Bill Champlin.... NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[G.I.Jim]

Damnit, I just read the front page and see where Champlin has now left Chicago. To me, this is the end of Chicago. We have Scheff out there with shitty vocals now (he hasn't sounded good to me in years), and now the only other main voice for the band is gone. Not to mention the fact that he was a great keyboardist and songwriter for the band...
DAMN!!!

Any other Chicago fans in here?

[Glenn]

Why did he leave ?

is Robert Lamm still there ?

[G.I.Jim]

I guess he left for his solo career, but I suspect that there's more to it than that. Robert is still there, but I've never cared for his vocals. I wonder if they'll throw in the towel without him? Well, we'll never hear this song like this again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObCbgqxM ... re=related


Very sad news.

[G.I.Jim]

This song will also never be the same!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-UYwXiZ ... re=related

[Ehwmatt]

WTF?!!! At first I thought I was gonna read he was dead, which woulda been far worse, but this is shocking... Bill's in his 60s isn't he? Maybe he's just burnt out on the road... Chicago pretty much never stops touring. Bill and Robert were definitely the best things Chicago had left going. Jason was awesome at the start, but like Augeri, he seems to have toasted his voice. Those two are very analogous to me now that I think about it. I really love a lot of their studio output, have seen them bring it live a couple of times, but they both lost it...

The only good that can come out of this is if we get more albums like No Place Left To Fall... a truly great album with great production

[Ehwmatt]

Also, I was just thinking how many songs they are going to have to really improvise on... pretty much every big 80s ballad had Champlin at least sharing if not having all the lead vocal duties (hard to say i'm sorry, hard habit, if she would have been faithful, look away, you're not alone, i don't wanna live without your love, chasin the wind... the list goes ON) and he sang a LOT of the popular Kath stuff live (Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon, Dialogue etc etc.)... Robert can probably take some of the Kath stuff but who's gonna take the more bluesy, soulful Kath stuff and all of Champlin's vocals? This is gonna hurt them big-time.

[hoagiepete]

Yes f me. Going to see them next week with my wife for our 23rd anniversary. I saw them a couple of years ago and have been propping them with my wife since as to how great they sounded and how much fun they seemed to be having on stage.

Wonder what they are going to do in the short term?

This pretty much bites.

[Hollywood]

Also, I was just thinking how many songs they are going to have to really improvise on... pretty much every big 80s ballad had Champlin at least sharing if not having all the lead vocal duties (hard to say i'm sorry, hard habit, if she would have been faithful, look away, you're not alone, i don't wanna live without your love, chasin the wind... the list goes ON) and he sang a LOT of the popular Kath stuff live (Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon, Dialogue etc etc.)... Robert can probably take some of the Kath stuff but who's gonna take the more bluesy, soulful Kath stuff and all of Champlin's vocals? This is gonna hurt them big-time.

How long has it been since you have seen them? The only songs they played consistently from the '80s are 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry' and 'You're the Inspiration'. They have not play much else in 10 years. I saw them in 2007 and the played a 5 minute medley of Champlin songs from the 80's and that was it.

This band is falling apart in more ways than one.

Bill has left. The most likely scenario I see is that Keith Howland will cover Bill's and Terry's parts.

Jim and Walt are rarely performing anymore. They usually make the big tours like this year with Earth, Wind, and Fire. The normal gigs Chicago plays has replacement horns. Walt lives here in Vegas and doesn't come out to the shows.

Tris Imboden has cancer and has understandabley missed some gigs.

[Ehwmatt]

Also, I was just thinking how many songs they are going to have to really improvise on... pretty much every big 80s ballad had Champlin at least sharing if not having all the lead vocal duties (hard to say i'm sorry, hard habit, if she would have been faithful, look away, you're not alone, i don't wanna live without your love, chasin the wind... the list goes ON) and he sang a LOT of the popular Kath stuff live (Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon, Dialogue etc etc.)... Robert can probably take some of the Kath stuff but who's gonna take the more bluesy, soulful Kath stuff and all of Champlin's vocals? This is gonna hurt them big-time.

How long has it been since you have seen them? The only songs they played consistently from the '80s are 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry' and 'You're the Inspiration'. They have not play much else in 10 years. I saw them in 2007 and the played a 5 minute medley of Champlin songs from the 80's and that was it.

