“I can’t wait!”: When Pete Cetera sang a 1970 song for Chicago with his jaw wired shut
Chicago recorded ‘25 or 6 to 4’ while vocalist and bassist Peter Cetera’s jaw was wired shut after he was injured at a baseball game. Despite the physical challenge, producer James William Guercio pressed ahead with the session, and Cetera adapted his singing to make the recording.
The song reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Cetera kept the altered vocal technique after his jaw healed, later singing lead on Chicago’s number-one hits ‘If You Leave Me Now’ and ‘Hard to Say I’m Sorry’.
- Cetera recorded vocals with his jaw wired shut.
- ‘25 or 6 to 4’ peaked at number four in the US.
- His changed singing style became a trademark.
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Chicago were one of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s, built around a strong horn section and catchy pop-rock songs. Pete Cetera was the band's bassist and one of their lead vocalists during this period.
In 1970, Cetera sustained an injury at a baseball game that resulted in his jaw being wired shut to allow the bone to heal. Despite this serious physical constraint, the band's producer James William Guercio decided to continue recording sessions for a song called "25 or 6 to 4".
Cetera had to adapt his singing technique significantly to record whilst unable to move his jaw. The song became a hit, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and his altered vocal delivery proved so distinctive that he maintained it even after his jaw healed, using it on subsequent number-one hits with the band.