jojo

I witnessed it in 1975 ... and I think it's very sad how much it overshadowed Madison's moment in the limelight.

I remember a $25 membership ea year (payable before you got on the bus) ... but that was before food trucks so you had to be prepared to pay for everything else yourself (everything else being anything you needed on tour including your hotel fee at DCI). My parents gave me about $300 a summer (my mom used to joke about it being cheaper to send me on tour than to keep me at home)... that amount was about equivalent to their house payment at the time. In California terms the $1800 or so mentioned above by Spongehead would be about equivalent to a house payment now ... so maybe things haven't changed that much????

yeah, Lynners (VK Renegade) told me too ... my bad folks!

My first finals was in 73 -- Whitewater, WI. I think we stayed in Janesville??? We had had kind of a stellar season that year. Troopers were the only one I remember being close to us. I remember expecting to win and I remember Gail's pep talk right before we performed reminding us that all we had to do was to do it tonight exactly the way we had done it so many other nights. Thankfully we did. I distinctly remember how difficult it was to stay in position at retreat thru the announcement of 1st place. We didn't let our emotions go until we were well out of the stadium ... and then it was WOW!

Too easy ... Kingsmen.

Trevor nailed it! I couldn't agree more B)

Hmmm. I've been listening to SCV for about 30+ years and as such I consider myself pretty well acquainted with the Vanguard sound. I went to SCV family day yesterday and am extremely pleased to report that not only does SCV sound like Vanguard, they look and conduct themselves like Vanguard. I was extraordinarily proud of the corps yesterday and am really excited about their chances this year. I think the show is something special. They blew my hair back! IMO they have it all this year. I also saw BD at their family day and they were excellent (as they always are) but I think they're gonna get a run for their money this coming weekend ... like a BIG DOG! This is gonna be a great year for the Cali corps. I wish them both the best!

Renegades ... and loving it

LOTS of them ... but everytime I think I've had the ultimate, couldn't-possibly-get-better-than-this moment ... I get another one! I don't think I've had IT yet. B)

you know you're old school if ... - you can remember at least 3 drum and bugle corps headquartered within 25 miles of where you lived - you saw the Blue Devils perform when they were still a Drum and Bell corps - you wore boots and kick-pleat skirts and carried a 7-foot pole with a pike on top - the only yard line on the field at finals was the 50 - whatever you carried on the field stayed WITH you - people you knew as kids have become respected and revered instructors, arrangers, corps directors. etc. - you remember full corps retreats and playing yourselves off the field - you can remember that the show started the MOMENT you put on the uniform - winterguard was "competition" guard -- sans music - the people you march with in senior corps are amazed that you're still doing this stuff :P

I love modern drum corps. IMO each generation has been the best ever. I started in 64, if that goes back far enough. :P The musicianship of the performers, the performance skills of the guards, the incredible visual designs...great music arrangements. It just gets better and better to me. What is also great about today is that you can also see the alumni corps play the shows of yesterday. Mike I didn't like it at first but I've REALLY learned to appreciate "modern drum corps" since becoming a Renegade in 2002. Old school or new school, both of them require tenacity, commitment, chops and sweat ... and it's still a huge high to bring an audience to its' feet.

Maggie -- is that West Allis? The home of rewrite-squish-and relearn-your-drill-today-for-the-show-tonight? Wow!

I'm soooo old school I remember all that remember being hard core and looking through people, not at them ???

I heard that Bonnie Ott is now a nurse in Stockton ???? I saw Pete Emmons several times last season with BD

guess you're in my neighborhood here's two more ... the Medieval Barons (from Milpitas) and the Rebel Cadets (San Jose??)

in the 70's a point of pride was how heavy your rifle was -- 8-10 pounds was pretty normal ... now I use a 36" and it's light.

Your Mama raised you right

Can't speak for everyone but SCV had "try outs" every year as far back as 72 Nov-Jan -- even vets weren't guaranteed a spot -- and while they may have refined technique and style, they definitely didn't teach basics -- you were expected to have previous corps experience and better already know your stuff.

17 in 75 -- and I think 17-18 that was about average that year

twirling sounds so, I dunno ... fluffy and guard is just not fluffy

that's where I cut my drum corps teeth with the help of Dan Smith, Mike Moxley, Randy (later Stan) Knaub and Joe Martinez ... 71-72 comp guard, 71 field B)

oh boy do I know it ... and I think those years are largely responsible for who I turned out to be

I cheated and used the yearbook B)

I think there might have been a 74 St. Andrews Bridgemen -- still silk shirts and shakos if I remember it right.

Everytime I see this thread it makes me think about 74 SCV and what a great time it was. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming ....