STEVE WALSH IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE FINEST VOCALIST I EVER HEARD !!! If you go back and listen to his full body of works from the band KANSAS you will realize what a GENIUS he was! In his later years with Kansas his voice had been pushed to the point where you could tell it was not easy for him to sing all the songs anymore..but all vocalist go through that . THANK GOD FOR STEVE WALSH AND HIS AWESOME TALENT !!
100% absolutely ! Steve Walsh was my childhood hero.My friends liked Robert Plant,and they REALLY busted my nads for liking a band with a violin in it. Anyway, your right.IMO KANSAS is thee best band in the world. I don't care what anybody says about the Beatles or Led Zeppelin Kansas is superior.
+pug760 totally agree, exceptional singer, his range is way beyond anybody else out there, and he actually sings real songs, not the usual metall crap that still grabs all the attention, Kansas are more of a pnenomena than just a rock band, pure talent, maybe the best rock band ever, soooooo true
A great mixture of Mozart and rock EVER. He is a real national treasure, there will never be another one like him. He was probably the first to combine Classic music with rock. Before my dad ruined my voice forever, I used to try to pattern my voice like him and Anne Wilson, and a little Karen Carpenter. That all ended when I left a coke bottle in the basement.
Heah, he was also a great keyboard player, his harmonies with The great Robbie Steinhardt , so wonderful.. They always traded off lead vocals, extraordinary!!
Steve Walsh, your a very great lead singer and Kansas will always be the best when you were in one of the best music groups of all time God Bless You! 👍🎤🇺🇸
The real magic happens when you pair a genius lyricist with a genius vocalist. That's when a Kansas happens. Kerry and Steve together were greater than the sum of their parts, and individually they were astounding.
You're absolutely right... KANSAS was the combination of Livegren's amazing songwriting and Steve's amazing vocals... and don't discount Robbie Steinhart's rock violin and his rough, rock voice that melded together perfectly. I don't want to discount the excellent songs that Steve Walsh brought to those albums... KANSAS wasn't any one thing, it was a combination of all these elements... The newest incarnation of KANSAS is a great band, but they're not KANSAS. Of course they have the legal right to use the name, but they're hiring out the writing of lyrics, they don't have Kerry Livegren, Steve Walsh, or Robbie Steinhart, which means they're not KANSAS. A great band for sure, but not KANSAS. I don't want to see them live with Ronnie Platte as their vocalist. He's a decent vocalist, but sounds nothing like Steve Walsh, and seriously doesn't have the vocal range to sing those classic KANSAS songs. Ronnie Platte
I've been rockin for over 50 years and Kansas has always been one of my favorite bands. I think Steve was not only a great singer but keyboardist and front man. I wish that he would go back out with Kansas again.`
This interview was done 18 years ago. He was 50. This is a fantastic artifact. Hearing Steve speak so uninhibitedly and candidly about his past is quite refreshing. I think his memories of Kansas are extremely key to understanding the band. I find him to be a pretty complex guy.
He is a veritable genius. I have a 180 iq. I would hazard a guess that Steve Walsh's iq is in the 200+ range. He is a historian & well versed on a myriad of subjects. He is very impressive from so many different aspects.
I'll never forget Fall '76, walked down my dorm floor hallway, and a fellow 'Bong Squad' member says, "Hey, wanna hear the new Kansas?" "Sure", had heard their earlier 3 albums on WXRT, so I walk in and sit dead center of his two huge JBL 15" monitor-class speakers, and he drops the needle... CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON... The hair stands up on my neck... Then "The Wall". Unbelievable. God Bless Steve, Kerry, and all of them.
I bought Steve's old Hammond C-3 from their road manager, Clay Schell, in Atlanta Ga, back in the late 70's, and was hoping to meet him, but unfortunately I didn't get to. I tried again at a concert at Clemson University a few months later, but again, was unable to connect with him. I did however, get to speak, briefly, with Dave Hope and the others at the bus after the concert, and found them all to be very down to earth and approachable, but again....no Steve. So, I marked it up to fate and moved on. KANSAS will always be at the top of my short list of all time best progressive Rock and Roll bands, and I wish them continued and lasting success in whatever the they choose to do! 🤘✌
I would apply this to their first six records personally. Although one of the ones you mentioned (Masque) is my favorite. Which of the two do you prefer?
I would give anything to interview Steve Walsh, preferably live & in person. As a singer/songwriter/musician myself & a female; I have very unique, esoteric & completely out-of-the-box questions I would love to pose to my favorite blues/rock singer/songwriter/musician. I would also love to hang out & watch a movie or 12 with Steve-but that is on a completely different tangent!
