Kansas (band)
Encyclopedia
Kansas is an American
rock
band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock
charts, and later with hit single
s such as "Carry On Wayward Son
" and "Dust in the Wind
". They tour in North America and Europe.
(bass), Phil Ehart
(drums, percussion), and Kerry Livgren
(guitars, keyboards, synthesizers) formed a progressive rock
group in 1970 in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas
(Steve Walsh is from St. Joseph, Missouri), along with vocalists Lynn Meredith
and Joel Warne, and keyboardist Don Montre, keyboardist Dan Wright
, and saxophonist Larry Baker.
A year earlier, Meredith, Montre, Wright and Livgren were performing in a band called The Reasons Why. After changing the band's name to Saratoga, they started playing Livgren's original material with Scott Kessler playing bass and Zeke Lowe on drums. In 1970, they changed the band's name again to Kansas and merged with members of rival Topeka progressive rock
outfit White Clover. This early Kansas group, which lasted until 1971 when Ehart and Hope and some of the others left to reform White Clover, is sometimes referred to as Kansas I.
Ehart was replaced by Zeke Lowe and later Brad Schulz, Hope was replaced by Rod Mikinski on bass, and Baker was replaced by John Bolton on saxophone and flute. (This lineup is sometimes referred to as Kansas II, and 30 years later would re-form under the name Proto-Kaw
.) In 1972, after Ehart returned from England (where he had gone to look for other musicians), he and Hope once again reformed White Clover with Robby Steinhardt
(vocals, violin, viola, cello), Steve Walsh
(vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion) and Rich Williams
(guitars). In 1973 they recruited Livgren from the second Kansas group, which then folded. Eventually they received a recording contract
with Don Kirshner
's eponymous label and decided to adopt the Kansas name.
and Masque.
Kansas released its fourth album, Leftoverture
, in November 1976, which produced a hit single, "Carry On Wayward Son
", in 1977. The follow-up, Point of Know Return
, released in October 1977, featured the title track and "Dust in the Wind
," both hit singles.
Leftoverture and Point each sold over four million copies in the U.S. Both "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind" were certified gold singles
, selling over one million units each. "Dust in the Wind" was certified gold as a digital download by the RIAA in 2005, almost 30 years after selling one million copies as a single. Leftoverture was certified five times platinum by the RIAA in 2001.
During this period, Kansas became a major headlining act and sold out the largest venues available to rock bands at the time, including New York
's Madison Square Garden
. The band documented this era in 1978 with Two for the Show, a double
live album
of recordings from various performances from its 1977 and 1978 tours. The band gained a solid reputation for faithful live reproduction of their studio recordings. In 1978 the band was named UNICEF Deputy Ambassadors of Goodwill.
The follow-up studio album to Point of Know Return was Monolith (1979), which, like the live album, was self-produced. While the album produced a Top 40 single in "People of the South Wind"--the title refers to the meaning of the Kaw
word 'Kansas'--it failed to garner the sales and radio airplay of its two predecessors. Nevertheless, the album went platinum. Kerry Livgren's platinum award for the album is on display at the Kansas History Museum
. "Hold On," a Top 40 single from that album, displayed his new-found faith in a pop setting. Hope soon converted to Christianity as well. Walsh left in October 1981 to form a new band, Streets
. In early 1982, Walsh was replaced by vocalist/keyboardist John Elefante
, a born-again Christian who was chosen over other applicants including Sammy Hagar
and Doug Pinnick
. Elefante and brother Dino Elefante were later successful producers for contemporary Christian artists, including Sweet Comfort Band
, Petra
, Bride
, Rick Cua
, and Guardian
.
Kansas' first album with Elefante, Vinyl Confessions
, released in June 1982, was their most successful studio release since Point of Know Return. The record renewed interest in the group and generated the band's first Top 20 hit in several years, "Play the Game Tonight
." The album's overtly Christian lyrics attracted an entirely new audience. Still, sales of the album fell short of gold status, and the album has yet to be certified gold.
