When Saint Louis University closed its music department in the late 1980s, the athletic department began looking for musicians, and the Billiken Pep band was formed. Mike Beczkala, a SLU alumnus and former member of the University’s jazz ensemble, has directed the band for more than 25 years.
What makes jazz and pep different?
For the first seven years, it was called the University Jazz Band, and since 1990, it’s been the pep band. It was a totally different type of band when I did jazz band. It was a course and wasn’t for basketball. It is like night and day between the jazz band, a performing ensemble, and the pep band, a form of entertainment. The jazz band was part of the music department at the time, but, in 1990, it became part of the athletic department and went in a totally different direction from jazz band.
Who’s in the band?
The band is comprised of undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni. We also have a SLU priest on board-George Kennard [S.J.], who’s 88 years old. Any good pep band can use a full-time priest. At least ours can. He’s a real inspiration to everyone since he connects the generations.
Can anyone join?
I would say if you love basketball and enjoy playing an instrument, then we have a home for you. Of course, there are a few guys in the student section that have had a few beers and have been coming over wanting to play the cowbell, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I encourage anyone interested to call the athletic department for information, because we’re always looking for new and enthusiastic members.
What’s the purpose of the band?
To support the basketball team, entertain the crowd and motivate the team and the crowd to get into the game. You have to have some experience; everybody that’s in a band played in middle school and high school, and they want to continue their musical experience beyond that.
What if the band weren’t there?
There was one game two years ago when the band wasn’t. It was at the Family Arena in St. Charles, which got moved out there because of a scheduling conflict over one of the breaks. We weren’t there, and did I ever hear about it from the fans: “Where were you guys?” and “We missed ya,” they said-that kind of thing. It would be a huge difference without a band.
What are some of your favorite experiences with the band?
There are too many to count, but there’s nothing better than having a full house of enthusiastic and screaming fans and a hotly contested basketball game-there’s nothing better. That and, of course, going to the NCAA tournament and being a part of March Madness. That’s probably my greatest experience-that’s all the band talks about.