@@davidmiles533 Mine as well. Leftoverture may be the smoothest or the most well-rounded or whatever the word may be for it, and I love it (also for some very personal memories connected with it) but Masque has some songs that are so awesome they leave me amazed everytime I hear them even after literally decades of listening to them.
SONG FOR AMERICA is my #1 favorite Kansas album, without a doubt! So fresh and much better sound quality than their debut album... When I think of Kansas, SONG FOR AMERICA is the first piece of work that comes into my mind, and I own EVERYTHING that band has ever released!
i work with his Mom June Walsh she’s in a nursing home in Saint Joseph Mo. She’s the sweetest thing she talks about him all the time she has his plaque on her wall in her small room. She has bad dementia but she’s always talking about how wonderful he is. I will miss her voice when she passes away bcus Her “I love you sweetheart” along with a kiss on a cheek means the world to me coming from her. She’s a lovely woman.
@@donnaerickson2021 Ik i was there when she passed … They brought her out to a table for breakfast .. she was blue and purple you could tell she was dying. I was sad that they never posted when her gathering was bcus she was the best person to work for
My favorite singer ever. I love the way he played so many instruments. He’s awesome. My mom was a sweet Adeline!!!We are from Illinois. That’s sooo cool. You’re amazing Steve.
I real admire Steve after listening to this interview. He comes across as a very authentic and approachable guy. Great interview...thanks for uploading.
what a great great singer...super band....first saw them in milwaukee opening for hawk wind...glad to see Steve is continuing to take the high road over substance abuse..thank God he is sounding better...just a solid unique group...one of my all-time favorites and in my humble opinion right up there with the super groups.
@@wjf1950 Don't bother too much about Bad Company; Paul Rodgers was at his absolute best with Free. A more authentic band and better songs than Bad Company.
kansas and Steve Walsh is one of the best vocalist in my oppinion. He had the most clearest vocals and range I ever heard. And Steve a check of a show man I ever saw way back in the day. Steve Kerry and Phil. wrote very spiritual songs. and I was blessed to hear and get to know them. awesome Group. one of my most favorite band's. freakin awesome. love your music guys
Seems like Steve is a really nice person and so talented I love his talent and voice and playing skills a great front man too... Blessings Steve may God continue to bless your life and family
Close to his age and totally devoted since the beginning . What an incredible talent. I just bought his new CD and in another dimension would someday love to meet him.
This is a wonderful interview. Thanks so much for sharing this. I've been a Steve Walsh fan for decades. A truly gifted and special musician. Such an immense pleasure to just listen to such a candid conversation with him. Thank you!
i am so happy to hear this interview. He was such a lovely singer. What an intellectual. A lovely man. So real. So authentic. I am sad when I hear it, but I love the man. Kansas owes so much to him and they currently have a worthless singer now.
Fligemon - Kerry’s album, Seeds of Change, which featured Ronnie James Dio on two tracks, was not post-Kansas; it was done between the Monolith and Audio Visions albums. Steve recorded his Schemer-Dreamer album at the same time.
I saw Kansas in’78 in Baton Rouge. That they were even better than I expected was a pleasant surprise. Steve Walsh??? I have never seen anyone with so much energy. This dude did not stop for nearly two hours!!! He ran from one side of the stage to the other , did Hammond handstands, all the while singing with power and stayed spot on pitch. This guy was a ball of talented energy!!!!
I feel so fortunate in knowing that I was actually born in St Joseph Missouri and now I feel even better knowing that my favorite vocalist of all time Steve Walsh was from the same town that I was born in
Lad Great, great interview.!! I love Steve Walsh and have seen Kansas 18 times . He really sounds like a "Good ol Country Boy"... I imagine this was taped around 2001?
Got so lucky to see them as first act to Fleetwood Mac in 1978 (for $10 in front row seats) & Kansas almost stole the show & it was magical watching Steve sing and all the violin with keyboards was & remains a fantastic memory!!
He is my absolute favorite Rockstar! I've seen him in concert several times! His stage presence in outstanding! His vocals are great ! His keyboard playing is phenominal!
I love him. He’s so real and honest. His voice is amazing. Loved play the game tonight when I was in high school. Been listening to them all my life. I heard he lives in Atlanta now. I live just south. I am also a midwesterner. I hope 🤞 you keep singing! You guys are awesome 😎
So, while I'm an old guy and Kansas has been around forever, I never really learned much about em. I heard their hits (I can NEVER get "Portrait" outta my head for long) but not their album stuff much. Liked Walsh's voice quite a bit loved Elefante too. With the recent Kansas retrospective DVD, I got more interested and started reading Steve's interviews online. Online, he comes across as such an unfriendly guy. However, this interview is superb. What a funny, cool guy. Also, the fact that he give vocal credit to Billy and doesn't try to take credit for that... way cool. Thanks for uploading it.
