Chicago (band)- Interview- 1989

This is an interview conducted in Canada in the Fall of '89. Band members Robert Lamm, Jimmy Pankow & Jason Scheff discuss many topics.
Enjoy!

[@lisacross3411]

THIS INTERVIEW IS FUNNY AND INTERESTING. ROBERT, JAMES, AND JASON SEEMED RELAXED AND FRIENDLY DURING THE INTERVIEW.

[@v.german11b]

I enjoyed it indeed. Chicago is IT, America's rock band 💪🏼🇺🇲

[@lamarravery4094]

Chicago 20 was actually a greatest hits album, so much for their extra special plans for their milestone. 21 came out in early 1991 and although I loved it, it wasn't a hit. But it had a lot of band members composing on it, so it was a true Chicago album. And there were a lot of horns, it was a great album should've been a greater success.

[@peterraymond8470]

I love this interview although ironically Chicago 20 or rather Chicago 21 [ since the greatest hits album counted as the unofficial no.20 ] was kind of done largely while they were on the road. I like that album, but it certainly wasn't what they had intended it to be at the onset I don't think. And after that album they didn't attempt another studio album for a good fifteen years. Not only that but they didn't do any of the songs off of that album on the tour supposedly supporting it. I've read that their performance of "You Come To My Senses" on Arsenio had something to do with that. I like that song, but I kind of see why Jason wasn't too crazy about his performance on it.

[@lamarravery4094]

Chicago proved they needed outside writers to keep them on the charts, they couldn't write hit songs anymore partly because the music landscape changed and they didn't fit in the youthful hip hop/ alt rock scene of the 90s. They weren't breaking new ground and were irrelevant. Lamm and Pankow weren't contemporary, they were old news.

[@stevencochran5301]

I had to recount the Chicagoan crement.

[@stevencochran5301]

Of course, you know, I missed the studio.

[@gregm3406]

So many of the bands from the late 60s and early 70s tried to repurpose themselves for the 80s. Different sound to the music, modern fashions, etc. It didnt work. They were in their mid 40s by this time. Just feels forced and awkward... and yes, Kath left a way bigger hole than Cetera did.

[@lamarravery4094]

Kath and Cetera were a huge loss to these guys. But Cetera was the voice behind 90% of their catalogue of hits so I would disagree with Robert, Peter was the bigger loss.

[@v.german11b]

Yes. Kath was the soul and heart of Chicago. And Cetera was very uniquely talented, not so easy to substitute.

[@lamarravery4094]

@@v.german11b Kath's influence stopped in the early 70s, Peter really drove the band from the mid 70s into the 80s. Peter started becoming the dominant song writer and with his voice, he was the most important member.

[@v.german11b]

@@lamarravery4094 I agree. However, the legacy of both lives on as Chicago still keeps playing timeless songs from the era of Kath and Cetera.

[@anonymousposter4481]

Any loss of life is beyond words..& Terry was a tremendous loss.. the only way I can express it. As for Peter leaving the voice, that signature sound… how arrogant to say that Kath & Cetera were replaceable. No, they weren’t. That sound is gone. Love Bill Champlin, he is great in his own right.