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Is Chicago the biggest act of all time with no real "rockstar" pop culture presence?
Posted on 10/28/20 at 3:52 pm
Posted on 10/28/20 at 3:52 pm
Look at how massive these guys were (are):
LINK
And yet...Peter Cetera is the biggest "star"? I'm a fan, so I can name some of the others, but I'll bet not many people can name the 3-5 other leads they had over the years.
Also, in any other band, it feels like Terry Kath's death would be a huge pop culture milestone. Instead, he is outright obscure.
I think I read in Don Felder's (or one of the Eagles' books) about how Chicago would have family picnics for the band and he was jealous of that because the Eagles were so defined by vicious (and often public) infighting and drama.
quote:
Chicago’s, record sales top the 100,000,000 mark, and include 21 Top 10 singles, 5 consecutive number one albums, 11 number one singles and 5 gold singles. An incredible 25 of their 32 albums have been certified platinum, and Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in five decades. Additionally, in Billboard magazine's issue celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Hot 100 Song & Artist chart of their all time Top 100 artists. Chicago came in at #13. They also have the distinction of being the top American band on the list.
LINK
And yet...Peter Cetera is the biggest "star"? I'm a fan, so I can name some of the others, but I'll bet not many people can name the 3-5 other leads they had over the years.
Also, in any other band, it feels like Terry Kath's death would be a huge pop culture milestone. Instead, he is outright obscure.
I think I read in Don Felder's (or one of the Eagles' books) about how Chicago would have family picnics for the band and he was jealous of that because the Eagles were so defined by vicious (and often public) infighting and drama.
12
Posted on 10/28/20 at 5:59 pm to Big Scrub TX
I agree. Peter Cetera went solo and was successful that way. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to point any of them out of a lineup.
But to be honest, if you showed me a picture of Steve Miller, I wouldn't recognize him. I have no idea.
But to be honest, if you showed me a picture of Steve Miller, I wouldn't recognize him. I have no idea.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 6:57 pm to Big Scrub TX
I don't know where the line of 11 number one singles came from. Maybe that includes A/C or Cashbox but on Billboard, they have three number ones: If You Leave Me Now, Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry, and Look Away.
I'm a huge of fan of theirs and recognize their greatness, especially the Kath years. Cetera had to take over following his death as many of the others were so f'd up on drugs and alcohol. He seemed to be happy with parting ways they have continued on
I'm a huge of fan of theirs and recognize their greatness, especially the Kath years. Cetera had to take over following his death as many of the others were so f'd up on drugs and alcohol. He seemed to be happy with parting ways they have continued on
Posted on 10/28/20 at 7:14 pm to Big Scrub TX
Outside of their music, what do you remember about Led Zeppelin?
Robert Plant had a lot of hair, John Bonham trashed hotel rooms (stealing Keith Moon's shtick) and Jimmy Page was into statnism and Aleister Crowley (there were other, even more sordid rumors about Page, but we won't get into those here).
Unlike the Beatles or David Bowie, they didn't give glib interviews. They didn't make movies or start fashion trends. Outside their genre, they had little impact on pop music in general.
Considering how many records they sold (at one point one of their albums was supposedly selling 25K copies an hour), they had surprisingly little presence in the culture at large.
Robert Plant had a lot of hair, John Bonham trashed hotel rooms (stealing Keith Moon's shtick) and Jimmy Page was into statnism and Aleister Crowley (there were other, even more sordid rumors about Page, but we won't get into those here).
Unlike the Beatles or David Bowie, they didn't give glib interviews. They didn't make movies or start fashion trends. Outside their genre, they had little impact on pop music in general.
Considering how many records they sold (at one point one of their albums was supposedly selling 25K copies an hour), they had surprisingly little presence in the culture at large.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 7:17 pm to Big Scrub TX
They had a following with people who were into jazz/pop fusion stuff, like my dad who was into Dave Brubeck, Blood Sweat & Tears and stuff like that first. Kind of following that wasn't going to sell out stadiums, but could sell some records.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 8:59 pm to Big Scrub TX
Probably.
Kool and the Gang would be another one. Most people could probably pick the lead singer out of a line up, but I doubt very many of them would know him by name.
Kool and the Gang would be another one. Most people could probably pick the lead singer out of a line up, but I doubt very many of them would know him by name.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 9:24 pm to Big Scrub TX
Actually it was by design that Chicago members were mostly incognito. Their album covers never showed any of the band members. It was the way their managers promoted them.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 9:48 pm to TigerBR1111
quote:LINK
Actually it was by design that Chicago members were mostly incognito. Their album covers never showed any of the band members. It was the way their managers promoted them.
quote:
James William Guercio (born July 18, 1945) is an American music producer, musician, songwriter and director. He is well known for his work as the producer of Chicago's early albums as well as early recordings of The Buckinghams and Blood, Sweat & Tears. He has worked briefly in the motion picture industry as a producer and director. In the mid 1970s, Guercio managed the Beach Boys and was a member of their backing band.
quote:
In 1978, Guercio split with Chicago, as a result of the discovery that his contract paid him 51% of profits, with the other 49% going to the other eight members of Chicago, who split it evenly. Upon discovery of the inequity, band members decided that it was time for a change. In the CNN Biography: "Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago", the groups' discontent with Guercio was revealed, indicating that "millions of dollars" had gone to Guercio, under his tenure as band manager.