+brywool Steve is a tale of two cities. If you catch him on the right day he's a gem. Wrong day....not so much. For my money, the guy was one of the best vocalists of all time.
It appears that throughout Steve's career he seems so at peace within himself now that he can talk so candidly about his life and experiences. He sounds so happy and relaxed and just enjoying his life . He has worked so hard and loves talking about his life. Kind of like my grandpa when I was a kid, listening to him tell about the good old days!
Leftoverture and Point of Know Return are my favorite Kansas albums. I think I know every word by heart from both albums. These 2 albums are lyrically, musically and masterfully put together. Mindblowing!
+BROTHER TRUTH I like the way he talks, but hey, I'm from the South. I know Steve is from Kansas, but he's lived longer in Atlanta than he did in Kansas.
CD Carter Actually, I've known for many, many years that Steve was from St. Joe's (St Joseph, Missiouri) and I even lived in Overland Park, KS for 5 years. So I can't really explain why I said Kansas. That's like saying someone from Newark, NJ is from New York City.
The live album"Two For The Show" was a testament to the amazing vocal ability of Steve Walsh. And when you think about it, that was just one show of a tour they were probably on.
To hear Steve talk about the Shadows of Knight band as the first band he ever saw is amazing. I went to Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, IL where the SoK were all from. They released their cover of Van Morrison's (w/the band Them) song Gloria when I was a freshman in 1966. They were a great band. RIP Jimmy Sohns. After i graduated HS and went off to college, I come home one weekend my senior year, and my younger brother has a new album: 'Song for America' by Kansas. Down the Road was my new favorite song. A few year later I saw Kansas. Never saw a singer do a handstand on a keyboard. I also think he was the best rock singer ever. Vocal range & showmanship.
Fascinating, and this is a chance to see how level headed Steve is. He's a realist. Love his voice. I'm so glad the guys in Kansas made their recordings. The music is a gift to the world.
Glossolalia, to me. Is Steve's personal masterpiece. And Shadowman, is the perfect followup album. Fantastic singer, and an even better musician. Hope you do even more, solo work. Now that you are retired from Kansas. Best of luck to you, Steve Walsh.
Watching this in 2024, its sad because i hear Steve isn't able to sing anymore. I first saw Kanas in a rock club in Liberal Kansas in the erarly 70s. They were incredible, even then. God bless him.
It's a shame that there are no questions about Steve's amazing 80's band Streets. I bet he would have appreciated Streets related questions. I would love to interview Steve. It would be so cool to ask about specific songs he has written, and get into that whole process. How awesome would it be to hear him talk about writing and recording Three Pretenders from the Power album for instance?
"I could not believe I was still alive, let alone, I had seen some prehistoric beast that we had run over and survived to tell the tale..." Omg.. Hahahahaha!!! I love this guy!!
Correction. Steve mentions Lord of Rings and the fact that they lost. His birthday is in June. Academy awards are in March. So this interview had to be somewhere in April, May of 2002.
Kansas was on my list of favourite prog rock bands back in the day. I saw them a few times and also saw Steve's band Streets. I met Steve briefly at the Streets concert.
I saw the original line up of Kansas 7 times and the various other incarnations of the band another 18 or so times. The early material was epic and Steve left everything on the stage. It was fire. The first time for me was 1978 last time was 2016. It kinda lost its spark when it was just two original members. Now it's one. I hear they're putting together a big show with all living original members as well as the current line up.. not sure if it's true but they can't do it without Steve.. Even if he doesn't sing, he should be there... we'll see.
I like his capacity to laugh at himself and the way he praises other people's work. Very bright and accurate. Great interview. How did you manage to do it?
Dig Walsh's beard - he's a low-key, cool dude, who was Huge for 10 years, then faded somewhat, and you can feel the chip on his shoulder, but he's so down-to-Earth, he mellowed, and has settled into his life. Not as big an egomaniac as Keith Emerson, let's pray he doesn't do the same thing Emo did (that asshole!). Steve was such an accomplished singer/ keyboardist (very under-rated)! I LOVED this band, and one of the reasons I kept playing the piano. Yes, a little perverse, preserved for all time!
The thing I love about all the Kansas members, is they didn't change, the stayed themselves. The didn't attach each other when tension was in the band, they disagreed, yet respected each other.
I'm surprised he doesn't like "People of the South Wind"? I love that song. But I totally agree with him on On the Other Side and Reason to Be. Both Masterfully written.
