Chicago Bears

'85 Bears band, 'Super Bowl Shuffle' stars play at Taste of Chicago

Published Jul. 13, 2015 10:05 a.m. ET

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Three stars from the 1985 Chicago Bears squad, creators of the famous "Super Bowl Shuffle," performed as a band during this weekend's Taste of Chicago food and music festival, according to Mark Konkol of DNAinfo.

The Chicago 6 features former defensive players Dan Hampton, Steve McMichael and Otis Wilson. Hampton was a Hall of Fame defensive lineman who lined up for the Bears in three different decades. McMichael was also a Pro Bowler along Chicago's D-line, and Wilson was a linebacker.

"This is going to be a big [Bears] fan show, and we’re really into it," Hampton told DNAinfo. "It’s exciting for us. When you were a band in the '60s you wanted to be on 'Ed Sullivan.' If you’re a band in Chicago you want to play the Taste."

The band was first formed in 1987, during the NFL players' strike, per DNAinfo. Back then, Hampton played bass, while legendary running back Walter Payton played drums and defensive back Dave Duerson played trumpet. Those Bears teamed up with players from the NHL's Blackhawks to form the other half of the band, as Troy Murray played the saxophone while Curt Fraser and Gary Nylund played electric guitar.

"It was cool, almost bizarre. I’m playing with Walter, Duerson’s on trumpet and the Blackhawks guys would come to practice with black eyes and swollen lips," Hampton said, via DNAinfo. "It was crazy. And after we played we’d have some cocktails and talk."

Hampton told DNAinfo that playing at the Taste of Chicago nearly 30 years after the band's inception was a way to pay homage to Payton and Duerson, both of whom have since passed away.

(h/t DNAinfo)

Photo Credit: Michael J. Minardi/Getty Images