Continuing the tour of the East Coast we land in Brockton to pay a little visit to the people that make up the Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums.  I get asked a lot just how I come to choose a band, I will tell you the secret formula: suggestions, recommendations, guessing, curiosity, happenstance, chance, kismet and we can’t forget “They just landed in my inbox.”  I was immediately interested when I heard about the Strand Memorial and the Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums.  This memorial has been in the making for quite some time and the Brockton FD and the P&D are the heart and soul of the Memorial.  It’s obvious, and justifiably so, that the members have put a great deal of work, sweat, and pieces of themselves to take this memorial from a dream to a reality.    This year the dream to have a fitting memorial to honor 13 brave men is going to be a reality and Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums are going to be there.  They would also like it if you, and I for that matter, could be there as well.  I found after talking with Peter Reardon that the story of how the Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums introduced themselves to the world was perhaps one of the more amazing stories I had yet heard or read.  In the near future I am going to make a page with all of the information on how we as members of this growing community of Pipers and Drummers can support the Strand Memorial .  I also recommend visiting the band website and support them in any way you can.  Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums are turning three this year by my estimation and it’s quite obvious they are picking up momentum adding to their roster and their repertoire.  Well done Brockton!   Band Website:  http://www.bffpd.com Your name and position?  Peter Reardon, Band Manager, Charter Member of the Brockton Firefighters Pipes & Drums from Brockton MA.   How many years have you been with the band? Since we started in December of 2005   How long have you been playing? I took up the pipes in 1997 played a little with a local comp band and then pretty much on my own till 05.   What year was the band established?  Dec 05   What happened that led to the formation of the band?  Well to tell that you have to know a little history about the Brockton Fire department. On March 10th 1941 the department lost 13 brave men due to a building collapse at the Strand Theatre. Later that year the Scranton PA fire department donated to the city a beautifully carved piece of anthracite (chunk of coal). To this day this is the only memorial we have for our lost brothers. The Strand Theatre fire is the third largest lost of life due to a collapse in the country. Members of our department have been trying to raise money for a new memorial for almost 10 years. We decided that we needed bring more attention to this event. So what could bring more attention than a ton of noise!   Anthracite donated by Scranton PA.   Tell us about your first performance as a band? Our first performance was March 10, 2006. We made sure that only our union and honor guard presidents knew we were coming. On that morning we waited behind city hall until everyone was in place. Then when we got the eye we marched into city hall by the tap with 4 pipers, one snare, one tenor and a giant 28” bass drum. Everyone in the hall stood silently as we passed by. Hats came off and some even saluted. It was an amazing feeling. We marched ourselves through a crowd of about 250 active/retired firefighters and family members to the second floor where we waited for the next queue. We played Amazing Grace. One solo, the whole band and one solo walk away. It was truly amazing. At the end of the tune PM Don Bissett called for the tap and we marched our selves back out.   How where you guys received at your first performance? As we marched out we learned a real good lesson. Don’t look! This has become my motto. I have known many, many strong men throughout my life, but one of the strongest men I have ever met is Retired Chief Edward Burrell. He is the last survivor of the Strand Theatre fire and is 93 yrs old. Still Full of piss and vinegar! Don’t step out of line or he will let you know. That moment when we passed by him I happened to take a peek. Let’s just say that will be one of my proudest moments. There were a lot of tears that day. We have been having this memorial ever since 1941, every year and I would say we helped make the event. Truly touching!   It looks like you guys where pretty busy the first year you were around can you tell us about some of the events you played as a band in the first year? We hit the ground running. The moment we played the Strand we had all kinds of requests. We only had the military set, Going Home and AG. We had to turn down a bunch of stuff early. We started having two practices a week so we could be ready for our first parade in Nov 06. Our regular practice and a marching practice. In between all of that we found away to get ready for the local pro baseball teams Irish night. It was sort of funny playing only Minstrel boy all night long. That’s ok because they paid us in beer. We were invited to play a lot with the Boston Fire Gaelic Brigade. That made us busy but was a lot of help. Playing with those guys is a real joy.   