David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78 Music An intimate glimpse into the life and untimely death of guitar icon and Chicago founding member Terry Kath through the eyes of his estranged daughter. [26] The album liner notes indicate that the nearly seven-minute piece was recorded live in the studio in one take, using only a Fender Dual Showman amplifier pre-amped with a Bogen Challenger P.A. [32], Kath used several guitars in his early career, but many of these early ones were stolen while on the road. On a return trip to the UK, Kaths gruff persona got the better of him during a press conference at the London Hilton. The album also included Kaths dissonant, one-man mini-symphony Freeform Guitar. Once I got that gig, my life changed.. I have the old albums on MP3. 25 Feb/23. He was taking us in a direction that I didn't want to go said Kath. Prior to his death, though, Kaths love of booze and cocaine was impacting on his talent and his judgment. He told me what happened. He was a big guy, Walsh recalls. Terrys lifeless body was sat back on the couch, his head angled towards the ceiling, he recalled. At Chicago concerts, original members Lee Loughnane (trumpet) and Robert Lamm (keyboards) have, on occasion, performed lead vocals originally sung by Terry Kath. Its something he stopped doing around the time David Foster started playing the Moog Synthesizer on Chicagos 1980s albums. In Canoga Park in January 1978, a young guitar player and singer named Terry Kath died of an accidentally self-inflicted gunshot wound. With the addition of singer and bassist Peter Cetera of The Exceptions, they moved to Los Angeles and signed with Columbia Records, renaming the band Chicago Transit Authority. He bought himself a Danelectro Shorthorn bass and began learning the basics of the instrument that would help make him famous. "[50], In 2012, Kath's daughter Michelle Kath Sinclair announced that enough funds had been donated to complete production on a documentary of his life, titled Searching for Terry: Discovering a Guitar Legend. He has been praised by his bandmates and other musicians for his guitar skills and Ray Charles-influenced vocal style, and was said to be one of Jimi . He really didnt have any rules or boundaries. The Cubbies completely dominated the Dodgers that day and won 7-0. Surprise guest appearance ! Peter Cetera. Lately hes been playing with the Bad Daddies, his seven-piece electric band. The result of her work, Searching For Terry: Discovering A Guitar Legend, was released in 2016. I would like to think he (would still be with Chicago) but he was very independent and I wonder what he would have thought about the 1980s. It was Chicagos first but by no means last experience of art-versus-commerce. A real mans man. But Seraphine also got a strong sense that there was something darker lurking beneath the happy-go-lucky guitarists smile. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. I was totally questioning it for such a big portion of my life. He died in January 1978 from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. So far, hes only done two gigs with the Bad Daddies this way, both times with backline basses. I got in a fight and got a broken jaw in three places, and I was in intensive care for a couple of days., Seraphine recalled exactly what transpired In his autobiography Street Player: My Chicago Story: "'Fuck you, hippie,' one of the guys told Peter. I did see him twice in his solo career and I would love to see him again but he doesnt come to New Jersey anymore. 2HBStrat Member Messages 41,216 Jan 30, 2014 #8 imaxeman69 said: shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson how old is senna cetera. Make me a happy man and do it. A terrible shame that Cetera put him in a corner. Youve got to be kidding me. But Terry Kath is still in the music. Blow my brains out? Unknown to Kath, though, there was a single bullet in the gun. Who sang If You Leave Me Now? [37] Most of Kath's guitars had gone missing for many years, including the famous "Pignose" Telecaster. Thanks, Danielle. Follow Terry's daughter as she discovers the truth around the life and death of a father she never knew. He vocalized this to the groups management, who, he says, promised him a break after another tour and album. During the ceremony in Brooklyn, New York. "[24], In September 1997, Chicago released Chicago Presents The Innovative Guitar of Terry Kath, a CD remembrance of their late guitarist, on their own short-lived Chicago Records label.