TrainWreck

3rd place. 1985 Blue Devils

1982 Blue Devils

From what I recall, we were well aware of the chart we were playing and "who" had played it before...one of those legendary corps that we all heard about. The funny thing about that particular chart...with the stellar drumline we had, that tune drug like a dog....as Tom would say. It took a killer drumline and a contra line that operated like a metronome all working together to create what we felt was the ultimate drum corps tune. The whole 84 experience was one of those things that I was able to appreciate to its fullest. I had been through that before with the 82 Blue Devils and was lucky enough to realize that something special was happening....again. I was lucky. I appreciated every performance, looked forward to every performance, and knew that something special was happening. After aging out, I realized how lucky I was marching the years I did. I hope that everybody in drum corps had the same feelings about their corps and performances as I did. It was incredible and something that I believe every kid in drum corps should be able to achieve and experience. I hope they did....and do..... It's because of those years and my experiences that I can't respond to the threads of "what corps would you...if you could march anywhere.....other than your own corps, if you could"..... I can't answer those questions because I can't comprehend them. I was extremely lucky.

I think you trivia is the $1,000,000 question, although, it's so much of a legend that I would expect most to know about it. Another trivia question I think is above ours (BD) is the percentage of females in in the Argonne Rebels horn line when they were considered the best in drum corps.....

I am a Software Engineer developing bluetooth software for smart phones. The perks are every so often I get to travel around the world testing my software; Malta, Hong Kong, Malaga, Prague, Nice, Brussels, London, Taipei, etc.... The other perks, as Greg G. can attest too...are long days....

La Fiesta had quite a few features: Sop trio with Stymie, John, and Duane Octect with: Soprano Gino Cipriani Tim Morning Flugle Horn Me (Rob Brown) Mike Collins Baritone Tammy Bell Geoff Lynch Brad Bender Jon Smeltzer Preston Howard soloing on French Horn Flugle horn feature Stymie on the sop solo that's getting drowned out by an incredibly loud hornline Stymie, Gino, and Duane wailing at the end La Fiesta was an incredible piece to play as was the entire show. We watched fans in stadium after stadium jump to their feet pumping their fists at the first blast of the hornline after the sop trio in La Fiesta. I think the sudden burst of volume was a shock as we pretty much held nothing back in that tune. If there ever was a corps that was not afraid to lose and constantly gave it their all during performances, it was the 1984 Blue Devils. Performance after performance of sheer excitement. It was similar to the 82 Blue Devils. I do believe the 84 Blue Devil contra line was the first section in DCI history that won both performance captions: Horns and Drums. The contras played cymbals during the drum solo. The 85 Blue Devil soprano line replicated that feat by playing cymbals as well and winning brass and drums.

I wear mine at most once a year, but rarely every year. The comment about "Steve" the bari section leader. Is that for Garfield? I think the BD Bari section leader was shared between Brad and Tammy. Ring or no ring, the 84 BD Finals performance was off the hook. I'll consider being fortunate enough to play La Fiesta my ring in gold plating

I'm the other extreme, just like the Bluecoats alumn above..... 6 years with the same organization, 1 in the feeder, 5 in the fed.

I have difficulty with these threads. There was no other corps I wanted to be in, so I can't answer the question. .I'll list the corps I would always try to watch each of the years I marched. 80 Blue Devils 81 Sacramento Freelancers. I loved their show, top to bottom. Big brassy sound. 81 Madison Scouts, Bayonne Bridgemen 81 27th Lancers I really enjoyed Niner Two 82 Garfield Cadets I loved Piano Concerto in F.... 82Madison Scouts. Slaughter and Strawberry Soup 82SkyRyders. Incredible sounding hornline 83 Phantom Regiment. 70 person horn line with an abundance of power. Loved that opening statement. 83 Madison Scouts. Can you say....Strawberry Soup. We toured with these guys and I was lucky to see this show a number of times. 84 Garfield Cadets. I loved that company front out of nowhere. 85 Phantom Regiment. I saw their prelims performance which was unbelievable. 85 Velvet Knights. Peter Gunn!

Doolittle from Seattle Imperials in the early 80's.

10 years from now, what will you wish you did? Will you regret your decision? If 10 years from now, when you realize that getting out of school now or a year later really wasn't that big of a deal, would you wish that you marched?

You have to reach the microphone.

Performances were never stressful. Regardless if we were expected to win, not sure if we would win, or were expected to lose, we always went for blood with our performances. We always felt we would win but were never afraid of making mistakes. I think the competitive aspect for us really came out during rehearsals. We really nitpicked the details to death during rehearsals.