Drastic Measures
followed in 1983. Because Livgren was holding back some Christian-oriented songs for another solo album, he contributed only three songs to the album . The rest were penned by the Elefante brothers, and without the violin of Steinhardt (who left the group before the recording sessions), the result was a more mainstream pop-rock album. The single, "Fight Fire with Fire," did not crack the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
but reached #3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, making it the highest chart position of any Kansas release on any chart.
During the band's time with Elefante as lead vocalist, Livgren became increasingly uncomfortable with Kansas representing his Christian worldview. After a final New Year's Eve performance on December 31, 1983, Livgren and Hope left to form AD
with former Bloodrock
member Warren Ham
, who had toured as a sideman with Kansas in 1982, and Michael Gleason
, who had done the same in 1983. They were joined by drummer Dennis Holt. Elefante, Ehart, and Williams sought to continue as Kansas, and recorded one more song, "Perfect Lover," which appeared on the retrospective The Best of Kansas
(1984). That was to be the final Kansas recording with Elefante, and the group disbanded after its release. Since leaving Kansas, Elefante has become a popular contemporary Christian music
artist but has never again performed with the group.
(of Streets
) and guitarist Steve Morse
(formerly of the Dixie Dregs
). The re-formed band released Power in November 1986. The first single, "All I Wanted," became the last Kansas single to hit the Billboard
Top 40 chart, peaking at #19. Two more singles, the title track and "Can't Cry Anymore," were less successful. The new lineup released a second album, In the Spirit of Things
, in 1988, but it was met with weak sales and Morse left the band at the end of the tour in 1989.
In 1990, a German promoter arranged to reunite all the original members of Kansas III (except for Steinhardt) for a European tour. Greer joined them, along with keyboardist Greg Robert, who had first joined Kansas on tour in 1986. At the end of the tour, Hope left again, but Livgren remained on into 1991. That year, violinist David Ragsdale
joined the group and the return of the violin allowed Kansas to perform earlier material in arrangements closer to the originals. Livgren left during the 1991 tour, to be replaced temporarily by Steve Morse again. After the tour, Morse left and Ragsdale took over the extra guitar parts, leaving Williams as the primary guitar player. The resulting lineup of Ehart, Greer, Ragsdale, Robert, Walsh, and Williams lasted from 1991 to 1997. This period saw one live album and accompanying video, Live at the Whisky
(1992) and one studio album Freaks of Nature
(1995). On July 28, 1996, Kansas was inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood.
In early 1997, Robert and Ragsdale left the band and Steinhardt returned. The following year Kansas released Always Never the Same, which featured Larry Baird conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
. The album was a mix of older Kansas material (with new arrangements by Baird), several new songs, and a cover
of "Eleanor Rigby
". Somewhere to Elsewhere
, released in July 2000, featured all the original members of Kansas, plus Greer, with all songs written by Livgren.
In 2000 Kansas was the opening act for Yes
during their "Masterworks" tour. In 2002, Kansas II (the lineup prior to the recording and release of Kansas' first album) released an album under the group name Proto-Kaw
, featuring demos and live material recorded from 1971 to 1973. This led to a new studio album, Before Became After
(2004), with most of the Kansas II members participating. Proto-Kaw released a third album, The Wait of Glory
, in 2006.
Kansas has continued to tour every year. The 2006 tour was delayed for a few weeks due to Steinhardt's second departure, and Ragsdale subsequently returned to the lineup. In 2008, the Kansas website announced that four of the five current members (Ehart, Ragsdale, Williams and Greer) had formed a recording group called Native Window
, and they released their self-titled debut album in June 2009.
In February 2009, Kansas recorded a concert in Topeka, Kansas featuring a full symphony orchestra, with Larry Baird conducting. Morse and Livgren appeared as special guests on several songs. The performance was released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray and the DVD hit #5 on Billboards Music Video Chart the week after its release.
As of July 13, 2010, Kansas had recently completed a 30-day "United We Rock" tour with fellow classic rock legends Styx and Foreigner.
Kansas began a Collegiate Tour in September 2010. On this tour, they perform with the symphony orchestras of various U.S. colleges in an effort to raise money for the individual schools' music programs.
" and "Dust in the Wind
," have been covered by other artists, and featured on film and television soundtracks.
