As I write it's Tuesday morning, August 11th, 2009. The "tweet" heard 'round the world came quite early this day. Truly, the End of an era. After 28 years a musical giant has gracefully stepped down from arguably the most successful American rock band of all time, Chicago. And while I knew it was only a matter of time, my heart is still heavy to learn of his departure. For almost 3 decades as I grew from a young man into the musician I am today, Bill Champlin has been the inspiring monstrous yin to Chicago's yang of lead vocalists. He was the successor to lead singer & guitarist Terry Kath after his untimely death in the late 70's. Bill's unmistakable gritty & soulful vocals are impossible to miss on any Chicago album, & a deadly knockout punch in concert. Champlin parted ways to pursue a solo career & play more intimate settings wanting to finish his career on his terms & at his pace.
God Speed Bill. I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you for laying it all on the line for so long. I couldn't have asked for a better musical backdrop through the years &... "Through It All."
Nicely put. And it's cool to see you, a musician, following in Champlin's footsteps. One of my favorite things to do when listening to a new Chicago CD is *not* read the liner notes. I enjoyed listening to the beginning bars of a song and guessing which vocalist would start singing. With Champlin's songs, you *knew*.
ReplyDeleteAs a long time Chicago fan I have to say the Bill's dismissal (it was that surely) was inevitable. Perhaps the band can now use this change to pick itself off the floor one last time to the musical level Robert Lamm aspires. Mr. Champlin had become as stale on stage with Chicago as the gum he was constantly chewing.
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