[22]. The bereavement tempted Chicago to disband, but they ultimately decided to resume as is signified by their memorial song "Alive Again". If Terry had been in a trio, he probably would have been right up there with Jimi Hendrix, who idolized Terry. A journey into the mind of one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history. Recently appearing in varying corners of the intraweb, and in general circulation for those who seek it is a crystalline soundboard recording of the "Flying Burrito Brothers" live at the infamous 1969 Altamont festival. Chicago bandmates like drummer Danny Seraphine[18] have noted that he was then also becoming increasingly unhappy. Pete, Im your biggest fan in the world, but the fact that you cant even reunite with Chicago for a one night only concert and DVD is BS. These days, Cetera enjoys playing with his band, the Bad Daddies. Back in the US, Chicago finally got their break when an edited version of Make Me Smile reached the Top Ten. He doesnt need Chicago. To understand more about her fathers life, Sinclair recently produced and directed a documentary on him, Chicago: The Terry Kath Experience. He us the author of Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, Is This the Real Life: The Untold Story of Queen, Magnifico! Didn't like them in other artists/bands musicdidn't like them in Chicago's musicand really resented having to put horn parts in his own songsand left them out of as many . Your email address will not be published. I still tell friends about your great Impersonation. Lee Loughnane, trumpet player with the US rock band Chicago, vividly recalls January 23, 1978. When the group stopped writing their own songs that was the end of Chicago, sorry Diane Warren. Loughnane noticed parallels between Kaths behavior and that which proceeded Hendrixs death in 1970. As well as being a phenomenal rhythm player, Kath was ceaselessly inventive on stage and in the studio. [3][7] He then played bass in a road band called Jimmy Ford and the Executives. That desire to bring people together and entertain them has been a generational link in our family., Kath learned to play piano, accordion and banjo, and inspired by the instrumental combo The Ventures and jazz musician George Benson, took up the guitar. The entrepreneurial James Guercio was now directing a movie, Electra Glide In Blue, about an Arizona motorcycle cops run-in with local hippies. He collected guns and started taking them everywhere, says Seraphine. We recently saw CHICAGO at a sold out show at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, All I can say is they havent lost a beat and I personally think they are probably better than they ever were. Well, it sounds good and he looks really good while doing it so, there is that. I had to touch his body at the funeral, to realise that it was just a shell, that Terry had gone.. Kath's death on January 23, 1978 is a watershed in rock history, but some confusion remains about what actually happened to him. "Four Marines didn't like a long-haired rock 'n' roller in a baseball park," Cetera later recalled in the liner notes to the Chicagobox set. Guercio said that when they were at the same festivals, they had a nice relationship together., With Chicago, Kath performed blazing guitar on such tracks as Introduction, Free Form Guitar, South California Purples, and Dialogue (Parts One and Two), while his deep, Ray Charleslike vocals were heard on tracks like Make Me Smile, Colour My World, and Little One. Most recognizable is Kaths legendary guitar playing on Chicagos classic hit 25 or 6 to 4, performed onstage as an extended solo showcase in contrast to the original studio version on the Chicago album. By now, however, Kaths drug use was becoming a serious issue. [40], Kath had a self-admitted history of drug abuse, including alcohol. His eyes were wide open, staring off blankly into the distance.. After the tour, however, Cetera tells FBPO he got a notice in the mail asking him to do the album and another tour. Michelle Kath Sinclair accepted the award on her father's behalf. Blow my brains out? I hardly think that they had to stop playing without Terry Kath or Peter Cetera (although Cetera's replacement doesn't have the range to sing his songs). Just to try and figure out what hes doing takes four or five days. Seraphine remembers that Kath exuded a charisma that intrigued me from the beginning. . Former Chicago bassist and singer Peter Cetera found out the hard way that the phrase "root, root, root for the home team" isnt just a catchy line from a beloved song. His style was often compared to that of his peer, Jimi Hendrix, who often claimed that he was one of Terry's biggest fans. The real Chicago Transit Authority objected to the band's use of the name so in mid-1969 the name was shortened to Chicago. amp. And we had to learn that you cant. Considered to be the bandleader, Kath guided the band's musical direction. The bassists beloved Chicago Cubs were set to take on the L.A. team in the first of a three-game series. [20], Kath was regarded as Chicago's bandleader[21] and best soloist;[1] his vocal, jazz and hard rock influences are regarded as integral to the band's early sound. a far cry from their 80s ballads for sure. At that time, he was taking in large amounts of drugs and alcohol to cope with the busy tour schedule and his friend's death. Chicago on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Reuniting With Peter Cetera, Aside from exploring his life in a hugely popular band, The Terry Kath Experience also delves into Kaths substance abuse and his ultimately fatal interest in guns. Cetera went on to write or co-write some of Chicagos most familiar songs including, "Baby, What a Big Surprise," "Feelin Stronger Everyday"and "If You Leave Me Now," which became the groups first No. It was high-pitched and permeated any decibel level. