One of the founding drum corps of Drum Corps International, formed by one of the founding fathers of Drum Corps International, George Bonfiglio. This corps was formed on (Unofficial birthdate) September 26, 1967 in Revere, Mass. The first public appearance of the 27th Lancers was October 12, 1967 in the Revere Columbus Day Parade
It was THIS VIDEO that convinced me to try to play in the Bridgemen Alumni Corps, when they came back to the field in 2006 for the first time since folding. I saw these guys doing it "just one more time", and I knew I had to try !!!!!!! I had NO drum corps experience, but extensive band experience and 2 years as a music teacher. Woodwind player, but I could get some rudimentary brass chops, so I borrowed a baritone to practice and went to Bayonne. I expected to hear one or two screamers and the rest of the Bridgemen were pretty mediocre. Could not have been more wrong !! They COOKED !!!! I played 4th bari/5 note range, but I had the time of my life ! I will be forever grateful to George Lavelle bringing me in for a true "bucket list" moment. I GOT TO WEAR THE YELLOW COAT !!! How cool is that ????!?
first corps I ever saw first show was THIS corps doing this show. I was 13 became a traditional Drum and BUGLE corps fan for life; and also truly appreciated the Rifle Corps a lot. I joined a RCorps years later !
I Marched bells this year and loved every minute of it. It was hard to come in second but we won DCI east a week earlier at Allentown and that was amazing. Hats off to Blue Devils. If you're gonna come in second at least you "lost" to BD.
Today is March 24th 2024, Still Loving and watching the 27th classes. I miss the days when we had Real Drum and bugle c o r p s. Former member of the Long Island sunrises, Real Drum and bugle Corps
This 27 show def had an impact on me. But not til I could watch it more with the advent of RU-vid. Zengali's drill was amazing. 27 Contra section was a beast. Very tight, strong brass. FINALS corps were awesome. Great year for DCI. My best friend marched Vanguard 78 and BD 79. Altough I marched BD '80-81 had students in Vanguard 80 and 81. I knew college peers marching Crossmen 78, 79,80,81 and Spirit '80.
First saw them on PBS broadcast in 1975. I loved the music and the color guard. I went on to teach guard in 1976 and realize how much this guard influenced my early teaching. I love watching these videos because of the memories they bring to mind.
I’m not real sure why this clip popped up on my You Tube, but it is completely thrilling. We were lucky enough to be at Gillette Stadium the year that 27th Lancers Alumni Corps appeared at DCI Nationals. It was magic. My dad, Bill Maling, now 90 years old, was a member of the McCall Drum Corps drumline out of Philly back in the 40s. He continued to be a drumline teacher, and a drumline judge, mostly in the PA/NJ area. He was a protogee of Bill Reamer, who was well-known in Philly area drum corps at that time. In his retirement, he became active with the Canton BlueCoats organization for a time, and then turned to fife and drum corps, performing with Lancraft Fife and Drum out of North Haven, CT. Drum Corps was a huge thing in my childhood, as he took me along to many competitions that he judged.
In 1966 they called the IC Reveries. They were the corps that sat on the starting line as a protest to their elimination to the final at Roosevelt stadium during the VFW finals!!!!!!!
Always loved this show, even though I didn't discover DCI till '89. In the back of the first DCI Today I ever purchased I was able to buy a few of the 1982 LPs for $1.50 each and would play the absolute F out of this one!!
