1979 27th Lancers

[@mrsig1000]

During the entire 70's and early eighties, 27th had "the best guard in the business". 15 years of 27th guard doing workshops, videos, and demos across the country. 27th introduced the first asymetrical drills, double flags, the line toss and just pure guard excitement. Even before the show starts, the guard worked it....check it out. 27th Lancers was one of the few corps who sat the pace for marching units of today. Pay your respects!!!

[@stevenscholze8196]

The guard was definitely fabulous. Never liked those silks though. :)

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

This rifle line, along with the Guardsmen, was the all time best at "dead stops". And they both did it with those hideous tall "Beefeater" hats.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

The guard work of today just can’t compare to this. lancers had the finest guard going. Today, they choreograph so that they don’t have to be precise, to avoid being judged as such. It’s a cop out. A total cop out. These kids nailed it and they were precise with precise stops in rifles.

[@max31747]

As an old man that enjoyed the OLD drum corps, i am happy to have watched this,,, great kids doing a great show, so many old time corps did such shows,,, i am a fan of several corps, including this one,,, i appreciate the skills displayed for MY pleasure,,, thank you 27th, Casper Troopers, Bayonne Bridgemen, et al

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

This is my all time favorite drum corps.

[@DavidGlover-s7x]

Outstanding well-rounded corps. Hats off!

[@mrsig1000]

79 and 80, 27th had the best years with the corp and the guard, the guard was the first to do the movements that all guards are still doing.

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

I think back then, everyone wanted to be a 27TH Lancer. They were the top corp then. They did such amazing things.

[@earlviney2820]

Dolores Goff I remember those days. We were in aw of the rifle line. Just walking into the stadium we thought you girls were just supernatural. The discipline and military bearing. The perfection. We really thought you were not human. I would just stare at you guys.

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

I first started back in '73, when they still had the American flag on the field. I carried the American flag, the went to banner, (flag ), that is what they called it back then, then I went to rifle. I would go back , and do it all over again, if I could. It was the best time of my teenage years to be part of it all. And I don't know about these days, but the rifle weight 8 Pounds back then, and I still have a flat spot, on the bridge of my nose after throwing a triple, and missed catching it, and it came down on my nose. lol

[@earlviney2820]

79 Lancer rifle line the best rifle line in drum corps history. incredible difficulty with beautiful tasteful choreography all done to absolute perfection. just watch them. you can have Madison or cavies these girls would spin circles around those guys. hats off to Darlene B. Nancy S. and the rest take a bow . you were and still are the best!!

[@americanspirit8932]

27th by far had the best guard ever even to this day they were outstanding they're right the line totally in sync flag section also totally in sync throughout the entire show very strong Drumline playing some difficult rudiments throw out also the best overall GE ever. The 27th Lancers would have the crowd standing on the feet numerous times throughout the show unlike what's going on with these marching bands people falling asleep oh, I don't mean to sound negative about what's going on today but it is certainly not a drum and bugle Corps

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

Hey say what you want, but I have been a Drum Corp ,and colored guard fan since the 70's ,and this show will always be one of my favorites. It's one of those shows that you never get tired of watching.

[@JohnBham]

I was in the Homewood High School Band in '79 when we hosted this DCI Championship at Legion Field, Alabama. I remember watching the Lancers from the stands and how blown away I was by the wall of sound. And here it is, closing in on 40 years later, and it STILL gives me chills. Bravo 27th Lancers!

[@lauratulsa1405]

Hey John! I was in the Homewood High School Band in '79 also and was there that night. Plus, the Lancers were rehearsing near to where I lived so I got to go hear them rehearse and was fortunate enough to hear them working on Open Wide. And that wall of sound was solid enough to reach out and touch. Love this show and can watch it over and over.

[@bkaycee]

Hi, I was IN the corps. I loved every minute of it!

[@cactusgang7447]

Laura Tulsa The support we got from the local community was unbelievable that year. A long overdue thank you to you.

[@mariannesouza8326]

Brian Caissie Wow! 👍🏼🎺🥁 Memories to live on, forever!

[@bkaycee]

@Tom M Thanks so much

[@bigmamascouter]

My late husband's favorite corps. Always a thrill to watch 27. Old school drum corps.

[@gearwonk]

I was there, and I remember the eye-popping flags at the start of the show, and Zingali going nuts a few rows behind me. SuperInfo2000 is right, young people often lack the perspective to appreciate the efforts of earlier generations. You don't excel at anything without knowing its history.

