US Marine reacts to the Royal Marines Corps of Drums 

Hi, former Royal Marine drummer here (2014-20), Musicians and buglers (the proper term for RM drummers) in the Royal Marines are full time musicians, serving as medical orderlies in the military role and are *not* commando trained like the Royal Marine Commandos. The band service is an independent branch within the Corps. Drummers in army infantry regiments, however, are full time infantry soldiers (which is why many think buglers and musicians in the Royal Marines are regular commandos). Top Secret Drum Corps (TSDC) is a civilian drum corps from Switzerland (though many of them did serve in the army band as drummers, since they have mandatory military service over there). The occasion was the "Mountbatten Festival of Music" (MFM) - an annual musical event of the Royal Marine Band Service, which is usually attended by the Captain General and Commandant General and held in the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London. The TSDC have a good relationship with the Royal Marines Corps of Drums, as they have played several times at the Edinburgh Tattoo, and were invited as special guests for the MFM in 2017. Both groups have played together in the Platinum jubilee this year once again, in front of the late Queen. 11:00 regarding the medals (the Colour Sergeant Bugler is the current drum major for RM Band Scotland): most of the medals a bandie or bugler will get are jubilee and good conduct & long service medals. Campaign medals are rarely awarded for bandies. Last campaign medals awarded were Afghanistan (2008/09), Iraq (2007) and kosovo (2000), excluding UN peacekeeping missions like Cyprus (07) and ranks who deploy individually with 3 Commando Brigade. Officers (Directors of Music, DoM) may be awarded with an MBE or OBE. DoMs always come from the ranks before gaining a commission. You can see the Colour Sergeant Bugler (who later became the Bugle Major) wearing the Iraq medal (first one) at 6:35. The most senior appointment for a bugler is Corps Drum Major and Corps Bugle Major (both Warrant Officers, which is the highest rank a bugler can achieve, no commissioning possible). 11:30 Yes, the thingy hanging there is a bugle, one of three instruments a bugler is taught to play (with the third being a valveless herald fanfare). Dress cords and a drum patch on the right sleeve are worn to differentiate buglers from musicians (who wear a lyre instead), since the Corps of Drums is an independent branch within the band service. The Corps of Drums is the oldest branch within the Royal Marines. By the way, RM Band Plymouth is currently in New York with HMS Queen Elizabeth at this very moment :) Sorry for the essay, hope I could answer some comments and am happy to answer more, if there are some

My son's a Royal Marine and he said that after the thirty miler when they were drummed over Lymptstone bridge to receive their green berets was a truly emotional feeling.

So just to add more context here. I served in HM Royal Marines Band Service from 1991-2015 so I know a little. In my time, all potential Royal Marine buglers and bandsman had to attend a 3 day audition in Deal, Kent. There, we had to undergo Commando fitness tests using the USMC basic fitness test (at that time). We were tested on our musical knowledge and had various medicals. During the process, we were given different types of instruments to see how we managed them. At the end of the audition were the interviews held in front of a panel of usually 3: I had Warrant Officer Training Company, Director of Music Training Company and Principal Director of Music. My training consisted of the first 15 weeks of Commando training as basic training, and we were trained by 3 Platoon Weapons instructors, and 3 Physical Training instructors. Where Royal Marine Commando's spend another 17 weeks going into depth about fieldcraft and soldiering skills, after 15 weeks, potential bandsmen/women were then issued with instruments and given 2 year intensive musical training by some of the top professors in the country. If successful (after 3 exams and performances) you then qualified as a Royal Marines Bandsman

Did you know that all Royal Marine bandsmen and women are trained combat medics as well? Every member of the Royal Marine band has to audition, be able to play at least 3 instruments and pass the standard fitness tests…..As a former combat officer in Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Commando nothing makes me prouder than the band. The drummers are all buglers too. The racks will be for service in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Gulf Wars and Afghanistan….as medics. Hope this helps…..Tigga G Major RM, Retired

Top Secret Drum Corps, with the white feather, is a drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland. They are world famous for their impressive drums routines. Royal Marines have the rimmed Pith Helmets... :)

No one does pomp and ceremony better than us 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

I was on this. One of the RM Corps of Drums Bass Drummers. Definitely a career high light. The drumming was challenging but amazing to work with Top Secret.

complete and total respect to my american cousins but when I see stuff like this it makes my heart swell so proud to be British. 🇬🇧

I'm a former Bootneck (Leatherneck equivalent to our USMC cousins). The RM Band are without doubt the best military band in the world. They do stirling work on ops and were invaluable in the Falklands War in 1982. PMPT - OARMAARM.

