Bloody feet and endless blisters. One war story after another and always the same kind of casualties. These gruesome tales were not from jungle combat armies, but drum corps kids in 1983 on tour!

The drum corps screenplay I was doing research for was never completed. But I never forgot the endless, awful descriptions of the painful effects of terrible band shoes. Here were the absolutely incredible Garfield Cadets and super-bizarre Bayonne Bridgemen doing their thing in "boat anchors" passing for band shoes. It just didn't seem right.

THERE WERE SPECIAL SHOES FOR EVERY OTHER ACTIVITY -- WHY NOT A SHOE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MARCHING?

So in 1984, we introduced the world's first marching shoe, the DRILLSTAR. What made it completely different and totally unique was its ROLLED-HEEL^TM. By effectively rounding/radiusing the heel, this innovation made it virtually impossible not to do a perfect corps-style "roll-step."

The ROLLED-HEEL^TM was so revolutionary and so effective in improving marching it was awarded several US patents.

We've been making Drillmasters for 18 years.

I'm still a drum corps (and Bands of America!!) nut. Like we've been to every DCI Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals 19 years in a row! (The other "shoe guys" wouldn't know a "tick" from a bug.)

Long years before DRILLMASTERS, we were into this great activity. We thank every student, corps member, band and corps director, booster parent and sponsor for the all excitement, pleasure, power and beauty that is marching.