Brockton at Irish Night   How many people were is the band at the beginning? The idea came from three pipers then all of a sudden we had seven at the next practice, then, fifteen, then 20. The band had real momentum right from the start. It has kind of slowed since. Come on newbie’s lets go already!   Where there any experienced players or was everyone learning from the start? There were three of us that have been playing but we pretty much had to start over. Different settings caused problems.   How long did it take from the idea of having a band until you guys played your first performance? Three months of hard, hard work but it paid off.   Did you guys meet any resistance when you were forming the band? None! Local 144 and honor guard bought our drums and the dept had no problem with allowing us to use the patches and badges. Local bands had tons of advice and our instructors were consummate professionals. Without our instructors I have no idea where we would be.   How many people are in the band now? 29.  We have eight pipers nine pipe students eight drummers and four drumming student   Are you guys strictly Brockton Firefighters or do you allow others in the band? No we are pretty open to membership here in New England. We have members from E. Bridgewater, Abington, Holbrook, Norton, Middleboro fire, Brockton Police. We also have two civilians. One is a firefighter’s wife and the other is her sister. Both are top notch wouldn’t trade them for anything. Plus they put up with all of our MAN stuff.   I see you guys had a road race in 2006 are you guys still doing a road race? Well we do want to continue the road race but felt that the late spring is a better idea. So look for it because it is coming up soon.   How else do you guys raise money for the band? Along with the road race, we have a couple of paying gigs and we started doing a raffle for a trip to go see the Sox play. Last year we sent four people to Baltimore to see the Sox beat up on the O’s for two games. That was a big hit.   Does the band pay for any expenses? No. Not at this point. The band buys the Pipe chanters, Kilts, Sporrans, and belts. Eventually we would like to have enough funds to help with things like that.   Was there another band out there that helped you guys out in the beginning? We did get some advice from pm Kevin McCarthy and Luke MacFadden from Boston Gaelic. Most of what we have done has been through trail and error. Lot’s of errors.   Does the fire department or union local give you guys any financial support? The department will allow a guy to march city parades while on duty but he needs to get back as soon as we are done. Other than the set of drums everything the band has is a result of the band.   What bands out there do you guys love to hang and play with? We do a lot with the Boston Gaelic brigade/Greater Boston pipes and drums. RI professional FF P&D are great friends. Many hops have been consumed with those guys. Plus we whip their ass in their Horseshoe tourney ever year.    Are you guys where you want to be as a band or are you guys still pushing forward? We have so much more we want to do. Our instructors are really great they push us well. At this point we have no jig set and would like a couple of reels and straths.   How long has Brockton been working on the Strand Theatre Memorial? For over ten years.   This year it is going to be unveiled correct? Yes. Finally we have raised enough money and have hired an architect who is right now casting the bronze for the statue that will be dedicated on May 10 2008. I hope you can make it we could really do damage in the local pubs.   Artist rendering of Strand Memorial   This has got to be a big event for you guys, what are the plans for the “Unveiling”? We are expecting the massed band to be close to 100 members, but that is up to your readers. Hint, hint!! We will have a short march about 3/10th of a mile. The whole ceremony should be less than an hour and half.   As a band did you guys help to raise money for the Memorial? To tell the truth we did the best we could. We would have loved to give all of our earnings to the memorial but we needed to get the band going too. All the members of the band have broken their backs to help get this memorial done so I guess we paid in sweat equity. I would say that one of the original purposes of the band was to get attention for the Memorial. So far I think that has worked.   There is still money that needs to be raised how can someone donate to the memorial? Oh that’s an easy one. You can get all the info you need at: http://www.brocktonfirelocal144.org/index.cfm. Just click Strand Theatre on the left. If you have any questions they can be directed to strandmemorial@aol.com   After looking at your schedule you guys are getting pretty booked for 2008, how do you keep the interest up from the guys? Well that is just as much a problem here as it is everywhere else. Just this past week, instead of going to practice, we took a road trip to Worcester MA. Twenty 22 members of the band went to see the Royal Scott Dragoon Guard. Little things like that work. Also in April for the past few years an EMS company here in Boston has put on a fund raiser/band competition. This is set up for fun but it sure is nice to walk out with what they call the Boston cup. Last year on our first attempt we took third place. This year we have a secret weapon and plan on walking out with the big boy.   3rd Place Trophy   What is the bands favorite event to play? Our most prideful event is and always will be the Strand but I have to say our first pub crawl was ridiculous. I didn’t know having so much fun could be so painful. I see halfway to St Paddy’s day event in our future!   Do you guys travel to the big events?  Some of us went out to Colorado last year. I for one won’t miss that trip again. This year a couple of guys are traveling with Greater Boston down to Savanna. We would like to go to the south side at least once, we here it is worth the trip. Hey if we all didn’t have ties we would go to all of them wouldn’t we.   Is there an event locally that you guys think people should travel in for? Definitely!!! May 10th 2008. Let’s get out and remember the 13 who gave their lives 67 years ago. For us to be able to finally honor our fallen in this way. No one should miss this!   How do you feel about the recent explosion of Fire Pipe and Drum bands across the country? We think it is great. I just hope the music is getting the attention it needs. I think sometimes the party gets in the way. Don’t get me wrong I am all for the party but lets play the music first.   What is the biggest crowd you have played in front of? Locally we have a Pro ball club call the Brockton Rox. They had a memorial night for a local Marine that was killed in Iraq. I was asked to play Ag for him and then play God Bless America in the seventh. The place was sold out. I still remember the feeling I had just prior to walking out of the dug out. So hard to describe, I couldn’t see the crowd but could hear them loud and clear. I am not sure how many were there but they have 5500 seats and they sold standing room that night. Standing ovation so I guess I did ok.   How were the nerves? Nerves! Are you kidding? We come from the City of Champions baby. Don’t tell Rocky but I was so close to melting.   Do you guys have a signature song, the one that lets everyone know that Brockton has just arrived? Not necessarily. Our best set we play is our military set, Marine Corps hymn, Caissons, Wild blue and Anchors away. That one gets a lot of attention around here.   Any crazy band antics going on? Well the worst thing someone can do is ask PM Don Bissett to tell a joke. That’s like a flaming bolder going down hill trying to catch the energizer bunny. Still going! Whatever you do don’t ask him for THE joke. You will..regret it!   Who is the band Practical Joker or do all of you share the title? There is nothing practical about the jokes from some of these fools. Including my self. I am told a fart is always funny. I don’t know?   What Tartan do you guys wear and is there a reason you chose that one? MacLachlan. We tell a story of how (which is true) this is one of the few tartans worn on both islands and how the colors fit so well with our mission. It just so happens that there are thirteen colors in the pattern. 13 men died in the Strand fire. We have come up with a ton of reasons but, the truth is we wanted something red and didn’t want to wear the same thing as any local bands so a local kilt maker suggested it. We did contact the clan and have been given permission to wear it. They were very receptive to the idea. I think that is a great honor.     Is there a pre gig drink of choice or what I like to call “Pipe and Drum Fuel”? Usually some crow. We have a couple of guys that have their own special clock so we are usually on a rush and don’t have much time to pre drink. Drummers!!AHH! I will say post gig the hops and barley are a plenty. Guinness and Jameson all around.   What are the big plans for Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums this year? Nothing to big, just some more of the same. After the May 10th we will be putting a lot time into music and adding to our repertoire. I am hoping to get more band members out to Colorado they don’t know what they are missing.   Where do you see the band in five years? I would like to put to the street at least ten pipers and six drummers consistently.   Anything else you want to add? I think that this site is great. I put in some time in as a mod on Smoken’Pipes so I have a general idea of how much time you must put in. Thank you and keep up the good work. Make sure if you can’t make it to see us in May we meet up in Colorado to share a few! That’ll be wicked awesome!!