time. Those mylar/kevlar snare heads can project well into the stands but they can destroy your hearing. This is advice from an old man (and drum line vet) with hearing issues.

Hey Dan, Myself and another 1976 ageout were talking at Scouts camp last sunday about how this corps (2007) reminded us of of 1977- Lots of rookies but ALOT of talent. Georgeson's arrangement of Kashmir is incredibly powerful, and now that you mention Chris Tomsa their styles are very similar - both being baritones back in the day really comes through with that wonderful bottom sound. I could tell the Colt show this year was arranged by Tomsa just by that wonderful full sound. By the way I always thought that 1977 West Side Story was an incredible show.

I was a drummer so always rode the drum bus but my bus partner was a horn player and always rode the drum bus and loved it. He was the only horn player riding the drum bus (as my bus partner again) when the alumni corps rode from our "last supper" to the stadium. It was very very cool after 30 years! All that said, the drum bus can be a pain in the arse if you're not used it. After a while though you'll be able to sleep or read a book with the constant rat a tat tat going on.

I think alot has to do with the fact that for the last 20 years or so most corps members are not from the area where the corps is from. They can't go visit rehearsals, camps etc. during the year so loose touch with their corps family. I think the older corps who have been around for years and have a lot of locals as alumni are the ones that have a stronger alumni organization. I know for myself moving back to the Madison area after 20 years I was lucky enough to be able to go to a reunion banquet 2 weeks after I was back and was able to renew friendships with alot of old friends, then join the alumni corps, and now can volunteer to do stuff around town for the Scouts when I can.

Yup #8 bass was mister "old school Frank- from Pittsburg". He heard he'd get cut out of all the drumline photos (and avatars) so he turned himself into C.H. Beebe and got in the "lawn chair/shade tree" section. Actually he found out he had a slipped disk in his back so I was bestowed the honor of carrying "the beast".

Well I went to see "The Madison Explorer Scouts" camp today and was impressed with the drum line too. The parts I saw (and heard) really rocked. The horn arrangement of Kashmir was very very cool and the horns sounded great (for Jan). Can't wait to see and hear more in Feb.

"sarnia sam" I remember marching in a show in Sarnia, Ontario back in 1967 as a little kid. I also remember swimming in Lake Huron in Aug. and in was F..... Freezing.

Actually only 7 basses - we lost one along the way. bass #7 - MSARP

Keep your eyes open , there are some veteran members with incredibly huge heads that you may bang into. This usually occurs around the 1st sopranos (lead trumpets??) and even more so near snare drummers.