Chicago Returns to Seoul for Feb. Concert
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Experience a sense of nostalgia for the 1970s and 1980s when legendary American band Chicago holds a concert in Seoul next month.
Chicago is heading back here for its second concert on Feb. 23, at the Olympic Fencing Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. It has been seven years since the band first performed in Seoul, back in 2003.
Chicago, whose music combines pop, rock and jazz, is one of the longest running pop-rock groups in the music industry, having been together for more than 40 years. Among its most famous songs are ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry,'' ``If You Leave Me Now,'' ``Love Me Tomorrow'' and ``You're the Inspiration.''
Formed in 1967 in the Illinois capital, the band was originally composed of saxophonist Walter Parazaider, guitarist Terry Kath, drummer Danny Seraphine, trumpet player Lee Loughnane, trombonist James Pankow, keyboardist Robert Lamm and bassist Peter Cetera.
Their dream was ``to integrate all the musical diversity from their beloved city and weave a new sound, a rock 'n' roll band with horns.''
The band was originally named The Big Thing, which was then changed to Chicago Transit Authority. Their debut album ``Chicago Transit Authority'' was released in 1969.
They later shortened the group's name, when they came out with ``Chicago II'' in 1970 and ``Chicago III'' in 1971. Ever since then, their albums have always been sequentially numbered and featured the recognizable Chicago logo.
Their hits in the 1970s included ``Make Me Smile,'' ``25 or 6 to 4,'' ``Saturday in the Park,'' ``Feelin' Stronger Every Day,'' ``Wishing You Were Here'' and ``Old Days." In 1976, Chicago topped the charts with the ballad ``If You Leave Me Now.''
In 1981, Chicago entered a new phase in its career, working with producer David Foster, a new record label and the addition of new members. The re-energized band hit number one with ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away.''
The album ``Chicago 17'' proved to be the band's bestselling album, with hits ``You're the Inspiration,'' ``Hard Habit to Break,'' ``Stay the Night'' and ``Along Comes a Woman.''
Throughout their career, Chicago has reaped sales from more than 120 million sold records, 20 Top 10 hits and 12 Top 10 albums, of which five went to number one.
Their latest album ``Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus'' was released in 2008.
The band's popularity may have declined in recent years, but Chicago continues to tour extensively. Last year, the group had a joint tour with another long-running group Earth, Wind & Fire.
The current line-up of Chicago still includes founding members Lamm, keyboard and vocals; Loughnane, trumpet; Pankow, trombone; and Parazaider, woodwinds. They are joined by Jason Scheff, bass and vocals; Tris Imboden, drums; Keith Howland, guitar; and Lou Pardinini, keyboard and vocals.
Tickets to Chicago's Seoul concert are 150,000, 90,000, 70,000 and 50,000 won. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Visit ticket.interpark.com (1544-1555).