Even with the low-quality resolution from nearly half a century ago, the PRECISION of performance is ASTOUNDING ... marching technique is SO consistent, timing is nearly-impeccable ... and though the quality and fidelity of sound is lacking as well, those who attended KNOW that TRUE drum corps NEVER needed amplification, in any way, shape, form or manner ... NOTHING COMES CLOSE to a G-bugle hornline!!!!! /s/ USMC (Retired)
Today is September 30th 2023. In my opinion, DCI, is turn the activity into a marching band competition, superimposed on a three ring circus. We no longer have real drum and bugle Corps, may they all rest in peace. They should change the name from Drum Corps International, too, marching band International, it's the same as bands of America. At one time there were approximately 7,000 drum and bugle Corps throughout North America, about 25%, marching and maneuvering, organizations, many did only parades, others did parades and standstill competition, the majority or working their way up to become a competing, Marching In maneuvering, Drum Corps. It was a great youth activity. Anybody could join, as long as they were committed they would find their way to learn to play either of you whole or drum or March in the color guard. On Any Given weekend, within an hour or two, you would decide which contest you wanted to attend depending on who is competing. More people attended competitions, rank over Major League Baseball as far as attendance. A big setback for the activity, d.c. I decided after you aged out they never encourage the kids to go onto a senior drum and bugle Corps, and that was the beginning of the end. When I was in junior drum and bugle Corps, many of the kids will looking forward to aging out and joining the senior Corps, as I did. I was a member of the Floyd Bennett golden eagles from Brooklyn New York, all of our instructors were from the New York Skyliners, I joined the Long Island sunrises from 1964 through 1968. Also I was a co-founder of American Spirit senior alumni drum and bugle Corps, in the Tampa Bay Florida area, along with John Dowling, may he rest in peace. He is the person who developed back sticking, still used today. He also instructed many of the top drum lines in the nation. He also holds the record for four national championships in the single day at the same contest. First place individual snare drum, first-place, drum quartet, first-place individual soprano, then first-place brass quartet. No other person in the entire activity has ever won that many first places in a single day. Today there are very few people attending the DCI World Championship. Been looking to bring in even 20,000. And in my opinion that's because they want to go to see a drum and bugle Corps competition, not a marching band competition. All these bands are doing a great job but it's not for me. Years ago if somebody reference your organization as a marching band it was insulting, and in some cases you would be lucky to walk away without a black eye. I listen to drum and bugle Corps recordings almost every single day. Does anybody remember back in the late 50s early 60s if you went to a diner, when they would have the, cute boxes with a unit at your table where you can select music, and when you selected music in some cases you would see recordings of drum and bugle Corps. After rehearsal we would go to war candy store where they head, these boxes at the tables and we would listen to the Cavaliers, The Skyliners, the Hawthorne Caballeros, Norwood Park Imperials, the kilts, the Reilly Raiders, and many others to choose from. And those days are from the past, but it exposed more people to the activity. DC I actually in the beginning they were doing great broadcasting the championship, but little by little the attendance dropped off people will no longer listening, it became more of a circus in different electronic equipment, everybody's dancing and prancing, it's more about visuals drumlines play very few rudiments I want they become jugglers come up with all types of body English with their arms flailing all over the place. Using PA systems, and the amount of equipment, required to go from one contest to the next is like watching the Barnum & Bailey circus going from one city to the next city. Dues went from, in some cases a dollar a rehearsal or maybe 10 or $20 for the year. These days I believe dues or anywhere from 4 to $6,000, and many many millions of dollars, for equipment. You never see them do a parade because you can't march down the street with the piano or electric organ, or electric guitars, and forget about all those a xylophone pipe equipment. My preference is if you can't carry it you can play it. Plus members come from all the country if not all the world oh, to be a member of these groups today. No longer do various cities and towns know who these units are there's no Community Support or recognition, let's just another reason people do not attend competitions today. My comments mean no disrespect for what's going on today, these organizations are doing a great job. But I wish they would call the activity what it really is today, and that is it's a marching band competition.
I LOVE 27--ALWAYS WILL -( midwestern man--love them not because of region and that loyalty--they are old school corps and remind us ALL of what Corps WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT! I will say it again--the 1980 TITLE BELONGS TO 27!!!)
27 SHOULD have WON 1980--no doubt-- variety of style GE Marching GUARD MUSIC Great show--loved it then love it still--- 27 SHOULD HAVE WON IT! THEY DID WIN IT IN THE HEARTS OF FANS THROUGHOUT DCI STANDS!
Agreed, from a music standpoint alone, this is absolutely stellar work and arrangement. From the world of theater and a globe of Sondheim devotees, major respect and serious gratitude to see these two worlds meet in so spectacular a fashion! ♥️♥️♥️
