20 Famous People Who You Might Not Have Known Were Band Kids

20 Famous People Who You Might Not Have Known Were Band Kids

You're in high school once, but you're a band geek forever.
Sarahanne Yeo
Sarahanne Yeo Aug 2, 2016
12305
views

Ah, Marching Band...

A hundred degrees, grass stains, sweaty people, metronomes, whistles, marking time –– just a few of the glimpses from summer band camp and marching rehearsals throughout the year that don't even come to conjure the impact that marching band has on our lives.

Whether it was learning how to play a note together, sharing sunscreen before rehearsal, water balloon fights after rehearsal or the first time you heard a crowd cheer for you, it seems that band was quite the magical time.

While your section leader yelling at you to get on the right foot and your shoe coming untied during parade might not be the most glamorous thing in the world, marching band brings some unforgettable moments of togetherness with some unforgettable people.

It's nice to know that people all around the world share this identity. Really, it spans the world. And as band camp approaches for myself, I thought hard about how big our band people population truly was. I wondered what famous people might have been in band but, anyway, it's nice to know that Band Kids are taking over the world.

Famous politicians, scientists, musicians, actors -- they are all musically talented awkward badasses like ourselves. Who knew that all those life skills, scales, practicing schedules, people skills and discipline that we learned on the marching band fields would actually go to use in the real world?

Band kids are definitely unstoppable people. Who knows what this leaves us band kids for the future?

1. Lil Wayne

Instrument: Cymbals

Before Yung Money was even a thing, Dwayne Micheal Carter Jr. (Lil Wayne) was a Yung Cymbal player. Look at that mini Weezy.

2. Steven Spielberg

Instrument: Clarinet

Jaws. Jurassic Park. Indiana Jones. E.T. And Reeds, apparently.

3. Halle Berry

Instrument: Flute

From Flautist to Catwoman AND Storm.

4. Tina Fey

Instrument: Flute/Choir

Tina Fey also was Frenchie in her High School's production of Grease, for the musical nerds like myself out there.

5. Kesha

Instrument: Saxophone/Trumpet

Kesha spent high school playing BOTH Sax and Trumpet!

6. President Bill Clinton

Instrument: Saxophone

Before he was President of the United States of America - or playing with balloons for that matter - he was a saxophone player at Hot Springs High School.

7. Gerard Way

Instrument: Percussion/Snare Line/Cello

I thought his father took him to the city to SEE a marching band, not be in one. In the following 2013 tweet back to a fan, he explains his band involvement. This seriously explains a bit of My Chemical Romance's band attire.

8. Jenna Marbles

Instrument: Clarinet

Before Kermit and Marbles, Jenna Mourey spent her time playing clarinet and softball. Now, Jenna marbles is a huge YouTube star!

9. Markiplier

Instrument: Trumpet

Mark Edward Fischbach, like Jenna, also is a band geek turned famous YouTuber. He says in the following video, "Senior year of high school I was first chair of the trumpet section, so I got all the solos -- I got it right every practice, but EVERY time we performed it in competition I completely flunked it... except in nationals. That was the ONE time I got it"

10. Tommy Lee

Instrument: Quads/Tenors in drum line

Tommy Lee, founding member and drummer of the band Motley Crüe, was a quad player growing up. In the following picture from the NBC reality TV show "Tommy Lee Goes to College", Lee plays the quads again with the University of Nebraska's marching band.

11. Gwen Stefani

Instrument: Flute

Gwen Stefani started her musical career playing the flute!


12. Samuel L. Jackson

Instrument: Trumpet/French Horn

This BAMF started out playing Trumpet and French Horn before he was even in Pulp Fiction.

13. Ewan McGregor

Instrument: French Horn

Like Jedi Master Mace Windu, it seems that Obi Wan Kenobi himself also doubled as Jedi master and french horn player.

14. Aretha Franklin

Instrument: Tuba

Yes, our soul queen played the Tuba. (Female Tuba players represent! Tuba/Piccolo player here.)


15. Jennifer Garner

Instrument: Clarinet

Actress, Jennifer Garner played the clarinet in George Washington High School in West Virginia.

16. Neil Armstrong

Instrument: Baritone

He went to the moon. He was in band.

17. Kurt Cobain

Instrument: Percussion

Frontman of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, got his musical start in the snare drum.

18. Steven Tyler

Instrument: Trumpet

The following picture is a picture of the frontman of Aerosmith at the age of 18. His smirk may sort of resemble Heath Ledger's performance of the Joker, but thanks to those lips he played trumpet just fine.


19. Lionel Richie

Instrument: Saxophone

Motown God, guy who pioneered the sung/paused "Hello." before Adele, father to Nicole Richie and excellent saxophone player.

20. Eva Longoria

Instrument: Clarinet/Drum Major

Before she was one of the Desperate Housewives of Wisteria Lane, she was the Drum Major of Miller High School.