"Carry On, Wayward Son" has been covered by: Critical Mass
, Dream Theater
, Yngwie Malmsteen, The Oak Ridge Boys
, Rachel Rachel
, The Showdown
, Stryper
, and an off-the-cuff live version by the Foo Fighters
. The riff and parts of the song was also shortly featured live by Pantera
in their song "Cowboys from Hell."
"Dust in the Wind" has been covered by: Sarah Brightman
, Scorpions
(Acoustica
), Christian artists Acappella
and Billy Smiley
, former New York Yankees
center fielder and jazz guitarist Bernie Williams
(The Journey Within
), and ex-Kansas lead singer John Elefante
(2006). It was sung by Will Ferrell
during the movie Old School
. It was prominently featured in several episodes of the television series Highlander
and was referenced in the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. It gained additional exposure when used as the music for a Subaru
commercial.
Additional covers include: "Point of Know Return" by Vanden Plas
(Beyond Daylight), "The Wall" by Lana Lane
(Covers Collection), and "Fight Fire with Fire" by Frost (Raise Your First to Metal).
"Carry On, Wayward Son" has been included on soundtrack
s for the following movies and television shows: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
, Family Guy
, Gentlemen Broncos
, Happy Gilmore
, Heroes (1977), Scrubs
, South Park
("Guitar Queer-o" episode
), Strangers with Candy
("Yes You Can't"), and Supernatural
(during the intro for each season finale), and Supernatural: The Anime Series (as the ending for each episode). It was also featured in the Guitar Hero II
, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Rock Band 2
and Rock Band Unplugged
video games.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
charts, and later with hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s such as "Carry On Wayward Son
Carry On Wayward Son
"Carry on Wayward Son" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1976 album Leftoverture. In 1977, the song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard pop singles chart, becoming their first Top 40 hit....
" and "Dust in the Wind
Dust in the Wind
"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single...
". They tour in North America and Europe.
1970–1973: Early years
Dave HopeDave Hope
Dave Hope is an American bass guitarist who played with the American rock band Kansas from 1973 until the band's first split in 1983. He then started the Christian band AD with Kerry Livgren and others....
(bass), Phil Ehart
Phil Ehart
Phillip W. Ehart is the drummer in the rock band Kansas. He and Rich Williams are the only two members who have appeared on every Kansas album. He has also taken on the band's management responsibilities in recent years. Born in Coffeyville, Kansas on February 4, 1950, Phil took up the drums in...
(drums, percussion), and Kerry Livgren
Kerry Livgren
Kerry Allen Livgren is an American musician and songwriter, best known as one of the founding members and primary songwriters for the 1970s progressive rock band, Kansas.-Biography:...
(guitars, keyboards, synthesizers) formed a progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group in 1970 in their hometown of Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
(Steve Walsh is from St. Joseph, Missouri), along with vocalists Lynn Meredith
Lynn Meredith
Lynn Meredith was a founding member of Kansas .Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Meredith's roots are in rhythm and blues, later branching out into progressive rock in his late teens. Meredith formed Saratoga with Kerry Livgren, Don Montre and Dan Wright after high school, and Saratoga became the...
and Joel Warne, and keyboardist Don Montre, keyboardist Dan Wright
Dan Wright (musician)
Dan Wright is the keyboard player for the band Proto-Kaw. A strong soloist, Dan’s creative style and use of odd effects became another trademark with the Kansas II sound. As a founding member of Kansas, versions I and II Dan had a prior history of playing with Kerry Livgren and Don Montre in bands...
, and saxophonist Larry Baker.
A year earlier, Meredith, Montre, Wright and Livgren were performing in a band called The Reasons Why. After changing the band's name to Saratoga, they started playing Livgren's original material with Scott Kessler playing bass and Zeke Lowe on drums. In 1970, they changed the band's name again to Kansas and merged with members of rival Topeka progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
outfit White Clover. This early Kansas group, which lasted until 1971 when Ehart and Hope and some of the others left to reform White Clover, is sometimes referred to as Kansas I.
