Terry Kath, the monster guitarist and singer who many consider the driving force of Chicago, died 45 years ago today, January 23rd, 1978. He accidentally shot himself at the Woodland Hills, California home of the band's roadie Don Johnson.
Not realizing that there was a bullet in the chamber, he put the semi-automatic nine-millimeter pistol to his head and said to Johnson, "Don't worry about it... Look, the clip is not even in it. What do you think I'm gonna do? Blow my brains out?" And with that he pulled the trigger.
Kath was 31 and died eight days before his 32nd birthday. He left behind his wife, Camelia, and a 20-month-old daughter, Michelle.
Kath paid tribute to Jimi on Chicago 8 with the song "Oh, Thank You Great Spirit."
In 2017, his daughter, Michelle Kath Sinclair, paid tribute to her dad with the documentary, Terry Kath Experience: A Daughter's Journey.