Posted on 10/28/20 at 11:28 pm to Kafka
quote:I'll have to respectfully disagree. People still talk about Bonham's death. Terry Kath is almost an asterisk, despite the fact that Hendrix himself said Kath was better. And all of them were responsible for some of the most infamous "rockstar" stories of all time. Additionally, Plant had a big solo career + Page Plant + Coverdale Page. I feel like it's been all Robert Plant all the time for decades.
Outside of their music, what do you remember about Led Zeppelin?
Robert Plant had a lot of hair, John Bonham trashed hotel rooms (stealing Keith Moon's shtick) and Jimmy Page was into statnism and Aleister Crowley (there were other, even more sordid rumors about Page, but we won't get into those here).
Unlike the Beatles or David Bowie, they didn't give glib interviews. They didn't make movies or start fashion trends. Outside their genre, they had little impact on pop music in general.
Considering how many records they sold (at one point one of their albums was supposedly selling 25K copies an hour), they had surprisingly little presence in the culture at large.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 5:52 am to Big Scrub TX
quote:
Is Chicago the biggest act of all time with no real "rockstar" pop culture presence?
A good argument could be made for this
Posted on 10/29/20 at 6:05 am to Kafka
quote:
Outside their genre, they had little impact on pop music in general. Considering how many records they sold (at one point one of their albums was supposedly selling 25K copies an hour), they had surprisingly little presence in the culture at large.
Lol, wat?
This post was edited on 10/29/20 at 6:06 am
Posted on 10/29/20 at 8:01 am to Kafka
quote:
Outside of their music, what do you remember about Led Zeppelin?
quote:
Robert Plant
quote:
, John Bonham
quote:
Jimmy Page
I'll take, "3 names every rock fan knows" for $800, Alex.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 8:02 am to Big Scrub TX
quote:
Terry Kath is almost an asterisk
The poster child for rock and roll gun safety, baws.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 9:08 am to Big Scrub TX
It's two different bands too. Chicago with Terry Kath is a completely different animal than the David Foster/Peter Cetera w/ Chicago post 1978.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 9:09 am to Kafka
quote:
they had surprisingly little presence in the culture at large.
Probably not as much as The Beatles or The Stones but I feel like they are responsible for white teenagers getting stoned before school culture and the terrible 80's hair metal.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 10:52 am to Kafka
quote:
Considering how many records they sold (at one point one of their albums was supposedly selling 25K copies an hour), they had surprisingly little presence in the culture at large.
To a degree you are correct. I recall from numerous books and sources from the band that Zepplin was really frustrated that they didn't get the mainstream accolades the way the Stones did.
In the Seventies they out sold the Stones and outdrew them on the concert circuit. Yet - press like Rolling Stone magazine trashed and derided them and their fans who were considered a bunch of rubes. The mainstream music press in general gave Led Zepplin little respect at the time. The Stones were hip, cool, edgy, and glamorous.....Zepplin was considered none of things. The Stones were much more media savvy with superstar Jagger/Richards than Zepplin who had that mysterious quality and also were extremely hostile to the press in general. Zepplin were considered mouth breathing barbarians not to be taken seriously as artists despite the fact they are one the most influential bands ever.
This post was edited on 10/29/20 at 11:05 am
Posted on 10/29/20 at 11:52 am to Big Chipper
quote:I agree (mostly) - which makes my argument even stronger. They should be EXTRA famous.
It's two different bands too. Chicago with Terry Kath is a completely different animal than the David Foster/Peter Cetera w/ Chicago post 1978.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 3:19 pm to Kafka
I join the chorus of those who disagree with you on Zeppelin's impact on popular culture.
Leagues of rock and roll front-men have based their stage persona on Robert Plant. Jimmy Page's influence can be heard everywhere. Damn near everyone knows John Bonham's name, and he was the drummer. The Immigrant Song. The mud-shark. Crowley. The Zoso symbols and the mythical status of their fourth album.
Every white male who'll ever live will have at least a short Zeppelin phase.
Leagues of rock and roll front-men have based their stage persona on Robert Plant. Jimmy Page's influence can be heard everywhere. Damn near everyone knows John Bonham's name, and he was the drummer. The Immigrant Song. The mud-shark. Crowley. The Zoso symbols and the mythical status of their fourth album.
Every white male who'll ever live will have at least a short Zeppelin phase.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 3:35 pm to Big Chipper
quote:
It's two different bands too. Chicago with Terry Kath is a completely different animal than the David Foster/Peter Cetera w/ Chicago post 1978.
Totally agree. 80s Chicago, especially late 80s sucked serious arse. I hope that I go the rest of my life without hearing "Look Away" or any of that other crap again.
Posted on 10/29/20 at 3:37 pm to Big Scrub TX
quote:
I agree (mostly) - which makes my argument even stronger. They should be EXTRA famous.
Who should be? The entire band? They had at least 4 different singers. That's probably why no member stands out. If Terry Kath had lived longer, there is no doubt that he'd be that guy.
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