A27Lancer

... and finished second!!! Probably the most amazing turnaround in drum corps history. We were the first corps to beat them after their incredible 1975 season. The "Disco" show just didn't work (HELLO 27th 1978). They went home after first tour, and re-wrote the entire show with great results!

Aaahh yes, THE WALL! I remember an evening that we were sitting quietly on THE WALL when the Staties pulled up and started the whole "Dump 'em out" speech. One of the cops noticed my recently dry cleaned uniform hanging from the hook in my back seat. He said, "You're in the Lancers!!! You should know better! Go behind Northgate and drink. Nobody will bother you back there!" Unlike the night in Stoneham where Santo claimed ownership of about sixty cases of beer and was taken away - taking the rap for about a hundred different people!

Funny how drum corps people can go decades without seeing each other, and at a reunion or meeting up at finals, that friendship is immediately rekindled. Just saw Ann Fields, Steve Covitz, and Kevin Kearnan before Xmas, and time melted away.

Bob, That's the first time I saw it - 1970 at BC. Their drum major asked me who the corps from Revere was, and I was thrilled to tell him (I was 13). The rifle exchange in the circle around the DM was almost as exciting as the Sunburst! What a bad### corps that was!!

Cadets. Love Cavies and Phantom and SCV, but Cadets, love 'em or hate 'em have a visually and musically demanding show year after year that just blows me away. And I'm probably Phantom's biggest fan. They just don't have the demand that Cadets do.

I made do with about a dozen shirts and 200 pairs of socks. Also, a dry pair of extra sneakers. The nets? You can keep your weed in there! (Joking, totally.. we would never have had that back in the day).

Which Blessed Sac? If it's Cambridge, MA, they never had a drum corps that I can remember.

Cavaliers drill year after year is spectacular. The "fight club" (is that also Frameworks??) drill is unparalleled. I don't always listen to their music either. Great corps all around, just not as complete a program as, say, Cadets or BD or SCV. Loved "Machine", though. Excellent concept and the theming was exquisite. The ending was not a 'blow your hair back' wall of sound, but the passing overhead of the horn player and snare was awesome. It was a true George Orwell experience!

I didn't get to see SCV 1980 until prelims. Groundbreaking show! Loved "Mars". Most corps were experimenting with off the 50 yard line stuff that year, but SCV definitely threw the whole symetry concept away. Seventh ain't that bad. Been there with a good show as well!

Chess or Sweeney Todd. Phantom Regiment?????? Pleeeeeeeeeeease?

Beat 'em the next day. Just sayin........... Kidding, they were awesome in '77

Jackson, MI - awful. Hot, nothing to do, hot, nowhere to eat, did I mention HOT?? Birmingham - dangerous and hot. Terrible neighborhood and about a thousand degrees. Whitewater - great venue - mosquitoes the size of B-52's - otherwise great. Lynn, MA (Manning Bowl -RIP) In my day, home of the World Open. Restrooms from the Dark Ages, no parking unless you cheated, uncomfortable seats, I'll take it any day just to see some of the shows I saw there!!!!! Bayonne - Greatest audience, and greatest hot dogs. Don't go to the park after dark!!!!

Great story, Sue! My brother met his true love through the internet. They have been together for two years, and are totally happy and meant for each other. His first marriage was a disaster, but I'm so happy for him and Marie now. Me, ? I'm still waiting.....

You REBEL, Apoch!!!!!

Poor Eddie - THE most pantsed person in Lancer history. Back to mischievious - award hands down to Hymie. We were rehearsing behind Northgate on a 90 degree day. On tar. Ralph Pace relentlessly running the rehearsal. We didn't have waterbreaks back then. Water hadn't been invented yet. Ralph chews us out for the 99th time. We are all at the point where we just want to rip Ralph apart, but nobody dares. Hymie runs to TK's car, (I think TK's) and gets a beer out of a cooler in the back seat. He faces Ralph, pops open the beer with a flourish, and guzzles it with his middle finger extended toward Ralph. What else could we (and Ralph included) do but laugh hysterically???

Have to go with Cadets throughout the 1980's. Always themed to the show. "To Tame the Perilous Skies" is probably my favorite. Props also to BD for the unitards, just not always crazy for headpiece/hat choices.

I think it was 12 people, and I think it must have been somewhere near Rockford, IL. I was not a member, but remember the whole corps being punished in some way for the incident.

Hmnmn... managed to get through the entire '74 season with absolutely no memories. No chemicals or alcohol, either - just no memories. Now '75 Muchachos - World Open - holy cowabunga dudes!!! That tore me apart!!! Drum line and soloists - unbelievable!

Yikes, fer sher.

Pretty much what I came up with - only Bluecoats 2007 instead of 2006. But my vote for the top spot - - - -"MACHINE"!!!!!!

Wow, lots of Cavies votes with no reason given. Just curious. Voted BK. I appreciate what they do, but never quite get their show's intent. And never like their silks. (Not the guard-work, the art-work).

I did not participate. The original idea was for me to play contra bass to fill up a spot. I had just aged out and school and work commitments (ahh... real life) prohibited me from going. Had a heck of a time watching on TV, however!

Somewhere in the forums is a link to a great interview with Barbara "Bunny" Hopkins on the whole Lake Placid experience. If anyone knows where it is, please insert a link.

I think part of the reason it had an impact was because we performed Finals night right before the retreat. That audience was awesome!

George is a musician?? What does he play? I think he got involved with the I.C. Reveries because Denise joined up - and maybe Patty. He did throw all the instructors off the field during a rehearsal somewhere in the South in 1976 and ran the run-through himself. This led to the infamous, "Vinny Barry - STAR!!!" quote when Vin messed something up.