This band is falling apart in more ways than one.

Bill has left. The most likely scenario I see is that Keith Howland will cover Bill's and Terry's parts.

Jim and Walt are rarely performing anymore. They usually make the big tours like this year with Earth, Wind, and Fire. The normal gigs Chicago plays has replacement horns. Walt lives here in Vegas and doesn't come out to the shows.

Tris Imboden has cancer and has understandabley missed some gigs.

Last saw them in 07 as well... didn't catch em last year or so far this year. I have seen them play Look Away and You're Not Alone in full, as well as the medley and Hard To Say and Hard Habit. Plus, this takes away a lot of potential songs they might have thrown in had Champlin not left, their setlists before notwithstanding. You're right, they are just falling apart... the last gig I saw with them featured the replacement horns as well. It's probably time for them to hang it up. Robert Lamm's solo stuff is really good too and I love his New Zealand live DVD. Perhaps another Lamm collaboration with Gerry Beckley of America is in order...

Keith on Kath and Champlin seems like a pretty awful match... he is more of a tenor and not that strong of a lead singer (see: Old Days on the A&E By Request DVD). Ugh.

[Ehwmatt]

Yes f me. Going to see them next week with my wife for our 23rd anniversary. I saw them a couple of years ago and have been propping them with my wife since as to how great they sounded and how much fun they seemed to be having on stage.

Wonder what they are going to do in the short term?

This pretty much bites.

That sucks... hopefully you'll get to hear a lot of Robert Lamm. He still sounds pretty good, at least at the gigs I've been to... granted it's been 2 years since the last time I caught them.

[Don]

They'll be better off letting EWF handle most of their vocals at this point.

[marco17]

Yeah, my Chicago days are over. Chicago live is pretty much like Journey and the dirty dozen. They rarely change things around. There are some rumors on one of the Chicago boards that he was let go via email or something that the band voted him out. Not sure about the truth to any of that. I would think there's something more than that, or him leaving to pursue a solo career, especially when the current Chicago tour isn't completed yet.

As far as Bill songs, the only two "Bill" sung album songs that have been done live consistently have been "Look Away" and "You're Not Alone." Lately, they have been playing the medley with "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love," but at times I've wondered if that was to apease him because he was part of the band for so long, but they played so few songs he actually sang on.

I bought his new album off iTunes a few months back, and it's really good, probably one of his better solo efforts overall. I personally think that he was tired of the Chicago train. Damn, Perry and Augeri only had to sing the dirty dozen for about 10 years or so each, give or take a couple years here and there. Think about Champlin and Scheff having to sing Chicago's version of the DD for almost 25+ years.

[Ehwmatt]

Yeah, my Chicago days are over. Chicago live is pretty much like Journey and the dirty dozen. They rarely change things around. There are some rumors on one of the Chicago boards that he was let go via email or something that the band voted him out. Not sure about the truth to any of that. I would think there's something more than that, or him leaving to pursue a solo career, especially when the current Chicago tour isn't completed yet.

As far as Bill songs, the only two "Bill" sung album songs that have been done live consistently have been "Look Away" and "You're Not Alone." Lately, they have been playing the medley with "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love," but at times I've wondered if that was to apease him because he was part of the band for so long, but they played so few songs he actually sang on.

I bought his new album off iTunes a few months back, and it's really good, probably one of his better solo efforts overall. I personally think that he was tired of the Chicago train. Damn, Perry and Augeri only had to sing the dirty dozen for about 10 years or so each, give or take a couple years here and there. Think about Champlin and Scheff having to sing Chicago's version of the DD for almost 25+ years.

I can't understand why they'd fire him at this point unless he was just not giving a shit about anything Chicago... oh well.

If anything, I'm guessing they might have had a mutual sit-down discussion after it became clear that Bill's interest in playing the same 15 songs every night was waning fast.

[Maui Tom]

I was Sons Of Champlin guy.....was bummed he went to Chicago 30 years ago...in my mind he's back...he can play his solo and Sons tunes live again...happy day for me...

