Just finished listening to the FTAB CD and was wondering when the theme from "Patton" and "Ballad of the Green Berets" became almost mandatory must play during half-time. I have heard that one game they didn't play Patton and the band director (I don't know if it was Dr Rhea yet) was inudated with phone calls of complaint. Don't get me wrong - I love the FTAB's rendition of both.

Patton was released in 1970, and Green Berets was released in 1968.

We considered it part of the big 4 (War Hymn, Noble Men, Patton, Green Berets) when marching to Kyle prior to football games from 1983-1987.

So sometime between 1970 and 1983.

Damn good years!

The arrangement of Patton used by the Band was done by Mic Comley '76, who was head stick d*** 75-76. I think he did the arrangement his sergebutt year.

i wish they would play star wars, darth vaders theme

sek92, we tried the Imperial Death March my freshman year. It failed. We never tried it again.

The big 4 are still the big 4 as far as I know.

There was a short period in Fall '88 where we didn't play "Patton" after some nasty Battalion article about the FTAB choice of music.

They specifically called us "racists" for playing the Gray part of "The Blue-Gray Medley". And they called us "warmongers" for playing "The Patton Theme". After a few games when we brought back Patton, the passback code name we used in the stands was "Warmonger".

(for the non-BQs, when the band is going to play a song, the Drum Majors tell the guys in front and they pass it back to the guys behind them and so on until it reaches the Bass horns at the top of the band section in the stands)

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when the band is going to play a song, the Drum Majors tell the guys in front and they pass it back to the guys behind them and so on until it reaches the Bass horns at the top of the band section in the stands

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Unless Capt.Brewer stands up to direct, then it is automatically "THEM BASSES!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngHtW3o9Sm0

[This message has been edited by ABATTBQ87 (edited 1/9/2012 10:52a).]

ABatt:

Back in my day, the assistant was a quiet, nice guy named Major McMullen. I don't know if I ever heard him say two words. Every game he would get up to direct one tune.

Joyce's 71st New York Regiment March

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The big 4 are still the big 4 as far as I know.

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The Aggie Band is still mostly male, which means mostly brass and percussion. And they still march 6:5 at about 100-120 beats per minute.

That works well for Sousa or other military tunes. Not so much for the latest (c)rap song or Justin Beiber tune. It is what it is.


And regarding pass-back, the head drum major '75 had a gravelly voice. So when he passed back "Spirit" (of Aggieland) the whole band tried to imitate him. Sounded like a bunch of demented crickets.





[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 1/9/2012 10:53a).]

Passbacks that I remember:

War Hymn - same as the yell leaders

Spirit - same as the yell leaders

Noble Men - point to your heart

Patton - tap your cover or head

Green Berets - perform a "shaping" motion on your head (as if you're donning a beret)

March Midway - not appropriate

Strategic Air Command - also not appropriate

March Exodus - wave goodbye

Them Basses - Brewer

I have always wondered what that little snippet of music is called, that just seems so random.

Da da da da da DA da... repeat.

Zip 88 - you're talking about "The National Emblem Trio".
Here's a page from the USAF Band with that song so you can have a listen and confirm.

ABATTBQ87 - in my era it was MAJ Brewer (TSG) and it was always "THEM BASSES, 2nd Endings"
Sometimes followed by a "Hang On" (when we didn't have much time to play it, we'd rush like crazy).

Hollywood, I just gave it a listen and that is not it. The piece I am thinking of sounds like two lines of notes, first line repeated, and is very quick. You can tell I'm not a musician.
They still play it during games these days, and as I recall, during things like time outs, change of downs, etc. It's played from the stands, not on the field, as it is not a complete work, for lack of a better phrase.

[This message has been edited by Zip 88 (edited 1/9/2012 4:28p).]

I suppose playing 'Garry Owen' is just out of the question...huh?

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They still play it during games these days, and as I recall, during things like time outs, change of downs, etc. It's played from the stands, not on the field, as it is not a complete work, for lack of a better phrase.