The interview ended at 44:53 right after he's talking about Requiem for a dream. It just stopped. How much more is there to this interview? It's great to hear Steve talk about his life and interest but he was cut off and I wanted to hear the rest.
Kelly Noble sorry it's all I had. There is about another 5 or ten mins if you look through the comments I think someone posted a link to the complete interview
Couldn't find it. Oh well, thank you again for uploading it. It was really interesting as he seemed really comfortable and open. I guess it was a good day for him and all of us.
I went to college in St. Joseph, Missouri in the 70s, where Steve grew up. I think I read somewhere he sang in a Catholic choir as a teenager. Missouri is a 21 state for liquor, and at that time you could cross the Missouri river into Kansas and get 3.2 beer if you were 18 or older. There was a bar in Wathena KS which served Coors at 35 cents per draw where a band called USA played often. Once in a blue moon, Steve Walsh would show up and play keyboards with them. He didn't sing, he just played keyboards. He did this at least until Leftoverture was released, and then I think he may have moved to Atanta. I don't know his connection with the band USA, but maybe they were from his White Clover days. Just guessing.
There was only one better than Steve. Robert Plant pretty good company .Live Steve was great entertainer.i grew up in Cincinnati n got to see alot of bands.Kansas was n is still is one of top shows i ever seen everyone in the group was top notch. Kansas will always b the best of the best had there own sound. Garth Brooks favorite band to.Thanks Steve n kansas 9for doin what u done n definitely belong in R+0ock hall of fame
STEVE WALSH IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE FINEST VOCALIST I EVER HEARD !!! If you go back and listen to his full body of works from the band KANSAS you will realize what a GENIUS he was! In his later years with Kansas his voice had been pushed to the point where you could tell it was not easy for him to sing all the songs anymore..but all vocalist go through that . THANK GOD FOR STEVE WALSH AND HIS AWESOME TALENT !!
100% absolutely !
Steve Walsh was my childhood hero.My friends liked Robert Plant,and they REALLY busted my nads for liking a band with a violin in it. Anyway,
your right.IMO KANSAS is thee best band in the world. I don't care what anybody says about the Beatles or Led Zeppelin Kansas is superior.
+pug760 totally agree, exceptional singer, his range is way beyond anybody else out there, and he actually sings real songs, not the usual metall crap that still grabs all the attention, Kansas are more of a pnenomena than just a rock band, pure talent, maybe the best rock band ever, soooooo true
A great mixture of Mozart and rock EVER. He is a real national treasure, there will never be another one like him. He was probably the first to combine Classic music with rock.
Before my dad ruined my voice forever, I used to try to pattern my voice like him and Anne Wilson, and a little Karen Carpenter. That all ended when I left a coke bottle in the basement.
Guess we'll never know, huh? Too bad, I needed to know.
pug760 id say steve perry the best but steve walsh is second to me
Good interview with one of the best singers ever.
Heah, he was also a great keyboard player, his harmonies with The great Robbie Steinhardt , so wonderful.. They always traded off lead vocals, extraordinary!!
Steve Walsh, your a very great lead singer and Kansas will always be the best when you were in one of the best music groups of all time God Bless You! 👍🎤🇺🇸
The real magic happens when you pair a genius lyricist with a genius vocalist. That's when a Kansas happens. Kerry and Steve together were greater than the sum of their parts, and individually they were astounding.
You're absolutely right... KANSAS was the combination of Livegren's amazing songwriting and Steve's amazing vocals... and don't discount Robbie Steinhart's rock violin and his rough, rock voice that melded together perfectly.
I don't want to discount the excellent songs that Steve Walsh brought to those albums... KANSAS wasn't any one thing, it was a combination of all these elements... The newest incarnation of KANSAS is a great band, but they're not KANSAS. Of course they have the legal right to use the name, but they're hiring out the writing of lyrics, they don't have Kerry Livegren, Steve Walsh, or Robbie Steinhart, which means they're not KANSAS. A great band for sure, but not KANSAS. I don't want to see them live with Ronnie Platte as their vocalist. He's a decent vocalist, but sounds nothing like Steve Walsh, and seriously doesn't have the vocal range to sing those classic KANSAS songs. Ronnie Platte
@@williamadamsmusic3025 true
Are you seriously leaving out the MUSIC of the piece?
I've been rockin for over 50 years and Kansas has always been one of my favorite bands. I think Steve was not only a great singer but keyboardist and front man. I wish that he would go back out with Kansas again.`
Steve comes out. With his true. Confessions. Hopefully more to come. Keep on kansas
This interview was done 18 years ago. He was 50. This is a fantastic artifact. Hearing Steve speak so uninhibitedly and candidly about his past is quite refreshing. I think his memories of Kansas are extremely key to understanding the band. I find him to be a pretty complex guy.