You really should watch a bigger segment of the Queens funerals, just the pars of the military and bands that were involved, the crisp marching, music, timing, Brillant respect and honor they showed their Commander in Chief,not for them a President who comes and goes every 4 yrs,their love for her poured from every step.

I’m in the British military, the band players also serve in action, as you can see the Royal Marine drum player has served in Iraq and Afghan

The guys in 'the feathers' are Elite Swiss Drummers who've been performing world-wide for years...technical perfection😍

I ave to disagree when you state, "it is not a good recruiting tool", but the band of HM Royal Marines visit schools, colleges and many other public and private events both national and international and manage to instil a sense of national pride in the whole of the UK. I remember the drum corp visiting my school in the mid 70's, they aroused my interest. I watched their bravery and professionalism during the Falklands war and they inspired me to to get myself along to The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines circa 1983. Great bunch of human beings, "Per Mare Per Terram".

My late father was a Royal Marine Commando and he was always adamant that there was no better band than the Royal Marine band 🙂

The band with the feathers are actually the Swiss drum corps. With the two bands together,fabulous !!!

His Majesty’s Royal Marines Corps of Drums were founded 1664, wearing red. Historically, on the battlefield, drummers were deployed into the army to act as signallers. However, now, their role is very entertaining and unbelievably skillful.

I'm sure you've hoisted on board by now, but there are two drum corps here, and the first one to be seen is not the Marines but the Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps - they are utterly brilliant as well though!

Top Secret, despite their look, is a civilian drum corps, from Switzerland. They have no connection to the Royal Marines, but they are very good, and this collaboration was very cool.

So grateful for all the comments. These musicians are incredible in their own right -- that performance did not come about without many, many hours of practice. To find out they are also trained medics and had to do the standard commando test makes them exemplary.

The Royal Marines have had a band and a drum corps since 1664 so they have had time to develop their style. And yes you really can do different things with different lengths. I really enjoyed your video, thanks and all the best

I played Drummer in my Cadets band for 6 year's in my teenage years and we won a few competition's and were pretty damn good but this level of skill is unrivalled. The amount of practice and discipline it takes to be this good and effortlessly in sync is astonishing!!!!.😲🤯 Proud to be British🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

The accuracy, precision, timing, skill, and choreography in this is all very high-end. This display speaks volumes about this group its personnel and serves great honor to Britain. VERY WELL DONE!!

You should watch the funeral procession for Her Majesty the Queen, that was spectacular. About 4,000 military and another 1,000 at Windsor. The funeral march was hypnotic. She had a magnificent send off. Boys did us proud.

I love listening to the Royal Marines Band, well except when I was stationed on the same base and they’d be practicing outside my window at 7am after I’d been on nights! 😂

Top Secret Drum Corps is a drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland.

This was at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance a few years ago. Top Secret are Swiss and they do this part time.

I did my music betc (a qualification) with army cadets. And the band/corps of drums I used in it were the RM drummers. And it was amazing to be able to watch them play on RU-vid and call it research... while sitting in a classroom bored because I couldn't work in that setting... (took it home, finished it the first full day I was home.) 🤷‍♀️... everyone else spent a few months worth of classes time do it

This was an absolutely blinding video 👏 Thank you loads for this 🇬🇧

All drums in the British army regiments are very decorative and have been since around the AWI. For regular army regiments, if you look closely, it will show the regiments number in the scheme of things, and sometime important battles in which the regiment distinquished itself.

As others have commented the Top Secret Drummers are a civilian organisation. The RM Corp of Drums also carry (and play) a bugle. They also perform logistics support and medical roles for 3 Commando Brigade (according to the Royal Navy recruitment web page)

Hell yea... Imagine about to go to battle and you hear those drums play.

