Peterik started performing in 1964 with some of his schoolmates in Berwyn, Illinois, as The Ides of March named by Larry Milas, "after learning about it in history class," Milas stated. Their hits included "Vehicle," "You Wouldn't Listen" and "L.A. Goodbye" throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In the early 1970s Peterik wrote several songs which were recorded by the jazz-rock band Chase.

In 1976, he released a solo album, Don't Fight the Feeling, and toured with several of the era's most popular bands, including Heart and Boston.

Peterik formed his most successful band, Survivor, in 1978.

In the early years of Survivor, Peterik continued to co-write hits for other artists, including 38 Special and Sammy Hagar. In 1982, Sylvester Stallone commissioned Survivor to write and perform the theme song for his movie, Rocky III. This song, "Eye of the Tiger," would end up becoming their defining single, spending six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going double platinum; plus it won them a Grammy Award and a nomination at the Academy Awards. This was followed by their 1984 album Vital Signs, which featured the top 10 hits "High on You" (#8) and "The Search Is Over" (#4), plus another sizable hit in "I Can't Hold Back" (#13).

In 1985, Peterik co-wrote the theme to Rocky IV, "Burning Heart," which would be another big hit (#2 in early 1986) for Survivor, and which was followed by "Is This Love" (#9). Following Survivor's 1988 album Too Hot to Sleep, they disbanded.

One song from each of his famous bands appear in a Stallone film (their purpose to motivate the scene's action): Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" in Rocky III and the Ides of March's "Vehicle" in Lock up.

In 1990, all the original members of the Ides of March, (Jim Peterik, Larry Millas, Bob Bergland, Mike Borch, Chuck Soumar, John Larson, Scott May and Dave Stahlberg), reunited,and continue to perform. Peterik continues to write for other artists such as the Doobie Brothers and Cheap Trick, as well as briefly reuniting with Survivor for another tour. His song "Vehicle" found new popularity when it was performed by American Idol runner-up Bo Bice in 2005.

In 2003, he founded Pride of Lions with Toby Hitchcock. Peterik continues to play with the Ides of March as of 2006. His latest solo CD, Above the Storm, was released in 2006.

Jim performed at the West Australian Music Industry Awards with shred virtuoso Michael Angelo Batio in 2005.

In 2009, Peterik appeared on The Jerry Springer Show as guest security.

Jim Peterik currently resides in his home in Burr Ridge, IL.

Solo

• Don't Fight the Feeling (1976)
• Above the Storm (2006)

With The Ides of March

• IDEOLOGY - SUNDAZED 65-68
• VEHICLE - 1970
• COMMON BOND - 1971
• WORLD WOVEN - 1972
• MIDNIGHT OIL - 1973
• IDEOLOGY 1992
• AGE BEFORE BEAUTY - 1997
• IDEOLOGY 11.0 - 2000
• BEWARE - THE IDES OF MARCH LIVE - 2002
• IDES ESSENTIALS - 2005

With Survivor

• Survivor (1979)
• Premonition (1981)
• Eye of the Tiger (1982)
• Caught in the Game (1983)
• Vital Signs (1984)
• When Seconds Count (1986)
• Too Hot to Sleep (1988)

With Kelly Keagy

• Time Passes (2001)
• I'm Alive (2007)

With Pride of Lions

• Pride of Lions (2003)
• The Destiny Stone (2004)
• Live in Belgium (2006)
• The Roaring of Dreams (2007)

Jim Peterik co-authored Songwriting for Dummies, published 2002, with Dave Austin and Mary Ellen Bickford.