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The only thing played during a first down or a big play is the "wildcat" portion of the war hymn.

I miss Dixie...

Another question for some of the older BQs - did you all ever wear Corps Brass on your collar in place of the lyre? I've heard both that you did, and didn't.

We didn't.

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did you all ever wear Corps Brass on your collar in place of the lyre?

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NO!

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Another question for some of the older BQs - did you all ever wear Corps Brass on your collar in place of the lyre?

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Not during my time.

Per Unitatem Vis..whether it was on your collar or not, we were brothers and sisters in one of the greatest organizations around. Being in the Corps has got to be one of the best things I have ever done in my life. And I was proud (and still am) to have the FTAB as the "face" of that.

And CGSC, I think that wildcat is it. Thanks for the reply. It kept bugging me for years, that I didn't know that.

That heart emoticon is NOT what I entered!

[This message has been edited by Zip 88 (edited 1/10/2012 7:57a).]

I'm going to guess that the BQs never wore Corps brass. (I know we weren't 1973-77) Back when the Corps was all U.S. Army, the collar brass was your branch...I still have Dad's crossed rifles from the class of '49.

When the other ROTCs came around, the rest of the Corps went to Corps Brass, the BQs stayed with the Lyre.

ZIP 88, what outfit were you in?

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It kept bugging me for years, that I didn't know that.

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Just turn on the war hymn and wait until Varsity's horns have been sawed off...then you'll remember.

[This message has been edited by Zip 88 (edited 1/12/2012 7:52a).]

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NO!

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Well excuse me! No wonder no one likes BQs.

But seriously, I don't see why the whole Corps didn't adopt CORPS Brass and the band just move their lyre to another place on their uniform to signify band membership.

Strategic Air Command - one of the all time greatest marches not by Sousa

also like the version of Exodus. didnt used to play that in the 80s

[This message has been edited by Aggie@state.gov (edited 1/10/2012 1:44p).]

SAC was my favorite tune for doing a perp criss cross, had some drama to it. Would like to see the current band resurrect the perp criss cross some time end of next season. Been years since I seen it. Looks much sharper than the 4 way speghetti mess. Maybe this year. If anyone knows the guys who are thinking about going out for DMs next year, tell them to go dig up VCR/DVD of old drills and find a perpendicular criss cross. Excellent drill routine when done correctly.

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Well excuse me! No wonder no one likes BQs.

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eye's right POP, ready front vs "Now forming in the north end of Kyle Field!"

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But seriously, I don't see why the whole Corps didn't adopt CORPS Brass and the band just move their lyre to another place on their uniform to signify band membership.

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Prior to 1958 there was no Corps brass. It was outfit brass. As Canyon mentioned he has the outfit brass of his dad and I have my dad's C Armor brass from 1954-1958. So the cadet would have his outfit brass on one collar and the "AMC" and now "AMU" on the other. So in truth the Aggie Band is the ONLY major outfit that has remained true to it's original outfit brass

the band in the 70s also used to play "The Sinfonians" written by the same guy as the SAC march. It was on an old aggie band record i used to have. That was also a great song and sounded great when played 'aggie band style' i.e. loud



[This message has been edited by Aggie@state.gov (edited 1/11/2012 8:53a).]

Anybody there '69-'72 know Steven Brock?







Cousin

I remember Mope (Steve Brock '72 MB CO). Even though I was a White Band fighter and he was 1SG of Maroon Band, we all got acquainted those first couple of days in August after my folks dropped me off at Dorm 11. Cordial weeks of fun in the sun.

Mope was MB CO my fish year. He and Patches lived next door to us.

Where is he these days?

Retired from Air Force. (Missiles, Space Command) Lives in Pearland, now. Spent some time with a NASA contractor, (or WAS a NASA contractor) and plays with RC planes. One of his daughters spent some time recently as a Dallas Mavericks dancer after graduating here. Don't know what the other is doing. Both were grads from A&M. (non-regs)

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One of his daughters spent some time recently as a Dallas Mavericks dancer

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Rule No. 1!