Honestly, if you ask the average person about The Ides of March, they’ll probably hum those first four iconic horn blasts from "Vehicle" and then draw a complete blank. It’s kinda the curse of the "one-hit wonder" label, right? You write one song that moves a million copies in a heartbeat—purportedly the fastest-selling single in Warner Bros. history at the time—and suddenly, the other sixty years of your career just sort of vanish into the background noise of music history.
But here’s the thing. Calling The Ides of March a one-hit wonder is technically true on the charts, but it’s a massive lie in terms of impact. This isn't some manufactured boy band from the 70s that fizzled out when the sequins lost their shine. These guys are still together. Like, really together. Most of the original lineup that started in a basement in Berwyn, Illinois, back in 1964 is still on stage today. That just doesn't happen in rock and roll.
The Berwyn Connection and the "Friendly Stranger"
The story basically starts with four school friends: Jim Peterik, Larry Millas, Bob Bergland, and Mike Borch. They weren't even The Ides of March at first. They were The Shon-Dels. They were just kids playing garage rock and folk, trying to impress girls at school dances.
The name change to The Ides of March happened in 1966. Why? Because Bob Bergland was reading Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in English class. It sounded cool. It sounded professional.
Most people don't realize that before the horns, they were already charting. "You Wouldn't Listen" hit #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It was a regional monster in Chicago, hitting #7. They were local legends before they ever stepped foot in a major studio.
Then came the brass.
In the late 60s, bands like Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears were exploding. The Ides decided to pivot. They added a horn section—John Larson, Chuck Soumar, and eventually others—and that changed everything.
The Real Story Behind "Vehicle"
You’ve heard the song a thousand times. But do you know why Jim Peterik wrote it? It wasn't about a cool car. It was about a girl named Karen who was basically using him for his 1964 Plymouth Valiant.
Jim was head-over-heels. Karen needed rides to modeling school. Jim, being the hopeful romantic (or just a guy in the friend zone), drove her every single week. He was waiting for that spark, but all he got was a "thanks for the lift."
"I came home one day, dejected, and thought: all I am is her vehicle," Peterik later told the Wall Street Journal.
The "Friendly Stranger in the black sedan" line? That came from an anti-drug pamphlet he saw at school. He mashed his heartbreak with a drug warning and created a masterpiece.
Funny enough, 14 seconds of the master tape—the guitar solo—were actually erased by accident in the studio. The band thought their career was over before it started. They had to splice in a take from an earlier session. You can’t even tell.
Life After the Big Hit
By 1973, the momentum slowed down. The Ides of March called it quits.
This is where the story usually ends for most bands. But for Jim Peterik, it was just the first act. He went on to form Survivor. Yeah, the "Eye of the Tiger" guys. He co-wrote that. He co-wrote "Hold On Loosely" and "Caught Up in You" for .38 Special. He wrote "Heavy Metal" for Sammy Hagar.
The guy is a hit-making machine.
But the Ides weren't dead; they were just sleeping. In 1990, their hometown of Berwyn asked them to reunite for a "Summerfest" gig. They expected a few thousand people.
Over 20,000 showed up.
That one gig turned into a permanent reunion. They realized that the chemistry they had as teenagers hadn't evaporated. They added Scott May on keyboards and kept the horn section roaring with guys like Tim Bales and Steve Eisen.
Why They Still Matter in 2026
You might think a band from 1964 would be a nostalgia act playing to empty VFW halls. You'd be wrong.
The Ides of March are still remarkably active. In recent years—even heading into 2026—they’ve been a staple of the "Cornerstones of Rock" tours. They don't just play their own sets; they often act as the house band for other Chicago legends like The Buckinghams or The Cryan' Shames.
Their 2019 album Play On featured guests like Joe Bonamassa and Paul Shaffer. They aren't just playing the old hits; they’re still creating.
There’s a nuance to their sound that gets lost if you only listen to the radio edits. They have this "hard rock with horns" edge that’s much grittier than the polished jazz-rock of their contemporaries. When you see them live, Jim Peterik—usually sporting his signature purple hair—still hits the notes. Mike Borch still hammers the drums with the same energy he had during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.
Misconceptions and Trivia
- Wait, are they "One-Hit Wonders?" On the Top 40, mostly yes. But "L.A. Goodbye" was a massive regional hit, and "You Wouldn't Listen" is a garage rock classic.
- Did Jim Peterik marry the girl from "Vehicle?" Actually, yes. He and Karen eventually wed. The song worked better than he ever imagined.
- Is the "black sedan" real? Nope. He drove a 1964 Plymouth Valiant. "Black sedan" just sang better.
- The Hendrix Connection: In 1970, they shared stages with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin. They weren't just some local horn band; they were in the thick of the golden age of rock.
The band’s longevity is their real achievement. Most groups break up over money, egos, or "musical differences" within five years. The Ides of March have survived six decades. They’ve outlasted the labels, the trends, and most of their peers.
If you’re looking for a lesson in the music business, it’s this: one hit can open the door, but it’s the friendship and the "Berwyn work ethic" that keeps the lights on for sixty years.
How to Experience The Ides of March Today
If you want to dive deeper than just the "Vehicle" single, you’ve got a few solid options.
- Check out the Last Band Standing box set. It’s a massive retrospective that shows the evolution from 60s garage rock to 70s brass to their modern era.
- Watch the A Vehicle Through Time DVD. It captures their 40th-anniversary show and really highlights the "brotherhood" vibe of the band.
- Catch them live. They frequently play the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles or the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. They are a Chicago-area institution, and the energy in those rooms is something you can't get from a Spotify stream.
- Listen to World Woven (1972). It’s their most experimental phase. It didn't have a "Vehicle"-sized hit, but the songwriting is incredibly sophisticated.
Don't just settle for the radio version. The Ides of March is a masterclass in how to sustain a career through sheer persistence and a genuine love for the craft. Go find a copy of "L.A. Goodbye" and see what you've been missing.