Keeping Velvet Knights Memories Alive....
J DENOVI
believe how fast time flies.
To help keep the memory of the corps alive, take a moment to post one of your
favorite show moments, stories, encounters, etc.
- John
Barbara
Anaheim area for convention during July. I decided to drive around on a
Sunday to just get familiar with the area. As I was driving I heard "that
sound". As a drum corps person you never lose "that sound". It was drumming
in a distance. I then began to drive toward "that sound" and found V K
practicing at a local school. It thought it was great that here I was way
out in California from New York State and found V K practicing before going
on a local tour. I got to talk with Bobby Hoffman as he was our drill
instructor with the Skyliners in 1972 when we had the "greatest assortment"
of talent in that corps ever. Remember he wrote the traffic jam drill. I
also had the opportunity to speak with a woman working the guard from
Hamburg,NY. I don't remember her name but if she reads this she might
remember our meeting. I watched the rest of practice and hung out as they
went through their checklist for tour and all the parents bringing in food
especially cookies for the members.
I finished the convention with very little memory of it but WILL ALWAYS
REMEMBER V K's PRACTICE IN 1988.
PS I also have a great story from 1981 Montreal when Bobby was with Bayonne
but that's got nothing to do with this
--
Barbara Boardman barb...@nycap.rr.com
Tim Boardman sky...@nycap.rr.com
The Boardmans bboa...@nycap.rr.com
"J DENOVI" <jde...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010208195532...@ng-md1.aol.com...
Jason Lowe
After VK folded in '97, I got pretty lost as to what to do next. It put
me in a state of depression, really, that put me in the mood to not
march corps that year... or the next. I know that sounds silly but it
had been my dream since I was younger to march VK, and then the chance
got blown in '97.
I still have my friends, though, especially those who helped get me in
there even though I was on the east coast.
When I joined Americanos in '99, during alldays I sat talking to one of
the sops, and we were looking through the '97 DCI Yearbook (or whatever
it's called) and I said something about VK, and the sop goes... dude...
I was in VK that year, too! We became really good friends. '99 was very
cool for many reasons, and one of them was marching with another VK
'newbie' from '97 just as I was.
That same year I was invited to the VK cookout that happened; although I
couldn't go, I was very honored to even be invited.
Thanks VK.
Jason Lowe
Velvet Knights '97 hopeful (sigh)
Americanos '99
Spirit of Atlanta '00
CorpsVets '01
THun528570
1. In 1983, staying at a college in Cary, NC with VK, 27th and GAHFIELD. VK
was having a horn sectional under the window of the dorm where we were housed.
Listened for hours. That was a kick ass show.
2. Chick in bikini at the end of the 89 show. Killer.
Tom
GK 80-?
BOY1230
EG Zephyr
>From: jde...@aol.com (J DENOVI)
>To help keep the memory of the corps alive, take a moment to post one of your
>favorite show moments, stories, encounters, etc.
>
>- John
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My story falls in the category of ancient history. 1968 to be exact.
Everyone in drum corps has a story about breakdowns - bus - equipment truck
etc. Well, VK had more than their fair share of equipment breakdowns - but
leave it VK to find a way to top everyone else.
In 1968 the Velvet Knights chartered a plane to fly from Los Angeles to Chicago
for one performance (a drum corps first ?). The reason for the flight was for
VK to show off Zig Kanstul's first full line of Olds Ultratone Bugles at Drum
Corps Digest's Fantasy in Brass Show.
The VK traveled first class in their own plane. Everything went perfect until
we went to Chicago's Midway Airport for the return flight - then you guessed it
- The drum corps curse struck.- The plane broke down and had to have its nose
gear replaced while the corps waited in the terminal for hours.
Jodeen Popp may have some additional comments because she was there - and even
shared her cup of cofee with me when we hit some in flight turbulance as I
walked by in the aisle.
Oh, I forgot to mention it was a prop plane and it was dark when we finally
boarded the plane. When they started the plane's engines no-one except Charlie
Groh was ready for the flames that came shooting out of those engines as a
normal part of the warm-up. Charlie calmed everyone down pronto... Avoiding the
major hysteria characteristic of the corps performances in later years.
Ralph Orlandella
+MacKinley
always wondering who would be the one to put the cover on upside down, which made
a sharky smiley face (gosh, I think that might have been me at prelims or finals
in the Georgia Tech stadium!!!) LOL
Playing the choral from Animal House for a warmup in '84.
Mike McCool's warmups that one morning......."Grab a donut, and eat it. Grab a
smoke, and light it!"
Thanks VK for all the great times and for those of you who marched in Vans...GOD
BLESS!!!
Big Dale
'84, '85 2COOLVK
J DENOVI wrote:
--
The Milwaukee Scottish Pipe Band
http://members.nbci.com/mackinley/kfpb.html
The Na Lesa Bulgarian Folk Ensemble
featuring the Orkestra Makedonska
http://members.nbci.com/mackinley/bulgar.html
+++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Holy Trinity Celtic Orthodox Mission
http://members.nbci.com/mackinley/TheCOULC.html
St. Brendan Celtic Orthodox Skete
http://members.nbci.com/mackinley/skete.html
Jodeen E Popp
I was one of the lucky ones assigned to raising the money to take that trip.
It turned out to be unforgettable, didn't it?
The kids stayed with members of Des Plaines Vanguard and Cavaliers. It was
the first exposure most kids had with members of other corps, and that made
it very special.
When we were all instructed to exit the plane (to go home) they told us they
had neglected to put food on board. Probably to prevent panic. Anyway, we
were all to spend at least six hours at Midway Airport, which wasn't open
for commercial traffic as yet. If I recall correctly, the replacement part
had to be located and then flown to Chicago from LA. Most of us didn't know
what was going on for quite some time.
