Stardusters1971

I felt I had to write about what I observed last night's performances: 1. The change to B-flat brass instruments, while I understand the need to have cohesion between band and DC, the horns just don't project, and that makes the sound dull. 2. Corps in general, appear to be trying to outsmart each other by trying to come up with the newest, most obscure composers and arrangements. I understand creativity, but every corps looks and sounds like everybody else. No one has it's own identity, anymore. There doesn't seem to be any traditions anyomore. There is no more uniqueness. 3. The excitement levels are way down, eveidenced by the lack of a crowd last night. In years past, Tghursday night would have been packed with 20K people, and it's not the economy, although, with the prices DCI charges today for admission, I can certainly understand why some might not have attended. 4. The amplification, needs to go along with the narration. Who's stupid idea was this? 5. Drum Corps is NOT band. It is Drum and Bugle Corps, and it should go back to be Drum and Bugle Corps, and tell the band people to go away. 6. What happened to a corps playing so loud at specific points in a show to try to move the stadium back 5', it's gone. 7. The corps are incredibly talented, far more so than ever before, so why not let loose. Drum Corps once gave me goose bumps and made me jump up at the end of a performance, not so any more. It's gotten dull. Just One man's opinion, but I was unmoved by what I saw last night.

add to your list the inclusion of amps and B-Flat instruments. I am sorry, but amps don't belong here and B-flat horns are not as unique as the old G horns. Last, start playing more exciting music, instead of all this obscure nonsense. Conquest still gives me goose bumps.

As a former member of the Stardusters 1968-1971, the Bleu Raeders 1972-1973, and the Regiment Militaire 1974, I can only say what I remember. It started three years before with the Stardusters. The history of drum corps in New Orleans and it's suburbs is interesting to say the least. After the most successful season in NOLA corps history (1971), problems with the management broke apart a corps that was destined for greatness. After putting in the highest 1st day prelim score at Dallas VFW (86.95), 12 corps went on on the second day and all recorded higher scores. We, as members, were told that parts of our management would not go fight for us witht the VFW officials. After all, we were beating on a regular basis 2 of the corps who beat us. And we did our finest show of the year, we truly peaked at the right time. One week later at American Legion (DCI wasn't born yet), we beat the 2 corps that beat us at VFW, by sizable margins including the National drum trophy. Three weeks later the Stardusters broke apart and the Bleu Raeders were formed. The Raeders made DCI finals in it's 1st year of existence. Placing 12th in finals. A bus accident going to American Legion ended the season, which was truly magical. We had the best 34 man horn section in America, even though 2 horn players had wax in their mouthpieces so they couldn't play. We needed the bodies for the drill to work. The drum section under Marty Hurley, clearly played the most difficult book since Blessed Sacrement of the mid 60's. A 5.0 in difficulty at every DCI event is proof. The triples did not record a single "tick" all season. The 1973 season, wasn't quite as good, but never the less, it was still fun. In 1974, membership was down in the "Dusters" and the "Raeders" so an olive branch was offered and accepted. The members and the staff got along, but like all things, there were disagreements. The real problem was money. And money can lead to arguements and other things, and that is what really did everything in. I can tell you a a lead soprano in 1974, the opener was tough. Playing March Militaire Francaise at 144 bpm's was brutal. Then came Legend of the One Eyed Sailor, not slow like Devils, again it was up tempo. We didn't know how to play anything slow. Make me Smile was a break for us, we extended it from the version the "Dusters" played in prior years to more match the "album" version Chicago played. Then we played Caberet, and lastly the Way We Were. We had 62 horns that year, and sounded like 84. You have to remember, in those days, directors and instructors had regular jobs then they had Drum Corps. It was tough. Corps didn't have corporate sponsors or big paydays. You shook cans on the corner, sold candy, cleaned apartments, anything to make money to travel. Then the directors borrowed money on their homes and other things, because like the kids, they loved it too. It was in their blood, just like ours. Truly great times, just wish I could turn back the clock. I'd love to do it all over again. Phil