...in the WHOLE WORLD!....Recollections from 1983.

[Brian Wilkie]

Kevin "Wamba" Phillips asked me if I would start this discussion. Just a little place where those of us who were fortunate to live it, could chronicle our memories of that magical, historical season...

[Brian Wilkie]

Here are some memory-joggers....
Tommy Strachen and the "dog days of drum corps"
BD's hornline flipping out on us as we walked past their arc on the way to Midwest finals
Jungle Fever
Using Spirit's equipment in Toledo prelims - and playing Georgia with them in Sevierville
George's famous "Let's educate Phantom tonight on the virtues of non-competitiveness" speech in Ypsilanti.

[Rick Wygant]

I remember NOT getting to play Georgia. I decided to get the Death Camp Jungle Fever 10 days after everybody else had it, made it up to Phantom's score on retreat, but then had to bid a hasty retreat myself, due to gastronomic circumstances beyond my control!

I also remember that we stole Phantom's Garfield cat (complete with the sabre sticking out of it) off their bus in Hamilton (Litzenberg hid it in the church chimes box), and they marched past us adding the lyrics "we want our cat back" to the 3-Tap Samba. Ah......good times!!

[Kathy Wygant Pantel]

The sad thing about Georgia that year, was we were more interested in playing w/ Sprit in Severeville than playing YNWA in Madison with everyone.
And when we heard Phantom walking around in Severeville grumbling about why they didn't get invited to play...pink flags in Toledo anyone?

[Brian Wilkie]

To this day one of the loudest and most amazing things I have ever heard - maybe that has ever been put forth on a drum corps field....after playing Hunter's intro solo alone out in front of the arc hearing the GINORMOUS power of 130 of the best-trained horns in DCI come up around me on that opening hit. I wish you guys could have heard it. Simply astounding.

[Robert Mayer]

I remember Shorty yelling at us "I don't want to see anyone playing with bad quality or leaning back" during the performance with Spirit. Which we did during the first playing. But when the crowd wanted to hear it again, I heard someone nearby say "The hell with Shorty" Eric Sabach and I had a contest who could lean back the farthest during the 2nd playing.
It was truely a dream come true being able to play Georgia with them that night.

[Donna Schiavone]

I stole that cat...someone got a shapshot of my arm reaching up & it was in some paper.

[Marcie (Glenn) Farrell]

I had forgotten about the cat theft. That was sooooo good!

[Brian Wilkie]

My favorite is Bill Hawkes remembering a late-tour, late-night bus conversation a bunch of us had about what if IT really did happen and how we would feel....I told Bill all I wanted was to stand out away from the corps on retreat for a moment and not see any other corps standing on the field with us...Well, when IT DID happen (we MADE it happen), amidst all the tears and bear-hugs and relief, Bill grabbed my arm and pulled me about 20 yards away from the maroon and gold mob and screamed "Look, Brian...THERE'S NO ONE THERE!!!!!" Mr. Bill....Thank you...I will never forget that you remembered.

[Bill Hawkes]

Do you remember the lion in the cage in Beaver, PA, roaring throughout the show? I recall not even making it to our first tour stop in Ohio with the whole caravan.

[Collette]

That was West Virginia

[Brian Wilkie]

I don't recall a lion in a cage... could that have been 85? I DO recall leaving Mahwah in the middle of the night and stopping in Ohio....without the rest of the corps. Right out of the gate....amazing.

[Kathy Wygant Pantel]

Okay you two & your love-fest...Brian, remember when our bus bay doors would only open on 1 side, and since I was the most vertically challenged on the bus I got to help load with you & someone else (I can't remember who it was)? Then we were getting ready to load up in Ft. Edwards when I caught the bottom of the bay door w/ my shoulder & ripped it open. That night I could barely get my crossbelt on (it took Marcie & Ferd to help) and I was given the honor of a tetanus shot the next day w/ Michael Cesario.

Weren't the lions roaring in West Virginia?