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Rochester Phoenix DVD


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I found out later that Vince Bruni had made the decision to pull us off the field...  When I asked why the #### he did that, he advised that he had watched the execution judges throughout the first tune and we had been KILLED - the ticks were flying...  He made a quick decision that perhaps after a rain delay, they might be somewhat more lenient the second time around...

:P Always fun to get the "inside scoop" on something you saw first hand. Even if it took 29 years to hear it. Thanks Tom.

FWIW - Bought the '75 CDs a few months ago and was playing them at work using the headphones. Never bought the '75 vinyl and it had been so long I'd forgotten who played what music. My jaw about hit the desk whe I realized Crusaders were doing Rocky Horror... in 1975!!??

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and what did you think of the Mellophone solo in Rocky Horror? Jack Bullock wanted it loud and forceful... that's what I gave him...

As I stated earlier... Rocky had just opened on the London stage back then and Jack had somehow heard the sound track... we had NO idea what we were getting into... "great music from a new London play" he told us...

:P 30 years later - and it's now cult music...

The scary thought is that were it done today, they'd have probably wanted me to play the solo in a bra and girdle... now THAT is a very disturbing mind picture...

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and what did you think of the Mellophone solo in Rocky Horror?  Jack Bullock wanted it loud and forceful...  that's what I gave him...

As I stated earlier...  Rocky had just opened on the London stage back then and Jack had somehow heard the sound track...  we had NO idea what we were getting into...  "great music from a new London play" he told us...

:P 30 years later - and it's now cult music...

The scary thought is that were it done today, they'd have probably wanted me to play the solo in a bra and girdle...  now THAT is a very disturbing mind picture...

LOL, will have to listen to it again so I can say "I know the guy doing the solo!" :P

First became aware of Rocky in 1978 or so when it hit the Midnight movies at my college. My 6' 2"" 250+ room mate went to a showing dressed as a nun. Dressing as a nun was an inside joke as he was thinking of joining a Catholic Order of monks. Last time I saw him he was called "Father Tim" :rolleyes: And my next room mate became (and still is) a prison guard where PA keeps its lifers. (I must have been one heluva influence on people.)

As for the last line.. too early in the morning to think about it :P or is it :sshh:

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Heck, I was too pumped and mad to remember... it was early in the show... probably Journey

merry christmas to you and snowflake

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The DVD is absolutely awesome...getting back on topic. Besides,between Dave Martin and myself, there was no one talking about any other soloists in Rochester at that time...(sorry Tom). :rolleyes:

We were like rock stars. We took over the towns we went to, dominated at shows and especially the parties afterward. Many of the former Phoenix hornline members play in St. Joe's Alumni, and after rehearsal the other day we were reminiscing about how special that year was. The hornline did grow weekly as someone asked. But the people that were added were studs from other defunct junior corps in the area, in particular the Auburn Purple Lancers, fresh off making DCI finals the previous year.

We started with close to 30 horns and I believe we ended the season around 56 horns...of all players.

Special thanks to Wally and son and my good friend Timmy Martin that marketed this product intended for former members. It is a wonderful holiday treat. I made sure that my son saw it just to see what drum corps has evolved from, but pointed out that Phoenix was WAY ahead of it's time. Visually, we were doing stuff that nobody else did...exploding arcs and curves, horn and body moves, etc. Jack Daly was a very under-rated visual designer at the time of this DVD. That was probably Corky' best writing, and we actually had sort of a theme with the Firebird, Light My Fire stuff.

Part 3 of the DVD is amazing as I remember these final weeks of 1975. We played everyday at Bargy's house, and had chops of steel. We went to Hamilton, Ontario and made some drill changes before prelims, went out kinda flat and were scared that someone in RCA was within 3 points of our corps. Corky reamed us back at the hotel. We practiced Corky style for a couple of hours...it wasn't pleasant, and anyone that had Corky while in drum corps will attest to the tenacity of this man if not pleased. Finals it rained and we were on fire...took home all trophies except color guard and went on to the next week of DCA.

Prelims at DCA was completely out in a zone that I may never feel again. Word was that we won...in fact a judge to remain nameless verified it as he was leaving the stadium. Still no score was announced. Finally about a half hour later, we were announced in 4th. HMMMMM...still until this day I wonder.

That DVD is a wonderful reminder of a wonderful experience. 20 years old and skinny, having fun and doing drum corps. It didnt get much better than that.

Donny

Edited by donnymusic
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  • 2 months later...

My dad purchased tapes from that year and it included the Crusader abbrevieated opener. I loved that opener.

I'm gonna have to dig that tape back out.

However, Phoenix was AWESOME!. Overall, 75 was a pretty good year for seniors. I was partial to the Bucs, for some reason. Still am!

Rocketman - Seniors Rule!

ampssuck

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  • 1 month later...

Has it been 30 years?

It's funny to go to corps gatherings and you tell someone you played in a two year corps from Rochester called Phoenix, they always come back with, oh ya, so and so played in Phoenix and most of the time I never heard of them. I really think Phoenix was something like Woodstock where if everyone who says they were there, were, 10 million people would have been there.

It was a once in a lifetime experience and I am glad I was a part of it.

Edited by ossabe
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