Ehart was replaced by Zeke Lowe and later Brad Schulz, Hope was replaced by Rod Mikinski on bass, and Baker was replaced by John Bolton on saxophone and flute. (This lineup is sometimes referred to as Kansas II, and 30 years later would re-form under the name Proto-Kaw
Proto-Kaw
Proto-Kaw is an American progressive rock band. Featuring Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren, the group is a reformation of a band formed in the early seventies which served as the direct precursor to Kansas.-History:...
.) In 1972, after Ehart returned from England (where he had gone to look for other musicians), he and Hope once again reformed White Clover with Robby Steinhardt
Robby Steinhardt
Robert Eugene Steinhardt is a rock violinist and singer best known for his work with the group Kansas, for which he was co-lead singer / "frontman" and emcee along with keyboardist Steve Walsh, from 1973–1982 and 1997–2006...
(vocals, violin, viola, cello), Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh (musician)
Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
(vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, percussion) and Rich Williams
Rich Williams
Richard Williams is the guitarist for the rock band Kansas, and has been with them since their 1974 self-titled debut album. Rich lost his right eye in a childhood fireworks accident. He wore a prosthetic eye for many years, but now wears an eye patch instead.In the beginning, Williams shared...
(guitars). In 1973 they recruited Livgren from the second Kansas group, which then folded. Eventually they received a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner
Don Kirshner , known as "The Man With the Golden Ear", was an American song publisher and rock producer who is best known for managing songwriting talent as well as successful pop groups, such as The Monkees, Kansas and The Archies.-Early life:Don Kirshner was born to Gilbert Kirshner, a tailor,...
's eponymous label and decided to adopt the Kansas name.
1974–1979: Rise to national prominence
The debut album, Kansas, was released in March 1974, nearly a year after it was recorded in New York. It defined the band's signature sound, a mix of American-style boogie-rock and complex, symphonic arrangements with changing time signatures. Steinhardt's violin was a distinctive element of the group's sound and set them apart from other progressive rock groups of the era. The band slowly developed a cult following, due to promotion by Kirshner and extensive touring for the debut album and its two follow-ups, Song for AmericaSong for America
Song for America is the second album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1975. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2004....
and Masque.
Kansas released its fourth album, Leftoverture
Leftoverture
Leftoverture is the fourth album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1976. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2001.-Overview:...
, in November 1976, which produced a hit single, "Carry On Wayward Son
Carry On Wayward Son
"Carry on Wayward Son" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1976 album Leftoverture. In 1977, the song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard pop singles chart, becoming their first Top 40 hit....
", in 1977. The follow-up, Point of Know Return
Point of Know Return
Point of Know Return is the fifth album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1977. The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2002.The huge success of Kansas's previous effort, Leftoverture, brought a new kind of pressure...
, released in October 1977, featured the title track and "Dust in the Wind
Dust in the Wind
"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single...
," both hit singles.
Leftoverture and Point each sold over four million copies in the U.S. Both "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind" were certified gold singles
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, selling over one million units each. "Dust in the Wind" was certified gold as a digital download by the RIAA in 2005, almost 30 years after selling one million copies as a single. Leftoverture was certified five times platinum by the RIAA in 2001.
During this period, Kansas became a major headlining act and sold out the largest venues available to rock bands at the time, including New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. The band documented this era in 1978 with Two for the Show, a double
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of recordings from various performances from its 1977 and 1978 tours. The band gained a solid reputation for faithful live reproduction of their studio recordings. In 1978 the band was named UNICEF Deputy Ambassadors of Goodwill.
The follow-up studio album to Point of Know Return was Monolith (1979), which, like the live album, was self-produced. While the album produced a Top 40 single in "People of the South Wind"--the title refers to the meaning of the Kaw
Kaw (tribe)
The Kaw Nation are an American Indian people of the central Midwestern United States. The tribe known as Kaw have also been known as the "People of the South wind", "People of water", Kansa, Kaza, Kosa, and Kasa. Their tribal language is Kansa, classified as a Siouan language.The toponym "Kansas"...
word 'Kansas'--it failed to garner the sales and radio airplay of its two predecessors. Nevertheless, the album went platinum. Kerry Livgren's platinum award for the album is on display at the Kansas History Museum
1980–1984: Creative tensions
Kansas' band members began to drift apart in the early 1980s. Livgren became a born-again Christian, and this was reflected in his lyrics on the next three albums, beginning with Audio-VisionsAudio-Visions
Audio-Visions is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kansas, released in 1980. The album was remastered and reissued in 2011, as a Japanese import vinyl-replica....