And humble
He is a veritable genius. I have a 180 iq. I would hazard a guess that Steve Walsh's iq is in the 200+ range. He is a historian & well versed on a myriad of subjects. He is very impressive from so many different aspects.
Steve is my icon and I believe that he will live forever in our minds #magnumopus
I'll never forget Fall '76, walked down my dorm floor hallway, and a fellow 'Bong Squad' member says, "Hey, wanna hear the new Kansas?" "Sure", had heard their earlier 3 albums on WXRT, so I walk in and sit dead center of his two huge JBL 15" monitor-class speakers, and he drops the needle...
CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON...
The hair stands up on my neck...
Then "The Wall". Unbelievable.
God Bless Steve, Kerry, and all of them.
I bought Steve's old Hammond C-3 from their road manager, Clay Schell, in Atlanta Ga, back in the late 70's, and was hoping to meet him, but unfortunately I didn't get to. I tried again at a concert at Clemson University a few months later, but again, was unable to connect with him. I did however, get to speak, briefly, with Dave Hope and the others at the bus after the concert, and found them all to be very down to earth and approachable, but again....no Steve. So, I marked it up to fate and moved on. KANSAS will always be at the top of my short list of all time best progressive Rock and Roll bands, and I wish them continued and lasting success in whatever the they choose to do! 🤘✌
Second and third albums may not have been hits but it was among the GREATest music this band ever made.
I would apply this to their first six records personally. Although one of the ones you mentioned (Masque) is my favorite. Which of the two do you prefer?
I would give anything to interview Steve Walsh, preferably live & in person. As a singer/songwriter/musician myself & a female; I have very unique, esoteric & completely out-of-the-box questions I would love to pose to my favorite blues/rock singer/songwriter/musician. I would also love to hang out & watch a movie or 12 with Steve-but that is on a completely different tangent!
@@hermittraveler2163 masque is my favorite. Not to discount the others.
@@davidmiles533 Mine as well. Leftoverture may be the smoothest or the most well-rounded or whatever the word may be for it, and I love it (also for some very personal memories connected with it) but Masque has some songs that are so awesome they leave me amazed everytime I hear them even after literally decades of listening to them.
SONG FOR AMERICA is my #1 favorite Kansas album, without a doubt!
So fresh and much better sound quality than their debut album...
When I think of Kansas, SONG FOR AMERICA is the first piece of work that comes into my mind, and I own EVERYTHING that band has ever released!
i work with his Mom June Walsh she’s in a nursing home in Saint Joseph Mo. She’s the sweetest thing she talks about him all the time she has his plaque on her wall in her small room. She has bad dementia but she’s always talking about how wonderful he is. I will miss her voice when she passes away bcus Her “I love you sweetheart” along with a kiss on a cheek means the world to me coming from her. She’s a lovely woman.
Wow. That was nice to read. Her son had a voice that was unmatched by all. No one sounds like Steve. No one!
I hope Steve visits her. Is she ok?
His mother died a few months ago at age 97. Now he has his kids and grandkids. Family is very important to Steve.
@@donnaerickson2021 Ik i was there when she passed … They brought her out to a table for breakfast .. she was blue and purple you could tell she was dying. I was sad that they never posted when her gathering was bcus she was the best person to work for
@@donnaerickson2021 i wrote on her obituary :((
A rock LEGEND! Such an incredible, musical, passionate band! 'Leftoverture' is a MASTERPIECE!
AudiophileTubes I agree on left overture. Just had a nice texture and feel. Idk.
Masque is one of my favorite albums of all time, but Leftoverture is beyond words, it is so wonderful.
its as perfect as music can be. Great to see these comments soooo many years after the fact.
This interview is a fantastic find. I've never heard Steve Walsh open up about his life and Kansas in such an intimate way.
My favorite singer ever. I love the way he played so many instruments. He’s awesome. My mom was a sweet Adeline!!!We are from Illinois. That’s sooo cool. You’re amazing Steve.
a one of the most influential and wide range vocalist of all times he by far is one of the best rock singers of that generation
I real admire Steve after listening to this interview. He comes across as a very authentic and approachable guy. Great interview...thanks for uploading.
what a great great singer...super band....first saw them in milwaukee opening for hawk wind...glad to see Steve is continuing to take the high road over substance abuse..thank God he is sounding better...just a solid unique group...one of my all-time favorites and in my humble opinion right up there with the super groups.
