By Rocky VanBrimmer, Delaware, Ohio

If word ever got out to the longtime lurkers of the drum corps forums that I was submitting this to Drum Corps World, there’s a good chance someone would spit out their coffee mid-scroll.

If you’d told 1994 me that I’d be submitting something to Drum Corps World one day, I would’ve laughed, shaken my head, and gone back to cleaning my horn while complaining about the the cold showers at the housing site.

Not every writer has worn a shako, but some of us marched so hard we still have valve oil in our veins, and a few dot books tucked in the glove compartment. My name is Rocky VanBrimmer, and I’m throwing my hat in the ring for the East Coast contributor spot at Drum Corps World. I figured the best way to apply was just to do what I do — tell the story the way I’d want to read it.

I’m not a professional journalist, I just play one on the internet. But what I am, without a doubt, is a drum corps evangelist. I care about the performers, the legacy, the future, and the moments that make this activity feel like home to all of us.

I proudly identify as a Drum Corps Dinosaur — not because I’m stuck in the past, but because I remember it vividly. I marched on G bugles. I experienced full retreats, trooping the stands, and that electric silence right before a corps stepped off the line. I still get goosebumps thinking about the sound of a perfectly tuned horn arc warming up under a summer night sky. But I’m also realistic. I know the activity has evolved, and I celebrate that evolution. My nostalgia doesn’t prevent me from cheering for amplification, electronics, and innovation. If anything, it gives me a broader lens. I can appreciate where we came from while fully supporting where we’re going. Don’t get me wrong, I still like to have my fun with it.

Drum Corps History:

  • Limited Edition — 1992
  • Dutch Boy — 1993
  • Bluecoats — 1994
  • Bluecoats Rhythm IN BLUE — multiple seasons
  • Bluecoats 2022 Alumni Corps — Honor Guard

I’m also a drum corps father. My daughter has performed with the Columbus Saints Jr. Flag Line and even had her photo published on the Drum Corps World Facebook page.

Today, I stay connected through outreach with the Columbus Saints, and I’ve started conversations to bring the U.S. Open back to Marion, Ohio in a modern SoundSport and All-Age format. I have spoken with representatives from the Marion Mayor’s Office as well as leadership from all of Ohio’s All-Age and SoundSport organizations. I also run RVB Services, LLC, a professional process-serving firm based in Ohio.

I have connections throughout the activity on all levels, and I’m not afraid to ask questions or solicit feedback. I believe the best insights come from listening first and writing second.

Tone and Character: In forums and in the community, I’m known for being candid, expressive, and audacious. In short, a colorful character with a sharp edge. When writing, I speak plainly, I respect the activity, and I never attack people with the use profanity. I challenge ideas when needed, and I do it with humor, snark, with a genuine love for the marching arts.

I don’t write for the sheets. I write for the stands. I write for the kid in Row 23 who just felt their heart leap during a ballad. I write for the moment when a corps hits the field and the entire stadium goes quiet.

And nothing brings me more joy than hearing someone ask, “Why are they booing the Bluecoats?” I smile every time and say, “They’re not booing, they’re BLOOing. And welcome to the family.” That means we birthed a new drum corps fan.

What Others Are Saying: “Rocky is quite the caricature. You can tell when he’s passionate — and this time it’s drum corps. As a lifelong fan who never marched, listening to him talk about the activity is just about as good as marching yourself. He makes you feel like you’re involved, just through his words.”
— Kyle Kennedy, DCI fan

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Rock since teaching him in ’93 Dutch Boy. He can be a bit ‘polarizing,’ but he is a good guy and has a great love of drum corps. He would be great as a writer / contributor!”
— Larry Shane, Carolina Crown Brass Staff (and the undisputed owner of the finest mullet in DCI history, 1986–1992)

Writing Background: I started writing professionally in 2008 with Agent Genius as a real estate agent, where I focused on themes like community, connection, and communication.

Agent Genius Archive: https://theamericangenius.com/author/rocky/

Sample highlights:

  • Are You Connecting to Your Community?
  • OK For a Monday
  • R.E.O. Ain’t the Name of Some 70s Band?!?!?

More recently, I wrote for my own local outlet, DelawareO.com, which is currently on hiatus. I covered marching arts and winterguard with the same energy and honesty I brought to my brass arc.

DelawareO Catalogue: https://delawareo.com/author/rocky/

Selected pieces:

What I Bring to Drum Corps World:

  • Honest, informed analysis that respects the work put on the field
  • Strong, engaging commentary that celebrates the performers and the crowd
  • Humor that aims to lift the dialogue.
  • Deep appreciation for the past, and unwavering support for the activity’s future

If selected, I’ll show up with my whole heart, my full brain, and a pen that still writes like a dot book.

Thanks for considering my application. And for the new fans still figuring it all out:

They’re not booing us,
They’re BLOOing.

Rock VanBrimmer
Delaware, Ohio
https://delawareo.com/author/rocky/
https://theamericangenius.com/author/rocky/