A few phone calls were made and many kids and parents from the DP Vanguard
and Cavies came back to Midway and brought loads of food and very welcome
company. I remember sitting in an office watching TV. It was the night
that Pres. Lyndon Johnson made a speech declaring he would not run for
re-election that year.
I have a few memories of the show itself, but all of the corps there were in
fine shape for March. I recall all of the other corps' horn players going
bananas over the Olds bugles, and they were standing around in groups
playing their own music on the new horns. I remember the wonderful parents
and kids from DPV and Cavies, who stuck there with us until we actually
departed for home. This was my daughter's initiation into drum corps trips.
I am sure anyone that was there will never forget it.
Oh yes, on the plane (word used loosely), I sat with June Bachelder who was
reading "Airport" all the way there.
And Ralph, sorry again about the coffee shower.
Jodeen Popp
"EG Zephyr" <egze...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010208233214...@ng-mg1.aol.com...
Chris Pierceall
wondering.
Chris Pierceall
Phantom Regiment
Bass Line 1997-2000
Charlie Groh
Charlie Groh
...just floatin' along.
Meadejd
Over my 6 years marching with VK, as most drum corps people can relate, I came
away with an arsenal of hundreds of worthy stories. If I get the time I will
share a couple, as I hope to read more from others. What follows figures as
perhaps one of the most significant moments of my life.
It was February of 1982. Before the previous week when an older gentleman came
to speak to my high school marching band, I had never heard of corps. I
thought I was a pretty hot bass-trombone player, but I came to find out I had
never before known the most powerful sound ever created.
I entered the rehearsal that winter Sunday, they handed me a horn, a King
euphonium. But first I was required to put on gloves. "This must be special,"
I thought. We worked out which valve corresponded to what position. I was
then ushered into a room with eleven other players with varying horn sizes, VK
only had twelve horns that day. The man in front motioned for the horns to be
brought up and indicated a tuning note. We all played together.
There it was!
The most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
To this day nothing matches it. Twelve uniquely similar horns playing in tune.
I was in heaven. In retrospect, I know that it probably didn't sound as good
as I remember it. It was probably not in tune. Not all of the players were
very good. I wasn't as good as I thought I was. But for some reason, every
time I think of that moment and a thousand moments just like it with the VK. I
remember it as perfect.
To all of my dear brothers and sisters who share this heritage, from the
founders in '63, to those who enjoyed the next 4 decades to our fateful end in
'97, and to those who aspired, thank you for something special. As long as we
stick around to tell the stories, our little corner of history will stay alive.
Keepin the faith,
Dave Meade
Bari Section leader, Soloist
VK Feb 1982 through forever (aged out 1987)
(Impulse, beginning and forever as well)
Supertbone
they never got to perform it, but I imaging some one has a tape of a run
through some where.
Supertbone
Sam & Sandra Signorelli
'84 finals. We were all ont he field, waiting for retreat to start, when
the boos started. Word spread like wildfire through all 12 corps that VJ
would not be allowed to have their DMs kicking back in their deck chairs.
Remember the videos? One of the DMs (Bernie?) was damn near in tears.
Everyone was pissed, from 27 to those of us in BD. How DARE they! The word
later was that the DCI leadership was worried the VK funny stuff would
reflect poorly in any public viewing of the activity.
Hello? Bridgemen didn't make a mockery of other corps' pretentiousness?
To this day I feel that was the greatest slap in the face to a corps hitting
finals for the 1st time.
Sam Signorelli
Robert Brown
I remember that. Hearing the boos throughout the stadium. Thinking
how stupid it was to take away the chairs when that had been the VK
trademark all season. As if we weren't pissed enough......with a
three way tie in brass............ and to add insult to
injury........and in second place..........
How about BD getting into the VK mood during the 82 season. VK came
out with the California cool thing and their drum majors going to
retreat with their cooler. One retreat, perhaps Concord or Santa
Clara, the Blue Devils drum majors present the VK drum majors with a
palm tree.
Yeap, gotta love that California loyalty. We were all competitive,
but we had tons of fun (whoops, damn it, competitive corps aren't
supposed to be fun, damn, keep letting out that little secret that we
had fun on tour, crap).
Rob
BD 81-85
VKGARRY73
>How about BD getting into the VK mood during the 82 season. VK came
>out with the California cool thing and their drum majors going to
>retreat with their cooler. One retreat, perhaps Concord or Santa
>Clara, the Blue Devils drum majors present the VK drum majors with a
>palm tree.
That palm tree survived the whole tour that year, and I'll never forget how BD
was the first ones to "get it". The BD DM's seemed to enjoy the refreshments
from the cooler, too! (Pepsi, if I remember correctly)
VKG
I gotta PBS mind in an MTV world
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
Remove "byte-me" from address to respond by e-mail
VKGARRY73
>The word
>later was that the DCI leadership was worried the VK funny stuff would
>reflect poorly in any public viewing of the activity.
>
If only Don had brought us a palm tree, he could have had a seat and a Pepsi,
too!
VKGARRY73
>In 1983, staying at a college in Cary, NC with VK, 27th and GAHFIELD.
Meredith College? Dorms with real beds, and only 4 people per shower? VK stayed
there in 79 with Watkins Glen Squires and the Bridgemen.
scv_...@my-deja.com
performing at the angels stadium in anaheim. i can still remember my
first audition camp at troy high school in 94(for the 95 season). i can
still remember in 95 at the concord
pavilion show standing 5 feet from the crowd and hearing the guy in
front of me say, "right in front of the sops. now its gonna get loud."
i have so many memories of vk from 95 to 97. all the friends, stories,
dreams. being so young and having so much fun. instead of writing
something too long i will just say vk started me the path i am on
today. 97 would have been great. i will close with my favorite memory
of being in vk, standing in the tunnel getting ready to go out for our
quarters and semis show in 95 at rich stadium in buffalo. being 16 and
running on the field and having the time of my life. take care all.
lates.
adam g.
vk 95, 96 97
scv 97, 98, 99, 00
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
joe exley
It was late in the season, but itwas the first time that PR saw SCV to
settle the upset from finals the year before... both corps were hypin.
