With this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony getting closer, the debate about who should or shouldn’t get inducted intensifies among music fans.  One consistent omission from the Hall – and this year’s ballot – is Chicago. Their name doesn’t come up as often as some harder-rocking bands (fans KISS have been notoriously loud with their complaints that the heavy rock legends are long overdue for induction).

But even some fans – and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers – from the hard rock side of music feel that Chicago should be in the Hall. In discussing this very topic with Radio.com, Slash said, “There’s so many bands that should be in there, but aren’t. Chicago was a major band in the ’70s.”

Read More: Slash On The Rock Hall: “They’ve Got So Many Bands To Catch Up With” 

Indeed, with a career-spanning four decades and classics like “Beginnings,” “Make Me Smile,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “Saturday In The Park” and “Only The Beginning,” Chicago influenced any rock and roll band who used a horn section to augment their sound (notably, Chicago’s horn players are all members of the band, not hired hands).  And they adapted with the times, scoring hits through the ’80s with monster singles like “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and “Stay The Night.”

They’re still a huge touring band, hitting the road year after year. So, founding keyboardist Robert Lamm explained to Radio.com, that not being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame doesn’t exactly keep him up at night.

“Really, in the scheme of things, it’s not a very important thing. It’s just a bust of somebody in a museum… and either it’s there or it’s not there. The really important thing is that we’re still making music, we’re still as vital now as we ever were.” He adds, “We’re actually better than we used to be.” Watch the interview below.

Speaking of the band’s ongoing popularity, you can see it for yourself on their new DVD, Chicago World Tour 2011, which features footage from concerts from all over the world (including London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Oslo and many other cities). It also shows rehearsal footage, interviews, archival photos and more.

– Brian Ives, Radio.com 

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