The Marine Corps Rock Band made a stop at D.C. Everest High School Friday, putting on a rock concert that would blow any fan away. But, true to form, they were also on a mission.
"Spreading the word, the musical word, of the Marine Corps," Cpl. Christine Valentine explained.
Cpl. Valentine comes from a professional music background, playing in symphonies, singing jazz and belting out opera. Now she's belting out tunes of a different sort. So is Sgt. Eduardo Espinosa.
"I'm living the dream," Sgt. Espinosa told NewsChannel 7.
All the bandmates share the same goal.
"Open people's eyes that the Marine music program isn't just marching bands and concert bands," Sgt. Espinosa said.
"You can be a Marine and you can still do what you love and, if you're passionate about it, have a means of expression," Cpl. Valentine added.
"We're people just like them only we have a dedication to excellence that, ya know, is above, I would say, all other military services," Executive Recruiting Officer Capt. Nicholas Borns told NewsChannel 7.
But Marines still like to have fun. They even have groupies. Dennis Ashley and Andrea Selesky are the lead singer, LCpl. Kevin Ashley's, father and girlfriend.
"We've never had an opportunity to see him play," Ashley explained.
Friday they got the chance.
"He didn't know I was coming. So it was exciting because he always says he would like for me to come and see him play," Selesky explained. "He thought I was working and I just popped out of nowhere and he was completely surprised it was really fun."
The students had a great time and really got into it too.
The Marine Corps Rock Band is based out of San Diego. Friday's performance was their last in the state before heading home. The band also made stops in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay and Minocqua.
