My wife was getting her hair done in LA - when the guy that was working on her hair excused himself to take a phone call. He was gone for quite a while. When he came out, he had a huge smile on his face. He proceeded to tell us that was his brother Jason on the phone and he was the new lead singer of Chicago.

I am probably alone. But 18 is one of my favorite albums. It has the perfect mid eighties feel. I love the songs and production. Jason sounds amazing. Too bad they don’t perform those songs anymore.

I definitely have a new-found respect for Jason from these interviews.

I had chills before he mentioned them. Music is the best and listening to the history of the music we grew up listening to is like the icing on the cake. Stay free people , stay free !

Jason’s story from 1985 & early ‘86 is GREAT !! Never get tired of hearing him tell it, and he does such a wonderful job of telling it, it is something of an emotional roller coaster ride ! Not only Mickey Thomas, but Richard Page of Mr Mister was mooted as taking P.C.’s spot on Tenor Vox & Bass, but Jason did a SUPER job, and made the job his. I’ve been a fan since I dropped the needle on ‘Niagara Falls’ on 18.

This is frickin OUTSTANDING! I had heard quite a bit of this via Jason's online singing/recording courses....but this is way more detailed...and to imagine jumping into a multiplatinum/multi-personality machine...and then having to win David Foster over. Wow. Just wow. Thanks for getting this interview!!

Dude's such a talent. Love this series. What a great memory on that guy.

My first Chicago concert was during Jason's first tour with the band, March, 1987. They opened with the remake of 25 or 6 to 4. Chicago 18 holds a special place in my heart and I really like it.

Tris Imboden used to rehearse with a group at my house when he got the Chicago audition. He came back with a bottle of champagne when he got the gig!! Met Jason shortly afterwards. It was so amazing being a fly on the wall for the start of their respective journeys with this iconic band!!

A great musician....Jason did a great job. Love his work.

I absolutely love this interview with Jason, great job John!

This is the best interview on rock history. John has a total feel for when to inject questions or just kick back & let Jason really open up . Jason really opened up & told great stories us Chicago fans have always wanted to know in detail. John helped him do it …..

WOW!!! Just WOW!!! Such a fantastic interview! Talk about a Cinderella Story. Always loved Jason because he wasn't a Cetera clone, he has an edge to his voice. More grit than Cetera. Kudos to you for having the patience and not interrupting like sooo many other do. YOU got this on tape... AWESOME!

I saw Chicago about six years ago, when Jason and drummer Tris Imboden were still with the band. Walt Parazaider and Keith Howland were still with them too. I'm glad I saw them then, because I think that that was their last great lineup. That was a fantastic show in a 1600 seat theater. My wife and I were about 40 feet away from the stage. They did rare songs like "Dialogue", which is one of my favorites, and "I'm A Man" from their debut album. They also did the entire medley which includes "Color My World" and "Make Me Smile." Their encore was "Free" and "25 or 6 to 4." Their lineup today is like 9 guys, when the original band was 7. Sadly, the current lineup isn't as appealing as the former one.

An absolute incredible interview. I’m a huge Jason Scheff fan. I had no idea that Mickey Thomas was considered for the lead singer as well. Chicago 18 is one of my favorite albums of all time.

John, I love these interviews. I’ve been a Chicago fan since ‘68. Saw the original group at our local college, when I was a young teenager. I’ve probably seen them 25 times through the years.

So good. I've had the honor of getting to know Jason a bit, and I have the thrill of getting to record him this week for a big project called Arcade Orchestra, on which we'll tackle some iconic Chicago tunes... his stories are the stuff of legend!

The background story is a delight! This is a phenomenal story for new artists to never give up.

What a great interview! I would say Jason was able to kill it on the Chi 18 song "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now" especially well, as he was being himself, and not trying to imitate Cetera to an extent!

What a great interview!! Love hearing him talk about music or anything for that matter. He seems like a great person as well as musician

What a cool guy! John, Jason is right - you know how to bring the magic moments to the front. You’re a great interviewer! This JS series is like finding gold.