The show is called the Mountbatten Festival of Music - fundraising event by the Royal Marine. They are on RU-vid. The Royal Marines have a RU-vid Channel

You really should watch a bigger segment of the Queen's funerals, just the pars of the military and bands that were involved, the crisp marching, music, timing, Brillant respect and honour they showed their Commander in Chief, not for them a President who comes and goes every 4 yrs, their love for her poured from every step. The first drum band is TOP SECRET from Switzerland 🇨🇭 They are the best, in my opinion as a drummer. And they are not from England /Great Britain. But that's all they do, drum, the Royal Marines are serving soldiers.

The Top Secret Drum Corps is a Swiss Formation from Basel.

the band with the white feathers are a civilian band from Switzaland playing with the royal marines band. yes they are bugals and they really know how to play them.

Top Secret Drum Corps is a members club from Switzerland

The feather capped DRUMMERS are from the Swiss Army. The helmeted men were Royal Marines.

i play a drum kit . hands and feet all different times. takes years to be good. these guys are awesome, again years to be that good. a good drum movie ,'whiplash'. good drummers get the crowd going. i ve seen phil collins live, keith moon live with the who and many more. there are some gr8 japanese female drummers. drums of any type one of the hardest instruments to master.

Great collaboration and wonderful to hear the audience reaction.

These guys are awesome.. Nobody in the entire world are as good as these guy's at any form of dressage

The top secret drum corps are not Royal Marines, but are Swiss, based in Basel. They are the ones in the feathery slouch hats.

the one thing I miss in the UK is the royal tournament , fantastic for country , 2nd to worse thing Blair did .

I was voluntold to be in the USAF band when I was in Basic at Lackland AFB TX. I literally got off the bus at 0300 and I had a DI in my face holding up a piece of sheet music screaming at me to identify what it was- I said it was sheet music for percussion. I was then told to stand off to one side, thus began my 8-week journey of literally learning how to not only March in time but March in time and play drums at the same time. Drums carry the cadence for everybody. Soooo yeah, these guys are the best of the best for a reason! Not only do they have among the most expensive marching snares you can buy but they're all playing with 2B drumsticks which are about as big as they get for regular use. Their timing, stick strokes and just their general presentation is MIND BLOWING!!

Top secret is a civilian drum corps from Switzerland. British Bandsmen (Army, Navy, Air-Force and Marines) are all combat medics and deploy into theatre with their Arms/Corps. Many older guys will have seen a lot of deployments.

The drummers with the feathered plumes on their hats are the drumming corps known as “Top Secret” from Basel in Switzerland 🇨🇭. They are hugely popular and are regular guests most years at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

US Marine here...wish we had that!!!! I had a friend from school who enlisted to play in the band. We lost touch, so idk how it was for her. I still always enjoyed our band.

The drummer and the bugler was key to the success in a battle, And how the general give out his orders on the battle field back in the day....

I am not sure if you all realized: these men are NOT SOLDIERS !! They are a group of drummers from Basel, Switzerland. In our carnival, called Fasnacht, we have lots of groups with drums and flutes. These guys are from all kind of professions and met through their collaboration in the carnival. They started showing up on festivals and the Military Tattoo in Scotland where everybody was impressed.

Hi. My name is Skip Healy, I live in Switzerland and I build the fifes played by the U.S. Armys Presidential Honor Guard group "The Old Guard fife and drum Corps". I'm sure you have seen them, red jackets, white pants, tricorn hats with wigs, they are an outstanding group. When a slot opens up for a musician, there is an announcement made nation wide for people to audition for the gig. VERY difficult group to get into as is the case with all Honor Guard bands. They play over 400 performences per year including shows like the Basel Tattoo (Basel, Switzerland) where Top Secret is a regular group as they are from Basel. The Royal Marines have also performed at this great show. Funny note, they were founded by a man named Erik Julliard (also the Director of the Basel Tattoo) who as a young boy was in the audience at my first concert in Switzerland in 1982.

At least in Finland most military musicians have at least a bachelors degree in music before they audition for the part in a band. There is like a normal instrument audition and if you win you have to do the cooper test and some other tests as well before you can begin. You also need to have done your military service before you can apply.