[Rockindeano]

Damnit, I just read the front page and see where Champlin has now left Chicago. To me, this is the end of Chicago. We have Scheff out there with shitty vocals now (he hasn't sounded good to me in years), and now the only other main voice for the band is gone. Not to mention the fact that he was a great keyboardist and songwriter for the band...
DAMN!!!

Any other Chicago fans in here?

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

[Don]

So, depending on which show you go to, Lamm may be the only original member left on stage. I guess the chance of the re-union with Cetera is really off the table now.

[Ehwmatt]

Damnit, I just read the front page and see where Champlin has now left Chicago. To me, this is the end of Chicago. We have Scheff out there with shitty vocals now (he hasn't sounded good to me in years), and now the only other main voice for the band is gone. Not to mention the fact that he was a great keyboardist and songwriter for the band...
DAMN!!!

Any other Chicago fans in here?

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

Hey cum gargler, go see if Silvio Dante can play guitar play this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOuWK78nbyI

The great Terry Kath.

[Rockindeano]

Damnit, I just read the front page and see where Champlin has now left Chicago. To me, this is the end of Chicago. We have Scheff out there with shitty vocals now (he hasn't sounded good to me in years), and now the only other main voice for the band is gone. Not to mention the fact that he was a great keyboardist and songwriter for the band...
DAMN!!!

Any other Chicago fans in here?

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

Hey cum gargler, go see if Silvio Dante can play guitar play this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOuWK78nbyI

The great Terry Kath.

Why bring Steve into this? I wasn't comparing. Kath may be great, and frankly should be at this level, but you never hear Chicago rock anymore..it's the sappy garbage you always hear. Also, I am sure Silvio can play this well.

[Ehwmatt]

Damnit, I just read the front page and see where Champlin has now left Chicago. To me, this is the end of Chicago. We have Scheff out there with shitty vocals now (he hasn't sounded good to me in years), and now the only other main voice for the band is gone. Not to mention the fact that he was a great keyboardist and songwriter for the band...
DAMN!!!

Any other Chicago fans in here?

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

Hey cum gargler, go see if Silvio Dante can play guitar play this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOuWK78nbyI

The great Terry Kath.

Why bring Steve into this? I wasn't comparing. Kath may be great, and frankly should be at this level, but you never hear Chicago rock anymore..it's the sappy garbage you always hear. Also, I am sure Silvio can play this well.

I'll give you that mostly... last tour they at least pulled out Question 67+68 and Introduction, which were cool. But it's not like they were ever a hard rock band... they were always an eclectic kinda band. People come to hear the hits, what can you do?

And I brought Stevie into it cuz... it was you

[Rockindeano]

Damnit, I just read the front page and see where Champlin has now left Chicago. To me, this is the end of Chicago. We have Scheff out there with shitty vocals now (he hasn't sounded good to me in years), and now the only other main voice for the band is gone. Not to mention the fact that he was a great keyboardist and songwriter for the band...
DAMN!!!

Any other Chicago fans in here?

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

Hey cum gargler, go see if Silvio Dante can play guitar play this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOuWK78nbyI

The great Terry Kath.

Why bring Steve into this? I wasn't comparing. Kath may be great, and frankly should be at this level, but you never hear Chicago rock anymore..it's the sappy garbage you always hear. Also, I am sure Silvio can play this well.

I'll give you that mostly... last tour they at least pulled out Question 67+68 and Introduction, which were cool. But it's not like they were ever a hard rock band... they were always an eclectic kinda band. People come to hear the hits, what can you do?

And I brought Stevie into it cuz... it was you

LOL, Stevie isn't even the best guitarist in his own band! Dummy.

[Ehwmatt]

LOL, Stevie isn't even the best guitarist in his own band! Dummy.

Yeah Nils is quite a player, shame they don't let him play more. Why does Bruce play so many solos live? He's not lead guitarist material in a band of that caliber

[Rockindeano]

LOL, Stevie isn't even the best guitarist in his own band! Dummy.

Yeah Nils is quite a player, shame they don't let him play more. Why does Bruce play so many solos live? He's not lead guitarist material in a band of that caliber

Bruce does whatever the Hell he wants. He plays damned good I think. Very underrated, besides, the fans come to see him more than Nils or Silvio.