John B....this is a great interview. And Jason is right about documenting history. I have a friend Joe Chambers. He owns the musicians hall of Fame in Nashville. He's documented many videos who are stars and unknown studio musicians. I love this stuff.

Awesome! Jason’s Dad, Jerry is An Awesome Musician as well! He played with The Great Elvis Presley 1969-1977.

John, a fantastic interview and I really love how you just let Jason tell his story and jumped in at the right times, you truly know the art of conducting a proper interview this was simply amazing!

I got chills when he sang that "Nothings gonna stop us now" opening line! I didn't discover this album until 1993!

Absolutely Loving this interview John and it’s like two friends sitting down talking as it is moving so freely between the two of you. What a story and It brings me back to the moment I first heard Jason on the radio with Chicago and the joy I felt then that my favorite band was truly back. To look back on it it’s no doubt anyone would be nervous walking in knowing they needed a singer to replace one of musics all time greatest vocalist Peter Cetera. But it also had to take confidence in his ability that he could do this as well and they made the perfect choice.

Jason sounds so excited to tell these stories! I mentioned this on some other media, but to repeat, I remember being worried about who was going to replace Cetera. The minute I heard “Take me as I am…”, I worried no longer!

Great to hear this from Jason going back to '86 ! Thanks John 🎤🎟️🎹

I've met Jason. He is one of the nicest, most approachable, and down to earth people I've ever met. He just acts like a regular person...with extreme talent.

Your interviews are super fascinating. I always learn so much. Excellent work!

That was an awesome interview with Jason. Great job John! I don’t even know when this interview came about, but I was fully engaged for this complete segment.

My band opened for Chicago in 2005, and we had dinner with the band before the show. I spoke to all of them, but Jason and Keith Howland really hung out with me and seemed very interested in my life (I was a high school teacher at the time). Actually, the entire band treated us with great respect, but Jason and Keith were the easiest to talk to.

This testimony & artistic experience should be made a book and a film ! 🎉

Absolutely fantastic interview! Jason is such a monster, I would've puked! 🤣

Jason in the house!!!!!!

AMAZING STORY! Thanks so much John!

Great interview!

Great interview, love these stories.

Chicago 18 is a gem! I really wish "I Believe" would've been released as a single, instead of "If She Would've been Faithful".

Love it.. Love your work John, Kere.

What a great story! Great interview, John!

Next level interviewing John. Just love your work.

Amazing interview! I saw Chicago when Terry was still alive, and loved the band then. But, when Chicago 18 came out it was a milestone. Jason and Bill's voices worked so well together. The compositions were very strong. And, I actually loved the programmed drums on that album. Niagra Falls, Forever, 25 or 6 to 4 Revisited, One more day. I saw them on this tour in Hershey Pa. in the outdoor venue. My wife said, "Wow, they sound even better live than on the album" (which we were listening to on the way to the show. I'll never forget when Jason opened the tune "I'm a man" with the coolest frickin bass solo. He just owned it....and the audience was very responsive.

Such a great interview. TFS

That was a great story. I could hear Jason talk all day, great storyteller. I never knew Mickey Thomas was in the running to be the lead singer. I heard about Bobby Caldwell, and Richard Page of Mr. Mister were thought of, but never heard of Mickey Thomas.

Great interview amazing guy I remember from the first song with Jason they found the right person the right fit. Loved Peter as well.

I’ll say I’m eighty if ya want me too lol , priceless. Great stuff , thanks

What a great story!

Excellent storytelling from Jason! Good work, John (you hardly had to speak at all 😄). Chicago 18 was every bit as good as Chicago 17, and I appreciate every story about the making of it. The song he mentions is "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now" which he wrote with Buzz Feiten.

AWESOME!

Great interview. Great story. Great singer.

❤️

Amazing!!!

I LOVE THIS

Great story!

