Claire Thompson
Al Di Meola, the American guitarist known for his work in jazz fusion and world music, joined Chick Corea's Return to Forever group in 1974. Di Meola's time with the group was short-lived, lasting only two years, but it proved to be the group's career peak. Di Meola's fiery guitar playing and technical mastery contributed to the group's success and the Grammy Award won by their album No Mystery in 1975. At the height of Return to Forever's popularity, Chick Corea decided to disband the group, shocking the members by changing the lineup and excluding Di Meola. The breakup was mired in hurt feelings, legal issues, and regrets about unfinished business and unfulfilled potential. Despite this, Di Meola held Corea in high regard and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of his favourite band.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for breakup | Band members' involvement in side projects and solo works |
| Who decided to break up | Chick Corea |
| Members investing in solo works | White, Clarke, and Di Meola |
| Other possible reasons | Corea's deep involvement with Scientology and Clarke leaving Scientology |
| Reunion | The band reunited in 1982, 1983, 2008, and 2009 |
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What You'll Learn
- Chick Corea decided to break up the group at the height of Return to Forever's popularity
- Di Meola lamented the band's breakup, citing hurt feelings, legal issues and regrets about unfinished business
- Corea's decision to change the lineup of Return to Forever shocked Stanley Clarke
- Di Meola's replacement in Return to Forever was Earl Klugh, who was more of an acoustic player
- Di Meola's time in Return to Forever solidified his musical direction, exposing him to jazz rock pioneers
Chick Corea decided to break up the group at the height of Return to Forever's popularity
Chick Corea founded the jazz fusion band Return to Forever in 1972. The band's members included bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Al Di Meola, and drummer Lenny White. Di Meola joined the band in 1974, replacing guitarist Bill Connors.
At the height of Return to Forever's popularity, Corea decided to disband the group. The main reason for this decision was the other band members' involvement in side projects and solo careers. Di Meola, Clarke, and White were already investing in their solo works, with their labels and management supporting their new career moves. This may have hampered the progress of Return to Forever as a group. Additionally, Corea's deep involvement with Scientology might have also played a part in the group's disbandment. Clarke's departure from Scientology could have influenced Corea's decision.
Corea shocked the band members by deciding to change the lineup and exclude Di Meola and White. The final incarnation of Return to Forever featured Corea, Clarke, Joe Farrell, a four-piece horn section, and Corea's wife, Gayle Moran, on vocals. However, this lineup only recorded one studio album, "Musicmagic" (1977).
Despite the disbandment, the original lineup of Return to Forever reunited several times over the years. In 1982, they reunited to record a ten-minute track, "Compadres," for Corea's album "Touchstone." They also reunited for a short tour of the US and Japan in 1983 and again in 2008 for a tour of the United States and Europe. Their reunion tours and recordings demonstrated the lasting impact and influence of the group, even after their initial disbandment at the height of their popularity.
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Di Meola lamented the band's breakup, citing hurt feelings, legal issues and regrets about unfinished business
Al Di Meola joined Chick Corea's jazz fusion band Return to Forever in 1974, at the age of 19. Di Meola was a fan of Corea's compositions and considered it a dream come true to join the band. He said, "Chick was my favourite writer. I was in probably the greatest group for an electric guitar player possible. Chick was writing the most incredible music for electric guitar. And I was in the forefront. I was the guy who got the hippest guitar parts on the planet Earth at the time."
However, the band broke up in 1976, at the height of its popularity. While there was no big fallout, Di Meola lamented the end of the band, citing hurt feelings, legal issues, and regrets about unfinished business. He felt that the band had more to offer and that their potential was left unrealized. Di Meola's time with Return to Forever was brief but impactful, and he went on to have a successful solo career.
The primary reason for the band's breakup was the members' involvement in side projects and solo works. Di Meola, along with White and Clarke, were already investing in their solo careers, which may have hampered the progress of Return to Forever. Additionally, Corea's deep involvement with Scientology might have played a part in the end of the band's classic lineup. Corea himself stated that the band never really broke up, and the members reunited multiple times over the years, indicating a lingering connection and a desire to continue making music together.
Despite the band's disbandment, Di Meola maintained a positive relationship with Corea, referring to him as a mentor and a major influence on his composing. In 2008, Di Meola reunited with Corea, Clarke, and White for a reunion tour, marking a moment of reassessment for jazz-rock fusion. The tour was well-received, and the musicians' former chemistry was evident, despite some rough edges and miscues. Di Meola reflected on the experience, saying, "It felt like going home."
