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Cultural exchange

October 26, 2015

The Best Damn Band in the Land’s British invasion was a chance to showcase Ohio State’s top musical talent on an international stage. And for the students, it was a cultural experience like no other.


Lining both sides of Regent Street in London, English fans of the National Football League whipped out their cell phones to capture The Ohio State University Marching Band’s first ever overseas performance.

The Pride of the Buckeyes played the Ohio State fight song and “Hang on Sloopy” during a mile-long march — perhaps the first time English ears had heard either tune. But the parade was a mere precursor to the band’s bigger performance as the pre-game entertainment for the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars.

In front of the second-largest crowd to watch an NFL game at Wembley Stadium, the Best Damn Band in the Land paid tribute to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who and all things British.