[@roberthoffhines5419]

11:19 brought a tear to my eye. It is just so damned GOOD. 40 years later it is monumental guard work. Anybody from that crew should be proud.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Was it the Lancers who pioneered the double silks? That's what I remember, and the visual effect was always so stunning.

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

This show still to this day gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.

[@bkaycee]

It was Really Fun!

[@TheBlackiechan76]

First show I saw on VHS in 1992 at NMBSHS in NMB, FL. Mr. Lawrence Davidson was my HS Music Director. He and others sponsored me to march for the Magic of Orlando in 1997. Thank you DCI :)

[@yesorlando05]

27th's uniforms might be my favorite of all time. Just love them!

[@argerm57]

I was always partial to Madison's uniforms. I loved those expedition type hats they wore. I marched with the Auburn, NY, Purple Lancers, from about 1969 through 1974. We took 10th at the 1974 DCI, at Cornell University. The first, and last, NY drum corps to place in the top 12 at DCI. I am old school. I loved the mallet percussion and the tympani when they came in (I was a single tenor and snare drummer), but you can't beat the old ways of entrances and exits. I many ways, the new style has lots of energy and creativity and outstanding musicianship, but I still like the old way better.

[@cunard61]

Awesome rifles, some truly incrediable precision on display.

[@americanspirit8932]

OUTSTANDING ,WHAT A SHOW, 27 SHOULD HAVE ONE 1979 & 1980, THE BEST DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS EVER. FORMER MEMBER OF THE LONG ISLAND SUNRISES.

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

Your right. This was the BEST guard in the world back then.

[@matthudson8599]

WHO DISLIKED THIS?!? YOU ARE DEAD INSIDE! LOL. Legendary. So privileged to have this footage to revisit now and then. Thank you for some of the best years of my childhood! I was still in High School, but you gave us all something indelible to aspire to, 27!

[@594837lk]

27th got a perfect guard score in DCI finals in 1978 or was it 1979!! I know a bunch of us STILL talk about 27!!!

[@ItalianOrlando]

It was 79

[@ayytism8857]

I was searching FOREVER for a Corps that played First Suite by Holst! Thank you 27th Lancers!

[@chargrinolds]

Still one of the most creative drills and color guards (especially rifles!) of All TIME.

[@earlviney2820]

the screaming lead sop you hear is Brian Cassie. one of the best soprano players of any corps at that time.

[@bkaycee]

Thanks!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Sexiest rifle line EVER.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

1980 became "The Year of the Rotation", but The Lancers were doing this in 1978....and doing it well.

[@brutusln]

Classic corps shows set their own rules: no free expression was allowed, and only through mechanized, militarized, almost robotic precision and containment, the joy happened. But today it's almost too casual; no rule of law, no constraints, lots of free expression, no tension. So the contained emotion you usually got from classic corps' technical excellence just evaporates. Art happens when human emotion battles with the medium's constraints. Without constraints there can be no transcendence.

[@arfshesaid4325]

very well explained, thanks ten years later

[@alaninnh]

This was always a favorite corps for me. The hair on the back of my neck still stands up when I hear them play Danny Boy.

[@paul-zx5du]

That color guard! 💜💜💜

[@waynestephens6505]

I marched in 1975 and 1976 with Guardsmen. We made finals for the first time in 1976. I love 27th Lancers. I would buy the expensive dci finals dci tapes. I think it was the 1996 tape. After the scores, the tape included the 27th Lancers alumni show. I shed some tears watching it - then at the end when the guard on their backs spinning their rifles... more tears... Thanks for posting this. To all who performed for the Lancers thank you!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I so very much loved the Guardsmen as well!!!! Very similar to 27th.

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

And that my folks is how it's done, and should still be done to this day in Drum Corp.

[@americanspirit8932]

I agree with you 100%

[@drumcorps0junkie]

All sections are platinum, but that color is and was ferocious. I wish nowadays drum&electronics will get back to it's roots and get rid of the running, prerecorded, concert band instruments, and melt faces like they use to.

[@jhancock1575]

Nice. Wonderful precision, great bugles, sharp uniforms.

[@dynasonic3185]

I always liked the sound of the snare drums back then. These Rogers drums sounded particularly sweet.