. "Hold On," a Top 40 single from that album, displayed his new-found faith in a pop setting. Hope soon converted to Christianity as well. Walsh left in October 1981 to form a new band, Streets
Streets (band)
Streets was a band made up of singer, keyboardist Steve Walsh, guitarist Mike Slamer, bassist Billy Greer, and drummer Tim Gehrt.Steve Walsh had also been in the band Kansas and Mike Slamer has been in several other bands, including Britain's City Boy. He has also been a session guitarist...
. In early 1982, Walsh was replaced by vocalist/keyboardist John Elefante
John Elefante
John Elefante is an American singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer.-Early years:Born in Levittown, New York, his family soon moved to Long Beach, California. Growing up, he sang and performed drums for his family band, the Brotherhood...
, a born-again Christian who was chosen over other applicants including Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
and Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
. Elefante and brother Dino Elefante were later successful producers for contemporary Christian artists, including Sweet Comfort Band
Sweet Comfort Band
Sweet Comfort Band was a Christian rock band that first performed in 1973 in Riverside, California, and were active until 1984. The band was initially composed of keyboardist/lead vocalist, Bryan Duncan, and brothers Kevin and Rick Thomson. The band was the brainchild of the Thomson brothers...
, Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
, Bride
Bride (band)
Bride is a Christian heavy metal/hard rock band formed in the 80s, by brothers Dale and Troy Thompson. During the band's peak years it was known for covering a wide range of musical styles and remains popular in places like Brazil...
, Rick Cua
Rick Cua
Rick Cua is an American Dove Award and Grammy Award-winning Christian rock singer, songwriter, bassist, author, and ordained minister...
, and Guardian
Guardian (band)
Guardian is an American Christian hard rock/metal band. The band released six studio albums, three additional albums in Spanish—and toured extensively worldwide...
.
Kansas' first album with Elefante, Vinyl Confessions
Vinyl Confessions
Vinyl Confessions is the eighth studio album, and ninth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1982 . The album was reissued in remastered format on CD in 2011.-Background:...
, released in June 1982, was their most successful studio release since Point of Know Return. The record renewed interest in the group and generated the band's first Top 20 hit in several years, "Play the Game Tonight
Play the Game Tonight
"Play the Game Tonight" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas for their 1982 album Vinyl Confessions. It managed to chart at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the fifteenth single, tenth top one-hundred hit, sixth top forty hit, and the third of four Top 20 hits produced by...
." The album's overtly Christian lyrics attracted an entirely new audience. Still, sales of the album fell short of gold status, and the album has yet to be certified gold.
Drastic Measures
Drastic Measures
Drastic Measures is the ninth studio album, and tenth album overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1983.The shift in direction that Kansas took with Vinyl Confessions took its toll before recording began on this album...
followed in 1983. Because Livgren was holding back some Christian-oriented songs for another solo album, he contributed only three songs to the album . The rest were penned by the Elefante brothers, and without the violin of Steinhardt (who left the group before the recording sessions), the result was a more mainstream pop-rock album. The single, "Fight Fire with Fire," did not crack the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
but reached #3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, making it the highest chart position of any Kansas release on any chart.
During the band's time with Elefante as lead vocalist, Livgren became increasingly uncomfortable with Kansas representing his Christian worldview. After a final New Year's Eve performance on December 31, 1983, Livgren and Hope left to form AD
AD (band)
AD was a 1980s Christian rock band, featuring former Kansas members Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope, and former Bloodrock member Warren Ham sharing the lead vocal duties along with Michael Gleason.-Background:...
with former Bloodrock
Bloodrock
Bloodrock was an American hard rock band, based in Fort Worth, Texas, that had considerable success in the 1970s, and was one of the earliest of a number of significant bands to emerge from the Fort Worth club and music scene during the early to mid 1970s and on into the new century.-Early...
member Warren Ham
Warren Ham
Warren Ham is a vocalist, saxophonist, flutist from Fort Worth, Texas. During the early 70s, Warren and his brother Bill formed The HamBrothers Band and included Ira Wilkes on bass, Red Young on piano and organ and Dahrell Norris on drums. The group recorded for Texas producer Huey P. Meaux...