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Corea's decision to change the lineup of Return to Forever shocked Stanley Clarke
Return to Forever, an American jazz fusion band, was founded by pianist Chick Corea in 1972. The band has had many members, with bassist Stanley Clarke being the only consistent bandmate of Corea's. Several musicians, including Clarke, came to prominence through their performances on Return to Forever albums.
After the release of Romantic Warrior and the subsequent tour, Corea shocked Clarke by deciding to change the lineup of the group and not include either White or Al Di Meola. The final incarnation of Return to Forever featured Corea, Clarke, and Joe Farrell, along with a four-piece horn section and Corea's wife, Gayle Moran, on vocals. They recorded only one studio album, Musicmagic (1977).
The main reason for Corea's decision to change the lineup was the other band members' involvement in side projects. White, Clarke, and Di Meola were already investing in their solo careers, which may have hampered the progress of the main band. Corea's deep involvement with Scientology might also have played a part in the lineup change, as Clarke had left the Church of Scientology at the time.
In 1982, the Corea/Clarke/White/Di Meola lineup reunited to record a ten-minute track, "Compadres," for Corea's album Touchstone. They also played a short reunion tour of the U.S. and Japan in 1983, and the live recording in Japan was released in 2021. In 2008, Corea, Clarke, White, and Di Meola reunited again for a tour of the United States and Europe. However, in 2009, Corea, Clarke, and White performed an acoustic tour without Di Meola and released a live album in 2011 titled Forever.
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Di Meola's replacement in Return to Forever was Earl Klugh, who was more of an acoustic player
Al Di Meola joined Chick Corea's jazz fusion band Return to Forever in 1974, replacing guitarist Bill Connors. Di Meola's breakthrough came with this band, and he is known for his work in jazz fusion and world music. He was only 19 years old when he joined the group, and he stayed with them for two years, recording several albums and touring with the group.
After Bill Connors left the band, Return to Forever hired Earl Klugh as a guitarist for some live performances. Klugh was then replaced by Di Meola, who was described as a guitar prodigy. Klugh did not record any albums with the group. Di Meola's electric rock style and lightning-fast technique made him a natural fit for the band.
Di Meola's replacement in Return to Forever was indeed Earl Klugh, who was more of an acoustic player. Klugh's time with the group was short-lived, as he was soon replaced by Di Meola, who brought a different style to the band. Klugh did not record any albums with Return to Forever, but he did perform live with them.
Di Meola, on the other hand, recorded several albums with the group, including Where Have I Known You Before (1974), No Mystery (1975), and Romantic Warrior (1976). He also toured extensively with the band and was a key member during their peak of popularity. However, in 1976, at the height of the band's success, Corea decided to disband the group due to members' involvement in side projects and solo careers. Di Meola went on to pursue a successful solo career, while Corea continued with a new incarnation of Return to Forever.
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Di Meola's time in Return to Forever solidified his musical direction, exposing him to jazz rock pioneers
Albert Laurence Di Meola, born on July 22, 1954, is an American guitarist known for his work in jazz fusion and world music. He had his breakthrough after joining Chick Corea's jazz fusion band Return to Forever in 1974. Di Meola's time in Return to Forever solidified his musical direction, exposing him to jazz rock pioneers.
Return to Forever was founded by pianist Chick Corea in 1972. The band is often cited as one of the core groups of the jazz-fusion movement of the 1970s. Di Meola joined the band at the age of 19, replacing Bill Connors. He was hired by Corea to join the existing lineup of Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. Di Meola's addition to the band brought a new dynamic, with his exceptional guitar skills taking centre stage.
During his time in Return to Forever, Di Meola was exposed to jazz rock pioneers such as Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin. Di Meola has praised McLaughlin as "the first guitarist I heard to combine a tremendous amount of emotion with incredible technique". He also acknowledged the influence of Coryell, stating that his "unique approach" gave him the "confidence to continue in my direction". Di Meola's exposure to these pioneers helped solidify his musical direction and style.
Di Meola recorded three albums with Return to Forever, including "Where Have I Known You Before" (1974) and "No Mystery" (1975). The albums showcased the band's evolving style, blending jazz-funk, acoustic tracks, and compositions with a strong Spanish influence. Di Meola's guitar playing was a key element of the band's sound during this period. He also contributed as a composer, with each member of the group composing at least one track on "No Mystery".
In 1976, Di Meola launched a successful solo career, and his time in Return to Forever had exposed him to new musical influences and solidified his direction as a guitarist and composer. Di Meola's solo work continued to explore jazz fusion and world music, and he collaborated with many renowned musicians throughout his career.
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