Warmup was intense.
During warmup a storm started to hit... SCV pulled out of the show,
then PR begrudgingly pulled out...
BUT..... VK still went on..... as the last corps of the night....
and right during the hurricane part of VK's show... a HUGE plummeting
of rain and wind whipped the corps... and made the hurricane
realistic. The corps was hypin.... VK won the show.
1990 VK... whadda hornline!
No (junior) corps these days would have the cojones to do Alice
Cooper.
RIPVK.. I guess some things are just too good to go on forever.
joe exley
Jason Lowe
Man I would pay some high dollars for that stuff, big time.
Anyone?
EG Zephyr
>
>Charlie Groh
>...just floatin' along.
vkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvk
Hey Charlie
In all the decades that you have been in drum corps with VK , Anaheim Kingsmen,
Hawthorne Muchachos and now IMPULSE - I don't think there is anyone that would
describe you as a "calming influence"
In Charge - yes
Intense - definitely
Inspirational - YUK - but true
Inventive - We won't go there...
Impulsive - A way of life for you
and of course
COOL - you and VK invented the California cool style!
Your friends also have another list - but I don't think I should go there...
Your buddy
Ralph Orlandella
drumc...@my-deja.com
horn book Chuck). We saw VK several times during second tour, and I
just remember finding something new each time I saw them. In the list
of corps I wish I had marched with, VK is 1-3. I still have a pair of
the pants they wore that year that I bought from the souvie trailer. I
still have a pair of sticks and a tenor mallet that they threw into the
stands as they were trooping off the field after finals at Rich Stadium.
VK, thanks for all the great memories
Bill Castillo
OAS AAS LLS!!!
In article <3a83d0e0...@news.skyweb.net>,
EG Zephyr
>Howdy Ralph,
>
>I was one of the lucky ones assigned to raising the money to take that trip.
>It turned out to be unforgettable, didn't it?
<snip>
>And Ralph, sorry again about the coffee shower.
>
>Jodeen Popp
vkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvkvk
Hello Jodeen
I knew you could fill in the details of VKs flight to Chicago.
Yes it was an unforgettable trip with the first ever drum corps airplane
breakdown just adding to the fun.
By the way - The "coffee shower" taught me a valuable lesson - When in flight I
always make certain I am securely buckled in my seat and I only drink "iced"
beverages.LOL
Thanks for helping to make that flight possible.
Your friend
Ralph Orlandella
BOY1230
said the field was too wet!!!!! What a great show VK did that night!!!!!!
THank you
GEoffrey
J DENOVI
the hornline were litteraly yelling out loud "wooohooooo" in exhilleration
during the last part of the show. It was such a rush. I still have Debbie
Convertito's field visual tape where you can hear the crowd get louder and
louder every minute we stayed out there. In VK history, that stands out as one
of the legendary moments.
Funny side story to this show....there was a great guy in the hornline named
Joe Orth. His hat blew off in the drum solo (the hurican section) and blew
all the way out the tunnel at Giants stadium. He ran 60 yards accross the
field, retrieved his hat, and then ran back in time to make the end of the
huricane scatter drill. It was classic. Anyone who has tape of this show -
look for Joe doing an OJ into the endzone!
While I'm at it, why don't I tell the story about Free Ice. We were staying in
Winston-Salem and had a laundry day. The drum bus went to one place, horns and
guard split up to two other laundromats. So this girl Katrina, who was pretty
innocent, was told by a vet drummer that the ice outside an adjacent
convenience store was free. So, sweet little Katrina loaded up her cooler with
what she thought was free ice. Well, the store manager caught her and called
the cops. When the corps all got back that night to the Gym, Greg Clark, our
hyping spiritual leader on staff woke everyone out of bed and proceeded to rip
us all a new one for getting into trouble. He said," what made you think you
could just take the ice"....and this little voice chimes in "someone said it
was free" And Greg yelled out - "BullSh$t - nothing in life is ever free"
From that day on, Free Ice was legendary. We even incorporated Free Ice in to
a song. (Instead of Freak Out, we sang "ahhhhh, Free Ice...Da, dadada, da,
dadada") Gues you had to be there.
Man, if only life were that wacky today. .
- John
ronho...@my-deja.com
>
> Yeap, gotta love that California loyalty. We were all competitive,
> but we had tons of fun (whoops, damn it, competitive corps aren't
> supposed to be fun, damn, keep letting out that little secret that we
> had fun on tour, crap).
>
> Rob
> BD 81-85
>
This post by Rob probably says it all about the spirit of California
drum corps. Intense competetion but tons of fun!
Thanks for all the memories, they still sustain the soul after all
these long years and continue to do so as the Carson-Lincoln Posse
reflects on its rich heritage.
RON HOUSLEY
l966 Lakewood Ambassadors
l967 Anaheim Kingsmen
l97l Lynwood Diplomats (brass arr./instructor)
...and a few others...
First, Charlie Groh's shoes were left on the field, next week, three
pairs of contra shoes! Spin them big horns, boyz!
Charlie Groh
I'll have to add my nickle's worth, since I've spanned the entire life of VK
...as a member, instructor or bystander/fan/soulmate. Man, tons of great
moments...from winning "State" in '65 as a member (when "State" was "Nats"
to us...) to smuggling a 25' shark into Camp Randall Stadium in '92 (and
watching the already crazed crowd go berserk when its mighty jaws
chomped down on Brun Hilda in the closer...). But the ultimate point-
in-time to me was when we showed the new "uniform" to the kids in '82...
you know, the Hawaiian shirt-khaki pant-straw hat-deck shoe-model that
we brought in for under 20 bucks! (...because Bevins was cheap!).
