Chicago Adds Tour Dates

Chicago has added a string of spring dates to its 2013 itinerary. The band, which last year celebrated its 45th anniversary, has new stops scheduled for Hollywood, Florida; Thackerville, Oklahoma; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and a two-night stand in Westbury, New York.

Keyboardist and co-founder Robert Lamm says that although Chicago's studio work has always been a crucial element in what they do, these days, the main draw for the band is their annual road work: "I got to tell you, it's always fun, always challenging -- the music itself is challenging. And every year we try and find a fresh way to present the basic, core music that most of the audience comes to listen to and then try to add a few new things every year -- a few surprises and we try to change the production. And all of that takes pre-planning and time."

Trombonist and co-founder James Pankow says that upon forming in 1967, nobody in Chicago was even remotely thinking that this band would be spanning decades: "The intention of this thing was to put a band together that we really got off on, 'cause that was the initial feeling in the room, when we first heard the first note. And we said, 'Hey, maybe we got something great here, y'know, a worthwhile endeavor. And maybe we'll be able to make a record. Maybe two -- maybe we'll be around for a couple of years"

UPDATED: Chicago U.S. tour dates (subject to change):
January 15 - Kahului, HI - Maui Arts & Cultural Center
March 22 - Rancho Mirage, CA - The Show At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
April 4 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live
April 7 - Saint Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
April 20 - Thackerville, OK - Winstar World Casino
April 22 - Salina, KS - The Stiefel Theatre For Performing Arts
April 27 - Minneapolis, MN - The State Theatre
May 14 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
May 25, 26 - Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre At Westbury