Jim Peterik

Singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Jim Peterik was the lead singer and sole writer of the Ides of March's hit "Vehicle," and he co-wrote and co-produced the Grammy-winning double-platinum number one pop hit "Eye of the Tiger," which is the theme song from the Sylvester Stallone movie Rocky 3, and "Burning Heart" from Rocky 4, performed by Peterik's band Survivor. Born in Berwyn, IL, at 13, Peterik formed the Renegades with some fellow classmates at Piper Grade School. Playing a fourth of July concert, he was approached by singer/guitarist Larry Millas who asked him to join his band the Shy Lads. Later changing their name to the Shondels, they covered Beatles songs and recorded a single for Epitone Records, "No Two Ways About It" b/w "Like It or Lump It." Peterik was a freshman at the University of Illinois when the Shondels expanded to include a horn section and adopted a name based on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the Ides of March. Similar in sound to Blood, Sweat & Tears, the band was signed to London Records imprint Parrot Records and first charted with "You Wouldn't Listen" and "Roller Coaster" in fall 1966. Switching to Warner Bros., the single "Vehicle" went to number two pop on Billboard's charts in spring 1970. Their other singles were "Superman" and "L. A. Goodbye." After the Ides of March broke up, Peterik, who had been writing for the band Chase, was considering joining the group when leader Bill Chase and three other band members were killed in a August 1974 plane crash. He recorded some solo sides for Epic Records ("Closest Thing to My Mind," "Last Tango," "Don't Fight the Feeling"). Around the same time, he began working with Chicago soul mainstay Willie Henderson and writing songs for the vocal group Essence. They released eight Epic singles, with...