The silence of the moment was deafening (to coin a phrase). Once the
members picked their jaws up from the dirt you could see emotions ranging
from giddiness to outright anger ("...I'll never march in THAT!"). Well,
suffice to say, nobody quit and they all were in some kind of wierd drum
corps induced heaven after the first performance...very, very sweet...and
the rest is, well, uh, history. I could go on and on...
Charlie Groh
...only dead fish go with the flow.
Rod Gornto
jde...@aol.com (J DENOVI) wrote:
> This is the 5 year anniversary of the demise of the Velvet Knights.
Hard to
> believe how fast time flies.
>
of your
> favorite show moments, stories, encounters, etc.
>
> - John
Follow this link:
http://www.carolinacrown.org/Crown/1990.html
and read Mekel Rogers' account of the Winston-Salem show in 1990. I
was on the field with Carolina Crown and remember that moment with VK
just as fondly. Mekel tells the story better, though.
Missing VK. Good luck to Impulse! I saw you guys almost every show in
Cali last summer and I liked what I saw.
--
Rod Gornto
Mike Duffy
> Hey Charlie
>
> In all the decades that you have been in drum corps with VK , Anaheim Kingsmen.........
Some of the greatest thrills in my McLife were from our days together with The Kmen:-)
McHuh?
Charlie Groh
at Nats '68...McNice, eh? cg
ronho...@my-deja.com
I second this emotion! Southern California drum and bugle corps lives
on in IMPULSE! Go see and support IMPULSE!
RON HOUSLEY
SomeGuy
I couldn't even hear myself play the last 9 rim shots. The crowd was just
too loud.
Snare '92-'94
<ronho...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:961kr2$k1g$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Paulie
I distinctly remember the day Charlie and Greg stood in front of us and
presented the replacement uniform to our good old Cadets-turned-silks. Now
mind you, I had never marched in anything other than Cadet style uniforms,
and to think these clowns wanted me to wear a uniform (to which I kept every
piece) consisting of a straw hat, Hawaiian shirt, khaki pants, and red Vans
(tm), I could hear my heart pounding and a whole bunch of us whispering if
BD or SCV had any spots open. Really ... there were enough of us "older"
members who swore that our staff were out of their minds -- I believe they
truly were! At the first couple of shows you could hear the audience
laughing and then cheering. I felt, as others may have, that the audience
was not laughing with us! For whatever reason, we 10-pointed the Kingsmen.
It was amazing to me how the audience would go nuts when we did our little
VK Shuffle as we headed out to the starting line.
It only got better. We made friends with members of the Bridgemen who
seemed to be amused with our flavor of California D & B Corps. I'm sure
many of them thought we were spoofing them, but come to think of it, we
spoofed everyone and continued to do it for many years to come.
I sure miss our corps, but it's great that all you guys are still out here
jammin' (as Greg would say!).
-Paul
"Charlie Groh" <chas...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3A84412B...@earthlink.net...
jef...@my-deja.com
Joni Higginbotham
jef...@hotmail.com
Joni Higginbotham
BDSCV
The Winter Guard. Never have I hung with a tighter group of people. I was
living with Roxanne, Andy and Craig at the Loopa Duplex. Parties every night.
Beach Parties after the shows.
We played a medley of Hollywood tunes for an opener - there was a big push at
the end that the horn players were all having trouble with - their chops were
dying, basically. So Mike McCool suggested that we just put our horns down and
have them wave at the audience - the bells played the melody.
Teaching the horn line from the drum major's beach chair because I had a kidney
infection.
The uniform. At a camp, the drum line showed up in new uniforms for a run
through. It seems that, unbeknownst to the rest of the staff, Rob Carson had
designed a uniform and had the moms sew them up. Well, to say the least, the
rest of the staff did not share Robbie's vision. After rehearsal, we all
gathered to badger Robbie about the uniform. The result of a heated debate was
that Jack told us that if we could do better, here's some money. $3500 - which
is $35 a uniform. Not a lot. So, Charlie Groh and I went to the mall with a
couple of the rifles - we found hawaiian shirt fabric on sale - 75% off! We had
them call all the other stores in the chain and gather it all up for us. The
pants we got through Santa Ana Surplus (Dickies). Hats were from K-Mart in Long
Beach. We couldn't afford shoes, so we got Van's to donate them. The end result
was a classic look that redefined the drum corps' whole act.
Half the corps not showing up for practice between tours.
The Grill. The VK food truck was Jack Bevins' Roach Coach, pulled behind a bus.
By the second or third week of tour, it was so crusty that the members asked Ma
Smith to clean it. She declined, saying that the caked on grease gave the food
flavor. So, a group of members cleaned it in the middle of the night.
My first rehearsal, I taught the horn line while lying on the floor.
After the season was over, we played a Rams half time. Larrie Dastrup (who was
teaching Kingsmen) and I sight read the drill. We already had uniforms, because
we played standstills with the corps whenever we had the opportunity.
"Go get 'em Kids"
The entire horn line held their horns so that the bells were the same height.
This was set by one of the euphoniums. It looked pretty cool.
-Chris Nalls
BDSCV
VK beating SCV in Tone Quality and Intonation at Stockton. I was so pissed (I
taught SCV Brass at the time), that I ripped into Mark Bacciarini (sorry, Mark)
at critique.
VK beating Madison.
Sitting in with the VK hornline in 1977 - playing Groovin' Hard and Left Bank
Express.
24 Contras playing Peter Gunn at Stillwater in '85.
Dave Meade's little dance after his solo.
The Bottle Dance - NOT!
