It's no secret that the Big Ten has some of the best marching bands in the entire country, and each one has amazing history and tradition. However, Purdue University's marching band has the richest history and tradition behind it. The "All-American" marching band has heavily influenced the way modern marching bands perform by setting milestones and being as innovative as Purdue Boilermakers themselves. Here are 10 reasons why Purdue University's "All-American" Marching Band is awesome.
1. It existed before the football team.
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The marching band was assembled in 1886, which was one year before Purdue's football team existed. Today, you don't really see marching bands that aren't associated without the football team (even though some bands are better than the teams).
2. Paved the way for modern marching band shows by breaking military ranks to create a formation of any kind.
In 1907, the Purdue band broke military ranks and formed the Block P, which you still see in their pregame show today. Marching bands would only march in ranks before this, which was customary at the time, and the Purdue band was the first to influence the way modern bands perform today.
3. They showed great comraderie by being the first band to carry the colors of all the Big Ten schools.
Today in most Big Ten pregame shows, you'll see members of the marching bands carrying different colored flags, which represent the school colors of the rest of the Big Ten schools. Purdue's band was the first to do this, demonstrating their great sportsmanship. They were also the first band to play the opposing school's fight song, another way they build Big Ten comraderie!
4. They play a traditional role at the Indy 500.
the Indy 500 is the greatest spectacle in racing, and Purdue's band has been performing at the Indy 500 since 1919. They've become a staple within one of the most popular sporting events in history.
5. The World's Largest Drum
If you walk around Purdue's campus or look in one of their brochures, you'll probably see a picture of the World's Largest Drum somewhere. The dimensions of the drum is a long kept secret, but the Purdue band got the name "World's Largest Drum" when the brothers of the Gamma Pi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi (a national band fraternity) challenged the brothers from the University of Texas to bring their big bass drum to the national convention, but only Purdue brought their big bass drum, thus claiming the title. The drum head is still the same one used all the way from 1921, and it has many famous signatures inside it, including President Truman, Neil Armstrong, and Snoop Dogg.
6. They were the first band to perform with lights on the uniforms and instruments.
Recently, the Purdue band has performed with lights (made by their own students) on their uniforms during halftime shows and parades, but way back in 1935 was when they first performed with lights, no other band ever having done that before. Not only that, but they got the name "All-American" Marching Band (AAMB) after a radio broadcaster was so amazed by their performance in 1935 he coined their nickname.
7. The awesome alumni
The AAMB has some very notable alumni, including the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Orville Redenbacher, famous for his popcorn, was also in the band, and then Games Slayter was a member as well, being the man who invented fiberglass. The band has awesome alumni, and even more awesome alumni to come!
8. The traveling band
The AAMB has traveled all over the world since its creation, such as being the first band invited to perform at Radio City Music Hall in 1966, or being the first Big Ten band to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The AAMB has traveled to China, all over Europe, most recently Ireland in 2013, and also to Medellin, Colombia last in August of 2015. The band provides opportunities for its students to travel all over, and to have the whole world see its awesomeness.
9. Their awesome halftime shows
Of course the AAMB's history and innovations is something completely awesome, but let's not forget about the stellar shows they put on either. Whether it be an amazing, light-up biker halftime show involving the university president to ride out on a motorcycle, or all members of the band dancing to Thriller - their shows are always entertaining and performed so well.
10. The Heartbeat of Purdue
The AAMB is the heartbeat of Purdue. The band members come together to represent their university, and in turn create long lasting friendships and memories. They spend ten to twenty hours a week, voluntarily, to perform and do what they love, which truly captures what being a Boilermaker is all about.
