A boundary-breaking band is heading to the Coachella Valley—in the group’s 60th year of existence.
The band Chicago has cemented its music legacy as a self-described “rock ’n’ roll band with horns.” Since 1967, the jazz, funk and rock hybrid has produced chart-topping pop hits combining catchy sensibilities with masterful musicianship. You can hear the serious songwriting skills on selections like “25 or 6 to 4,” “If You Leave Me Now” and “Street Player.”
In 2026, Lee Loughnane (trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals) is the sole original member in the touring lineup. Chicago, alongside ’70s/’80s rockers Styx, will perform on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Acrisure Arena.
“This is actually our first time meeting them (Styx) and playing shows after all this time,” Loughnane said during a recent phone interview. “We’re having a great time. They’re a great band. They have a great legacy of hit music, and both audiences—their audience and ours—are being treated to something that they probably haven’t heard before, or at least much of. We get the ability to gain some of their crowd, and vice-versa.”
While both Chicago and Styx have a shared connection—both bands were formed in Chicago—the pair’s Windy Cities Tour is the latest in a long line of artists teaming up for a co-headlining tour. Loughnane explained what makes Chicago and Styx a perfect match for an evening of entertainment.
“People enjoy listening to both bands’ music,” he said. “I think that’s the main draw, and the audiences have been coming out and enjoying every show that we’ve done so far, so I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
On Feb. 15, 2027, Chicago will celebrate 60 years as a band—a tremendous feat. What’s the secret to sticking around so long?
“Don’t quit, first of all, but also enjoying what you’re doing is definitely something that needs to happen,” Loughnane said. “We started out with some great writers—Robert Lamm, Jimmy Pankow, Terry Kath. They were the foundation of the group, and now we have 10 guys in the band. The legacy that we’ve built together for 60 years, when we go onstage, you can hear the beginning band all the way through all of the decades. All of the people who have influenced and played with us are onstage at the same time. You don’t see their bodies anymore, but you hear the results of what they brought to the music, and we’re just continuing it on.”
Original members Lamm and Pankow remain part of the band, but stopped touring last year, leaving Loughnane as the last original touring member. That could be a difficult position for Loughnane—but he said he’s still enjoying the music.
“The music is fun to play and intricate, and it isn’t two hours of blues,” he said. “It’s different styles of music, different tempos, different genres. It keeps us interested, and it never gets easier, so you have to be prepared musically as well on your instrument.”
With hits spanning generations, Chicago performs to audiences filled with members of their original audience, their kids, their kids, and even their kids!
“These people grew up with this music, and they had children, and the music was good enough for them to offer it to their children as well,” Loughnane said. “Even if the kids come thinking, ‘I don’t know … these guys are old,’ by the time they leave, they’re fans, and they come back without their parents. We are playing for generations of people and families, so it’s an honor to be able to keep doing this.”
Even after 60 years, Chicago is still planning new music—and even a movie!
“We have a movie that’s going to be coming out documenting the 60th anniversary, and we’re working on a couple of original songs that’ll probably come out as an EP,” Loughnane said. “Then we’re going to record a Christmas album this December and January, and it’ll be released in 2027. We’ll try to change them up so you don’t notice that they’re Christmas songs right away. We call it ‘Chicago-izing.’”
At 79 years old, Loughnane sees no end in sight for his musical career—and no end in sight for Chicago.
“I don’t see my involvement ending anytime soon,” he said. “People are still coming to see us. They enjoy what they’re seeing and hearing, and they make it very apparent every night. There’s no reason for me to stop doing what I’m doing, and I plan on continuing, and I think the rest of the guys are enjoying being involved as well.”
With a physically demanding instrument like the trumpet, Loughnane consistently practices, and is always researching new techniques to keep kicking ass with brass!
“Every brass player will tell you the same thing: It never gets easier,” he said. “It’s something that you have to practice and work at every day, but you can make it easier on yourself by doing the proper things. I’m trying to learn more things. I’m actually looking at a lot of the Google stuff on the internet and picking up ideas that are working for me. Stuff that doesn’t work, I don’t do, but if something works, there’s no reason to not put it in my practice routines. There are some great players out there to learn from, and you just have to be careful of which ones you listen to. It’s still a lot of fun to play, and I love the preparation.
“I love everything about the business, so there’s no reason for me to stop. If I retired, what would I retire to? I love doing this.”
Chicago and Styx will perform at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Acrisure Arena, at 75702 Varner Road, in Palm Desert. Tickets start at $53.40. For tickets and more information, visit acrisurearena.com.