Lou Gramm, Paul Rodgers and Steve Walsh.
My three favorite vocalists...
Paul......so correct // Foreigner Bad Company and Kansas.....what great high-register vocals. We could even add Steve Perry of Journey!
76-86
Walsh,Gramm,Delp,Perry,
DeYoung pure vocal heaven🤘
@@wjf1950 Don't bother too much about Bad Company; Paul Rodgers was at his absolute best with Free. A more authentic band and better songs than Bad Company.
David Lane - What about Tommy Shaw?
Agreed these 3 can't be beaten
kansas and Steve Walsh is one of the best vocalist in my oppinion. He had the most clearest vocals and range I ever heard. And Steve a check of a show man I ever saw way back in the day. Steve Kerry and Phil. wrote very spiritual songs. and I was blessed to hear and get to know them. awesome Group. one of my most favorite band's. freakin awesome. love your music guys
Phil wasn’t really a w,riter, but he is one hell of a drummer and a great manager!
Seems like Steve is a really nice person and so talented I love his talent and voice and playing skills a great front man too... Blessings Steve may God continue to bless your life and family
Watch the way you use the term "so so"..)
Close to his age and totally devoted since the beginning . What an incredible talent. I just bought his new CD and in another dimension would someday love to meet him.
This is a wonderful interview. Thanks so much for sharing this. I've been a Steve Walsh fan for decades. A truly gifted and special musician. Such an immense pleasure to just listen to such a candid conversation with him. Thank you!
This rare interview is so awesome. Great job.
i am so happy to hear this interview. He was such a lovely singer. What an intellectual. A lovely man. So real. So authentic. I am sad when I hear it, but I love the man. Kansas owes so much to him and they currently have a worthless singer now.
Saw Kansas in 1980, 1982 and 2024. In 1980, Steve was doing so much gymnastics with his body and voice from start to finish.
Awesome interview with Rock's greatest vocalist
Whoever gets a chance, see the documentary "Miracles Out Of Nowhere" ....... explains the whole story of Kansas!
It’s great, but far from the whole story!
William j Flosi Sr. Thanks! ‘gonna check that out.
This was a real treat. Thanks for saving it from a premature digital oblivion and posting for posterity!
What an outstanding interview!! Great, relaxed and insightful tales from a very humble and forthcoming Steve Walsh.
Really is. There is so little of him giving interviews like this
what a fantastic interview...i stumbled upon ! KANSAS,...You guys changed the way I looked at music. #1 fan !
Steve Walsh is The Greatest vocalist in Rock history. I wonder if Kansas has any idea how many bands they have influenced?
Oh they do indeed. Listen to the late Ronnie James Dio talk about singing on Livgrens' first post Kansas effort.
Fligemon - Kerry’s album, Seeds of Change, which featured Ronnie James Dio on two tracks, was not post-Kansas; it was done between the Monolith and Audio Visions albums. Steve recorded his Schemer-Dreamer album at the same time.
Great Interview.... Great Artist... Thanks for sharing
Without the internet, there’d be no way of hearing this. Many thanks for the upload!
Saw them on the Monolith Tour, late 70's. Good god, they were so good.
Love this guy....this band ❤
I saw Kansas in’78 in Baton Rouge. That they were even better than I expected was a pleasant surprise. Steve Walsh??? I have never seen anyone with so much energy. This dude did not stop for nearly two hours!!! He ran from one side of the stage to the other , did Hammond handstands, all the while singing with power and stayed spot on pitch. This guy was a ball of talented energy!!!!
I feel so fortunate in knowing that I was actually born in St Joseph Missouri and now I feel even better knowing that my favorite vocalist of all time Steve Walsh was from the same town that I was born in
Lad
Great, great interview.!! I love Steve Walsh and have seen Kansas 18 times . He really sounds like a "Good ol Country Boy"... I imagine this was taped around 2001?
Really enjoyed this interview, thanks for the upload.
Got so lucky to see them as first act to Fleetwood Mac in 1978 (for $10 in front row seats) & Kansas almost stole the show & it was magical watching Steve sing and all the violin with keyboards was & remains a fantastic memory!!
He is my absolute favorite Rockstar! I've seen him in concert several times! His stage presence in outstanding! His vocals are great ! His keyboard playing is phenominal!
I love him. He’s so real and honest. His voice is amazing. Loved play the game tonight when I was in high school. Been listening to them all my life. I heard he lives in Atlanta now. I live just south. I am also a midwesterner. I hope 🤞 you keep singing! You guys are awesome 😎
uhhh. thats not Steve singing. He left the group by then.
Well worth listening to full 45 minutes !
