With
it’s signature horn riff and one of the most famous opening
lines in rock’n’roll, "I’m the friendly stranger in the
black sedan, won’t you hop inside my car", the Ides of
March’s Vehicle has earned it’s place in rock history, but the
story behind The Ides of March has a resonance that few bands can
match.
The Ides are commonly referred to as "Chicago’s Band"
and it’s easy to see why. Formed in 1965 in the Chicago suburb
of Berwyn, all the members: Jim Peterik – lead vocal, lead
guitar; Larry Millas – vocals, guitar, bass; Bob Bergland –
bass, vocals, sax; Mike Borch – drums, vocals; Chuck Soumar –
trumpet, percussion, vocals; and John Larson – trumpet, vocals
have been friends since grade school. As freshmen and sophomore at
Morton West High School studying Julius Caesar, the Ides of March
were formed. The band developed a strong local following playing
teen clubs and sock hops after school basketball games. Their
determination led to a contract with London Parrot Records and
their first single, "You Wouldn’t
Listen", which made it to #42 on the Billboard charts
and #7 on Chicago’s WLS survey in the spring of 1966.
The Ides of March toured America and Canada on weekends while
keeping up their high school education. In 1970 they got their big
break. Warner Bros. Records signed them and released their
million-seller, "Vehicle".
The song went to #1 in Cashbox and #2 in Billboard and became the
fastest breaking single in Warner Bros. history.
The Ides, now in college, toured with bands such as Led Zeppelin,
the Allman Brothers, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead
and Poco. They appeared on many television shows including Dick
Clark, Mama Cass, John Byner, Dennis Holey and many more. "Vehicle",
which Jim Peterik wrote and sang, has since become a horn band
classic, being performed on the Tonight Show by Tom Jones and
Sammy Davis Jr. It also became the centerpiece of Sylvester
Stallone's motion picture smash, Lock Up.
In 1971, the Ides released "L.A.
Goodbye" which stayed at #1 for five weeks on the
Chicago charts. It is still a much requested song at radio,
currently on heavy rotation on The Drive, 97.1 in Chicago.
In 1973, after 15 singles and 4 albums, the Ides went on a
seventeen-year sabbatical. Jim Peterik went on the platinum
success as co-founder, song-writer and keyboardist with the group,
Survivor, co-penning all of their hits including the motivational
anthem from Rocky III, "Eye Of The Tiger", as
well as "The Search Is Over", "High On You",
"I Can’t Hold Back" and "Burning Heart" from
Rocky IV. He also co-wrote hits for 38 Special including
"Hold On Loosely", "Caught Up In You",
"Fantasy Girl" and "Rockin’ Into The Night".
He and Sammy Hagar wrote "Heavy Metal" for the animated
classic of the same name. Many of these songs can be heard in a
typical Ides set arranged in true Ides of March fashion.
In 1990, the original six members of The Ides of March with the
addition of long-time friend Scott May on keyboards and Dave
Stahlberg on trombone reunited for what was supposed to be a
one-time concert for Berwyn’s Summerfaire. The event drew 25,000
fans and convinced the Ides to extend their tour indefinitely.
Each year, their fan base continues to grow, not only drawing
their loyal followers, but also their children and grandchildren.
The Ide’s goodtime spirit never grows old!
The Ides are that rare commodity that still has all of its
original members for the over 30 years since they started. It’s
their special chemistry that makes every Ides show a memorable
experience. Their trademark combination of horns and harmony and
Peterik’s growling vocals always brings the audience to their
feet.
The Ides have never been a band to rest on their laurels. 1998 saw
the release of Age Before Beauty. This EP features the
title cut (with lyrics including "The fountain of youth is a
state of mind, so move over cutie, it’s Age Before
Beauty"). Also include is an instrumental adaptation of
"Vehicle" called "Friendly Stranger" which is
currently an NBA favorite. In addition the Ides have recorded two
much played tributes to Chicago’s great baseball teams: Finally
Next Year (Cubs) and Wild-Eyed South-Side Boys (Sox) – a takeoff
on Jim Peterik’s big hit with 38 Special, Wild-Eyed Southern
Boys.
In addition to their new greatest hits package, Ideology II.0,
the Ides version of The Star Spangled Banner is included on the
911 Relief Project album called The Day America Cried along with
artists like Johnny VanZant of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Don Barnes of 38
Special. A double live album is in the works for release also.
As unusual as it seems, after 35 years of making music together,
it appears that the best days of The Ides of March are still to
come.
With
it’s signature horn riff and one of the most famous opening
lines in rock’n’roll, "I’m the friendly stranger in the
black sedan, won’t you hop inside my car", the Ides of
March’s Vehicle has earned it’s place in rock history, but the
story behind The Ides of March has a resonance that few bands can
match.
