Legend Got PUNCHED by Fan & Had to Record Song with Jaw WIRED Shut…Became a SMASH!-Professor of Rock

Poll: Who is your pick for the most under appreciated guitarist of the rock era?

My dad was a pro sax player, out of the big band era. He hated rock music a lot. He grew up in and around the Chicago area. One day I told him about "Chicago' and because of their blend of jazz and rock he should listen to my albums, starting with the CTA album. A few days later I walked into the house to find him siting in front of my stereo listening to the albums. He said' "these guys are pretty good, the band is mainly built around the trombone player, not bad, not bad at all". After just hearing a few tunes, he had figured out the bands structure. That's one music smart man. Although my dad didn't ever become a rock fan, he did come to like the various Chicago based "horn" bands of the early 1970's, especially Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears. "Chicago" set the standard for the "horn band" rock scene for many years. They were very jazz oriented, After all, They came out of the city where "horn band" jazz started in the late 1930's with the big "swing" bands, which my dad actually played in. ;-)

The great ones like Terry Kath never get the recognition they deserve. Thanks for giving him some love Prof.

Terry Kath-era Chicago was the best Chicago. RIP Terry Kath

So, we bought tickets to see Jimi at The Forum in April 1969 and we were kinda pissed. We were also fans of an obscure up and coming band called Chicago Transit Authority, and our tickets list an opening band called Chicago. The entire crowd booed and threw a fit for 10 minutes. We were gonna run them off the stage. Guy comes out, grabs the mic and yells "shut up and listen". And we did. It was CTA now Chicago. Place went berserk. Rest is history.

My Grade 7 band teacher, Mr. Fox, had us playing this song a couple of times a week. I'm so glad I was playing trombone along with two other guys. And we had a hell of a drummer in our class. This song was my introduction to rock. Thank you, Mr. Fox.

RIP Terry Kath! Extremely underrated and underappreciated.

"25 or 6 to 4" is at the epicenter of how and when I became a Chicago fan, just in time for my 18th birthday in January 1998. I had heard so many of their songs beforehand but didn't associate them with the band's logo. The two were detached. In January '98, I heard my older brother mocking Peter's voice on this song and referencing 2 others. I managed to persuade his fiance at the time to get her snowboots on and get her cassette copy of Chicago IX out of her car so I could hear it. (I was also conscious of the legend concerning how Jimi Hendrix had said Terry blew him away as a guitarist.) When I popped that tape in my stereo, rewound it on the first side and hit the play button to hear those opening notes of "25 or 6 to 4" - there was no going back. I was in. I think I played that tape twice thar night. Hearing the firstb 2 albums later that spring did wonders for my interests in progressive rock anf fusion. Terry is absolutely one of my favorite players.

Let's give Mr. Peter Cetera his "kick ass" vocal. The intensity of that song, Terry's guitar - That song is mind blowing. If you want to jam and bliss out this song's for you. Extraordinary tune. Great Great Great band. Another band of my childhood.

That was a hell of a debut album. Slightly ahead of it's time in my humble opinion.

I'm an Old Geezer . I bought the " Chicago Transit Authority " album when it first came out . Must have listened to it 50 times . It's still a great work of musical Art . God bless those in the group who have passed , God bless those who keep the current line-up touring , and God bless Professor of Rock for such a thoughtful analysis .

When I was 18 (1985 or so), I worked at a pet store in the Fox Hills mall in Culver City California. A man came into the store and we struck up a conversation. Of course I knew the band Chicago, but I didn't know any names except for Peter Cetera. The man said his name was James Pankow. He was a little shorter than me, had a beard and his hair was thinning. He said that Chicago was in town, I'm assuming for a concert but I don't recall him saying so. He also said that The Doobie Brothers were in town as well and that they were going to have a party the next day, and invited me to come. I asked my boss for the day off and he said no. I should have called in sick. Not too many reason better to call in sick than going to a party with Chicago and The Doobie Bros. I'd already asked for the day off, so I knew I'd be fired for not showing up. Of all the times to be responsible, being 18 and missing the party of a lifetime is not the right time. Coulda, woulda, shoulda

In the summer of 1977, roughly six months before his death, I saw Chicago in concert at Municipal Stadium in Reading PA. It was an unbelievable show but what I really remember it for was the end. The band finished the show and, as expected, came out for a couple of encores. They finished up and everybody started leaving. My friends and I decided not to contend with the traffic outside the stadium, so we remained sitting on the grass in right field. After about half the crowd was gone, all of a sudden Chicago came back on stage and did another encore set. Everybody who was still there went crazy. The did 2 or 3 more songs then finished for real. Just too cool for words! I was as shocked as anyone when I heard of Terry's death. I often think of his solo on 25 or 6 to 4. It's one of the best guitar solos in rock history. He was gone way too soon. P.S. I saw Chicago again in the early 2000s at Musikfest in Bethlehem PA. Only 3 of the then 6 band members at that show were from the original lineup and it just wasn't the same as their early years. Nothing at all like that '77 concert.

One underrated guitar riff in a Chicago song is feeling stronger every day, especially just before the end and toward the end where it’s just pumping! The point where it goes “after what you meant to me…” to me that is Terry’s great moment 😊

Terri Kath having had many beers, was demonstrating to his friend that the pistol was empty, he pressed the magazine release, thinking the gun was empty, but forgetting that it still had one bullet already in the chamber.

Any student pulling an allnighter to finish a term paper will tell you it's not about drugs but about staying up all night working.

Lyrics tell the tale. They consistently describe exactly what’s happening around him, nothing earth shattering. So it’s about 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00AM. Okay. Rock isn’t always Plato or Shakespeare. Works for me.. Thanks Adam.

I've always heard that this song was about writing a song. Everything that came from the Golden Age of rock-n-roll doesn't have to be linked to drugs and drug use. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it! Great episode!!! ❤

Terry Kath was one of the best. Saw a documentary on the band and a band member who was there told the tragic story. Always check the chamber for a round. Assume ANY gun you pick up is loaded until you properly check it. That solo on this song was incredible. Caught and held my attention the first time I heard it.

Chicago made horn players pretty cool in high school bands all over!...