She still has that air of authority in her eyes.


What can be taken away from this article is that marching bands are full of extraordinary, disciplined, dorky and musically talented people. People capable of stardom, and furthermore, capable of taking over the world.

Cover Image Credit: metrouk2.files.wordpress.com
Sarahanne Yeo
Sarahanne Yeo Aug 2, 2016
At University of Kansas

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It's Time To Thank Your First Roommate

Not the horror story kind of roommate, but the one that was truly awesome.
Katie Ward
Katie Ward Feb 1, 2016
880772
views

Nostalgic feelings have recently caused me to reflect back on my freshman year of college. No other year of my life has been filled with more ups and downs, and highs and lows, than freshman year. Throughout all of the madness, one factor remained constant: my roommate. It is time to thank her for everything. These are only a few of the many reasons to do so, and this goes for roommates everywhere.

You have been through all the college "firsts" together.

If you think about it, your roommate was there through all of your first college experiences. The first day of orientation, wishing you luck on the first days of classes, the first night out, etc. That is something that can never be changed. You will always look back and think, "I remember my first day of college with ____."

You were even each other's first real college friend.

You were even each other's first real college friend.

Months before move-in day, you were already planning out what freshman year would be like. Whether you previously knew each other, met on Facebook, or arranged to meet in person before making any decisions, you made your first real college friend during that process.

SEE ALSO: 18 Signs You're A Little Too Comfortable With Your Best Friends

The transition from high school to college is not easy, but somehow you made it out on the other side.

It is no secret that transitioning from high school to college is difficult. No matter how excited you were to get away from home, reality hit at some point. Although some people are better at adjusting than others, at the times when you were not, your roommate was there to listen. You helped each other out, and made it through together.

Late night talks were never more real.

Remember the first week when we stayed up talking until 2:00 a.m. every night? Late night talks will never be more real than they were freshman year. There was so much to plan for, figure out, and hope for. Your roommate talked, listened, laughed, and cried right there with you until one of you stopped responding because sleep took over.

You saw each other at your absolute lowest.

It was difficult being away from home. It hurt watching relationships end and losing touch with your hometown friends. It was stressful trying to get in the swing of college level classes. Despite all of the above, your roommate saw, listened, and strengthened you.

...but you also saw each other during your highest highs.

After seeing each other during the lows, seeing each other during the highs was such a great feeling. Getting involved on campus, making new friends, and succeeding in classes are only a few of the many ways you have watched each other grow.

There was so much time to bond before the stresses of college would later take over.

Freshman year was not "easy," but looking back on it, it was more manageable than you thought at the time. College only gets busier the more the years go on, which means less free time. Freshman year you went to lunch, dinner, the gym, class, events, and everything else possible together. You had the chance to be each other's go-to before it got tough.

No matter what, you always bounced back to being inseparable.

Phases of not talking or seeing each other because of business and stress would come and go. Even though you physically grew apart, you did not grow apart as friends. When one of you was in a funk, as soon as it was over, you bounced right back. You and your freshman roommate were inseparable.

The "remember that one time, freshman year..." stories never end.

Looking back on freshman year together is one of my favorite times. There are so many stories you have made, which at the time seemed so small, that bring the biggest laughs today. You will always have those stories to share together.

SEE ALSO: 15 Things You Say To Your Roommates Before Going Out

The unspoken rule that no matter how far apart you grow, you are always there for each other.

It is sad to look back and realize everything that has changed since your freshman year days. You started college with a clean slate, and all you really had was each other. Even though you went separate ways, there is an unspoken rule that you are still always there for each other.

Your old dorm room is now filled with two freshmen trying to make it through their first year. They will never know all the memories that you made in that room, and how it used to be your home. You can only hope that they will have the relationship you had together to reflect on in the years to come.


Cover Image Credit: Katie Ward
Katie Ward
Katie Ward Feb 1, 2016
At Duquesne University

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What's worth more than red roses?

Laura Zaks
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Five years old and a bouquet of roses rested in her hands. The audience-- clapped away her performance, giving her a standing ovation. She's smiling then because everything made sense, her happiness as bright as the roses she held in her hands.

Fifteen now, and a pile of papers rested on her desk. The teachers all smiled when she walked down the aisle and gave them her presentation. She was content then but oh so stressed, but her parents happy she had an A as a grade, not red on her chest.

Eighteen now and a trail of tears followed her to the door. Partying, and doing some wild things, she just didn't know who she was. She's crying now, doesn't know anymore, slamming her fists into walls, pricking her fingers on roses' thorns.

Twenty-one and a bundle of bills were grasped in her hands. All the men-- clapped and roared as she sold her soul, to the pole, for a dance. She's frowning now because everything went wrong, but she has to stay strong, for rich green money, is worth more than red roses.

Laura Zaks
Laura Zaks Mar 21, 2019
At Pennsylvania State University

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