[@americanspirit8932]

That's because they were using mylar heads not these Kepler heads that sound like cardboard boxes, plus we used to use real cat gut snares, which produced a nice snare sound. Farmers no drama with the Floyd Bennett golden eagles 1960 and 1961, if you can get ahold of a CD or LP called brass by night. For Real Drum and bugle Corp are on that recording. The first one Saint Albans Queens men from Saint Albans New York, Loretto knights from Brooklyn New York, Selden Cadets from Selden Long Island, and the Floyd Bennett golden eagles from Brooklyn New York. Today is January 16th 2022

[@tjinc-bus4672]

Wait, What ? ROGERS ? The Entire Battery ? I thought they played Slingerland, then Premier ? I have Never seen a Rogers marching drum. But those full shell tenors certainly don't look like Slingerland or Ludwig. Ps: it's July, 2022, & DCI HOFer 71 y o Charley Poole is Still Judging = Legend

[@argerm57]

@@tjinc-bus4672 I thought Premier, too, because of the top snares. I think that's what they were using when I saw them in the late 60 and early 70s.

[@GDS1981]

My first live drum corps in Columbus, OH in 79. These cats were there with Ventures, Royal Crusdaers, Crossmen amd Spirit of Atlanta. Fell in love with these guys. Great in every caption.

[@Phostings1]

OH MY GOD I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT! OH MY!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[@Texray1]

Possibly the most BadAss guard to ever walk the Earth.

[@ernlx4187]

Texray1 27th lancers rifle line is the reason I became interested in spinning rifle....one of the best ever

[@oldschool9447]

27TH, Troopers & SCV had THE most BADASS guards ever

[@richae12]

I agree with Dolores, too much chaos going on. Reminds me of a broadway show. I love the old marching true drum corp.

[@cpu554]

Reminds me of a Broadway show. You hit it right on the head.

[@rahola1721]

@@cpu554 guardsmen

[@politicalsheepdog]

Rifle work is a lost art.

[@2009grifin1]

politicalsheepdog You are so correct!!!

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

+politicalsheepdog For sure, BUT, one of those 8 pound rifles, is the reason I now have a flat spot on the bridge of my nose, forever. lol !!!

[@ernlx4187]

politicalsheepdog so true

[@mariannesouza8326]

Dolores Goff Ouch!

[@oldschooldrumcorps]

I have to say, I agree and disagree at the same time! Rifle work as performed by the likes of 27 and others of this era is a lost art, but rifle lines, really color guard in general has grown into much more of a new art today. Most Corps rarely have a "rifle line" per se, but most, if not all, of the guard now can do rifle work, with some really high tosses and catches, often while performing some sort of choreography, while in or on some sort of set piece. I think the art isn't "lost" so much as it has "evolved". Watch any winter guard international (WGI) performance, and you can see the future of what will end up on the field in the summer. While I miss the military precision aspect of rifle work of the 70's and 80's, I'm just as captivated and amazed at what is being performed on the field today.

[@LZMII]

Great corps and fantastic guard!!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Why this group never won top spot is beyond me. They were amazing in every way.

[@Lancerlady]

LOL they were able to express themselves through their difficult guard work!

[@1049berkeley]

I like watching the guards now days, BUT nothing beats this.

[@bysouthernhands]

Oh Dear Lord in heaven above that guard peel off at the beginning!!! I need a sedative LOL

[@politicalsheepdog]

I like the Uniforms of the Older Corps better because they look like Uniforms instead of constumes.

[@oldschooldrumcorps]

I saw 27's hornline have a bad night, same for the drumline. Never for the guard. they were always on point.

[@jamesbaggech4127]

Where are you "Danny Boy"? We miss you. Thanks so much for the memories!

[@agogobell28]

Thanks for the full show!

[@knightflyte]

I won't denigrate the experiences and efforts of the kids who march today. It would be disrespectful to them. That said, the way DCI is run today omits the reward/risk of precision. Most corps rarely scored over 80 to 85 points. The winners may have had about 88 on a great night. One rifle dropped was a tick mark off your score. Out of step, uneven lines, missed notes were all demerits. DCI demanded the attention that it lacks today. Watch the Cadets from 1981 and measure it against today.

[@SKYBRITE27]

Hate to admit it but I remember the inspections on the starting line,and even then you could have seats on the 10 yard line and the only thing missed was the concert presentation

[@agogobell28]

All thanks to George Zingali!

[@brutusln]

Crazy double jointed guard insanity at 5:28.

[@fosterlong1494]

Don't you just love the military bearing of phantom and 27'th .

[@coffeekhan]

Something 27th color guards. They always had my eye!

[@bailoutgolf5754]

This video is the reason drum corps had no reason to morph into what it is today. Pure pageantry and precision.

[@joannesnell2289]

27th awesome show

[@brianknowles3969]

I was there. Birmingham al.was in class A CORP AT TIME.

[@bigmamascouter]

Best thing to come out of the Boston area.

[@earlviney5212]

Military bearing a lost art this rifle line certainly had it.

[@eagle6754]

Question of the day; how would the 27th Lancers fared in today's DCI where Drum Corps is a shell of it's former self and have "evolved" into Broadway show acts with huge props or the hoochie koochi shows, now without headgear? Just curious.

[@rgg011]

Quasar and 27th. Simply the best

[@navilluswp]

Greatest "closer" (OTF) ever. EVER.

[@smachendree]

Just my opinion.. I think '79 Folk Song was better then '80. Not just the tempo, but the sop solo, the drill was a little more aggressive. Oh, and the red base drums; they just looked massive. Miss you guys so much. DCI should be stepping up to get these corps a hand to regroup. Please GOD, Please, don't let Stansbury or DeLucia cover the uniforms in sequins and pink orange flame tartan!!

[@bkaycee]

One of my favorite years with the Corp. When we started the year we worried about making finals. The first tour was rough with the low point in Altoona PA where we scored a 55.xx. I remember that show at one point the entire corps stopped playing except for one horn because of a cross tempo. Zingali and Wedge finally got us going after a couple of weeks to the point where we came home from tour and WON the World Open!

[@michaelcharette2234]

I watch them over and over on other videos and I still don't understand why they never came in first.

[@robertbertram8081]

Give me old school Rock 75 Madison and 79 lancers. I’m an old mallet man, back when you had to carry them. Let’s go back to real uniforms and real drills. Screw millennial exotic tights, formations, and music that no one can recognize.

[@karenmariesmith3395]

Amen due, amen

[@waynestephens6505]

@@robertbertram8081 yep, my Guardsmen did not make finals in 75, so I was in the stands in Philly when Madison won the title! Guardsmen made finals for the first time in 76. Our marching xylophones were good and had to carry them. For small shows, after performing we would march off parade the stands. We had British looking uniforms, so first they play Rule Britannia then the Monty Python theme.🙂

[@terrymitchell8711]

VANOSS DOUBLE FLAGS OF 27TH WERE REALLY COOL I MEAN WHEN THEY GOT THOSE GOING IN YOU JUST YOUR EYES JUST DROP BACK IN YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT

[@kt6550]

Everyone's favorite corps who never won a championship

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Wishing the show tunes were listed.

[@argerm57]

Very cool color guard and rifle squad stuff during the drum solo. Anybody have the program info? I recognized part of the Holst band suite, Take Five in the drum solo, and Londonderry Aire at the end. Does anybody have the actual program?

[@ItalianOrlando]

Folk song suite, open wide, on the 20th century, take five and danny boy. (One of the writers/instructors from 79-84 here)

[@argerm57]

@@ItalianOrlando Thank you very much. I've always enjoyed watching corps like this, even when competing against them. Certain corps just have a style that defines them. The way they march, mostly, but also the repertoire and the sounds.

[@ItalianOrlando]

@@argerm57 I've appreciated all the other corps more now than I did when competing. Sometimes when competing, especially at the top level, you're so focused on perfecting your own show, you don't get to enjoy the others. Where did you march?

[@argerm57]

@@ItalianOrlando I marched with the Auburn, NY, Purple Lancers, from 1967-1974. The first two years were as a parade corps, only, the last 5 were field competition. We were defunct by the time this show was recorded. I've recently reconnected with a FaceBook group dedicated to that corps, and it brings back a lot of good memories.

[@ItalianOrlando]

@@argerm57 OMG that's incredible.... I joined Purple Lancers after the 1974 DCI show - planning on marching in 75. When we folded I went to Squires for 75-76 and then to 27th. I'm Corky Fabrizio's cousin.

[@earlviney2820]

it's called Open Wide by Don Ellis. it's off his Live at Montreux album.

