Phantom Regiment wins the 2008 DCI Championship

Drum Corp International ^ | Aug 9, 2008 | None

[tang-soo]

The Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Illinois has won the 2008 Championship of the Drum Corp International's finals. Phantom trailed the Blue Devils (Concord, Californio) and the Cavaliers (Rosemont, Illinois) throughout most of the 2008 season, including after last night's preliminary competition in Bloomington, Indiana.

The theme of this year's show was the music from Spartacus. The show was very dramatic and featured the color guard portraying the slaves' uprising and conquest. The music was as equally impressive.

Link to DCI's website is www.dci.org

[tang-soo]

I realize this may not be all FReeper's cup o' tea, but for those who follow drum and bugle corp competitions, this is the Super Bowl of that activity.

I've followed DCI competitions since 1976 and have been to several finals. I've been a fan of the Phantom Regiment for years, but what makes this year especially pleasing, is that my nephew is a 2nd year member. I saw their show last weekend and it was probably the best performance I had ever seen. The music and drill was outstanding.

These young kids (13-21) practice year round and go on a grueling 3 month schedule every summer crisscossing the US and competing nearly every day of the Summer. A typical day is to rise early, rehearse at a nearby school, lunch, rehearse again, travel to location of competition, dinner, warm up, compete, around midnight, pile onto buses and drive overnight 500-600 miles and do it all again.

They work very hard and should be supported for their efforts.

Congratulations to the Phantom Regiment - web site is www.Regiment.org.

Here are the final scores ...

Phantom Regiment	98.125
Blue Devils	98.100
The Cavaliers	97.325
Carolina Crown	96.800
The Cadets	94.750
Bluecoats	93.175
Santa Clara Vanguard	93.025
Blue Stars	90.425
Blue Knights	88.250
Boston Crusaders	87.275
Glassmen	87.200
Madison Scouts	85.225

[tang-soo]

I hosed the link for Phantom's web site,though it appears to be rather busy at the time. Here it is again.

www.Regiment.org.

[aposiopetic]

Congratulations on your nephew’s success and, more importantly, his solid work ethic. In the distant past I saw the Phantom Regiment on some televised DCI competitions. They were impressive.

[politicalwit]

Thanks for the post. My dad introduced to DCCI about 15 years ago. I think his first exposure was back in the 70’s. Dad’s undergrad degree was in music @ UNT-Denton Texas. He played in the 1 o’clock jazz band for 4 years. Music was always a big part of his life.

[Caramelgal]

I realize this may not be all FReeper's cup o' tea, but for those who follow drum and bugle corp competitions, this is the Super Bowl of that activity.

Thanks. I am very familiar with Drum and Bugle Corps.

I have several family members who have either marched in and or went on to instruct or write music or design guard drills for many DCA and DCI corps.

Check out this video of my nephew when he was just six years old and jamming with a DCI corps on a parking lot after a show. He’s now 15 and recently placed in the finals of a National trumpet competition.

kid drummer

[tang-soo]

Hey! Kid Drummer was awesome. Music can open so many positive doors for kids.

[The KG9 Kid]

I remember when it was Santa Clara Vanguard vs. Blue Devils every single year.

[knarf]

The Boston Crusaders weren't there?

B.A.C. 1962, 3 and 4 .. Contra Bass.

[knarf]

OOPS ... my bad ... not accustomed to seeing them so low .... /8^)

[tang-soo]

Me too. You must mean back in the 70s and 80s. The Devils won in 1979 and in Birmingham, Ala and repeated the next year. I think SC finished at least one of those years - maybe both. Phantom was in the mix also. I was there both years - one of my better memories from my college years.

One of those years, SC surprised everyone with their famous “bottle dance”, newly inserted for the finals. And the crowd went wild!

[repubmom]

Very cool - two of our high school instructors work with Blue Devils and Vanguard...we went to the Rose Bowl last year for finals. Congratulations on your nephew’s successful year!

My son was in Drum line in high school playing tenors but didn’t go on after HS. We did take the gold in Dayton for Scholastic World a couple of years ago though...pretty cool! :-) And silver this past year. Go Mission!

[The KG9 Kid]

I was in drum line in high school band. We were CA state champs in 1984. Went to the Rose Parade in '84, the LA olympics the same year, and Macy's in 1981. Some of the members went to Vanguard, but I wasn't that good. We did have Mike Zapata coaching our band in '84, and he was the drum major of Vanguard at the time they were national champs. Gary Locke was the band teacher at the time, but now he's moved onto RCC's Marching Tigers and I think is even a judge at the national level.

It was interesting stuff. Sometimes when I flip through channels and see DCI, I'll stick around and watch it.

Close order drill in the USMC was drop dead stupid simple for me when I went through boot camp and I think that I was the only one who knew what the hell we were supposed to be doing.

One last thing: I admire all the best DCI bands very much and thought that what level of expertise they had couldn't get any better from my high school band viewpoint, but until I saw the United States Marine Band march and play and the USMC Silent Drill Team perform I couldn't believe that any band in DCI could be made to look amateurish. If you haven't seen the USMC Silent Drill team, you need to seek out one of their public performances.

I have heard that many members of the USMC band attract the best and most disciplined from the DCI world.

[tang-soo]

You are correct on all count. One minor pick though - don't call them a 'band'. They hate that. They are a corp. (grin).

You are especially correct about the USMC group. My son and I attended the DCI finals in 2000 at the Univ of Maryland. The USMC performed prior to the competition. They were awesome. And yes, there is a significant relationship between DCI and the USMC.

[DaisyCutter]

I was at the show tonight and Phantom’s musical performance was just outstanding. I’ve always loved the power and depth of sound their hornline produces, but tonight was one of the best I’ve seen. Congrats to your nephew.

[The KG9 Kid]

I think I should also call them 'USMC Silent Drill Platoon'.

Thanks for the thread. It was a good one.

[rlmorel]

Congratulations to them!

Best all time shows:

1976 Blue Devils

1975 Madison Scouts

[OldBlondBabe]

Best all time shows:

1976 Blue Devils

1975 Madison Scouts

One of my favs: 1973 Anaheim Kingsmen (Color-guard’s off-the-line (on the 50) was fabulous!

[rlmorel]

Ahhhhhh yes...and I DID forget two of my other favorites...

1974 Kingsmen

1974 Muchachos

I think 1973 through 1976 were the top years of Drum Corps...:)

[OldBlondBabe]

Yes, Muchachos...wasn’t marching over-aged members their downfall? 1975, I think.

[OldBlondBabe]

Other favorites from the 70s: Troopers, Des Plaines Vanguard and Blue Rock.