The Chameleon Story

[@m144mantube]

God bless you Charlie Adam's, for the joy you, and the band, gave millions while you toured and recorded as Chameleon. I saw you in Willmar at the Fireside ballroom in the late 70's/ early 80? Blew my mind. I'm happy that you met the girl of your dreams and made a family. That's much more rewarding than fame. I hear... 😂

[@caroletimbeross7683]

We were your Groupies at the Relay Station in Mantorville, MN! I have your vinyl-wish I had a shirt! ❤

[@jefflarson1652]

Dibbo's, The Hideaway, Withrow Ballroom, good memories. Chameleon and Rocking Horse were both outstanding bands that we followed any time they were playing in the Twin Cities.

[@desertrose6698]

I love that Charlie and Yanni have this great history and they are still together today !!!

[@66limelight]

My brother got me listening to Chameleon in the early 80s. He had seem them several times in central MN when they were "playing all the bars". He knew them and even met Yanni, before he made it big. In MN, SD, IA they were THE band to see back then. I didn't turn legal (19 in those days!) until 1985 and never got to see them play.

[@completecharleston7142]

Nice to find this (I know, a bit late to the party). I have a little history with Chameleon. As a Fargo, ND area native, one of my bands opened up for them circa 1983 at the Gaslight Lounge, one of the most popular local venues, for 3 nights (M-T-W). We briefly met the band members, including Yanni. Loved Charlies revolving drum set solo, which actually had to be set up across the room in a corner because the stage wasn't big enough. They were originally scheduled to play a fourth night, but ended up having to travel back to Twin Cities for something (immigration papers for Yanni? or else they just got a better gig and cancelled). Anyway, our band, Jessica, did the remaining night by ourselves. A short time later (few months?), Chameleon played at Zodiac Lounge across the river in Moorhead, MN (Yanni was not with them at that time). Somehow, I was able to spend one of their breaks talking to Charlie, he was so cool and down to earth. Several years later, I "discovered" one of Yanni's albums ("Dare To Dream", and later "Live At The Acropolis"), and somehow remembered the connection from several years prior, and was hooked, the music was/is so incredible. In 2016, I saw him in concert here in my new hometown of Charleston SC, was excellent and very intimate. Thank you Yanni and Charlie for your gifts of music to the world.

[@Bretster2010]

Saw the band once in like 1985 at a place called Bel Ray Ballroom in mounds View and will never forget how bad ass that show was, how awesome their singer was. Far as I remember, Yanni was on keys.

[@musicmandrummer]

These guys rocked the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa many times. Always a great show. I even sold them gas for the Chameleon motor home once working the midnight shift as they were on their way back to Minneapolis after a show.

[@scottgrady657]

the best shows ever I have may fond memories from the chameleon shows at the Surf those days were just awesome!!!

[@psalwasser]

maplewood bowl, maplewood mn. chamelion played monday night house gigs in the crystal myst. they played jeff beck from blow by blow and originals. they were great!

[@TheeLynnChase]

I was such a groupie back in the 70s when you were playing bars. Wow I had no idea you guys became so big! Loved you guys!! I even wrote a song about you guys.

[@MG-kj2fx]

I met the band when I was a teenager. My cousins band was managed by Chameleons manager. I had Technocolor before it was out.

[@nivekyentrouc1200]

I was just sitting listening to Live at the Acropolis and I discovered some history I was never aware of. Very cool.

[@kingtrance6826]

Thanks for the great memories! I remember seeing Chameleon back at the Pla Mor Ballroom in Glencoe MN. I can’t remember the exact year but it was in the early 80’s in the wintertime and I was feeling no pain that night (either was anyone else in attendance.) Yanni hauled in his own Moog that night and his other gear by himself. Charlie played a drum kit that did 360 circles upside down that blew my mind! (Tommy Lee got that idea from Charlie) Jonny Donaldson played a wireless white Flying V guitar. I remember being impressed with that as I hadn’t seen any guitarists running around wireless until that night. Dugan was 😜 crazy. Chameleon kicked ass that night!! They were certainly an arena caliber act and worthy of a major record deal. I had no idea at the time of course that Yanni would morph into one of the best world class keyboardists and musicians in the world. He was pretty damn good back then...