[@GDS1981]

I think they made Don Ellis famous. Niner Two in 81and 82. Think I like Open Wide better in 79 than 80.

[@timmac9985]

fantastic

[@926guggy]

Very entertaining

[@mariannesouza8326]

So good!

[@iAmNovaFilms]

YEAH RIFLES

[@Drums-yz4ss]

What is better than 12 rifles doing fan spins? 12 rifles doing double times!

[@tommytimp]

IMO there's still a sense of freewheeling fun to this show, esp in the guard, that disappeared the next year when it became obvious they had a shot at winning. The guard work in 79 is a bit more loose and playful, ie the end of On the 20th Century and the flag tosses near the beginning of the same number. The guard was even better in 1980 and more tightly controlled, it seems to me.

[@coffeekhan]

Open WIDE!!! 'Nuff said! :-D

[@theawesomefangirl]

any one know the piece at 2:56 . its killing me i can't remember

[@ItalianOrlando]

The entire off the line was excerpts from Folk Song Suite

[@kabalahman]

@anthonisaac QUASAR on the big field!!

[@earlviney5212]

No quasar was 27th on the gym floor

[@chiwea123]

Where can somebody get music for this? Or is that even possible

[@dndito]

Are you looking for the charts, or are you looking for CD's, downloads, etc...?

[@AnKangOoi]

2:40

[@AnKangOoi]

Does anyone know the song name?

[@tylergregson3693]

Ending of the third movement of Gustav Holst's First Suite in E-Flat

[@PedroMartinez-tt7lr]

Such an incredible, moving show - even in 2024!!!

[@ms-mo8hl]

What ever happened to the other 26

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

Back in the early 2000's, Drum Corp had become so Mansy, Pansy Las Vegas show girl, that it was becoming down right irritating, if you ask me, and I still have a problem with all of the dancing that is now Incorporated in it as well. That is not how MARCHING is suppose to be. Remember actual marching ?? It's good that they are actually going back to the Themed shows of the 90's at least, but if I wanted to see dancing, then I would go to a show all about dancing !!!! Let's get back to the basics folks, and go back to what Drum Corp was, and is suppose to be all about, in the first place. Precision Colored Guards, and marching .

[@jesuspectre9883]

First, you sound like a dinosaur stuck in tar. Second, I agree in part about modern DCI's choreography. It's so inexact. So sloppy. So outwardly emotive. We all long for the days of military bearing and emotional "containment", where emotion was not allowed to be shown. Showing emotion was against the rules. That pressure cooker of emotion gave the entire activity such a raison d'etre and such a restrained beauty. But after about ten years of that, the military style of emotional containment just grew tired. Now military bearing is used as an potent spice, giving way to a much greater variety of styles and emotions. Present day corps have it much harder than before. They must find another way to heighten the emotion without military bearing and precision unison.

[@crwnguy]

Ok boomer

[@gregb8759]

Times change and drum corps change....99 percent of performers are not from where there corps is based....they are music education majors....performance majors or dance majors....these are not neighborhood kids learning on the fly....these are professional performers!! I marched in the late 70s until 1983....it was hard because anyone could play lead and sight read....drum corps in now outdoor entertainment!! BD supplies Drumlines for the NFL and NBA....they do commercials and award winning music videos....things have changed!! Get on or get off

[@beverlylehr1696]

And that bad a** guard was all women!!!!

[@earlviney5212]

Thats right. All women the way a guard should be.

[@PedroMartinez-tt7lr]

@@earlviney5212 Take it easy earl

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

They took Phantom's "Rockford File" and did it better.

[@SuperInfo2000]

Very disrespectful, if it was not for drum corps in the early years drum corps would not be what it is today, I'm sure you're a 20 something so get a grip and smell the coffee. Look at Blue Devils or Phantom form 1979 then get back with me......learn some history about drum and bugle corps.

[@graniterocky]

Sorry, y'all, but the world has moved on. You should too.

[@SKYBRITE27]

Yes they stole it from the V.F.W. American Legion posts,P.A.L.,and the many churches that supported ,sponsored,held practice areas for the corps. members.There were once over 80 corps. competing in the World Open championships alone.

[@DoloresGoffdeejays]

And we never eat so many hot dogs in our lives, then we did back then either. It was the main staple of food.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

"The World" can go to hell. I'll stay right here, thank you very much.