, who had toured as a sideman with Kansas in 1982, and Michael Gleason
Michael Gleason
Michael D. Gleason was an American rower who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.In 1904 he was part of the American boat, which won the gold medal in the eights.-External links:* *...
, who had done the same in 1983. They were joined by drummer Dennis Holt. Elefante, Ehart, and Williams sought to continue as Kansas, and recorded one more song, "Perfect Lover," which appeared on the retrospective The Best of Kansas
The Best of Kansas
The Best of Kansas is the first compilation album and 11th album overall from the American rock band Kansas. It was originally released in 1984, and featured one new track, "Perfect Lover," written and performed by then-lead vocalist John Elefante...
(1984). That was to be the final Kansas recording with Elefante, and the group disbanded after its release. Since leaving Kansas, Elefante has become a popular contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
artist but has never again performed with the group.
1985–present: Reformation and touring
In 1985 the band came back together with Walsh, but without Livgren, Hope or Steinhardt. The new line-up included bassist Billy GreerBilly Greer
Billy Greer is the current bass guitarist for the band Kansas. He joined the band in 1986 in time for the Power album. He had previously worked with vocalist Steve Walsh in the band Streets, and is currently working with his own band Seventh Key, as well as maintaining his status in Kansas.Billy...
(of Streets
Streets (band)
Streets was a band made up of singer, keyboardist Steve Walsh, guitarist Mike Slamer, bassist Billy Greer, and drummer Tim Gehrt.Steve Walsh had also been in the band Kansas and Mike Slamer has been in several other bands, including Britain's City Boy. He has also been a session guitarist...
) and guitarist Steve Morse
Steve Morse
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
(formerly of the Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs
The Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
). The re-formed band released Power in November 1986. The first single, "All I Wanted," became the last Kansas single to hit the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top 40 chart, peaking at #19. Two more singles, the title track and "Can't Cry Anymore," were less successful. The new lineup released a second album, In the Spirit of Things
In the Spirit of Things
In the Spirit of Things is the 11th studio album, and 13th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1988 . It is a very loosely organized concept album telling the story of a flood hitting the real Kansas town of Neosho Falls in the early 1950s...
, in 1988, but it was met with weak sales and Morse left the band at the end of the tour in 1989.
In 1990, a German promoter arranged to reunite all the original members of Kansas III (except for Steinhardt) for a European tour. Greer joined them, along with keyboardist Greg Robert, who had first joined Kansas on tour in 1986. At the end of the tour, Hope left again, but Livgren remained on into 1991. That year, violinist David Ragsdale
David Ragsdale
David Ragsdale, violinist for Kansas since 1991, started violin at the age of three. After studies with renowned classical teachers and a stint at the Tulsa Philharmonic, David's violinist duties took him out of the largely classical area and into rock and roll.Through the years he has performed...
joined the group and the return of the violin allowed Kansas to perform earlier material in arrangements closer to the originals. Livgren left during the 1991 tour, to be replaced temporarily by Steve Morse again. After the tour, Morse left and Ragsdale took over the extra guitar parts, leaving Williams as the primary guitar player. The resulting lineup of Ehart, Greer, Ragsdale, Robert, Walsh, and Williams lasted from 1991 to 1997. This period saw one live album and accompanying video, Live at the Whisky
Live at the Whisky
-Track listing:#"Introduction" – 1:04#"Howlin' at the Moon" from "Magnum Opus" – 1:31#"Paradox" – 4:11#"Point of no Return" – 4:44#"Song for America" – 8:57...
(1992) and one studio album Freaks of Nature
Freaks of Nature
Freaks of Nature is the 12th studio album, and 17th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1995. While the band hoped that it would be a springboard to a strong comeback, the album received little attention beyond what was left of the fan base...
(1995). On July 28, 1996, Kansas was inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood.