1st Blue Devils B corps, Memorial Weekend performance in Atwater California. Last Blue Devils A corps - DCI Finals Madison Wisconsin. Ended my drum corps career as a member of the hornline that won high brass (well, tied). My fourth time doing so.

Atwater was the location of the Memorial Day camp. The last night of camp, various corps in the area would get together and do a show in uniform. This was more for the staff to pick apart the corps (particular our staff) and a chance for the kids to see other corps. The evaluation show was typically the first weekend in June at San Jose City College. I don't recall when the last one was, but we did the evaluation show up to at least 85. The 1st real show was the second weekend of June. I have two vivid memories of the Evaluation show. The 1st being the Freelancers in 1981 shocking everybody. They were big, loud, and on fire with a jazzy book. We were behind the stands waiting to go on after the Freelancers and got the full force of their hornline. The 2nd vivid memory is walking from our warm-up spot in 85 to the stadium. We went past Santa Clara's alto line when they were warming up. The altos were playing parts of their opener and they sounded incredible. That mellophone line was something else.

I have videos of 82 BD victory concerts and "The Line" was on their knees back then, although they were in the horn arc instead of front and center. I can remember standing next to the contras and the baris and altos yelling at the contras to get out of the way. Perhaps...the tradition was started in 1982. I don't recall them doing that in 81.

Climbed the outside of Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Made it up to the top of the swim area before we saw the red lights of the police cars. We made it down before they got too close. I've got a picture of 4 of us with our feet hanging over the side of the stadium......

I remember: My 3rd finals performance in 83. Seattle Cascades folded that year presumably because of the distance between finals and Seattle. The tour on the way to Miami was the worst I had been on....just bad. The finals crowd was shockingly small, particularly when compared to the two previous years in Montreal. We didn't see any Gators.... Warm-ed up in the Dolphins locker room for I&E I remember dreading the ride home....4 days of solid driving. We had our best performance of the year at finals Garfield winning The only year I marched that we did not win the horn title. Deservedly so, I would add. I have not been back to Miami since....not to say I wouldn't go if the opportunity arises, but haven't had the desire.

Gender: M What age were you when you marched: 15 What age are you now: 43 Which instrument did you march/play: Flugle Horn, Mellophone Which corps is you favorite (besides your own): Madison Scouts What is your (intended) college major/degree in: Computer Science Which corps did you march with: BLUE DEVILS What Years: "B" 1980, "A" 1981 - 1985 Why did you join drum corps: Band I was in went belly-up. My dad wanted me to be in the Blue Devils, I told him I would join if they won DCI (79). They did, so I joined. I had to learn how to play the bugle, which Blue Devils taught me. Once in, I was hooked. What was your best experience: Winning DCI, performing in Japan with Blue Devils, the many killer performances. Do you intend to continue to support DCI after you retire from competition: YES

In Blue Devils, the lead flugles could've played lower lead in the soprano line with the notable exception of an upper lead now and then. The soprano soloist for the 86 Blue Devils was a flugle horn player in Blue Devils prior to moving over to the soprano line.

Would that be Mark Avila? He marched in BD 82 and designed a couple of our t-shirts as well. I'm pretty sure he marched Crossmen prior to Blue Devils.

Yes, that's Beth. Yeap. To the left of JoEllen looks like Robyn Connely. Tracy is in the back, just to the left of Patty F. Oh, sorry. I changed my screen name and keep forgetting I don't use my signature. I'm Laura Brown's brother, Rob. I marched with you in 81. I was in the alto line.

If Shirley left, she came back to teach the guard up until the 84 season. Let's see if I can remember the names: Front row Far left - Lee?? Front row 2nd from left - Dawn 2nd from right Trish Deb on the far right Behind Deb is Patty (Todd Tanji's wife) Next to Patty is Deana Williams Behind Patty, I want to say JoEllen?? Next is Beatrice Patty Furzer (sp) Laura Brown Kelley Ann behind Laura?? This picture looks like it's from Western Regionals where the BDA guard cranked out an unexpected win.

We used them up until April.

One point of clarification; r.e. Blue Devils and mellophones. The 81 Blue Devils used mellophones for a portion of the show during 1st tour then abandoned them for the 8 flugle 6 french horn mix that Blue Devils used up until 86. The 84 Blue Devil alto line used 4 mellophones, but those never saw the competition field, only camps. La Fiesta with 4 mellophones, 6 french horns, and 4 flugles was too much for the sopranos to overcome :)