SpookyKid

I'm glad someone is doing a Law & Order show. Will the corps start out in a drill form in the outline of Lenny Briscoe's head? And how will the drum line make that "DOINK DOINK" sound?

I played eight years as principal tubist in a smaller-tier orchestra and I thank drum corps for that. http://www.valleyorchestra.org/ <----- I'm on the 2001 & 2002 albums.

I've been there. In fact, drum corps became a huge source of contention with my tuba instructor unfortunately. However, Dr. Humfeld (my trombone teacher) was much different about it. He told me that if it was something I loved and felt that it would help me as a music major I should do it. And he said, besides, if I'm doing all the work I'm supposed to cover at school and the activity was outside of school, why should they bother. Dr. Humfeld was a great teacher and a even better friend.

lol - of course. Bob would be the only person who Brazale would send to the contra section. And then you would hear Bob say, "CONTRAS!" and it would go downhill after that. I can do a pretty dead-on impression of Brazale (I even made him laugh with it.) Here's a Brazale story I think you will appreciate - BRAZALE THINKS THE CONTRAS ARE "SPECIAL" Phantom contras were considered the Rodney Dangerfield of the corps - "NO RESPECT!". The attitude even bled into the first part of 89. We were at base camp getting things ready for first tour. We were on break before we did visual rehearsal. One of the snares realized that they had left their drill book in the gym. So he leaps over a fence and nearly stumbles on his face as he runs back. Meanwhile Johnny Sanchez, the Visual Caption Head, and John Brazale, the Drill Writer, were in the box. They didn't realize that the mic was on. Sanchez (watching the snare drummer) - Who the hell was that? Brazale - (drags a smoke)Oh probably one of those #### ######## contras. Sanchez - (points at mic realizing its on and the entire corps has heard their conversation) Brazale - (drags a smoke) Aw hell! As if on cue, all ten of us contras started walking and talking like we were "special". Brazale though was a great guy and I learned a lot from him about show design. My late wife marched the 87 Sky show and she said that was one of her all time favs. Even now watching it, I am amazed from a design standpoint that that show would easily compete today. I did notice some of those moves being used by other corps. And of course the uniform and show concept (and hats) of Southwind. They even did the "snake in the box" drill. I've always considered the 87 Sky show to be ahead of its time. It's too bad that the show doesn't get the respect that it should deserve.

Head conductor for Phantom Regiment in 1986 was Eric Short. He had previously marched with the Crossmen. He was drum major and a graduate of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M - Commerce). He is currently the head director of Central H.S., a AAAAA in Keller, Texas.

Marc - Just wanted to say that I loved the 89 Cadets show. Your work on the 87 Sky Ryders show was also amazing - one of my favs.

I might have to watch C-Span to watch the changes Tester makes. "Senate Republicans! Can you dress that freakin' desk line already? House Democrats! I swear if you don't all learn to vote in step correctly, I'm replacing you with the Green Party! At least they will try hard. Ted Kennedy! That's the third time you've been late! Take two laps! Speaker of the House! Are you chewing gum? Ten push-ups now! And I'm calling your parents at the end of the session!"

How about the knee march the Sky Ryders did in their Wizard of Oz shows (Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead)?

I always enjoy listening to any Phantom, Crown, Star, or Madison horn line.

Mike should be familiar to a lot of drum corps people. He was the assistant conductor for Regiment in 87 & 88, went over to Sky in 89, came back to Regiment, and aged out ripping his shirt off in "When a Man loves a woman" with the Devils. I marched next to Mike in 90. He's a nice guy and funny as hell. He's also one of the best guard instructors I know of. He was doing a lot of color guard stuff in the Rio Grande Valley when I was a band director down there. This is definately a good move on Crossmen's part. Mike really knows how to motivate kids into doing their best.

Yeah, but the corps looks better in white. There are enough corps wearing dark colors on the field. It's nice to see someone willing to stand out. I don't think a uniform change would have helped. We won high visual both years I marched and still didn't win.

88 for obvious reasons.

Maybe Garth wanted to party down with SCV. EXTREME CLOSE-UP!!!

Anyone who would question the choice of Elsa's have never heard it done. If you watch the end credits of the Regiment 50th anniversary DVD (89 hornline playing with the Kansas City Symphony), the subject is closed. Elsa's is also the piece the corps played for the Cavies at retreat. That is something that needs to return to drum corps.

Mike - That was a great column. I concur. There are a lot of people that I would like to know what happened to them. Thumbs up to the 1975 27th Lancers chime cage player. He just earned a spot in my wicked cool book. P.S. You forgot a ] on that url

It was placing second again that finally drove Phantom Regiment over the edge.

I will predict that you will see this used in WGI within the next five years.