So, while I'm an old guy and Kansas has been around forever, I never really learned much about em. I heard their hits (I can NEVER get "Portrait" outta my head for long) but not their album stuff much. Liked Walsh's voice quite a bit loved Elefante too. With the recent Kansas retrospective DVD, I got more interested and started reading Steve's interviews online. Online, he comes across as such an unfriendly guy. However, this interview is superb. What a funny, cool guy. Also, the fact that he give vocal credit to Billy and doesn't try to take credit for that... way cool. Thanks for uploading it.
+cabbey31 Man, that guy had a killer voice. But I get it...
+brywool Steve is a tale of two cities. If you catch him on the right day he's a gem. Wrong day....not so much. For my money, the guy was one of the best vocalists of all time.
@@fretfix1 Steve is a Gemini, and people who are Geminis are two-sided people
One of the great voices of rock... just soaring!
It appears that throughout Steve's career he seems so at peace within himself now that he can talk so candidly about his life and experiences. He sounds so happy and relaxed and just enjoying his life . He has worked so hard and loves talking about his life. Kind of like my grandpa when I was a kid, listening to him tell about the good old days!
just listened and enjoyed it - thanks for posting!
Leftoverture and Point of Know Return are my favorite Kansas albums. I think I know every word by heart from both albums. These 2 albums are lyrically, musically and masterfully put together. Mindblowing!
One of THE greatest singers in rock history!!!
Steve sounds nothing like he sings when he talks, but sing he does. The best.
+BROTHER TRUTH Used to.He was once one of the best. But not for years. Always sad to hear a great singer lose his pipes.
+BROTHER TRUTH I like the way he talks, but hey, I'm from the South. I know Steve is from Kansas, but he's lived longer in Atlanta than he did in Kansas.
CD Carter Actually, I've known for many, many years that Steve was from St. Joe's (St Joseph, Missiouri) and I even lived in Overland Park, KS for 5 years. So I can't really explain why I said Kansas. That's like saying someone from Newark, NJ is from New York City.
in that area, its almost like one state;)
He said people of the south wind is too happy for him LOL, I always thought of it as a nostalgic sad song missing your friends and old times,
The live album"Two For The Show" was a testament to the amazing vocal ability of Steve Walsh.
And when you think about it, that was just one show of a tour they were probably on.
My fav vocalist ever, but he sounds stoned in this interview.
Steve is a rock god!
To hear Steve talk about the Shadows of Knight band as the first band he ever saw is amazing. I went to Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, IL where the SoK were all from. They released their cover of Van Morrison's (w/the band Them) song Gloria when I was a freshman in 1966. They were a great band. RIP Jimmy Sohns.
After i graduated HS and went off to college, I come home one weekend my senior year, and my younger brother has a new album: 'Song for America' by Kansas. Down the Road was my new favorite song. A few year later I saw Kansas. Never saw a singer do a handstand on a keyboard. I also think he was the best rock singer ever. Vocal range & showmanship.
I met Steve several times in 2005-2010. He is one of the nicest & most talented musicians in the world! Love ya Steve, Keep on rockin!
Great interview ,thanks for posting. Been a huge fan of Steve and Kansas since I first heard Leftovater. Keep playing and singing Steve . Rock On Bro
Fascinating, and this is a chance to see how level headed Steve is. He's a realist. Love his voice. I'm so glad the guys in Kansas made their recordings. The music is a gift to the world.
Glossolalia, to me. Is Steve's personal masterpiece. And Shadowman, is the perfect followup album. Fantastic singer, and an even better musician. Hope you do even more, solo work. Now that you are retired from Kansas. Best of luck to you, Steve Walsh.
I looked over a bunch of the comments, and there wasn’t one about how underrated his keyboard skills were. His keyboard playing kicked butt.
Watching this in 2024, its sad because i hear Steve isn't able to sing anymore. I first saw Kanas in a rock club in Liberal Kansas in the erarly 70s. They were incredible, even then. God bless him.
It's a shame that there are no questions about Steve's amazing 80's band Streets. I bet he would have appreciated Streets related questions. I would love to interview Steve. It would be so cool to ask about specific songs he has written, and get into that whole process. How awesome would it be to hear him talk about writing and recording Three Pretenders from the Power album for instance?
"I could not believe I was still alive, let alone, I had seen some prehistoric beast that we had run over and survived to tell the tale..." Omg.. Hahahahaha!!! I love this guy!!
Wow... just wow
Amazing conversation. And the photo above just has an ethereal quality of someone who has seen so much.
The wall is my favorite too.
This interview is so great! Great curious questions and indepth answers. Thank god for TH-cam!!!!!!!!!!!