John Cassidy
there a story regarding what happened in '97?
Respectfully J Cassidy
"Supertbone" <jonath...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:V3rpJo...@cc.usu.edu...
Charlie Groh
DRLWRTR
into help rewrite the drill. It was last June and we had to work fast. Things
worked out and the corps made 11th place.
In 1990 I had the task of writing the entire show. It was great. The tour was
long, but the most exciting memory was the Meadowlands Show in N.J. Just
incredable. I was video taping the show from way, way up high. The wind began
to blow and the rain started to come down almost like hail. The corps turned
on and it was a "moment to remember". The 1991 season could have been
something, but things could have been better. I was rehired by the VK in 1997
as visual designer and staff coordinator. We almost had a full corps. 3/4 of
the drill was completed by the end of March. The show was going to be based on
"Monty Python"
We had incredable music. The Fanfare from First Knight; an original opener by
CSULB director John Carnahan: The Knights in Velvet, then the corps was moving
it's way into the Wellington Overture. I believe the corps could have been in
top six that year. But with most managment problems that corps have, VK was
not exempt. It was a sad day in Drum Corps. Now, I believe that the VK memory
is continued with "IMPULSE". I support this corps 100%. And I know it will
take it's place in the top 12 some day soon!
Long Live the VK memories
David Weinberg
Visual Designer
VK: 89,90,91 and 97
Robert Brown
>
YES!!!! That was a great night!!! Madison's alto line held a spot
open for me up front for the mass ensemble.
And....... the last night of the 85 season the Blue Devils would do a
show with silver drums :(
Rob
Supertbone
paying the income taxes for it's staff. When the IRS came a knocking, they
lost everything. It was an abrupt thing. I heard members were told that the
corps had folded and that they could keep the equipment they had. If the
paid dues they did not get them back, because what ever funds VK had went to
the government.
Catherine
jde...@aol.com (J DENOVI) wrote:
> This is the 5 year anniversary of the demise of the Velvet Knights.
Incorrect. There may no longer be a corps in competition. But the
Velvet Knights live!
For a "dead" corps, I know many VKs carrying on. Some are REBUILDING
corps, bands and other groups of worth. And as always, the people I
knew then who created over 30 years of memories and proud traditions
are still doing that, and setting standards still that other corps can
only hope to achieve.
Garry - I, too, remember always SSSHHHHing everyone whenever "Knights
In White Satin" would come on. Someday, the satin VKs WILL play it
(almuni corps, anyone?)!
VK ALL THE WAY - you can never keep a great corps down!
-- Catherine
Jeffsjetta
almarich
Jeffsjetta
Montoya559
Scott
90-91
Meadejd
Tour 1982
The assault with Kevin Sanders on Monterey High School looking for Kingsmen.
Our 4-man Euphonium line had guard rifles and bad attitudes. Kevin took a
header going down a set of stairs destroyed the cartilage in his knee. For the
rest of the summer Kevin had a slight limp, he didn't miss a rehearsal or a
show. It was then that I learned why drum corps is different. Kevin still
limps and marched two more years until aging out with VK. He now works with us
at Impulse.
Tour 1983
Building the 6-wide-base brass player pyramid on the back sideline during
retreat at a Pittsfield, MA with the Bridgemen. None of us was smart enough to
realize when we started that the weight of fifteen men would rest on the
shoulders of those of us at the base. At the two level we collapsed into a pile
of Red, Yellow, Black and Khaki. The laughing could probably be heard for
miles. Needless to say, show promoters never again put VK and Bridgemen
side-by-side. Too irreverent, too much fun and mischief (if there is such a
thing).
Tour 1984
As sad as it was exhilarating, the longest score announcement, the longest
moment of my life. We performed at semifinals and had a score of 85.9. Eleven
corps were above us in score, only one spot remained for finals. The only
remaining competition we had left was the Bridgemen, my favorite corps ever.
"And…..now…..the..…score..…for..…the..…Brigemen..…from..…B
ayonne…..New…..Jersey….. Eighty………………..
Four…
-I didn't hear the rest.
Four years of hard work and inattention to scores released in a flood of
emotion. We made finals. Wow. After a while the sadness hit. The Bridgemen
were, ARE great. Judges thought we were better that day. But maybe we would
both make the night show in 1985.
Tour 1985
Riding in the busses down the streets of Montreal while Dave Brunken shouted
"Omelette du Fromage" and "Merci de nes pas fumer " (we saw it on a sign) at
pedestrians, and thinking it was funny. Giving away those blue lame' ties for
kisses to French Canadian girls or the girls from Dagenham Crusaders.
Tour 1986
As if the image Ryan Turner (VKDM8687), Dave Brunken, and Steve "Disney"
(Thomas?) running screaming like little girls from a graveyard in Bountiful,
Utah at 3:00 in the morning after we got scared doesn't bring me to tears of
laughter. Perhaps it would be that Ryan was so jittery after that, that he
wouldn't follow us into an eight-foot tall field of corn shortly after that.
If not that, maybe it would be the moment the following morning when the
inimitable Greg Clarke chose to awaken us to discuss our being out after curfew
by asking us, "did you boys F#@K me last night?" Ryan, Dave and I looked at
each other considering the obvious humorous answers, yet wisely chose not to
offer those, luckily. Because when Greg told us to be on the field in 10
minutes our hour-long blessing of calisthenics and backward jogging would
surely have gone much longer. Although the laugh the rest of the hornline had
watching us do this in the rain, most surely would have been greater.
Tour 1987
They gave us a brand new drill a week before our first show.
7th place at nats
Dave Meade
Sharcast2
This was great!
This.. folks.. is what drum corps is ALL about!
Thanks Dave.. That was hysterical and poignant at the same time!