Having performed at a couple of Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s these guys are awesome. There’s something about being on a parade ground with hundreds of other massed bands of military and law enforcement. The Top Secret Drum Corp is next level, all civilian bandy. All they do it drum and perform. They do carry extra due to some of the trucks they do it’s not uncommon to drop them. We had some drum lessons with them in 2005. It’s absolutely astonishing watching and learning from them, they are the best I’ve ever seen in person by far. The Homgden (spelt wrong I am guessing) Guards are great too. They’re a mixed gender unit on a 2 year conscript service, all have to shave their head. Again back in 05 the woman were new to conscription(well the females volunteered for the military service in their nation) they had to shave their heads and maintain same fitness standards as the men. It’s was new to have woman but they petitioned to serve so they said fine same grooming standards apply. They are great to watch with the stripes down the legs. Anyone who enjoys massed bands and pipes and drums needs to attend an Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The marines are recruited in the same way as any other marine and have to pass the basic training. They serve on the front line as medics etc. They also play bugles and are one of the oldest regiments in the army and have never been amalgamated into any other corp. They are also when in the field members of the Royal Marine Commando and some of the elite will be chosen to serve with the Special Boat Service SBS the naval equivalent of the SAS.

I think the feathers are to show movement synchronicity. They're brilliant

A potential reason for the extra drum sticks could be because Top Secret sometimes has a glow in the dark drum stick routine

I've seen the RM band live several times, including watching some of the new recruits practising. They are nothing short of amazing and I LOVE them! I taught someone once who became an RM bandsman and they have to be the TOPS. I also know a former Army DoM and he is a stupendous musician. Bandmaster training is NOT a walk in the park! I love the Swiss guys too. Just the discipline and musicianship are astounding (I'm a musician). And that SOUND when the two bands join together - overwhelming and never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

The guys with the feathered hats are The Secret Drum Corps of Switzweland.

People forget, military bands were originally a way to give orders to large formations on the battlefield

This where they are in a duo with the Top-Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland

There's some good documentaries out there on life as a bandmember in the British Armed Forces. Well worth digging into them if you want more info

Royal Marines Musicians and Buglers are fully trained and operational military personnel that's why they have medals, they earned them. They are not stage costume's they are real. The Secret Drum Core, with white feathers are not military at all. "Top Secret was founded in 1991 (31 years ago), with its roots in the rich drumming traditions of the band's home city, Basel, which is known for its annual carnival called Basler Fasnacht" Top secret info from Wikipedia.

I may be ex British army, but have to say the RM Band & Drums are the best in the British Armed Forces (my father was RM 🤷🏼‍♂️😂).

The guys with the feathers are the Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps

I watched the one when they were at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. They had lights on the drums that lit up in a single light when there were drumming so fast. Try looking for it.

The drums of the Royal marines have their battle honours on them.

You really need to look up the Japanese Taiko Drummers, they're mental.

Marched through deal when 41 commando got disbanded when the band played life on the ocean waves will never forget

The Queen's Jubilee. They were invited because the Queen loved them and that she's proud of Her Royal Marines Corps of Drums. She ask to have both corps.

i came across a youtube channel recently of a member of the US marines commandant's own band. he said you sign up as a musician with the recruiter, but still attend basic like any other marine.

They're actually serving medics troops too The medals are earned Originally naval drummers were used to beat to quarter and issue commands in battle

My platoon in boot had a bandsman, and he said he was recruited to play a specific instrument (that was 2002, so I forgot which one), but he did all the same training as us. In San Diego the base band also regularly pulled guard duty, manning the posts at the entrances. Though I think I heard that the RM bandsmen don't go through the RM Commando course, but the USMC and RM are fairly different in terms of the basic training since 3 Commando Brigade is more of a elite unit than your basic USMC rifle regiment. Nevertheless, both corps have amazing music programs.

So, for the US Military bands, there are special recruiters assigned to just the bands, but any recruiter can do it according to the regular recruiting rules. You go to basic/boot and AIT or whatever marines call MOS training, which takes place for all branches at the Naval School of Music. You do have to pass an audition and get to enter at e-3 for having a civilian acquired skill. Change of command and other ceremonies will be just one facet of the types of events the bands will play. They'll have concerts like this and parades and even jazz combos. I don't know what it is for the other branches, but in the army, their field function is as MP's.

