BDCorno

Well, I think scores and placements get pretty "slotted" by late season. Sometimes perceptions can create their own realities and results. The 1980 drum line was solid, and got a bit of an unfair reputation. In addition, there were some really good lines that year, so sixth wasn't too much of an insult. The years 1977-80 were a time when the BD went through major transition from the original drum and bell people to the program that it's become. They were some trying, yet wonderful times. I am grateful to have been part of the years that spanned those eras, as they were times of great success, gut-wrenching losses and tragic loss of some old friends. It took three years to create new identity for the horn line, drum line and color guard, but that metamorphosis carried the organization for over 25 years. A tidbit of information for you trivia wags - did you know that on June 1, 1979, the Blue Devils only had 47 horns on the roster? The coming together of that line in barely two months was an amazing, organic experience. I'll never forget it...

Yup. It was fortunate the brass line spanked 27 and the Bridgemen, otherwise it'd have been a different story... Gotta say though, '80 was the year of the drum solo - Bayonne, SCV, Spirit in particular.

Heck, why don't you just watch it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HARjigSc2_g...feature=related

Coulda been, but it looked too desolate even for the Santa Clara. Honestly, I don't think it was evals anyway - the bow was added later in the season, from my recollection. Too much exposure in the files at the stop, so the alternating bows reduced it a bit.

Ahhh, the Crossmen staff. When I was on staff of the VK in 1983, we had a dandy "little" party with the Crossmen staff in the parking lot of our school in Monterey. The party was a huge hit, and loud enough that it attracted some of Monterey's finest to "join in the festivities". Honestly, they "broke up", rather than "joined in", but hey - a good time was had by all!

Yes, we were always glad to get it "behind us".

Yes, that would be at the end of the first movement of Channel One Suite.

Looks to me like Atwater/Gustine - "The Hickdome", in the words of the immortal Mel Stratton. It's been far too long, but we usually had a camp early June out there so the timing would have been right for evals.

Naugahyde unis? That's gnarly...

Now THAT is a great picture...

Yeah, what was up with THAT? Who's that over-age kid in the second row? I think his name was Jerry, or something like that. LOL.

Sweet! And that was back in the day when a 19 in drums and a 90 overall was hard to come by...

1979 Blue Devils class picture...

How about these goofballs? You're looking at a photo of some of the horns from BD 1980. The shot was taken in Birmingham not long before finals. Left to right: Dave Carico (bari), Brad Kintscher (french horn), Mike "Gilligan" Culbertson (french horn), Martha Stevens (bari), Glen Babros (flugel), Chris Nalls (french horn), Dave Tuttle (french horn - but where did all the hair go????), Ray Atlas (bari), and Todd "Golden Boy" Thacker (flugel/mellophone). Those were the days! :P

Oh, yeah. Forgot about those. LOL. I never much noticed the sprains through the itching.

...they also forgot - home of: - Blazing sun and hot temperatures (no shade at all) - Howling winds and cold nights - Sand Fleas

All too well, my man... It's not quite as famous as the "Slow Down" sign that the Little League people posted (for our benefit, of course). I recall it ended up as a coffee table at the "import house". Jerry was not amused. LOL.

Yes, the staff that year was the "All Hair Team". Mike Moxley had quite a mane going, but I think Brian Price still had the longest hair of anyone in the organization, male or female. LOL.

Note that everyone has that glazed-over look. As Lee pointed out, the overnight ride after WO - followed by rehearsal and a rain-soaked show. Another "drum corps sucks" moment...

You, sir - win the grand prize!!! LOL. I don't think I'll ever forget it. The next morning at rehearsal was a barrel of laughs, too. Remember that???

LOL. That is hilarious! :P

Thanks, Lee. I didn't recall leaving everything over is MA, but I do recall trying to dry out before getting back on the buses. I guess it makes sense, in that we had nothing else to wear... LOL. Certainly a "drum corps sucks" moment. Remember the one in the Northwest (78, I think), where we hadn't been off the buses or fed for a very long time - or even had showers? You probably remember the rest of the story... LOL.

Anyone remember the 1976 show in Binghamton, NY? I recall there were torrential rains at the show, but since it was drum corps we couldn't cancel the show. SCV was brave and performed in full uniform. We had our new duds and the staff didn't want to ruin them, so we performed in trash bags. A picture of that would be darned near priceless. I don't know of any other time you'd have found BD at a show wearing trash bags! In a way, we might have set a record for cheapest matching uniforms in history. LOL.

Too bad the editor couldn't spell the name right...

...and that's why I found it puzzling why we ended up with almost everyone playing on Bb instruments. Cost? Profit? Familiarity? Availability? I just don't get it, outside of drum corps having some intrinsic need to be "accepted" in the mainstream scholastic and marching band activities. If that's all it was, then shame on them - if the activity sells out that which makes it unique, then what is the attraction?