Sharon
almarich
almarich
Sennett
VKGARRY73
>Tour 1985
>Riding in the busses down the streets of Montreal while Dave Brunken shouted
>"Omelette du Fromage" and "Merci de nes pas fumer " (we saw it on a sign) at
>pedestrians, and thinking it was funny.
Cheese omelette? Thank you for not smoking?
VKG
I gotta PBS mind in an MTV world
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>
Remove "byte-me" from address to respond by e-mail
Ryan H. Turner
of VK said at least SOMETHING...but first, as tired as this may sound to some
because I know I harped on this before, but it's such a complete and utter
waste of talent, promise and hope that VK ended the way it did at the hands of
a less than desireable character. And I have always wondered if the person in
question can fathom the disdain and contempt I feel for him. Why? Well,
actually, I've let it go, but for no other reason than it was the DUMBEST way
for a corps to fold. PERIOD. But I must move on...
By year...
1985--Peter Gunn tearing up the world, because people were leaving shows
singing THAT, and not Festive Overture or Emerson Lake and Palmer or The
Planets. Besides, a 1500 man hornline at a mass corps performance in Minnesota
spontaneously started playing Peter Gunn after we finished wailing on "You'll
Never Walk Alone"....if THAT ain't respect, I don't know what is.
1986--Having an awesome hornline with some of the best marching ever...with no
GE. We were a corps without direction. But Greg Clarke to the rescue, and we
made James Bond "campy" and fun, as only VK could do. Besides, he taught me
how to do a running high kick to beat up the Ninja in the middle production.
Oh, and that was a highlight. During a rehearsal in Middleton Wisconsin, I
accidentally landed a full roundhouse punch on the pit dude who volunteered for
the Ninja role. SORRY BLAKE!!! And yes, hitting a man in the jaw is NOT like
television. Sure the hittee hurts, but so does the fist of the hitter.
OUCH!!!
1987--THE WHOLE DANG TOUR!!!!!! We simply owned DCI that season, and everyone
knows it. RIGHT DAVE!???? I mean, who else could dance like Dave. NO ONE!!!
No guard member, no dance professionals, no instructors. NOBODY!!!
1992-Going to finals, and crying hysterically when I saw VK accomplish what
they did. They owned DCI that night...PERIOD!
1998--Knott and Ball...hot August afternoon...waiting for a staff meeting to
start for a high school I was teaching for. Had time to kill, so I parked my
car behind the burger stand that we VK'ers knew and loved, and watched that
stinky flea bitten Bingo Hall be torn down by a bulldozer. That nasty bingo
hall. Where JC yelled at us "god damn kids" and Jack Bevins yelled at us to
get the hell out, but where we loved to go to BE part of that thing we call VK.
And here I was, 31 years old, watching it be torn down. And I cried.
VK DOES live...and thank GOD for Impulse and their staff and kids that carry on
a tradition of entertainment that VK did to perfection. Only hope that Impulse
keeps going where VK left off....
Long live the Spirit of VK!!!
Ryan H. Turner--Man w/NO life whatsover...and proud of it!!
MARCHING BAND, DRUM CORPS, WINTER GUARD FAN
VK DM 1986 and 1987
Show Design Consultant/Visual Consultant/Marching Instructor
911/Fire Dept Comm. Dispatcher...and a partridge in a pear tree!
Meadejd
>Dave wrote:
>>Tour 1985
>>Riding in the busses down the streets of Montreal while Dave Brunken shouted
>>"Omelette du Fromage" and "Merci de nes pas fumer " (we saw it on a sign) at
>>pedestrians, and thinking it was funny.
>
>Cheese omelette? Thank you for not smoking?
>
>VKG
It's even funny when you say it in english.
Thanks Garry
Dave
Catherine
-- French sayings/hypes appear to be a bit of a VK tradition. In 1977
it was "St. Laurent College.... SAHN LO-RAHN CO-LEGE!"
-- Billy the Mountain (and anything by Zappa and Monty Python)
-- The Groove Tube, Flesh Gordon, et al. ("Open wide, Mr. Smith" "Bend
Over!" Your Protruberance! Your A$$holiness!)
-- The old VK buses - like the bingo hall, like the 1974 storefront
that was the corps hall that year (with all the nooks and crannies to
cranny and nook in), like Jack's Roach Coach - ya hate 'em and ya
love 'em!
-- Jack Bevins. Where else could a guy like Jack become a motivating
force behind the VK for decades? (My favorite Jack memories are him
getting lost with the police escort in 1977 Montreal, crying on the
curb when the chaperones dumped all our beer - same year, his speech
(!) at Gail Royer's tribute, and the 1980 judges convention). And as
always, "cut the bulls**t!" What he gave to all of us lives forever,
and such an achievement forever places him at the head of this activity
as something few people have ever achieved and will ever achieve. He
is a man assured of having lots of people always ready to buy him his
favorite beverage...
-- Charlie. I like the suggestion of a VK alumni corps doing a Rocky
Horror medley. Since Charlie did the Wiz up so right... I mean
really, who else could step into Tim Curry's stilettos? Charlie in a
little black number with a whip... And of course "this is bad; this is
good"...
-- JB conducting a horn rehearsal with thunderous power - and the
elements joined in!
-- Ryan - I wouldn't say most of us know all the details of what
happened. One person posted about taxes and the government. You - as
I have heard - point to a particular individual. But the attitudes of
old-time VKs - and that crosstown Blue corps - about such things, and
about our "rivalry" and etc. ... All these things are part of the
memories. We were taught to meet our challenges as we met more
positive experiences, and those were other attitudes and skills that
made the VK experience what it was.
-- 1974 mean 18 - beating the Seattle Imperials in horns, SCV in that
parade (while we played an unrehearsed "Mambo"), and that retreat in
San Diego - after which we were told how very, very naughty we were...
