Kansas still relishing classic rock status

Just as ambitious tumbleweeds scurry across the Kansas plains in search of somewhere new, so too journeyed the members of the rock group named after their home state.

Formed in 1970 in Topeka, the first incarnation of Kansas was actually a melding of two bands, Saratoga and White Clover, helmed by Kerry Livgren (guitar) and Phil Ehart (drums). Through its thirty years in the music industry, the group has seen members come and go in an outfit that includes a variety of unique instruments (most notably violin played by Robbie Steinhardt) rivaled only by a small orchestra.

These days, the reuniting of Livgren, absent from his creation for almost two decades, with the rest of the eclectic ensemble has both fans and band members rocking along.

We are just happy, in all honesty, that people still want to come see us,” laughed Steinhardt after a recent gig.

People are always asking if we ever tire of playing songs like ‘Dust in the Wind’ and ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ and I just kinda grin and ask one of my own - ‘Do you ever get tired of hearing them?’”

Apparently, it’s a rhetorical question. Fans continue to flock to Kansas concerts all over the country to support their favorite classic rockers. Ironically, noted Steinhardt, the group’s cast changes over the years may have actually helped keep it going by infusing new blood into the mix.

I think bringing in someone’s new background and tastes helps keep the sound new to an extent, but of course, I’m glad when we have the reunion shows because that’s a formula that we know works and works well.”

So well that there has been nary a year when Kansas hasn’t toured incessantly, doing up to 150 shows most years. While touring frustrations that they felt early on came courtesy of backwoods venues and more hours on the bus than most school kids can accumulate all year, these days, they take to the skies for shows.

The upgrade doesn’t seem to affect the outfit’s down-home appeal, however. Like a determined tornado chewing up the asphalt, they continue to accumulate fans both back home and on the road. Apparently, even after millions of albums sold, many eventually going gold or platinum, there is still some steam left in this engine.

It’s a good thing we can still make a living doing this because frankly, I don’t think I can do much else. Even when we weren’t together at one time or another, we all stayed friends and that made it possible for us to get back together and feel as if no time had passed at all.”

Touring with the likes of bands like Yes, also known for its penchant for orchestral maneuvers, has kept tickets sales steady and Steinhardt said they are always “working on new stuff.”

In the meantime, everything is an inspiration and possibility for future inclusion in new material. They’ve come a long, long way since debuting at #174 on the charts back in the mid-seventies. Now, technology and their loyal fan base have this bunch of 50-plus musicians feeling pretty darn lucky.

There is nothing more gratifying than getting out there on stage and seeing fans singing every single word to every single song of yours. It makes you feel as if you’ve had some sort of impact, even in some small way, on someone’s life. It rocks.”

Discography:

1974 Kansas

1974 Song for America

1975 Masque

1976 Leftoverture

1977 Point of Know Return

1978 Two for the Show

1979 Monolith

1980 Audio-Visions

1982 Vinyl Confessions

1983 Drastic Measures

1986 Power

1988 In the Spirit of Things

1992 Live at the Whisky

1995 Freaks of Nature

1998 Always Never the Same

1998 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents

1999 The Best of Kansas

2000 Somewhere to Elsewhere

2002 Device, Voice, Drum

2002 Kansas Enhanced LIVE!

2003 From The Front Row...Live!

2004 Kansas Sail On

2005 Two for the Show (Remastered)

To find out more information on Kansas or purchase merchandise and music, go to www.kansasband.com.