[@HeRacesTheSun]

Reading about this in Yanni's book 'Yanni In Words' Amazing book about an amazing journey...

[@uncledutchie]

Got to experience Chameleon live in 1981 at the Fox Ballroom in Sherburn, MN. Sweet drum solo, upside down and all around... I'll see you with "The Wizard" Yanni at the Pepsi Center in Denver in June! Can't wait!

[@metalmark062]

Great story wasn’t for Charlie’s Chameleon Band Yanni wouldn’t be who he is. this was a great story for the beginning for both talents I like the bands music from that era. early 80s was a great time to be alive....

[@mluebker]

I worked at the St. Croix Boom Co. and did some work for Jimmy Mann, so I got to see chameleon pretty regularly for a few years back in the day. I recall the band doing a terrific medley of Marshall Tucker's "Can't You See" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" that just lifted the roof off the place, but that I've never been able to find a recorded version of it anywhere. Does such a recording exist?

[@jrm2825]

I loved the Boom Co.! Music, Bloody Marys and BURGERS!!! Anyone have a copy of their logo?

[@davidgrupa9711]

This is great! What a surprise to see my image at 0:55 of this video!

[@acomplexkidrock]

I used to travel all across the Twin Cities to see Dugee and the boys. Stillwater Rocks. Michael J. aka HI-C

[@mirtaammar7002]

POR SIEMPRE!!!!🥂

[@stavrosteve]

They used to pack 2,000 people into the Gibbon Ballroom in the early 80's. Good times.

[@wtrbflo72]

Cliff, Katie, and Brad Hermel bought my parent's bar in Le Sueur. Stay Young Go Dancing.

[@TheLexluthier]

Saw these guys at Lake Marion ballroom a few times. They would bring their own stage which was so big it took up half of the dance floor. LOL I guess they needed the room for the gyro drum kit. My HS friends had a band that opened for them once, I helped set up their gear. Got to talking with Yanni who was practicing his keyboard solo and asked if he should throw in a few bars of Beer Barrel Polka or some other song. We told him to use Beer Barrel Polka because most everybody there would be drunk and get into it.🍺

[@jrm2825]

Chameleon playing the New Munich Ballroom!! Front row to Yanni's keyboard surround many times!

[@guitarloo]

Nice video Charlie! I'll never forget opening for you and being on the Jimmy Mann booking roster. I think Vitamin Q stole the show though at Waconia LOL And then there was the SHOUT!

[@YasminMaroc]

wow Yanni , he looks like Queen :>)

[@herzogsbuick]

Hey I dunno, 280 shows a year, pretty rock star to me

[@witchman1]

Being from the same area, I remember that big ass desil you guys had. And the underwear, I went on to record with Dugan. You guys were the shit. Marko The Blondes. Counter Attack.

[@davidschomer9655]

My Hippie sister Barbara was Yanni's 1# groupie in South Minneapolis they all lived together in a big house back in the 70's and my sister would drag me over when I was like 4-5 and I didn't want to come over because they freaked me out, but if you look my sister up on Facebook I'm sure she would love to tell you all about it. Same last name.

[@Bassoonandsax]

Can I download those songs anyware? or find a copy of the album?

[@maddydwik9797]

Wwwwooowww, very good

[@Shuttletrain]

When did John Tesh get involved?

[@Bassoonandsax]

Does anyone know the name of the song Yanni Is playing at 1:34 ?

[@hugojandro5267]

Its call techno-color from the same album. Its kinda weird answer a question 7 years after.

[@jimyobbie7226]

whats johnny donaldson doing today to make money hope hes got a great retirement going on

[@Robbie_Wallace_2007_2]

Yanni en los 80s

[@hugojandro5267]

tenía menos pelo cuando rockeaba

[@divyagovil5255]

Not crazy about chameleon. Thank goodness they were fired and we have Yanni!