Street Player: My Chicago Story [Hardcover]

I'd always hoped that someone in the faceless supergroup Chicago, would write a book. Danny Seraphine, Chicago's original- incredible drummer, finally has made this 40 year hope, a reality. What is also amazing is his storytelling ability. Describing himself as a street corner guy throughout the book, Danny has been through it all. From super highs, to nomad-unbelievable lows, it is all here. Rare pictures of Chicago too, and some great stories "behind the scenes". From Terry's shadow Lee Loughnane, to Terry's pranks of burping in Danny's face; to Walter's rubber duck; to Jim Guercio's complete hands-on control; and Jimmy Pankow's "Cheeky-Sweets"; the scheming of Jason & Bill; Robert's genius in the early years; Peter Cetera tells Danny, "I was forced out"; and Playboy bunnies @ Caribou Ranch-now there's something I never would have expected! In my humble opinion, Chicago are probably the greatest band of all-time. Just listen to Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago II and Chicago III. The music speaks for itself. So does Danny's saga. "My Chicago Story" is a great read. You won't put it down once you start reading. Upon finishing the "My Chicago Story" experience, I thought for awhile, then realized this: These guys had more music to give, accomplished maybe 20 or 25 percent of what could have been delivered. Drugs, pride, selfishness, ego, all got in the way. But lets relish what they did deliver on. Danny's story is another celebration of this joy, known as the music of Chicago. I highly recommend this book. I wish for Danny Seraphine all the best and continued success.

Rock and roll autobiographies tend to have some common threads. rough and tumble beginnings, stupid teenage years, an Aha! moment and eventual hard work and success. Danny Seraphine's book Street Player is no exception. What makes it unique is that first he is a great storyteller, secondly he has a clear point of view, and finally, there is enough internal drama within the band Chicago to move the story at a fast clip.

The book opens with his arrival at the scene of Chicago guitarist Terry Kath's accidental suicide. He spins the Chicago story out from that event. Most of the book revolves around his growing up years, and the time leading up to Terry Kath's death. He gives us a clear picture of the twisted business dealings of the group and paints himself as the band member interested in the business side. The second phase of the book, the post Kath period was a time where the band developed along a new direction with a much less horn oriented sound, more of an MOR direction. Call this the David Foster era. This era ended with Seraphine being fired by the band in 1990. His continued bitterness is evident. The last 20 years are largely summed up in little more than an epilogue.

This is an entertaining book that attempts to lay bare the soul and story of one of America's most famous, successful and beloved musical institutions. I recommend the book. Great read

If you're reading this, my guess is you already know who Danny Seraphine is and what he's done. So I'll get straight to his book.

I enjoyed "Street Player: My Chicago Story." I've liked Chicago's music since I was a kid in junior high and, being a brass player myself, I've kept up with the group over the years. Chicago's image has always been more about the logo than the band members themselves, so unlike, say, the Eagles or Lynyrd Skynyrd, the details of their hard-partying days haven't really been front n' center before. Nor have the details regarding the inevitable band politics and jealousies. Sure, fans who followed the band more closely could pick up on the signs over the years: Terry Kath's death, for example, the departure of Peter Cetera back in 1985, and Danny's own firing in 1990. But for the most part, these types of things about Chicago haven't been discussed openly in a public forum.

Danny changes that in his book. He's not vicious, but he tells it as he sees it. In so doing, a lot of the polish that Chicago has applied to their image over the years is eroded. What's left is a far more human--and far more compelling--story than that which is told, say, on the band's official website.

Danny doesn't try to whitewash his story with the "poor mes," either. He's very candid about his near-thuggish youth, his fiery temper, his child out of wedlock, his series of extramarital affairs, his drug use, his desire to seem connected to the Mob, and the loss of confidence he experienced about his drumming in the 1980s. He also tells the story of Terry Kath's death in a way that I believe is much closer to the truth than is any previous account, the newspapers included.

Those who may think that Danny takes unwarranted potshots at his former band-mates are in for a surprise: most of them come off as rather positive in his book, though their foibles (as Danny sees them) aren't spared. The portrait of Kath is particularly warm; in fact, there seems to be only one band-mate that Seraphine doesn't really care for whom he portrays in a very negative light.

Of course, Chicago's story--like almost any other band's--is a blueprint for an MTV: Behind the Music episode (Chicago was indeed featured on that show about 10 years ago): talented band struggles, hits it big, parties hard, faces lean times/tragedy, then makes a redemptive comeback with a mostly clean-n'-sober line-up. If I have a problem with the book at all, it's in the style; Danny writes in what we used to call in school the "passive voice," so in some sections, very dramatic real-life events are stylistically deflated. But that's a small complaint of mine and it probably won't bother you.

All in all, it's very nice to have a book for adults about Danny and the band. It's a quick, interesting, entertaining read, and I hope Seraphine has much success with it.

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