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North Star, from the North Shore area of Massachusetts, was a merger corps, being formed in late 1975 from the Blue Angels (Danvers)/Reveries (Revere), (Blue Angels and Reveries had merged in late 1974 and was nicknamed "Bluveries"), and the Wilmington Cardinals, (merger of the Beverly Cardinals and Wilmington Crusaders). North Star was one of the very few merger corps ever to achieve DCI finalist status. After their inaugural season in 1976, where they placed 30th at DCI Prelims, they quickly rose to become a DCI powerhouse in the late 1970s and early '80s. Their highest finish was ninth in 1979, with a show featuring "The Children of Sanchez" and "Good Vibrations." The North Star drum line, nicknamed the "Chrome Wall" because of its eleven-man snare line sporting chrome finished drums, tied for high percussion honors in 1979. In other achievements, the corps won the 1977 American International Open in Butler, Pennsylvania, the C.Y.O. Nationals in 1979 and Eastern Mass Class A Championship in 1976 through 1980. Financial difficulties forced the disbandment of the corps in 1982. [John Stark; www.thefog.com/reveries/history.html; rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, Paul Pearsall, 9/15/94; A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002; DCW, 4/03, p.3; David Vose]