An Unsung Guitar Hero Gets His Moment in the Spotlight The Terry Kath Experience reveals the far reaching influence of a rock innovator

Written by Eric Shea

The Terry Kath Experience, which had its US premier this Sunday at DOC NYC, delves into the far-too-short life of Terry Kath, a founding member of the band Chicago and one of the rock world’s unsung guitar heroes. The film was conceived by Kath’s daughter, Michelle Kath Sinclair, whose initial intention was to memorialize her father, and yet the film becomes just as much a journey of self-discovery for Sinclair as she pieces together stories, memories, and recollections of the late guitar legend.

The film follows the Chicago frontman from his early beginnings in the ‘60s club rock scene where Chicago grew from a cover band in suits and ties to a progressive rock group who flourished in the free love generation of the late ‘60s with their original material and impeccable improvisational skills. Kath’s guitar skills are heralded by many throughout the course of the film including Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers,  Joe Walsh of James Gang and the Eagles, Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, Jeff Lynne of ELO, and even Jimi Hendrix, who was said to have regarded Kath as an even better guitar player than himself.

Cinematographer and co-producer Jordan Levy introduced the film as a “true labor of love,” which shows throughout as Sinclair criss-crosses the country to interview producers, promoters, bandmates, friends, and admirers of her late father. With Chicago’s legacy cemented as one of their generation’s great rock bands, Sinclair uses The Terry Kath Experience to shed light specifically on her father’s artistry and his drive to rebel against the demands of the mainstream music industry and continue to push the boundaries of what it meant to be a rock ‘n roll guitar player. Kath’s contributions to the music world have lived on in Chicago’s hits like “25 Or 6 To 4”, “Saturday In The Park,” and his own personal opus “Introduction,” but now his life not only as a guitar player, but as a family man and father, lives on in this film.

Eric Shea is a music supervisor and consultant based in Brooklyn, NY and also manages the music blog Maimed & Tamed.