Queen's Bands - History

History

The Bands was founded in 1905, when a group of first-year students decided to form a marching brass band "to help things along at football games." The idea did not gain easy acceptance. The 12 original musicians, which included John Bertram Stirling (Queen's chancellor from 1960 to 1974), suffered verbal abuse on parades to the football field and were ejected from the equipment room, where they practised, by the football team. The group dissolved after just two years, and it was not until 1920 that a marching band reappeared. The revived band, unlike the original group, had its own instruments and even uniforms: white duck trousers, tri-colour sweaters, and Queen's tams. The Queen's University of Kingston, Ontario tartan associated with the university and its pipe band includes the colours of six Queen's academic hoods: blue (Medicine), red (Arts & Science), gold (Applied Science), white (Nursing Science), green (Commerce & MBA), and Purple (Theology). The now traditional kilts and doublets were adopted only after the Second World War (the tartan worn by the Bands is the Royal Stewart (the official tartan of the Canadian royal family); they are one of a select few non-military units to wear this exclusive tartan). A pipe band was added to the troupe in 1925, but did not become a permanent fixture until 1938, at which time highland dancers also appeared. It is unclear when cheerleaders first joined the Bands. "Rooters clubs" were formed early this century to lead students in cheers at Queen's games and appear to have gradually become informally, and then formally, linked with the Bands. Currently, there are only 2 student run "spirit squads" in the OUA Queen's Bands Cheerleaders and the Queen's Dance Pack. The Bands takes care of the mascot of Queen's University, Boo Hoo the Bear.

Today the Bands are one of the most well-known groups on campus.

In November 2011, the Bands performances were suspended for the remainder of the term due to controversial materials. The executive issued a qualified apology to the community and noted that the Band had already discontinued the publication of controversial materials as part of existing reorganization strategies. The Bands returned in January 2012 and performed at a number of events over the semester.