This is where I think drum corps could be at in 2016… There has been a slight change in the way drum corps works. Division I is still as it always has been. Division II & III have been combined into one division. A third division has been created, what we term as mini corps. DCA presents their own version of Preview of Champions at DCI Finals. Division I Finals has increased from 12 to 16 corps. Corps membership has increased to 150. Thanks to technology, the audiences at the Quarterfinals telecast and the live audience at Finals are able to finally vote on a “Fan Fav” corps. Age limits are now at 25. Your Division I drum corps include: Academy, Bluecoats, Blue Devils, Blue Knights, Blue Stars, Boston, Cadets, Capital Regiment, Cavaliers, Colts, Crossmen, Crown, East Coast Jazz, Esperanza, Glassmen, Impulse, Jersey Surf, Kiwanis Kavaliers, Madison, Magic, Mandarins, Memphis Sound, Oregon Crusaders, Pacific Crest, Phantom, Pioneer, Raiders, Revolution, Seattle Cascades, Southwind, Spartans, Spirit, Teal Sound, Troopers, Vanguard, VK. Your Division II drum corps include: 7th Regiment, Allegiance Elite, Austin Stars, Black Gold, Blue Devils B, Blue Saints, Bridgemen, Cadets of NYC, Capital Sound, Citations, Colt Cadets, Dutch Boy, Fever, Fusion, HYPE, Jubal, Les Stentors, Lake Erie Regiment, Polaris, Regina Lions, Saint John’s, Sky Ryders, Spirit of New Jersey, Spokane Thunder, Taipei Yuehfu, Targets, Trinity, Vanguard Cadets, Vision Elite, Yamato DCI takes more of a caretaker’s stand with drum corps worldwide. DCI works to oversee the health of all drum corps and provides advice and support to help when necessary. The result is more surviving corps and an increase in the number of corps. DCI develops close relationships with all other world-wide drum corps organizations to lend support and advice when needed. A committee is developed to focus solely on the promotion of Division II corps. One of these decisions is the telecast of Division II corps, mini corps, and the DCA Preview of Champions. On the DCI website, you can now order CD’s and DVD’s of any drum corps combinations ala Itunes.

YEA! TIME FOR REGIMENT CONTRA STORIES!!! 1990 First, a little background. If you remember, Carnivale of the Animals had a full-out Contra feature (The Elephant). Originally, Brazale allowed us to get to our feature spot anyway we wanted. My dear co-section leader Ron Emmert decides to do this running leap, twist 720o clockwise, and land on one foot. And he freaking nails it. This goes on for three shows during Regiment's Illustious World Tour of Iowa. Then came Dubuque. The ground was fairly slick. During the opener of Organ Symphony, we were required to do this fast snap turn. We do it. And then out of slow motion, I saw this pith helmit crash, then a contra bouncing against the wet turf, followed by a cursing Chris Jackson who remarkably bounces back up. Near the end of the opener, we had some moves that really flew. Down went contra #2 - poor Reuben Pasqueni. Not even his plaid sports jacket could protect him from falling. As he was struggling to get back up, WHAP! One of our sop players ran into Reuben and went flying. And then we get to our feature. In spite of what has happened, Ron chances it. He flings himself into the air, is spinning, and is a Greek God. And then ...slip... he does a beautiful flip right on his butt. The only thing I could think of...better them than me.

LONE STAR DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS Howdy yall! The above link is a labor of love. It's the only active site for The Lone Star Drum and Bugle Corps, a lovely little corps from Texas during the 90's. Not only is it a good source of all things Lone Star, but it is a great source to find out all things drum corps in Texas. I hope to continue to add to what is there, but what I do have might surprise you. If you have any additional info, pictures, etc. such things would be greatly appreciated. I would love to be able to expand the info on Texas drum corps. Enjoy

Thank you sir for putting into words what I have been thinking about.

I know whose fault this really is. Ogg the caveman for blowing into a hollow tree trunk and creating the first bugle. Sabre-tooth tiger should have come by and eaten the s.o.b. Of course, a bunch of small insects fell out of the trunk on Ogg and that's how the first tic(k) system was created.

That must have been very tough to write. It hurts to see a corps you love go through such troubles. I hope the best for CR in 2008.

Plus, as band programs have become more competitive, band directors have become increasingly reluctant to let what are probably some of their strongest players and leaders miss part or all of summer band for DCI. I remember losing our horn captain and our best baritone because his director gave him the ultimatum of "It's either band or drum corps." It's not right, but it's the the truth.

"By the time the contra players realized that their contras were really DALEKS, it was too late." -or- "The section learned too late why Bobby should never eat beans." -or- "The contras were pleased that the new bongs worked out so well."