The Ides of March (band)
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- This article is about the band. For the date, see Ides of March.
The Ides of March was an early 1970s band that hit it big with the song "Vehicle" in 1970.
The Ides of March began in Berwyn, Illinois (a western suburb of Chicago) on October 16, 1964, as “The Shon-Dels”. Their first record "Like It Or Lump It" was released on their own “Epitome” label in 1965. The original four members were:
Larry Millas — Vocals and Guitar
Jim Peterik — Vocals and Guitar
Bob Bergland — Vocals and Bass
Mike Borch — Vocals and Drums
In 1966, after changing their name to “The Ides Of March”, (The name was suggested by bassist Bob Bergland after reading Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in school), the band released their first single on Parrot Records - "You Wouldn’t Listen". The song reached #7 in Chicago, and #42 on the Billboard Charts in the spring of 1966. This record, and its follow-ups (all pre-Vehicle and brass) have been re-released on the Sundazed Records CD “Ideology”.
In 1968, the band added a brass section.
Chuck Soumar - Trumpet, Vocals and Percussion
John Larson - Trumpet
Bassist Bob Bergland doubled on Tenor Sax for the Brass Numbers. Having secured a record deal with Warner Brothers Records, in 1970 the band released "Vehicle", which, at the time became the fastest selling single in Warner Brothers history.
A little-known fact is that 14 seconds of the completed master of "Vehicle" was accidentally erased in the recording studio, (primarily the guitar solo), and the missing section was spliced in from a previously discarded take. The song reached #2 in Billboard, and #1 in Cash box. The following album Vehicle reached #55 nationally.
The band toured extensively throughout 1970, in support of many of the top acts of the day, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and most notably Led Zeppelin, whom the band upstaged in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The local newspaper’s entertainment headline read “Ides Of March Steal The Show”. The Ides were also among the participants in the legendary “Festival Express” train tour documented in a 2003 film, although the Ides were not featured in the film.
In 1971, the band released their second album Common Bond. The featured single was the vocal-driven "L.A. Goodbye". The song stayed at the #1 spot on regional charts for five weeks, but only reached #73 on the Billboard Charts. By 1972, the band changed its focus away from the “brass” sound, and changed record labels to RCA. World Woven however, failed to produce a hit single.
In 1973, the Midnight Oil album was released. The band played its final show of the “first era” at Morton West High School in Berwyn in November 1973.
1973-1990-The Ides Of March went on an extended hiatus, during which Jim Peterik founded the band Survivor and co-wrote all of their platinum hits including "The Eye Of The Tiger", "The Search Is Over", "High on You" and "I Can’t Hold Back".
Jim also began a career of writing collaborations, which resulted in many platinum hits for other artists-most notably Hold On Loosely, Rockin’ Into The Night, Fantasy Girl,and Wild-Eyed Southern Boys for .38 Special and Heavy Metal for Sammy Hagar
In 1990, The Ides’ home city of Berwyn, Illinois made an offer to have the re-united Ides headline their “Summerfest” festival. The six original members agree, and are joined by long-time Berwyn Pal:
Scott May—Hammond organ, keyboards, & vocals
Also added, to complete the brass section is
Dave Stahlberg-Trombone
The concert was attended by over 20,000; and the Ides returned to live performance.
In 1991-The Ides released their first new music since 1973, a four-song cassette EP entitled “Beware-The Ides Of March”.
1992-Full-length CD “Ideology” was released, with re-recordings of Vehicle, L.A. Goodbye, and You Wouldn’t Listen, plus new material.
1997-The EP “Age Before Beauty” is released.
1998-Ides write and release Finally Next Year to commemorate the Chicago Cubs Championship season. The song is included on a CD entitled “The Cubs Greatest Hits” which is sold at all Major League Ballparks in The USA. The song is used on many Cubs-themed Radio and TV programs to the present day.
2001-The Ides expanded their schedule and returned to National Touring. The band recorded a two-hour live performance for XM Satellite radio in Washington, DC. Vehicle was used for an extensive national advertising campaign by General Motors.
2003-The Ides recorded and released a double live CD “Beware-The Ides Of March Live” of an entire concert at the McAninch Center at the College Of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Rhino Handmade Records released “Friendly Strangers”, a 2-CD limited run set of the original 1970’s Warner Brothers Recordings. The collection quickly sold out. As of February 2006, used copies are selling on Amazon for over $100.
2004-The Ides Of March celebrated 40 years together with a series of Multi-media shows emceed by Broadcasting legend Dick Biondi. The sold-out show at the Arcada Theatre in St.Charles, Illinois is captured for the DVD “A Vehicle Through Time”.
2005- Vehicle became a #1 hit again, from “American Idol” runner-up Bo Bice, who performed the song 3 times on the top-rated show, and during his appearances on many other network shows. The Ides’s CD “Idessentials” was released. It is a compilation including the Ides’ favorite hits (Vehicle, L.A. Goodbye, You Wouldn’t Listen), the Ides’ versions of the Survivor classics Eye Of The Tiger, High On You, and Rebel Girl, and New material, featuring the new single Come Dancing, and a re-release of the Ides first recording Like It Or Lump It.
Christmas 2005-The Ides sang their Christmas Carol Sharing Christmas to a capacity crowd at the 4 O’Clock Mass at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral.
2006-The Ides Of March first two albums “Vehicle” and “Common Bond” were nationally re-released on the Collector’s Choice label. Sony-BMG nationally releases “Ides Of March Extended Play”-culled from the band’s live recordings. The Best Buy chain commenced active stocking of Ides product. The Ides Of March continue to tour the US.
