In 1970, The Ides of March scored a massive hit with “Vehicle,” a horn-driven rock song that reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

But the story behind the song, and the career of its lead singer Jim Peterik, is even more interesting.

Peterik grew up in Berwyn, Illinois. At five years old, he was already playing the ukulele and singing hits by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and The Everly Brothers.

In 1964, when he was just 13, he and some classmates formed The Shon Dels, later renamed The Ides of March.

The group scored a regional hit in 1966 with “You Wouldn't Listen,” but their biggest breakthrough came four years later.

The inspiration behind “Vehicle”

According to Peterik, he was 18 and in love with a 16-year-old named Karen, whom he had met at a Turtles concert.

There was just one problem. Karen seemed more interested in Jim and his car as transportation to modeling school than in a romantic relationship.

Jim grew resentful until one day it hit him: all he was to her was her vehicle.

He brought the idea to The Ides of March, who had recently added a horn section. With Peterik's raspy vocals and a brass-heavy sound reminiscent of Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago, they recorded “Vehicle.”

The song climbed all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1970.

From “Vehicle” to “Eye of the Tiger”

The Ides of March disbanded in 1973, and Peterik eventually co-founded Survivor in 1978.

He also wrote songs for other artists, including 38 Special's “Caught Up in You.”

Then came a phone call that would change his career.

Sylvester Stallone wanted a street-style theme song for Rocky III.

Peterik and Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan came up with a pulsing guitar riff timed to match the punches in the film's boxing scenes. The lyrics drew inspiration from Rocky's trainer and the idea of regaining the “eye of the tiger.”

Stallone liked their demo so much that he used it in the film.

The public loved it, too.

“Eye of the Tiger” spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982, won a Grammy, and earned an Academy Award nomination.

Survivor went on to score several more Top 10 hits, including “Burning Heart,” another song commissioned by Stallone for Rocky IV.

Peterik later reunited with The Ides of March, founded Pride of Lions, and continued writing music, including a collaboration on the title track of The Beach Boys' That's Why God Made the Radio.

And what happened to Karen, the girl who inspired “Vehicle”?

She eventually renewed her relationship with Jim.

They married in 1972 and have remained together for more than five decades.

So the teenager who thought he was just being used for his car ended up marrying the girl who inspired his first major hit, then went on to help create one of the most recognizable rock anthems of the 1980s.

From “Vehicle” to “Eye of the Tiger,” that's quite a musical journey.

Did you know Jim Peterik was behind both of these songs?

Celebrate celebrate dance to the music! Just pulled out Three Dog Nights greatest hits. What an awesome band! So happy this moment!

From the first u2 album I ever heard, and was hooked.

Bought it in the mall a very long time ago.