Hat-trick of Tanglewood Live Performances

[forrado]

Now onstage and direct from the windy city – CHICAGO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oAoSZ2y1cw

Featuring founding member Terry Kath on lead guitar and vocals before everything changed for the group on 23rd January 1978, when at the age of 31, Kath tragically killed himself playing Russian Roulette with what he thought was an unloaded semiautomatic 9mm pistol. With Terry Kath not around to fight his corner the dynamics within the band shifted and the Chicago sound became synonymous with the ‘Soft Rock’ of the 1980s.

Sounding like a white Ray Charles according to fellow Chicago band member and keyboard player Robert Lamm, Terry Kath was instrumental in forming the band in 1967 and insisting upon a horn section just because he liked the sound. Now largely forgotten by most, Kath was one of the first American rock guitarists to go off on improvised solos during live performances. And, very much influenced in that regard seeing Eric Clapton and Pete Townsend performing live on Stateside tours.

As an example of him going solo watch from the 22m:30s point of the recording as he builds up before taking off. The three-man horn section backing him up were also doing their bit.

[cinelli]

Thanks so much for this, forrado. What a marvellous concert, which I enjoyed last night. I judge they were right at their peak, in the middle of recording their third album.

Cinelli