The Ides Of March Biography

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 "ike 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 albumVehicle 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 go on extended hiatus, during which Jim Peterik founds the band “Survivor” and co-writes all their platinum hits including "The Eye Of The Tiger", "The Search Is Over", "High on You" and "I Can’t Hold Back".

TBC

Jim also begins a career of writing collaboration, which results 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)

Heavy Metal (for Sammy Hagar)

In 1990, The Ides’ home city of Berwyn, Illinois makes an offer to have a 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 is attended by over 20,000; and the Ides return to live performance.

In 1991-The Ides release their first new music since 1973, a four-song cassette EP entitled “Beware-The Ides Of March”.

1992-Full-length CD “Ideology” released, with re-recordings of Vehicle, L.A. Goodbye, and You Wouldn’t Listen, plus new material.

1997-EP “Age Before Beauty” 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 expand their schedule and return to National Touring. The band records a two-hour live performance for XM Satellite radio in Washington, DC. Vehicle is used for an extensive national advertising campaign by General Motors.

2003-The Ides record and release a double live CD “Beware-The Ides Of March Live” of an entire concert at the McAninch Center at theCollege Of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Rhino Handmade Records release “Friendly Strangers”-a 2-CD limited run set of the original 1970’s Warner Brothers Recordings. The collection quickly sells out. As of February 2006, used copies are selling on Amazon for over $100

2004-The Ides Of March celebrate 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 becomes a #1 hit again, from “American Idol” runner-up BO BICE, who performs the song 3 times on the top-rated show, and during his appearances on many other network shows. The Ides’s CD “Idessentials” is 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, 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 sing 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” are 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 commences active stocking of Ides product. The Ides Of March continue to tour the US.