But just imagine if they went with BOTH Jason and Mickey? Jason playing bass AND occasionally singing with Mickey out front lead vocals? Woah...😮

so, so interesting

Mickey Thomas? I thought that it was the guy from Toto for a minute.

Such a sweet fun story

Why have I never heard, until now, that Mickey Thomas of Elvin Bishop/Starship fame was one of the singers whom Chicago *almost* hired to fill the lead tenor vocalist vacancy after Peter's (tragic) exit? I always heard that Richard Page and Richard Marx were in the running, but never Thomas! And not only that, but he was apparently supposed to sing lead vocals on Chicago 18 with Scheff only singing backup?! Wow. If everyone would be honest, that's exactly how it should have happened. Mickey Thomas, an established and proven crooner, could sing circles around Jason Scheff. (Ditto for Bobby Caldwell, whose name is also rumored to have been tossed around. Caldwell and Champlin could've helped transform Chicago into a late '80s R&B/Smooth Jazz outfit!) And while Cetera's one-of-a-kind golden voice is literally irreplaceable and inimitable, Mickey Thomas' voice was also outstanding and great in a different way, and he could've given the band a fresh new sound, which is what they desperately needed after losing Peter and coming off the heels of their greatest commercial success. (Let's face it, though: The only direction after 17 was down.) After learning all this information, it's even more mind-blowing to me that, in the end, Chicago chose to settle on a 23-year-old greenhorn who had no experience and only a very underwhelming voice that simply was not adequate for lead vocal/full-time frontman duties. P.S. It's also disgusting that Jason and Bill both voted to fire Danny in 1990 when Seraphine was instrumental in getting both of them into the band. Nice way to show your gratitude, fellas! Pay him back with a nice knife in the back. Scheff also had the audacity as a 25-year-old know-nothing to slam Danny's drumming on Chicago 19, which is truly beyond belief. Even a 6-year-old could've played the drums on that power ballad drivel, and yet, one of the most innovative and gifted Jazz-Rock drummers who ever lived supposedly struggled to play that crap? Sorry, but I ain't buyin' that (unless, of course, Danny fell asleep at the kit from *boredom*)!

Mickey Thomas , like Richard Page (Mister, Mister) were never talked to about joining Chicago those names were floated around but were never really asked plus Mickey was in Starship and they had their own hits.

ROCK N ROLL IS TIMELESS AGELESS JASON WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE ☕

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So THAT is how you pronounce Humberto Gatica...!

Mickey Thomas would've been awesome for Chicago - even to this day - but I love the music Jason created with Chicago. He was a great fit and the shot-in-the-arm they needed.

Micky is by far one of the greatest

I thought Chicago wanted to get Joseph Williams and/ or Richard page of mr.mister. Both declined. So, here is jason

a great bass player and singer and you know who was his father ? the elvis presley bass player !

Jason was not only the perfect replacement, but he was meant to sing alongside Bill Champlin. Jason’s voice is absolutely amazing. I’ve had correspondence with Jason and he is also a down to earth and humble guy.

There was no competition. Mickey Thomas turned down the 1 million dollar offer to join Chicago at the time Peter left. This was made public at the time.(Mickey)

jason scheff did a great job with chicago but i did like peter cetera era of chicago a lot but i was surprised peter wanted a solo career but chicago carried on well.

Would you imagine if he played with Journey after Ross Valory left the group.

16/17/18 Foster produced albums were the best. Like him or not.

I always thought he would have been great in Toto

I've always believed they should have hired a chick to replace Peter Cetera. Maybe somebody like that blonde chick bass player from Sonic Youth. They might still be recording hits. A chick drummer would have been good, too. Think about it.

Mickey Thomas doesn't play an instrument. End of story.

Man, that was torture to listen to. Jason is DEFINITELY not a story-teller.

Chicago has always been a great band, but my favorite years were with Jason and Bill !

SORRY KIDS BUT THE 70'S CHICAGO WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST.............WITH THE ORIGINALS.