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23 (UP1)Terry Kath, lead singer and guitarist for the rock group Chicago, accidentally shot himself to death tonight following Party. The Terry Kath Fan Group is a place to keep the man alive. But at the peak of his career, on January 23rd, 1978, Kath died in a gun accident at the age of 31, a tragedy that effectively marked the end of Chicagos first successful era, and that still resonates with his friends and loved ones. By the age of 19 he was playing bass in local act Jimmy Ford And The Executives, where he met two future Chicago members: sax player Walt Parazaider and drummer Danny Seraphine. Let me tell you, hes a great guy. His interest in music dimmed for a while in the late Nineties, but reawakened in 2002, when keyboardist and producer David Foster, whod collaborated with him in Chicago, asked him to sing an orchestral version of his songs for The Concert for World Childrens Day in Chicago. Directors Michelle Kath SInclair Starring Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, James Pankow Genres Documentary He often collaborated with Cetera on lead vocals, as they did in "Dialogue (Part I & II)" "Ain't It Blue" "In The Country" and "Brand New Love Affair". Weary of the praise journalists were heaping on home-grown guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, Kath slagged off Clapton (He sucks!) and shouted: Fuck you England, you motherfuckin teabag faggot motherfuckers!, That queered us, says Seraphine. Hes also happy to share that hes back on the bass. [24], The group's first album, Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969, includes Kath's composition "Introduction," described as "Terry's masterpiece" by later Chicago guitarist Dawayne Bailey. When Chicago founder Terry Kath accidentally shot himself dead, the world was robbed of one of its greatest guitarists. So, in a melancholy way, I wrote it about that, and then I wrote it about myself, and about the world, and about everything in general and that was my first writing credit.". The hardest thing was trying to replace Terry, which was impossible. What do you think Im going to do? There was cocaine everywhere.. He was incredibly unhappy and depressed, revealed Jimmy Pankow, and doing drugs on top of that compounded the situation.. When The Big Thing played the Mothers Of Inventions How Could I Be Such A Fool, a Milwaukee club owner fired them on the spot. I thought it was a dream. He wasn't a stupid guy, but waving a gun around when you've been awake doing cocaine for a couple of days isn't very smart. He refused. [4][5] He was raised in the Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago. I think he is way too classy and a terrific singer to go back to Chicago for one day. Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago. He was tired of the same licks he was playing. Today he wonders whether Kath would have continued playing with Chicago. In a Louder Sound article written for Terry Kath in 2015, Danny Seraphine mentions Kath's gun addiction, with the piece continuing to state that the bandmates feared Kath's fixation on guns. But I had to see for myself. When you took solos, youd listen for Terrys whistle. "[39] Kath was one of the three primary lead singers of Chicago, with a vocal range between those of the other two, Peter Cetera's higher tenor and Robert Lamm's fuller, lower baritone. It served as the showcase for their horn section. Ive now been sober thirty seven years.. We want to hear it. Theyd taken Terrys body away, but there was blood everywhere.. Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago. [59], On April 8, 2016, Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He collected guns and started taking them everywhere. Terry Kath was just a week shy of his 32nd birthday when he accidentally killed himself. Did the 1978 death of Chicago lead singer Terry Kath, who accidentally killed himself playing Russian roulette while apparently under the influence of alcohol, serve to intensify Cetera`s desire . [42] The night before he died, Kath visited bandmate Laudir de Oliveira. At first we were upset that Columbia were bastardising our music, admits Loughnane. He was just a total experimenter". Hopefully people will go explore that a little bit more.. Though his corresponding solo efforts connected with the public, he grew frustrated with his label, Warner Bros., feeling they