Chicago Rockers Come to Town for Freedom Fest

In today's Pioneer Press, Franklin Park Herald Journal, Oak Park, IL, and the Elm Leaves Edition, check out Chuck Fieldman's story. A bit of it is excerpted here. For the full story, go to http://www.pioneerlocal.com/elmwoodpark/news/1636375,elmwood-park-chicago60s-062509-s1.article

Chicago rockers come to town for Freedom Fest

June 23, 2009
By CHUCK FIELDMAN cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com

The live entertainment scheduled for July 3 at Elmwood Park's Freedom Fest certainly offers a trip down memory lane, especially for baby boomers who spent hours listening to radio hits of the 1960s.

Two of the Chicago area bands of that era are on the July 3 bill at Elmwood Park High School, 8201 W. Fullerton Ave. The Ides of March, featuring Jim Peterik, are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m., followed by The Buckinghams, featuring Carl Giammarese, at 9:30 p.m.

The Buckinghams, with original members Giammarese on lead vocals and Nick Fortuna on bass and vocals, had a run of national and local hits in 1967-68.

The band's first hit, "King of a Drag," went to No. 1 on the national charts and was followed by the likes of "Don't You Care," "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Susan," "Back in Love Again" and "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)."

"We play all the hits in our show along with some of the (old) album cuts and some new songs," Giammarese said. "We also do some of the '60s songs we like by other bands."

For Ides of March Leader Jim Peterik, writing and singing the 1966 radio hit "You Wouldn't Listen" when he was 15 years old was only the beginning of a very successful career in music.
...
As for playing in Elmwood Park with The Buckinghams, (Jim) Peterik is looking forward to once again seeing some old friends.

"We're each other's biggest fans," he said. "There was always a competition during the '60s between all of the bands from the area, including The Buckinghams and us, but it was a very friendly competition. Even now, I think we put on our strongest shows when we're with (The Buckinghams)."

And, Peterik added, it's likely that members of the Ides of March will return to the stage at the end of the Buckinghams' show for "a jam."

Show Details
Friday, July 3 bill
Elmwood Park High School
8201 W. Fullerton Ave.
The Ides of March, featuring Jim Peterik, are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m., followed by the Buckinghams, featuring Carl Giammarese, at 9:30 p.m.

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