Chicagoans is a first-person account from off the beaten track, as told to Anne Ford. This week’s Chicagoan is Jim Peterik, 67, musician and songwriter (“Vehicle,” “Eye of the Tiger”).
Our first single came out in 1966. The song was called “You Wouldn’t Listen,” and it was featured on American Bandstand. Suddenly the cheerleaders at school started talking to us. Then in 1970 we released “Vehicle,” which made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. At the time I wrote it, I had a lab partner in chemistry who would come to school pretty fried. He started laughing one day at this antidrug pamphlet that had a cartoon of the “friendly stranger,” who was of course the drug pusher who lured you into the car. I said: “There’s my first line: ‘I’m the friendly stranger in the black sedan, won’t you hop inside my car?’” Boom. To the races.
The Ides of March play Friday, March 23, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre (111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, 847-577-2121) and Thursday, May 3, at City Winery (1200 W. Randolph, 312-733-9463).