failed to push his work in hopes of reuniting him with the band. Was I fired or did I quit? Chicagos best days were with Terry Kath and to a lesser extent Hot Streets. Former Chicago bassist and singer Peter Cetera found out the hard way that the phrase "root, root, root for the home team" isn't just a catchy line from a beloved song. While some fans claim that Chicago died with the untimely death of guitarist Terry Kath, others soldier on with the band through the late 70s boogie era to early 80s slick synth pop/rock and vocalist/bassist Peter Cetera's departure in 1985. Band members have since wondered if Kath would have stayed with Chicago had he lived or started a solo career. Saw Peter recently at Mohegan Sun. Required fields are marked *. BA1 1UA. His brother played the drums and his mother played the banjo,[7] and Kath attempted to learn these instruments too. He was a songwriter and a great singer. We lost him way too early., The news of Kaths shocking death was nearly enough to dissolve Chicago for good. He drove straight to Johnsons apartment, to find the roadie sobbing in the corner. How in the world did he get a guitar to sound like that?. Performing on bass again is still a pretty new development for him. Myth #6: After Terry Kath's death, Peter Cetera took control of the band and turned them into the ballad band they're known most for being. I was really good at it. Joking around with a friend, Kath held what he thought. If you listen to the music, its heavily driven by his sound. [6] He attended Taft High School. Kath sang lead vocals on several of Chicago's early songs, including "I'm a Man" (Chicago Transit Authority), "Colour My World", "Make Me Smile" (both part of "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon"), "Movin' In", and "In The Country" (Chicago II), "Free" (Chicago III), "Dialogue (Part I & II)" (Chicago V), "Wishing You Were Here" (Chicago VII), and "Brand New Love Affair" (Chicago VIII). Kaths accidental shooting was a tragic final act for a husband and father, and a musician once described by Jimi Hendrix as better than me. The Tragic Death of Terry Kath & Danny Seraphine's Last Words to Him Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum 134K subscribers Subscribe 5.4K Share 254K views 2 years ago Part One:. That was just the coolest thing Id ever seen.. And you can hear that in his records., One key piece of Kath lore was when Jimi Hendrix once told Parazaider after a Chicago gig at L.A.s Whisky a Go Go that your guitar player is better than me. They were opening up for Jimi Hendrix when they were still Chicago Transit Authority, says Sinclair. But, inevitably, its different. The film soundtrack featured the exquisite Kath-sung ballad Tell Me. Terry Alan Kath was born January 31, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. The NYT's reports a new survey showing The life of a star performer is not an easy one. Johnson warned him to be careful. Mgmt wanted more of Peter's ballads. He had been making music with Kath since he was a freshman at DePaul University in the mid-60s. Robert Lamm, Peter Cetera, Walt Parazaider, James Pankow, and Danny Seraphine - along with the group's . It was the day his friend, Chicagos guitarist Terry Kath, shot himself dead after a game of Russian roulette went horribly wrong. It didnt help that James Guercios other new signing, fellow Columbia rocknroll with horns act Blood, Sweat & Tears, had just hit No.1 with their second album. The 100 Best Albums of 2022, In addition to archival footage of Kath in performance and conversation, Sinclairs documentary includes new interviews with the original surviving members of Chicago Loughnane, Robert Lamm, Peter Cetera, Walt Parazaider, James Pankow, and Danny Seraphine along with the groups former producer/manager James William Guercio, and Kaths widow (and Sinclairs mom) Camelia. But Terry was doing all that stuff Hendrix was doing before we heard Hendrix do it., As Kath told Guitar Player magazine in a rare interview in 1971: Jimi was playing all the stuff I had in my head. The tragic passing of Terry Kath in 1978 marks the unofficial boundary between Chicago's earlier jazz/fusion/rock style and the band's later incarnation as an adult contemporary powerhouse. Contemporaneous newspaper reports indicate that he accidentally shot himself with a 9mm automatic at roadie Don Johnson's house after a party in front of Camelia. They ran a lodge and enjoyed entertaining people, says Michelle. But the memory of Terry Kath is in danger of fading with each passing year, which is why in 2012, Kaths daughter, Los Angeles club DJ Michelle Sinclair, decided to try to make a crowd-funded documentary about him. He studied all kinds of different styles. As a sophomore in high school, he befriended a guitar-playing senior he refers to as the last of the beatniks, who provided him with guidance on playing the instrument. According to him, Kath brought his guns into the apartment and began cleaning a 9mm semi-automatic pistol at the kitchen table. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Cetera, youre 70. And we got a pretty good bench., Vowing to carry on, the remaining members convened in the studio to record what became their 10th original album, Hot Streets. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Im a bass player and had the opportunity to hang out with Peter a few years ago, here on Kauai. Chicago's Terry Kath: Inside the Life and Tragic Death of an Unsung Guitar Hero Admirers such as Joe Walsh remember Kath's genius, as chronicled in a moving new doc directed by the musician's daughter By David Chiu December 11, 2017 . [52] The film made its world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, renamed as The Terry Kath Experience,[53] and Peter Cetera was listed among the cast members. After Cetera joined forces with them, they changed names, first to The Chicago Transit Authority and later to Chicago. His first main instrument that he used when Chicago were still The Big Thing was a Register guitar that cost $80. As for a Chicago reunion, the groups former bassist and vocalist says thats just not in the cards. Kath also played lead guitar and sang lead vocals on the closing song "Tell Me" in the 1973 drama movie Electra Glide in Blue. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, In 1968, Chicago Transit Authority signed to Columbia and were soon recording their debut album, with Guercio (who also controlled their management and publishing) producing. 7. Kath picked up a semi-automatic 9-mm pistol and, leaning back in a chair, said to Johnson, "Don't worry about it Look, the clip is not even in it." I dont know how much of it was recorded, but he was going in that direction. Its a shame that young people never got a chance to see him live [onstage]. [7] In a 1971 interview for Guitar Player, he said he had tried professional lessons but abandoned them, adding "All I wanted to do was play those rock and roll chords. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he lives in Brooklyn, where he can be found DJing '60s soul records. Hes doing great on his own. Our initial idea was to bring it to Vegas and be a show band, Loughnane, 70, tells PEOPLE. Kath died on January 23, 1978, of an accidental gunshot wound. Maybe Carlos [Santana], but you dont play the same thing twice. [1] The song "Beginnings" includes acoustic rhythm guitar by Kath. The shift in style turned out to be a sound decision. That said, he has a special place for his Pat Wilkins custom bass. July 29, 2015 Peter Cetera's many talents should be readily apparent to those familiar with his powerful contributions to the beloved brass-laden rock band Chicago. Kath then put the clip back into the gun and began waving it around, believing the chamber was empty. In one scene, Kath is seen racing his motorcycle around the mountains. When a friend urged him to be cautious, he removed the clip to show that it was empty. I never knew how wonderful Chicago was until I seen a documentary on Netflix, all I can say is wow! His father, Ray, and his mother, Evelyn, loved music. Among the re-discovered equipment was his "Pignose" Telecaster, an Ovation acoustic, a Fender Stratocaster, and a Gibson SG Custom with the pickups removed. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. And given how well albums like Chicago 16 and 17 did, why NOT go solo, especially when he'd sang all the big hits. [48] Kath's position as guitarist in Chicago was filled first by Donnie Dacus,[49] then by Chris Pinnick, Dawayne Bailey, and Keith Howland. Its not the same band, says Lee Loughnane. CHICAGO: THE TERRY KATH EXPERIENCE was directed and produced by Michelle Kath Sinclair, and was produced by Jordan Levy and Tony Papa. Premium Access. Its relentless from note one, says Walsh of Kaths performance on that song. Apr 26, 2012 #3. [57] The film made its television premiere on AXS TV, under the name Chicago: The Terry Kath Experience, on November 7, 2017, and it was released as VOD and DVD on December 12. . A singer, songwriter and wildly adventurous guitar player, Kath was the bedrock of Chicago, the daredevil group who had been meshing rock, jazz and classical styles across 11 hit albums since 1969. All rights reserved. Chicago really wasn't the same without him. [citation needed], Kath is interred near his mother, Evelyn Kath, and father, Raymond Kath, in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California, in the Gardens of Remembrance.[46][47]. When we started, we thought we could get away with anything musically, sighs Loughnane. He and singer Peter Cetera started the band, but Kath's time in the spotlight was to be cut short.. I think that couldve have been the thing that put him more on the map as a guitarist. Adds Walsh: With that [band] dynamic [in Chicago], he needed to do a solo album. 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