But what is important to point out to all those who remember only
the "red high top" VKs and the Bridgemen.... The VK are remembered for
their irreverance and fun. But such things are impossible, if when the
time comes... You don't put what's important on that starting line and
perform your heart out. It's easy to remember all the silliness, but
the VKs knew and never compromised on reaching for perfection in
performance and manifesting the ultimate meanings and corps values,
never compromising either.
Yes, the VK are alive. And as long as true VKs are with other corps,
that spirit can be passed on - as we were taught to do. I shall always
be thankful for those people I have known now through over 30 years of
drum corps, many of whom are still my very good and great friends...
It never gets old - VK ALL THE WAY!
ronho...@my-deja.com
RON HOUSLEY
Ambassadors
Kingsmen
Diplomats
Ferns
VKGARRY73
>Don't know if anyone is still reading this thread, but it's high time the
>Voice
>of VK said at least SOMETHING.
Shut up, rookie!
:>)
Brian Belski
remember Charlie Groh and Billy Park basically carrying me to the starting
line asking, "Hey man, does anyone else know the solo?")
Does anyone from the 92 corps remember the crowd in Nashville at Preview of
Champions prelims? I will never forget that night as long as I live! 8
standing ovations during the course of the show after one of the hardest
days of rehearsal the whole tour. It had been hot and miserable and we gave
it up for the crowd that night like never before and they gave it right
back. I remember getting ready to play a solo at the beginning of the
closer (Hungarian Rhapsody) and looking up at the screaming crowd
thinking,"OK, when the hell did we go on tour with the Stones?" It was that
night that I knew I wasn't going to march anywhere else. Those people in
Nashville let me know that.
Then getting ready for retreat that night was when Eric Kitchenmann (92's
visual designer) uttered those famous words: "DON'T MOVE!!! I DO NOT CARE
IF A MOSQUITO THE SIZE OF YOUR MOTHER LANDS ON YOUR SHOULDER AND SUCKS OUT
YOUR EYEBALL!! YOU DO NOT MOVE AT ATTENTION!!!" The guys from Boston next
to us were even cringing a little bit. I forget who was on the receiving
end of that one, but those words lived on for years in the VK. The best was
hearing Lance Benson (Contra 92-94) yelling it in Eric's voice that night in
the gym. We all laughed for a good hour after that.
SO many great VK memories with my friends.... More from 92: How about
stuck in the desert on the Gumby bus on the way home from Nats. 3 days of
flawless bus transportation at top speed. But get 2 hours from home and the
whole thing blows up. If I recall, this was the sequence: 1. Exhaust
bracket comes loose. 2. Exhaust pipe moves around and smacks into engine
cooling fan. 3. Engine cooling fan explodes. 4. Shrapnel from cooling fan
enters both radiators. 5. Cooling system drains onto Interstate 10. 6.
It's 120-something degrees outside and the engine overheats just as we crest
a hill halfway between Barstow and Needles. 7. Bus coasts down the hill and
exits at Kelbaker Rd. 8. Members spend the night under the stars with
tarantulas, scorpions, and a cooler full of beer Jim Hoffman (Contra) bought
in Madison after he aged out. If' you're going to tell a VK bus breakdown
story, it's best to end it with a beer. (PS, don't tell Clarke.)
Brian Belski
Contra 92-94
"SomeGuy" <whoc...@whatever.com> wrote in message
news:t891ilc...@corp.supernews.com...
> Bloomington '92
>
> I couldn't even hear myself play the last 9 rim shots. The crowd was just
> too loud.
>
> Snare '92-'94
> <ronho...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:961kr2$k1g$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > In article <961g7s$fj9$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
> > Rod Gornto <rod...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > In article <20010208195532...@ng-md1.aol.com>,
> > > jde...@aol.com (J DENOVI) wrote:
> > > > This is the 5 year anniversary of the demise of the Velvet Knights.
> > > Hard to
> > > > believe how fast time flies.
> > > >
> > > > To help keep the memory of the corps alive, take a moment to post
> > one
> > > of your
> > > > favorite show moments, stories, encounters, etc.
> > > >
> > > > - John
> > >
> > > Follow this link:
> > >
> > > http://www.carolinacrown.org/Crown/1990.html
> > >
> > > and read Mekel Rogers' account of the Winston-Salem show in 1990. I
> > > was on the field with Carolina Crown and remember that moment with VK
> > > just as fondly. Mekel tells the story better, though.
> > >
> > > Missing VK. Good luck to Impulse! I saw you guys almost every show
> > in
> > > Cali last summer and I liked what I saw.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Rod Gornto
> >
> >
> > I second this emotion! Southern California drum and bugle corps lives
> > on in IMPULSE! Go see and support IMPULSE!
> >
> > RON HOUSLEY
Mike Duffy
> ...death-defying, dude! But let's not forget the cool Strohs and the sweaty inspection judge
> at Nats '68...McNice, eh? cg
>
Chazzzzzzzz,
Let's play "Guess Da Judge" with The Ramdonians:-)
First clue is on you, eh!
McD
Charlie Groh
imagination of a lot of people...well, it's a McStart!
Charlie Groh
...sweatin' the swim.
Charlie Groh
imagination of a lot of people...well, it's a McStart!
Charlie Groh
...sweatin' the swim.
Mam8890xbd
2COOLVK!!!!!!!!!!
Hell yeah, Pete, Ron, Byron....
Getting my first taste of drumcorps in LA marching with Devs and seeing and
hearing that 1988 Drumsolo at Diamond Bar...you dudes were clean as hell!!!!! I
was still a bando at heart, you know, on the outside BD snare drummer, same
time on the inside "OH MY GOD THE BULL PISSED ON HIM!!!!!!" (outside) uhhh,
yeah that was cool.....
AWESOME!!!!!!!!
2COOLVK!!!!!!!!
