They’ve been one of the more famous classic rock bands for over 50 years now and while most of the original members have left, fans of the famous rock group Kansas will have plenty of reason to be excited at next week’s concert in Midland.
The band will be making a stop in the Permian Basin as part of its 50th anniversary tour. The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
Tickets for the show can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/y5spszrb.
With a legendary career that has spanned for half a century now, Kansas has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands.
Founded as a garage band in Topeka, Kan., the group released its debut album in 1974 and have since gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.
With a resume that includes 15 studio albums and five live albums, as well as eight gold albums, Kansas appeared on the Billboard charts throughout the 1970s and 80s thanks to hits such as “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.”
Ronnie Platt has been the lead vocalist and keyboardist for the band since becoming a member in 2014, replacing Steve Walsh after his departure from the group.
“Midland is definitely a place that we’ve been to in the past,” Platt said in a phone interview. “There are so many great, hard core Kansas fans in Midland. It’s a destination that we look forward coming to because we know it’s going to be a great show and the audience will be great. We feed off the audience and they feed off us. We’re really looking forward to coming to Midland.”
The 50th anniversary tour has been going on for over a year now with plenty of stops across the country.
“We’ll hit the road and we’ll just pound out show after show after show,” Platt said. “At times, it becomes like a blur because you’re following that schedule to the minute. This thing called ‘Kansas,’ we run it like a military machine.”
Guitarist Richard Williams and drummer Phil Ehart are the only original members still with the band.
Despite the changes in the band over the years, Platt — who was a big fan of Kansas while growing up — has reflected on what it means for the group to carry on the band’s legacy into its 50th anniversary celebration.
“It’s really something to think about with this band being around for 50 years,” Platt said. “I remember being in high school when ‘Leftoverture’ came out and I remember playing it to death … Just to be a fan of the band through the years and really getting to know the band’s library and to help put this show together is great.”
Speaking of the show, Platt said it’s been a difficult task to put together these concerts simply because of trying to decide which famous songs will make the cut and which ones won’t.
“This isn’t an easy show to put together because Kansas has such a huge library of music and we’re trying to fit everything we can into a two-hour show,” Platt said. “It really is tough to choose which songs to play and which ones to omit. It’s not an easy deal.”
With that said, he expects fans in Midland to be satisfied from this show.
“We came up with a good selection and will hopefully give Kansas fans a taste of something from the first album to the latest album,” Platt said.
So far, the reaction from audiences on the tour has been electric with some former members joining them on stage during their homecoming to the Sunflower State two weeks ago.
“It’s really special.” Platt said. “Two weeks ago, we played in Topeka, Kan., and we did two back-to-back shows and Kerry Livgren, the original guitar player and keyboard player and writer of the mother-load of music of Kansas joined us on stage. After our shows, he wrote such a complimentary statement on Facebook, saying how he felt impressed that the band’s music is being played by capable hands. It was such a flattering compliment, but it also goes to show that there’s a particular musicianship level that it takes to play this music. The guys that are in the band now bring a lot of energy to the show.”
However, there have been a few recent changes to the group during the tour, one of which included 40-year veteran and co-lead singer/bassist Billy Greer leaving the group. He has since been succeeded by Dan McGowan.
“Billy was the band’s emcee,” Platt said. “He would announce the songs an introduce the band. He was really the ring master on stage. With his retirement, that duty fell on me. Something that I really didn’t do a lot of in my other bands … Now, it’s exclusively my (duty) and it’s taken me a little while to get acclimated to it. Now that it’s a part of my job, I’ve accepted it but it was some added nervousness because I get tongue-tied … When you’re trying to speak to a large audience, you have to speak loudly and clear enough so that everyone can hear you and you’re hoping that you don’t forget anything from a story or hoping that you’re getting the next song right. Sometimes I’m second-guessing myself.”
With the band celebrating 50 years, Platt talked about the influence Kansas has left on not just the rock genre but in all of music.
“The influence that Kansas has had is huge,” he said. “The band is getting kudos from other bands and it’s amazing the influence the band has. I’m not talking about us, I’m talking about the original six members. How this band is not in the rock and roll hall of fame is a travesty to me because the band has had such a huge influence on musicians, singers and song writers and just entertaining people for the last 50 years. That’s the influence Kansas has had.”
For more information on the concert, go to https://www.wagnernoel.com/events/detail/kansas_24.
>> If you go:
>> What: Kansas- 50th Anniversary Tour
>> When: 7 p.m. Oct. 25
>> Where: Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
>> Where to purchase tickets: https://tinyurl.com/y5spszrb