[Ehwmatt]

LOL, Stevie isn't even the best guitarist in his own band! Dummy.

Yeah Nils is quite a player, shame they don't let him play more. Why does Bruce play so many solos live? He's not lead guitarist material in a band of that caliber

Bruce does whatever the Hell he wants. He plays damned good I think. Very underrated, besides, the fans come to see him more than Nils or Silvio.

He's got the whole Neil Young "why the fuck did he choose that note? and how the hell did it work in the solo?" vibe going, but I dunno, I just don't feel it like I do when I hear Neil play.

[hoagiepete]

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

Hey! They are a bit sappy...but...we had You're the Inspiration played at our wedding. If it will get me laid...wtf.

You have to admit 26 to 5 or 4 is a lyrical masterpiece Come on!

Just like Journey...their old stuff is much better anyway. I think horns mix in with rock pretty good. I grew up listening to my dad's Herb Albert albums. Some good shit there. Still listen to his greatest hits on occasion.

Damn it...tried to figure out the quote thing to keep the message board technique nazis happy...and ended up going off topic. Sorry everyone.

[marco17]

Chicago had their day, now they run out virtually the same set summer after summer like all the classic acts, catering to the casual fan. I think Champlin was one of the guys in the band who liked the paycheck, but couldn't stand doing the same thing night after night. The guy, like his music or style, or not, has a lot of talent, and probably wants to do something he's interested in at this point. After 25+ years with Chicago, his bank account is certainly large enough that he can do what he wants.

[Rockindeano]

You really are soft in the shoes eh? Chicago? Dude, what a bunch of fuckin fairies. If I hear those shit filled lyrical sappies at work anymore I am going to kill someone. If She Would Have Been Faithful has got to be the gayest song I ever heard.

C'mon Jim. You cannot be serious.

Hey! They are a bit sappy...but...we had You're the Inspiration played at our wedding. If it will get me laid...wtf.

You have to admit 26 to 5 or 4 is a lyrical masterpiece Come on!

Just like Journey...their old stuff is much better anyway. I think horns mix in with rock pretty good. I grew up listening to my dad's Herb Albert albums. Some good shit there. Still listen to his greatest hits on occasion.

Damn it...tried to figure out the quote thing to keep the message board technique nazis happy...and ended up going off topic. Sorry everyone.

Oh I dig the old Chicago, and as much as Cetera's creepy faggoty voice makes me want to drive off a cliff, the new vocals are awful.

Oh horns and rock? Love that shit, and it definitely works.

[Ehwmatt]

Chicago had their day, now they run out virtually the same set summer after summer like all the classic acts, catering to the casual fan. I think Champlin was one of the guys in the band who liked the paycheck, but couldn't stand doing the same thing night after night. The guy, like his music or style, or not, has a lot of talent, and probably wants to do something he's interested in at this point. After 25+ years with Chicago, his bank account is certainly large enough that he can do what he wants.

I'm pretty sure I've even heard an interview or quote from him somewhere along the lines of Chicago pays the bills and I can do what I want on my own.

[ScarabGator]

I love Chicago man. REally shitty news.

[WalrusOct9]

Any other Chicago fans in here?

Huge Chicago fan here, but only of the first few LP's. The problem with the 80's stuff was that those songs could've been performed by just about anyone and it wouldn't have made a difference. At least when Heart sold out and sang other people's songs for 3 records, they had Ann Wilson...Chicago was pretty faceless without their own songs, prominent horns, and Terry Kath.

Having said that, Champlin is a phenomenal musician and I hope he fares well with his solo stuff....just discovered Sons of Champlin a couple months ago and was completely floored. Amazing stuff if you're into that kind of music.

[WalrusOct9]

Any other Chicago fans in here?

Huge Chicago fan here, but only of the first few LP's. The problem with the 80's stuff was that those songs could've been performed by just about anyone and it wouldn't have made a difference. At least when Heart sold out and sang other people's songs for 3 records, they had Ann Wilson...Chicago was pretty faceless without their own songs, prominent horns, and Terry Kath.

Having said that, Champlin is a phenomenal musician and I hope he fares well with his solo stuff....just discovered Sons of Champlin a couple months ago and was completely floored. Amazing stuff if you're into that kind of music.