The Band Chicago

Even with the many personnel changes throughout four decades, the group Chicago still keeps active. The band is one of a a small number of major rock groups that has never split apart or carried out a painstaking break. All the same, four of the six founding members remain with the band until today. Bill Champlin has put in over 25 years, Jason Scheff over 20, Tris Imboden comes in with 15 and Keith Howland (the relatively new comer) having put in 11years. This lineup has been in together longer than any other in the groups history,

As a the new millennium came around, the band certified their entire recorded output to Rhino Records. In 2002, Rhino put out a two-disc compilation aptly named, "The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning", which spans all the way through band's entire career. Rhino has also started launching new versions of the majority of the band's collections, which includes several bonus tracks. Then in 2005 the record label released a compilation entitled "Love Songs."

Nevertheless, Chicago continues to make appearances in big and small venues throughout the world. Then in 2004-2005 they toured together with the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Finally after many years without a new song fans were able to hear the 2006 released the group's first contemporary studio album since Twenty 1. It was titled "Chicago XXX." Two songs from this album, "Feel" and "Caroline" were ultimately performed live the fall 2005 tour and the studio recording of "Feel" first appeared on WPLJ radio in New York in November of that year. Seven of the 12 tracks were co-written by Scheff. While "Chicago's XXX" did manage to appear at No. 41 on the US album chart it only stayed in the top 200 for two weeks before finally vanishing into oblivion.

During March of 2006, Chicago made an appearance at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which was then repeated in May of that same year. Later in July of that year, Chicago made a string of appearances with Huey Lewis & the News. Chicago then went tour with the band America in 2007. On October 2, 2007, Rhino Records released the two-disc set labeled "The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition" which was yet again another greatest hits anthology spanning the complete four decades that the band had existed.

This year it is believed that Chicago will be headlining tour along with The Doobie Brothers. They will also be making available of the highly anticipated CD, "Stone of Sisyphus." It seems that just like The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and many others just like them, Chicago is willing to continue playing until their bodies give up on them.