“There’s nothing I like more than finding our back catalogue in the prog section alongside Yes and Genesis… we wanted to show off every aspect of what we could do as artists”: Call them what you like, but Chicago know they’re a prog band
Chicago's keyboardist and co-founder Robert Lamm contends that the band's identity as a progressive rock group has been consistent since their 1967 formation, despite their commercial success with pop-oriented ballads over the decades. In a 2014 interview surrounding the release of their 36th album overall, Lamm expresses satisfaction that record stores file Chicago's back catalogue in the progressive section, positioning them alongside other genre titans.
Lamm pushes back against the characterisation that Chicago should be remembered primarily for their chart-pleasing soft rock singles, arguing instead that their true legacy lies in their willingness to experiment across diverse musical styles. He draws parallels to how Yes and Genesis, despite their own popular hits, are not reduced to those achievements alone, emphasising that the band's creative freedom stems from the era in which they emerged.
- Chicago co-founder Robert Lamm asserts the band is fundamentally progressive rock, citing satisfaction at finding their catalogues shelved in prog sections alongside Yes and Genesis
- Lamm argues their well-known soft rock hits like 'If You Leave Me Now' represent only part of their output, not their defining character, much as pop songs don't define Yes or Genesis