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I’m not sure I follow everything James Pankow says here but the gist is that musically talented people may be hassled because in his view others don’t understand their dedication to music. It could be true. I would propose another theory which is more focused on the individual musician. I would offer that someone like James Pankow loves music so much that he isn’t interested in doing ordinary things like hanging out drinking beer with the guys. It’s not that anyone was picking on James Pankow but rather James was feeling regret that he just couldn’t ever be one of the guys because he loved music so much.
A great insight from Mr. Pankow. Learning an instrument can be difficult and it takes stick-to-it-iveness, a passion to master those and in this case a wind instrument you need powerful lungs and a great ear and enormous talent as Chicago members all had. Chicago, legends!
He resembles his goofy looking brother with the huge forehand and receding hairline! 😂 He’s really nothing notable anyway. Can’t sing either. This is how he continues to make his living . Squandering off of the bands past. Chicago became a lounge act after the devastating death of gifted guitarist, Terry Kath. 😔💔🙏🏻💐🕊️
What an excellent player and person. When I'm working on Beginnings I do it to the live version played in Tanglewood. Jimmy is having such a good time on stage. You can see it in his face, see it in the way he grooves. Watching/listening to him make me smile even when I play a wrong note(or a bunch of wrong notes. Danny(Southern Sierra)
Love them all. Terry Kath (RIP), Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine fired later on, along with the original members that continued, kept going with the band, that is: Walther Parazaider, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane and Robert Lamm. All of them outstanding talented musicians. I am a diehard Chicago fan 💪🏼😎🇺🇲
One of my favorite members. Here is a guy ( if you watch older vids ) who played his trombone... danced ... was so into the song when he wasn’t playing.... [ just see a live archived video of 25 or 6 to 4 ] what a guy!!! Love this man!!!!
Chicago has always been the greatest from day one, what a life they must have lived. I always pictured them going back to teach in their later years. Could you imagine having Robert Lamm or Jimmy Pankow teach music theory or song writing. Not too late guys??
Huh. I've been doing kind of a musical deep dive on Chicago, and have found JP to be quite the interesting character. Apparently he's an overall good guy, too. Aweosome!
There are ways you can tell a song is by Chicago. 1) you hear Cetera's soaring vocals 2) you hear the horns. Well, Cetera's gone, and about 3 or 4 yrs ago I hear a new Christmas song on the local radio station and I didn't recognize the vocals, but then I heard that horn arrangement and it sounded like it was Chicago and it was. I couldn't believe I heard a new Chicago song on the radio, I was so excited.
HI Bill! I think you may be may the man I'm looking for ... well at least on my way to the man you are interviewing here! No I'm not just a fan, in fact I don't know much about Mr Pankow, save what I've learnt here and a little snippet I heard in a doco on Chicago. Jimmy Pankow, in this documentary, related how he had saved a day and fixed a broken heart with a song that he wrote in one take while his girlfriend was being super sad and had locked herself in a room....
Artists are probably picked on a lot because they aren't different, but special. They have the God given gift to create art and they are focused, while the average guy is going through the same boring day to day motions.
Interesting story about Pankow's getting harassed and bullied because he was different. I understand. I went through that too as I'm sure many have and still do. It makes you stronger, but it can end up hurting the more fragile ones to the point of suicide. Why is there a human need to scapegoat and pick on people different? Because we are sheep always finding a leader to follow. It's easy when you don't need to make the decisions.
Being a trombone player myself, have always had a lot of respect for james pankow . His writing and playing are outstanding. Truely has been blessed with the gift of music.
Pankow is a genius, the Girl from Buchanon is a masterpiece, put Chicago on the map on the top 40s charts. But all were gifted, every player in the band. They all composed and were masters in their instruments. What a band! And Cetera and Kath, beautiful vocals.
That's nice of Jimmy to talk about being " different" when he was a student learning & concentrating on his art, while the "normal " kids were out drinking beer......3 cheers for the guys who are DIFFERENT!
No Name yup! Our next episode will be from the Marianas Trench tour. Anything in particular you'd like to see or know about that you'd like me to try and include in future episodes?
JUST - TELL - US - WHO - YOU - ARE - LISTENING - TO - MAN!!! **LoL** No need to go on & on & on about being in a classical mood one day & a jazz mood the next.... we get that... lots of us do the same thing... so just tell us... lay it all out there, the whole spectrum.... OR is it that you DON'T listen to music anymore?? Burnt out on the mainstream junk? Can't say I blame him, if that's the case.... Maybe that's why Satellite Radio & Pandora & Spotify & making your own personal playlists is where it's at... NOBODY wants corporate programming!!!! **ugh**
That was fun. Thank you Mr. Pankow. I have been a fan since I was in jr. high school and the band teacher Mr. Roper, brought in Chicago Transit Authority. This was in September of 1969. He was very hip for that time. He wanted to show us that 'band music' could be just as popular as rock music. This was in Wichita, Kansas and I finally got to see you in March of 1975. And thank you Mr. Vandiver. I really enjoyed the lessons from the pros. You may be the one person I would let help with my hair and beard..... Please tell the band that I really enjoyed the last album. I only wish the horns had been a little more up in the mix. It was your best and most original album since SOS and maybe since Chicago eleven. When you play Tulalip again, let me know... I want to be there... #WarrenProject #DrMorq #NowMorethanEver
Well well well! Look what you find when you're shopping for guitars online! You find your old buddy Joe Arick! I'm proud of you brother. This is a long way from Dominos! LOL
