But then there was Hendrix, man. Jimi was really the last cat to freak me. Jimi was playing all the stuff I had in my head. I couldn't believe it, when I first heard him. Man, no one can ever do what he did with a guitar. No one can ever take his place.

In 1970 the name was shortened to Chicago. Kath did not use special tunings or unusual guitar modifications. Johnson had warned Kath several times to be careful.

He died in early 1978 eight days before his 32nd birthday from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound.