jmc5682

I loved the years Phantom performed Spartacus and I would love to see them do it again. How do other people feel about the Spartacus years. Would you like to see them revisit it? I am not an expert when it comes to music so I am wondering if the music score would be competitive enough for modern drum corps.

450 Dollars in 83 and 450 dollars in 84. I do not remember there being any camp fees, but it was a long time ago.

No I am not the black guy with the white hair. I was a scrawny tall white guy (16 years old) with brown hair. I was the picture in the DCI yearbook for Freelancers both 83 and 84. I don't remember the black guy with the white hair. I will have to buy the DVD to check that out.

I marched in 84 and Born again was the closer. I started in 85 but I hated the platforms and the uniforms. I just could not get into it. We had a major change in staff as Frank and Shirlee Diorttee (I know I spelled that wrong) came on board. Everything changed so much and I was bummed out. I had a great two years though.

Freelancers 1985. What a mess.

We had a Crab Feed that was a blast. The members were the servers and after stealing a couple of glasses of wine each it was a great time! We had a party after every year. It was my favorite fund raiser. I hated working bingo.

I wish I still had contact with the people I marched with. I haven't seen any of my former guard member since Precision West 4 or 5 years ago. I was only 15 and 16 when I marched while the majority of the guard averaged about 20 years old. I have checked the info on the Freelancer alumni page, but there is no one I recognize. Maybe I will see some people in Haward at the BD/SCV show.

We had a lot of fun on the busses when I marched with SAC. I cannot say what went on but it was a great time.

I loved the US Open for selfish reasons I guess. It was the only show we won in 1983. It is difficult to win many shows when we were competing against BD and SCV in California. Obviously we never did win a show in California. The only show we actually won was the US Open in 1983. We were the only top 12 corps in the show that year, but a win is a win. It was the only time in my two years with the Freelancers we got to play a victory concert. I will never forget it.

Freelancers need to come back. I know they have a drum line and colorguard competing in WGi, but they need to get back to the football field. I guess VK would be my next choice despite the fact they were are biggest rival. I hated them when I marched!!! At least they never beat us during my two years in SAC! (That is not entirely true. They did beat us in winterguard competitions and it was infuriating. I still think is was fixed because they were going to WGI and we were not. Second place at regionals sucks!! I guess I am just bitter.)

I marched in 83 and 84 and it was a blast. I wish I could go back in time, but I do have the Legacy DVD's. Being in the guard my best year is 83 as we marched 14 in the rifle line. We also had the double rifle feature in the drum solo, triangles, and flags for the hornline. It was a great year. 84 was more of a challenge as I had to learn to play a few notes on the G bugle for the opener as the male guard members started out the show dressed up in breakaway cadets. Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane. JC

This is directed to OLD Time Drummer. The Freelaners made finals quite a few times and had been around quite a long time before they finally went inactive for good. Their highest placement was 7th place and that is not too shabby. I do not think they belong on your list. It is not as if they just came and went in a few years. This is just my humble, and I am sure biased opinion.

I was bummed when my beloved Freelancers went inactive the first time, but was crushed when they went inactive the final time. Such a proud tradition. I know they still have a drumline and colorguard that performs at WGI but it is not the same as 128 of us out on the field together striving to do the best we can.

Drum and Bell corps is close to my heart. I marched when I was just 13 and 14 years old with the Red Knghts of San Leandro, CA. It was a great time. It is such a long time ago I cannot even remember who we competed against. We used to have the State Champioships in San Jose. SCV would perform at the end of the show and they would have their green feathers in for the age outs. The next day we would march in the Parade of Champions. Those were great times. I then followed are colorguard instructor who had marched in BD to the Freelancer's in 83 and 84. If it was not for drum and bell corps, I would never have been exposed to drum and bugle corps. Thanks for the memory. JMC