In early 1997, Robert and Ragsdale left the band and Steinhardt returned. The following year Kansas released Always Never the Same, which featured Larry Baird conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. The album was a mix of older Kansas material (with new arrangements by Baird), several new songs, and a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
". Somewhere to Elsewhere
Somewhere to Elsewhere
Somewhere to Elsewhere is the 14th studio album, and 20th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 2000.This album marks the reunion of the band's original 1970s lineup, along with Billy Greer, who joined Kansas with Power. Kerry Livgren composed all of the album's tracks, and he sings ...
, released in July 2000, featured all the original members of Kansas, plus Greer, with all songs written by Livgren.
In 2000 Kansas was the opening act for Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
during their "Masterworks" tour. In 2002, Kansas II (the lineup prior to the recording and release of Kansas' first album) released an album under the group name Proto-Kaw
Proto-Kaw
Proto-Kaw is an American progressive rock band. Featuring Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren, the group is a reformation of a band formed in the early seventies which served as the direct precursor to Kansas.-History:...
, featuring demos and live material recorded from 1971 to 1973. This led to a new studio album, Before Became After
Before Became After
Before Became After is a reunion album from the original Kansas II lineup, under their new name of Proto-Kaw. The Special Edition contains three bonus tracks - one new original song, a live version of "Belexes", plus a “single” version of “Words of Honor”. It also includes an informative interview...
(2004), with most of the Kansas II members participating. Proto-Kaw released a third album, The Wait of Glory
The Wait of Glory
The Wait of Glory is the third album from Proto-Kaw after their retrospective initial release and Debut new recording Before Became After....
, in 2006.
Kansas has continued to tour every year. The 2006 tour was delayed for a few weeks due to Steinhardt's second departure, and Ragsdale subsequently returned to the lineup. In 2008, the Kansas website announced that four of the five current members (Ehart, Ragsdale, Williams and Greer) had formed a recording group called Native Window
Native Window
Native Window is an American progressive rock spin-off band of the popular rock group Kansas.- 2009-present :Native Window was initially formed as a side project from Kansas...
, and they released their self-titled debut album in June 2009.
In February 2009, Kansas recorded a concert in Topeka, Kansas featuring a full symphony orchestra, with Larry Baird conducting. Morse and Livgren appeared as special guests on several songs. The performance was released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray and the DVD hit #5 on Billboards Music Video Chart the week after its release.
As of July 13, 2010, Kansas had recently completed a 30-day "United We Rock" tour with fellow classic rock legends Styx and Foreigner.
Kansas began a Collegiate Tour in September 2010. On this tour, they perform with the symphony orchestras of various U.S. colleges in an effort to raise money for the individual schools' music programs.
Influence
Kansas' two most popular songs, "Carry On Wayward SonCarry On Wayward Son
"Carry on Wayward Son" is a progressive rock single recorded by Kansas and written by Kerry Livgren for their 1976 album Leftoverture. In 1977, the song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard pop singles chart, becoming their first Top 40 hit....
" and "Dust in the Wind
Dust in the Wind
"Dust in the Wind" is a song by American progressive rock band Kansas, first released on their 1977 album Point of Know Return.The song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of April 22, 1978, making it Kansas' only top ten Billboard Hot 100 charting single...
," have been covered by other artists, and featured on film and television soundtracks.
"Carry On, Wayward Son" has been covered by: Critical Mass
Critical Mass (Catholic rock)
Critical Mass is a Christian rock band from the Waterloo Region of Ontario, Canada. The band is heavily influenced by its Catholic roots. They have produced and released five albums over their decade-long existence...
, Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Yngwie Malmsteen, The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s...
, Rachel Rachel
Rachel Rachel (band)
Rachel Rachel was a Contemporary Christian Rock musical group that was active in the early 1990s. The AOR group is best known as the first American female Christian rock group in the history of CCM. Members included Cheryl Jewell , Heli Sterner , Brynn Beltran , Jennifer York , and Jennifer...
, The Showdown
The Showdown (band)
The Showdown is a southern metal/metalcore band based in Elizabethton, Tennessee. While the members of the band are Christian and the band is signed to a Christian record label, the band does not consider itself a Christian act, according to guitarist Josh Childers...
, Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
, and an off-the-cuff live version by the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
. The riff and parts of the song was also shortly featured live by Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
in their song "Cowboys from Hell."
"Dust in the Wind" has been covered by: Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
, Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
(Acoustica
Acoustica (Scorpions album)
Acoustica is a 2001 unplugged album by German heavy metal band Scorpions.Acoustica was recorded during three concerts, at Convento do Beato, Lisbon, Portugal, in February 2001. It was a most unusual set for the band, as Klaus Meine comments on the DVD...
), Christian artists Acappella
Acappella (group)
Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has variously played the role of singer, songwriter and producer throughout the group's history...
and Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley
Billy Smiley is a music producer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being one of the core members of the Christian rock band White Heart. He was the bands' guitarist, vocalist, and main songwriter since 1982....
, former New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
center fielder and jazz guitarist Bernie Williams
Bernie Williams
Bernabé Williams Figueroa Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and Puerto Rican musician.-Early life:...
(The Journey Within
The Journey Within
The Journey Within is the debut album by Bernie Williams, who at the time of its release was still an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Released on July 15, 2003 through GRP Records, Williams played both lead and rhythm guitar on the album and also composed seven of the album's songs...
), and ex-Kansas lead singer John Elefante
John Elefante
John Elefante is an American singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer.-Early years:Born in Levittown, New York, his family soon moved to Long Beach, California. Growing up, he sang and performed drums for his family band, the Brotherhood...
(2006). It was sung by Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
during the movie Old School
Old School (film)
Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks SKG and directed by Todd Phillips, director of the documentary Frat House. The story was written by Court Crandall, and the film was written by Phillips and Scot Armstrong...
. It was prominently featured in several episodes of the television series Highlander
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985...
and was referenced in the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. It gained additional exposure when used as the music for a Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
commercial.
Additional covers include: "Point of Know Return" by Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas (band)
Vanden Plas is a German progressive metal band, based in Kaiserslautern and founded in the mid 1980s. In 1991, they recorded the song "Keep On Running" as an anthem for the local national league football club FC Kaiserslautern, and did the same in 1994 with "Das Ist Für Euch"...
(Beyond Daylight), "The Wall" by Lana Lane
Lana Lane
Lana Lane is a North American rock singer. She sings lead in her eponymous band, and has sung backing vocals for the band Rocket Scientists and guest sung on Ayreon and Erik Norlander albums....
(Covers Collection), and "Fight Fire with Fire" by Frost (Raise Your First to Metal).
"Carry On, Wayward Son" has been included on soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s for the following movies and television shows: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, or simply Anchorman, is a 2004 American comedy film, directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The film, which was also written by Ferrell and McKay, is a tongue-in-cheek take on the culture of the 1970s, particularly the then-new Action News format...
, Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, Gentlemen Broncos
Gentlemen Broncos
Gentlemen Broncos is a 2009 comedy film written by Jared and Jerusha Hess, and directed by Jared Hess. The film stars Michael Angarano, Jemaine Clement, Sam Rockwell and Jennifer Coolidge.-Plot:...
, Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert Simonds for Universal Studios. It stars Adam Sandler as the title character, an unsuccessful ice hockey player who discovers a talent for golf. The screenplay was written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy...
, Heroes (1977), Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
("Guitar Queer-o" episode
Guitar Queer-o
"Guitar Queer-O" is episode 1113 of Comedy Central's South Park, which aired on November 7, 2007. The title and plot parody the video game Guitar Hero. The episode aired ten days after the release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock in the US....
), Strangers with Candy
Strangers with Candy
Strangers with Candy is a television series produced by Comedy Central. It first aired on April 7, 1999, and concluded its third and final season on October 2, 2000. Its timeslot was Sundays at 10 p.m....
("Yes You Can't"), and Supernatural
Supernatural (TV series)
Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
(during the intro for each season finale), and Supernatural: The Anime Series (as the ending for each episode). It was also featured in the Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
, Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
and Rock Band Unplugged
Rock Band Unplugged
Rock Band Unplugged is an expansion of the Rock Band series of music video games released for the PlayStation Portable. The game is developed by Backbone Entertainment in conjunction with Harmonix Music Systems and is distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts...
video games.