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Features 4 THE GAMECOCK Wednesday, December 2, 1987 55-year-old US< doesn't take lif itv cum-iu iM Staff writer Instead of just sitting around, Ray Filer decided he would join the USC inarching band. But he's not your everyday hand member. Filer, 55, is the oldest member of the band. After retiring from Uniroyal in 1985, he didn't want to sit around and get old, he said. "After working 27 years as a data processing manager, I accepted early retirement, so I had the time to do it. So having the time, having the desire. and getting the OK to do it, I did it." { iter's first musical experience was when tie was in the seventh grade. An older neighborhood boy played the clarinet. "Because he played the clarinet, 1 wanted to play the clarinet." Alter the clarinet, tie moved on to (tie oboe, and finally started playing the saxophone, which he plays in the band. l ifer said he hasn't played in a band since 1956. He played in high school and in the Western Michigan College band. After he graduated from college in 1954, he spent 19 months with the U.S. Army band in oermany. l ifer said, "Back in the early 1950s was the era of the big bands and for three years while I was in college, 1 was in a dance band. We played all the old standards that are somewhat coming back now." l ifer joined the Palmetto Masters Singers five years ago. The group is an dii-iu<iic mums matie up 01 8U members. The late Arpad Daraz conducted the Palmetto Masters Singers and the concert choir at USC. This past year the Palmetto Masters Singers sang at the first game of the season. "Since music is such a special part of my life, just listening to the USC marching band play gets my adrenaline going. I said, oh my goodness, wouldn't it be great if 1 I-,. .u?. ?> vw 141vi i'v. u paii ui uiai. Fifer's first step was to ask James Copenhaver, the band director, if he could participate in the band. Copenhaver asked him if he really wanted jo do it. Fifer told him he did. Copenhaver said, "Fine, if you want to do it, show up at band camp, which starts Aug. 23." Fifer came to me arms ana endured the 1(X) degree heat. "I thought he would only last two 2 113 lb. H 2 Fries ^ 2 Drinks ^ expires trjot Valid with any other Limit one coupon pi LARGE ( WELC 1801 Bus L_i / . / /mWmWmy H t 3 band member e sitting down . . just listening to the USC marching band play gets my adrenaline going." Ray Fifer USC band member days, but he stuck with it." Filer said Copenhaver, si a If and students have all been very supportive and that he has heard no discouraging words. "I think he's a wonderful person. It is neat that he participates in the band," Copenhaver said. Copenhaver said he is willing to make special accomodations for l ifer during away games, but l ifer insists he be treated like the other band members. "I think it is a shame that many people with musical talent do not continue to use it like l ifer docs. It's onnH f/\r t if iwlmiti t/\ enn comnnnn ?>vy\/V? 1V/I I I I V, II V.J V- I I I .? IV/ 1V.V. .1V/IIIWIIV, make use o I his talents,'' Copenhavcr said. Music freshman Mary Kaulmann, who plays the clarinet, said she fhniiohf H/? lirwl -i 1r\l onfv 11 ,w? v" ' ",,v" first saw him. "I respect him. It makes me think twice about doing what I really enjoy in life." l ifer said the students didn't know what to think ot him when Copcnhavci first introduced him, but now everyone accepts him as part of the band. F iler said his biggest problem was his eyesight. "My eyes arc such now that 1 have to wear my reading glasses to read the music. Otherwise the notes all blur together. Back when I was in college, I didn't need those glasses. ! could see every note." Filer believes bands today, including the USC marching band, are much better than when he participated in band earlier in his life. "They are better both musically and from the marching drill standpoint. They are far more superior." l ifer said his wife has supported him. "My wile has been very encouraging and supportive. She's a very understanding wile. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it." l ifer's daughter, Martha, is a sophomore at Clcmson University. "She thinks it's treat that I'm in the band." IP' amburgers i:n tu.uu riins tax 12-19-87 coupons or special offers. j ! sr customer per visit. e : jROUPS I OME! I h River Rd. M 1-20 n -3775 ij w Ca riW t w ' ) . . jffirf* / r~ / ; ..; v San Francisco-based Faith No More rr Faith No Mor By FIKDOt S BAMJI Assiiunt features editor Though the Keel Hot Chili Peppers didn't burn as bright or for as long as hoped this past S u n d a y at Greenstreet's,opening band faith No More made the night and the cover charge more than worthwhile. The members of Faith No More sprout from the hills of San I ransiseo and play a mixture of rock, punk, rap and funk that is as diverse as the band looks, from lead singer Chuck Mosley's braided mohawk and loud tweed and chequered pants to drummer Mike Hordin's dreads, to guitarist Jim Martin's '60s fri/./ to keyboardist Roddy Bottum's clcan military crewcut. Any band that can mix the Nestles commercial tunc with the latter part of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and pull u off is worth some pretty intense support. Think about it, "And as we wind on down GOT A NEWS TIP COMP ! IT'S THE AFFORD* IT'S THE DEPEND At $QQ.97_ 1 *7 ? jiiii IT'S ST I LI LOWEST PR! ^ww 38 S SIM""*0, Z 2 HA"!?? S i Baled On 00 Months at J14 ' V Plui T?? lag K Idle With Approved Ci II t 0? ,d n Cat , ' ' ' ? I * 4 ALL I V t I iade Sunday night at Grcenstrcet's wort e makes trip t the road/ N-E-S-T-L-E-S/ Our shadows taller than our souls/ N-ES-T-L-E-S/ There lives a lady we all know/ N-E-S-T-L-E-S . . That, more than anything, characterized F-'NM's entire performance. It was a mixture of serious intensity, child-like playfulness and cynical satire. The band's 1986 release. We Care A Lot, runs in the same vein, powered by an excellent, pumping title track, which makes ample use of Jim Martin's superb ax-grinding ability and singer Chuck Mosley's powerful voice. The lvrics are both hilarious and hack-stabbing. "Wc care a lot ? about the S.F., N.Y. and LAPD/We care a lot ? about the Cabbage Patch, the Smurfs and DMC/We care a lot ? about Madonna and we cop for Mr. T/It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it." I NM also did an excellent job of '? CALL 777-7726 ARE!"] ISLE FIRST CAR! 3LE SECOND CAR! L AMERICA'S UbU DlbW UAH! '4733 Plus Tax, Tag & Title A PWOVfN b WINNCRI ! j | !'??/ ClW IAP 01 AMI MICA [ ; IIIIIUl IIVIRAII HiSt Ml I.AIIS M I'lHI. Hfil t AC ll( AUI illl't ' I ER 6618 TWO NOTCH RD. 736-6760 ** APH with t',00 OoAn elit Ai A Selling Puce ot >4733 ^ild 1Hz TVovomhor SUV (Sue Clarified Ad ! PROCEEDS DONATED TO NEO | ^ v7M hwhile with a powerful combination of /-V f ^ -msm xv xv 4- xv XV 4- ^ r< U VJICC115UCCI & covering the Black Sabbath track "War Pigs," with drummer Mike Hordin's tremendous talent and energy especially displayed then. With any luck, Columbia will be seeing a lot more of this talented quintet in the future. As for the Chili Peppers, "we want you back too, but put a little more into it next time." I III lllgllll?lll UI I IIV, 1 1 |?V-I formance was when the band did the killer track, "Fight Like A Brave" off the latest Red Hot release. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. The song is great, and the band shot the video in the streets of hometown L.A., psychedelic body paint and all. The album also includes a gnarly version of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues." But Sunday night the Chili Peppers didn't perform with that famous intensity or live up to their wild reputation. (They have been known to come N ^S, G V Be a plas CASH PAID FOR It's easy < HylancTPIa | 1620 Ge Hours i m r? . ivion. ? rri. 7:30 a.m. ? 5:30 p.m. Call today for inform (J* <? (tj (t* (J* (t* (J* (? (J* (f* (T* (t* (t* (t* (J* (f* (? (J* (t' <T* (1 VpvJ)vi)\X)vPvPvPCPv|)vPv|)vP CJ) vj) vj) $ This Coup s $$10.00 D i J Up to $25.0 $ $1 00 npr mr $ | j Bring this < $ $10.00 firs $ $ (One coupc <1? <1* ip >|1 ip l.p vj) vp vj) vp l[p vP vj) vP vj) vj) vP tp ip <_p ?p ?J1 tj) tjl ? za Care -ftccenjbcr 12 w /-v /* 4 2 /% *% ^ ^ ?* ^ <? f 1 x? i rur isciuhk; COUNCIL ON CHILD 0BCJSE LECT aL, "^^5 Ilk . ^>v ?nHHH| !-. ^^jjgare-fyyflgajlaA V "*'?, ^^mTOaS&Biraaa rock, punk, rap and funk I i worthwhile Review ( out on stage with nothing on but one sock, not worn on the foot). Perhaps the prc-show hype was so much that nothing could have satisfied the enormous expectations. The biggest disappointment was the fact that they came out for an encore and ended a very short set with a cover of Jimi Hcndrix's "Fire." All chili, no red hot pepper. This shouldn't deter anyone from checking out The Uplift Mofo Party Plan though, because it's an album that doesn't disappoint, displaying the usual Chili Pepper mayhem on the cover as well as a little warning in^fc the corner that will probably be embossed into every Pepper album from now until whenever: "Explicit Lyrics, Parental Advisory." eed Dme extra ash??? I ma donor EACH DONATION and it's safe sma Center rvais Street j Appointments available but not necessary ^ aticn 254-2280 >$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$| on is worth $ OLLARS$$ ; _ S> fl tr\rikaaL/ /m? a w pci vvccr\ ui 5, I >nth is possible $ $ coupon for a $ { it-time bonus f ! ( >n per person) $ $ [ pcD;$3>3)Ct>3>cj>3>cj>3>ci>ci>3>3>3>ct>cj>ct>3>cj>cj>q> ii ' ^ - :-'0ty -> 0/.% ?o -;. 7/.r*& c* : hMjVx ? AND * i