Bands and cooks of the British army are also soldiers....... Hence the medals for service etc

The Royal Marines corps of drums are like the British Light Infantry Bugle platoon , all are selected from operational units , trained as Infantry soldiers initially , then trained as sustained fire weapons platoon , the operate and deploy as front line troops , the medal worn are earned in theatre of operation. The drums and bugles are additional to front line duty , i was a Light infantry Bugler for some years and have served abroad plus as a bugles on ceremonial dutys , they have to be selected for their skills of drill and soldiery , plus very dedicated and disciplined to carry both out to a extremely professional level .

Superb, that’s all I can say ! 👍🇬🇧🇺🇸

Top Secret Drum Corps (the men with the feathered hats) are civilians with a regular dayjob like plumber, lawyer, electrician, busdriver. Drumming is something they do in their free time. They are not military. They come from Basel, Switzerland. They are well-know worldwide and famous for their acts. The extra sticks they have are spare, but there are also sticks with another function. They have flutes, sticks they can set on fire and LED-lighted sticks for special effects. You can find a mass of very impressive performances on RU-vid.

The first lot of drummers are from Switzerland and are fantastic. Later they are joined by the Royal Marine drummers.

You should have a look at the book "The Band That Went To War: The Royal Marines Band in The Falklands War" by Brian Short. Yes, they do deploy.

The recruitment When applying you tell them you can play an instrument and that you'd like to join band. Once basic training is done you join whichever unit has a band The uniform is per unit and are ceremonial dress Medals are from combat, they are soldiers first

Top Secret is a Swedish all volunteer drum corps

Search youtube for 'Royal marines corps of drum' from Sim Hawkins. It's even more impressive when they are parading and playing

Where i live Colchester , essex , england We used to have this but was done by the 16 Air Assault Brigade Was a massive event The whole town And Garrison would put on a show Going from the roman soilders to modern day troops Colchester is uk older town with a very long history

Imagine this wonderful discipline being taken into battle !

A drum off! And let's be mates to finish. If it were a NZ Army band you would see some funky moves.

im not in the armed forces but i think in the british forces the musicians are seving soldiers and the band is one of the extras you can do

i would love to see our drummer's team up with your Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon it makes me proud to be British

All band members in England are actually serving soldiers that go on secondments all over the world and are trained like all soldiers they have been to Afghanistan etc.

Top secret drum corps is insane!!!! Swizz perfection

All serving military,went through basic training.Led us in wars like the pipes and drums.Active fighters if required.

There’s a video on RU-vid where Royal Marine drummers pay respect to a fallen comrade. It’s very good.

I noticed the drums carrying the E2R insignia. Excellent performance.

to make something clear, the ones with the feathers on their hats are swiss drummers.

Band and drums Regts used to have there own mainly used for ceremony duties but the main roll Medical orderlies and stretcher barriers in war but still fully trained infantry soldiers .

Top Secret drum corp is Swiss. They’re excellent. I love all the bands in the British military not just the Royal Marine Band. The pageantry is always magnificent as well as the music.

Those Swiss guys are superb. Think the Swiss were the first to introduce close order drill (after the Romans) so this may account for their drumming tradition.

In the US military, musicians are recruited just as are technicians, linguists, Intel specialists, etc. They rehearse in their chosen specialty, just as they would for any job. They go through the same boot camp/basic training as any other recruit, attend an A school, and then off they go. Musicians often benefit from rapid promotion - I am given to understand that it's not uncommon for them to reach E-6 in four years. They are also guaranteed to have more stage time and recording time during a six year enlistment than most professional civilian musicians get in twice that amount of time.

That is discipline, absolutely brilliant. Well done.

There is a reason the band of the Royal Marines travelled on the Royal Yacht Britainnia. HM Our Late Queen had the play for guests on board as the visits were usually for diplomatic reasons. Best British foot forward - flying the flag for Britain.

Drums set the tone for a march and sound the warning forward of an impending presence...

One thing you have to remember that in the british armed forces and most European armed forces they are military first musicians second, they are as deadly with a weapon as they are with their instruments. Being a drummer myself the Royal marine music cor are the ones in the bright colours. These battles where in the day it was fought by the swards drummer boy's would be on the front line and they would be in full movement in the hight of battle, later on the year's of War it became a battle of strength and volume of size of the battalion or battalions. Now it is the prestige of the precision of the the bands in keeping time but also the dedication to the defence of the country.

The drums the Royal Marines have will have their battle honours on them and at drum head services they are stacked and the standard draped over them before the service takes place with the military padre