I am a true Wheathead, a die hard fan of the band Kansas
They are a progressive rock band from KANSAS (DUH) that started out in 1969 as White Clover. After many false starts and band break-ups, mostly because they were young, they managed to become famous.
Two of their songs which you may recognize are Dust In The Wind and Carry On Wayward Son. The rest of their repertoire is classical music based heavy metal. Their songs are lyrical and dreamy and then intense and magical. Singer and keyboard man Steve Walsh provides even now at age 57 some of the most unbelievable vocals in the business. His vocals are strong and powerful.
I met them in their beginning days when I was only 19 and we are all still friends today, over thirty five years later. Rich Williams, guitarist, recently quoted to a group of us who had gathered for supper after a show that he met me and my sister on June 13, 1969. I have no idea how he remembered that date. We still write and call each other on birthdays, holidays and whenever they are in my town. In those early years I was present on a magical night in a small club called The Roach in New Orleans when Jim Morrison the lead singer for The Doors came into the club and sang his hit Light My Fire with them. I was sitting only feet away. As it turns out, Jim was instrumental in getting Kansas an audition with a record producer and starting them off on their amazing career.
Surprisingly, they are still touring today. Their schedule is not all one nighters like in their younger days but they have a pretty full schedule. I have seen them many times in just the last two years, including Robby's last performance after having been asked to leave, in Las Vegas in March of 2006. I had talked to Rich early in the day and he never let on that they were about to fire Robby! Rich was on his way to meet with Robby and other band members right then. That night on stage, Robby played well, better than I could remember, but it was too late, David Ragsdale was hired to replace him. They are as fabulous as ever. They still rock and will continue for a long while yet!
Many changes have occured in their lives over the years. They recently fired long time member Robby Steinhardt, violin player and singer for his refusal to take vocal and violin coaching as he was losing his edge. The band leader and drummer, Phil Ehart called David Ragsdale back into the band to fill Robby's spot. Rags, as we call hiim, had been performing with his band, Phoenix in Las Vegas and, in fact, had lived nextdoor to me for two years in the nineties never once mentioning he even knew the band at all!
At a recent concert, I was pleased to hear that they sound as wonderful as ever. They still do all of their older material and all of my favorite songs.
Miracles Out Of Nowhere
Icarus Bourne on Wings of Steel
Song For America
The Wall
Each member has had a sucessful solo career and solo albums and all are dads with mostly grown children. Many current fans are the age of their children and some even younger!
Two former members whom I have been in contact with are Kerry Livgren who wrote the above lyrics and played keyboards and guitar and Dave Hope, their former bass player. Kerry has reformed the first Kansas group under the name Protokaw and Dave Hope has become an ordained Anglican priest. On his birthday last year Dave played with the band for Carry On Wayward Son when they played his new home town of Destin, Florida where he lives with his wife. Both Kerry and Dave were involved with Christian Rock bands A.D. and The Ressurection Band in the 1980's. Dave has become an author of Biblical material.
Phil Ehart is still the greatest and most creative drummer in all of rock history in my opinion. He is married with two children, one of whom is autistic. Noah is 9 years old and does not speak at all but plays the drums just like his daddy.
I will be seeing them in a few weeks. I am so excited! I always have front row seats with all the other Wheatheads (Kansas Fans). Can't wait to hear Miracles Out Of Nowhere and Icarus Borne On Wings Of Steel one more time. It may surprise you to know that their concerts are sold out til 2010 when we will all be 60!