By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Chicago, one of the longest-lasting pop-rock bands in the world, shares some secrets to its longevity. Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of Chicago in 1967, believes their secret is in the music.
``It is original music and most of songs are very, very good, very sophisticated and people around the world, they sense that the music is authentic, and that's what keeps us going,'' he said, in an email interview with The Korea Times.
It's been more than 40 years since the band was formed in the Windy City, with Lamm, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, guitarist Terry Kath, drummer Danny Seraphine, trumpet player Lee Loughnane, trombonist James Pankow and bassist Peter Cetera. While the lineup has changed over the years, Chicago has continued to delight fans around the world with their music.
Throughout their career, Chicago has sold more than 120 million records, including 20 Top 10 hits and 12 Top 10 albums. Their songs ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry,'' ``If You Leave Me Now,'' ``Love Me Tomorrow'' and ``You're the Inspiration'' remain favorites among music lovers to this day.
Lamm said Chicago's music has always been very original, and never copied the style of other bands. ``If someone listens to the first album through the last album today, the songs on those albums sound so fresh until today, because it's totally original and because Chicago did not want to imitate the music of other bands. We just wanted to make our own music and I think that is the key,'' he said.
Throughout the years, Chicago has remained strong, survived many challenges and have become like a real family.
``Over 40 years in any family, there are changes such as marriage, divorce, death and all kinds of things, like in our band. ... Finally, we are coming (back) to Korea and we sound so good right now. I think of our history and I always feel good even though some bad things have happened because, as you say, we survived,'' Lamm said.
Chicago is coming back to Seoul for a second concert on Feb. 23 at the Olympic Fencing Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. It's been seven years since the band performed in Seoul in 2003.
Lamm said he was surprised and happy to be asked to return to Seoul, and his wife, who was born in Korea, was even happier. However, she can't make the trip this time.
``We hope that it won't be seven more years before we come back again,'' he said.
``We are so excited and honored to be invited to return to Seoul. We have very good memories about last time and we want to make another good memory with the audience when we have a concert in February.''
Tickets to Chicago's concert are 150,000 won, 90,000 won, 70,000 won and 50,000 won. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Visit ticket.interpark.com (1544-1555).