Each year almost 500,000 people are entertained by the band, which plays at home football at Sun Devil Stadium and as a pep band for basketball games at Wells Fargo Arena, homecoming, bowl game parades, other community events in the Valley, across the country, and even abroad.

On September 20, 1915, the Arizona Board of Education accepted and ratified the creation of the Tempe Bulldogs Marching Band under Mrs. Lillian Williams (1915–1917).

During Dr. Robert G. Lyon five-year tenure was the addition of new parade and marching formations as well as swing music.

In 1946, the school's, mascot was redesigned by former Disney illustrator, Bert Anthony, from the Bulldog to Sparky, the Sun Devil.

[4][5] Also to the band's credit are performances at Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, the then Los Angeles Raiders and Los Angeles Rams professional football games, Phoenix Suns professional basketball games, SeaWorld, Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld San Diego, on the deck of the Navy carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), and the 1990 Coca-Cola Bowl in Tokyo, Japan.

On multiple occasions, the band was invited by the NFL, to be part of the pregame and halftime festivities of Super Bowls XLII and XLIX in Glendale, Arizona.

One such example is the excerpt from "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" that the band plays when ASU's defense takes the field.

In the 2006 and 2007 seasons the band had opportunities of bringing in guest appearances of nationally and world-renowned recording artists for halftime performances.

Pass in Review also takes time to recognize upperclass band members who will not be returning the following year by allowing them to lead in a rendition of Maroon & Gold.

[1] Since 2010, Pass in Review has been held in Desert Financial Arena courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics Department.

Prior to 2009, the band made an annual trip to Los Angeles, California, for either the USC or UCLA games.

For the 2018 season, the band traveled to San Diego State University for the ASU vs. SDSU football game.

[10] On one occasion the band was unable to support the Sun Devil football team at the 2006 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl in Honolulu (Halawa), Hawaii.

In contrast the 1999 & 2000 Aloha Bowl paid $750,000 with no conference contribution, but with a higher ticket guarantee and only lost $70,000 on each trip.

In addition to the hornline, the band also uses a percussion section that is divided into a marching battery of drums and a stationary sideline pit.

This bass was used for count offs for the band during march around the stadium, parades, and entering the field for halftime shows.

They formed the ASU PASIC Drumline in 1995 with Percussive Arts Society International Convention being held locally and hosted by Dr. J.B. Smith, Professor of Music and the Coordinator of Percussion Studies in the School of Music at Arizona State University, at Phoenix Civic Plaza in Phoenix, Arizona.

Presenting the visual story of the band's halftime performance through the use of flags, rifles, sabers, props, and dance.

Through competitive auditions for one-year appointments, nationally recognized twirlers are used prominently during all Sun Devil Marching Band shows.

[36] Members of the Sun Devil Marching Band are allowed to participate in the ASU Pep Band, which plays at all home Men's and Women's Basketball games at Wells Fargo Arena and travels annually to Seattle for the Women's Pac-12 tournament and Las Vegas for the Men's Pac-12 tournament.

However, starting with the 2018–2019 season, both tournaments will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the newly established T-Mobile Arena.

[37] In addition the Dixie Devils and Sparky's Sliders are the newest members of the ASU Athletic Band family.

[38] Sparky's Sliders is an all Trombone Dixie Band that can be seen inside Wells Fargo Arena for Devil's Lair tailgating entertaining fans before games.