Mike McIntosh
BD 88-89-90
Richard V. Lamb
>===== Original Message From drl...@aol.com (DRLWRTR) =====
>In 1990 I had the task of writing the entire show.
I got a big kick out of "School's Out"--wild drill!
>The 1991 season could have been
>something, but things could have been better.
Wasn't that the Motown show? The University of Michigan band copied that
show
that year.
>I was rehired by the VK in 1997
>as visual designer and staff coordinator. We almost had a full corps. 3/4
of
>the drill was completed by the end of March. The show was going to be based
on
>"Monty Python"
I was *so* looking forward to yelling "What is your name? What is your
quest?
What is your favorite color?"
>We had incredable music. The Fanfare from First Knight; an original opener
by
>CSULB director John Carnahan: The Knights in Velvet, then the corps was
moving
>it's way into the Wellington Overture. I believe the corps could have been
in
>top six that year.
Jason Lowe and I are both sad about it never happening. I remember you made
the announcement on RAMD that the corps was not competing that year.
>But with most managment problems that corps have, VK was
>not exempt.
What, not blaming the IRS?
>It was a sad day in Drum Corps. Now, I believe that the VK memory
>is continued with "IMPULSE". I support this corps 100%. And I know it will
>take it's place in the top 12 some day soon!
Looking forward to seeing the corps touring east of Denver one of these
days.
>Long Live the VK memories
>
>David Weinberg
>Visual Designer
>VK: 89,90,91 and 97
And...
California Cavalry 1975
Anaheim Kingsmen 1976-1978
Blue Devils 198?
Vince Lamb
Anaheim Kingsmen 1978
North Star 1979, 1981
"Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of RAMD? The Pollmasters do!"
P.S. Good luck to you and your work with Bushwackers! Coming to DCA?
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Jason Lowe
"Richard V. Lamb" wrote:
> >We had incredable music. The Fanfare from First Knight; an original opener
> by
> >CSULB director John Carnahan: The Knights in Velvet, then the corps was
> moving
> >it's way into the Wellington Overture. I believe the corps could have been
> in
> >top six that year.
>
> Jason Lowe and I are both sad about it never happening. I remember you made
> the announcement on RAMD that the corps was not competing that year.
Damn right. :-(
J
Mike Duffy
>
> Oh, won't this be fun? Two elderly goofballs have an inside joke and
> want the rest of the world to figure it out? Kind of like Gilbert and
> Sullivan, wot.
>
> NEXT!
>
> JEB
> --
> Over N' Out
DubYa,
Look it up in your "Funkin' Waggggnall's!!":
McUp N/ In
J DENOVI
whole gag came about one day at practice when the two guys in the bull costume
were trying to walk over the matador after defeting him. The guy in the back
of the costume got caught up, tried to shake his leg loose, and it looked like
he was taking a wiz on the matador. The staff howled and it was in.
The matador scene also led to some controversey that year with a women's rights
group that was upset that the matador slapped around his wife. There were
protest signs up at finals. Looking back, it was probably a little
insensitive to wive's of matadors.
- John
Montoya559
long bar in NM in 93...
Scott
90-91
J DENOVI
blast that night.
- John
PaNors77
>From: "Richard V. Lamb" vince...@MailAndNews.com
>Date: 2/13/01 3:21 AM EST
>Message-id: <3A8C...@MailAndNews.com>
Al I gotta say is I'm glad to see Dave on here. He was truly a joy in our sop
section, and a great friend.
"Large pizza and beer"!!! (to the music of the Berlioz "Dies Irae" section of
our 78 show,heh)
Phil Norris
78 Kingsmen
Steven Deal
steve
Bush '00
J DENOVI
were from Hollywood and that we were production technicians for a traveling
show. (That was true in a sense - we were marching techs!). These girls asked
us if we knew any celebrities and we told them we knew Norman Fell (Mr. Roper
from Three's Company - we met him at a 4th of July Parade VK did a few weeks
earlier) Needless to say, they melted like butter. So they took us out on the
dnace floor and showed us city folk how the locals dance.
I have some good video of Ed recreating the dance later on during that tour.
Ed rules. I miss him.
- John
Montoya559
Scott
Catherine
news:20010208195532...@ng-md1.aol.com...
> This is the 5 year anniversary of the demise of the Velvet Knights. Hard
to
> believe how fast time flies.
>
> To help keep the memory of the corps alive, take a moment to post one of
your
> favorite show moments, stories, encounters, etc.
VK vs. AK, any time, in any form (although I prefer the 60's version to
today's...).
-- Catherine
Bridgemen Webmaster
CONTRA PYRAMID!!!
I think what you neglected to mention is that myself and Phil Martin of the
Bridgemen grabbed your Palm tree and said, "We'll take care of this
tonight", as we brought it up to your DM ourselves. DCI definitely learned a
valuable lesson that night..... NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER PUT THE BRIDGEMEN AND
VK NEXT TO EACH OTHER AGAIN.
You have to admit, we had fun that night and the next night when both Corps
had a "free" night at Quincy Market in Boston.
Keep the memory alive....... VK LIVES!!!!
--
Stephen Schaller
82 & 83 Bridgemen CBA
Webm...@Bridgemen.net
"Meadejd" <mea...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010210230719...@ng-mi1.aol.com...
> ayonne...New...Jersey... Eighty........
> Four.
> -I didn't hear the rest.
> Four years of hard work and inattention to scores released in a flood of
> emotion. We made finals. Wow. After a while the sadness hit. The
Bridgemen
> were, ARE great. Judges thought we were better that day. But maybe we
would
> both make the night show in 1985.
>
> Riding in the busses down the streets of Montreal while Dave Brunken
shouted
> "Omelette du Fromage" and "Merci de nes pas fumer " (we saw it on a sign)
at