Correction. Steve mentions Lord of Rings and the fact that they lost. His birthday is in June. Academy awards are in March. So this interview had to be somewhere in April, May of 2002.
Great interview and makes me love Kansas music more! Steve seems to be a pretty funny, intelligent, humble person on top of his great gifts musically!
Kansas was on my list of favourite prog rock bands back in the day. I saw them a few times and also saw Steve's band Streets. I met Steve briefly at the Streets concert.
Excellent...2001...After Glossolalia ...thanks for posting...Great interview SW....big fan!
KANSAS, ONE OF MY FAVORITE. ROCK GROUPS, BEEN A FAN SINCE. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD!
He said he is 50 so that would make it 2001. He carried on for 13 more years.
I saw the original line up of Kansas 7 times and the various other incarnations of the band another 18 or so times. The early material was epic and Steve left everything on the stage. It was fire. The first time for me was 1978 last time was 2016. It kinda lost its spark when it was just two original members. Now it's one. I hear they're putting together a big show with all living original members as well as the current line up.. not sure if it's true but they can't do it without Steve.. Even if he doesn't sing, he should be there... we'll see.
I didn't know about this interview of my favorite all time singer till now. And I'm glad I have a copy of device voice prompt even more.
Thanks for the upload!
Thanks so much for sharing.
I like his capacity to laugh at himself and the way he praises other people's work. Very bright and accurate. Great interview. How did you manage to do it?
what a legend I will always respect his work, incredible.....
He is Gracious, because he is a Legend. That's why! Love him the best Kansas ever had! Carus Alambra👍🍷🍷🍷👍
Not all "Legends" are gracious. Definitely not a given but I think makes his gift more profound and impressive.
@@etamommy Mr David, I've never met him, so I can't tell. Probably you know him and it may have been a difference experience for you. C.A.👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing this. This was great!
All time favorite vocalist 🎤
Top, top guy
Dig Walsh's beard - he's a low-key, cool dude, who was Huge for 10 years, then faded somewhat, and you can feel the chip on his shoulder, but he's so down-to-Earth, he mellowed, and has settled into his life. Not as big an egomaniac as Keith Emerson, let's pray he doesn't do the same thing Emo did (that asshole!). Steve was such an accomplished singer/ keyboardist (very under-rated)! I LOVED this band, and one of the reasons I kept playing the piano.
Yes, a little perverse, preserved for all time!
Great Interview, BTW! Thank you for posting this.
KANSAS.......NOR STEVE WALSH........NEVER FADED !
What a stupid thing to say about Emerson...your the asswipe..
I about blew a gasket when I was pulling out of a hospital in Atlanta, there in front of me was Steve jogging down Peachtree Road. Cool memory.
Actually I would love to meet him now.
this interview is the real Steve. super friendly, candid and authentic. search him out. its very possible.
The thing I love about all the Kansas members, is they didn't change, the stayed themselves.
The didn't attach each other when tension was in the band, they disagreed, yet respected each other.
ARMADILLO!! for ever
Remember Walsh at a club in St Louis called Mississippi Nights. He said " Leftoverture was so good I bought the album "
I'm surprised he doesn't like "People of the South Wind"? I love that song. But I totally agree with him on On the Other Side and Reason to Be. Both Masterfully written.
I like that he likes Monolith, so it seems (besides South Wind).
Two singers I dream might ever turn to teaching vocals are Steve and Lou Gramm. Man they set the bar so high. Both have that souful intensity.
The interview ended at 44:53 right after he's talking about Requiem for a dream. It just stopped. How much more is there to this interview? It's great to hear Steve talk about his life and interest but he was cut off and I wanted to hear the rest.
Kelly Noble sorry it's all I had. There is about another 5 or ten mins if you look through the comments I think someone posted a link to the complete interview
Couldn't find it. Oh well, thank you again for uploading it. It was really interesting as he seemed really comfortable and open. I guess it was a good day for him and all of us.
Kelly Noble
omg, my birthday is June 16th! omg.. no wonder I feel so close to Steve!
Steve says that he is 50 years old. So that puts this interview at 2001.
Steves lying....he's older than 50.
no sweetheart, he was born in 51.
Steve loves Lord of the Rings! I love this guy!
I love how Steve sings so clearly yet when you hear him speak you'd think he'd be a country artist
I went to college in St. Joseph, Missouri in the 70s, where Steve grew up. I think I read somewhere he sang in a Catholic choir as a teenager. Missouri is a 21 state for liquor, and at that time you could cross the Missouri river into Kansas and get 3.2 beer if you were 18 or older. There was a bar in Wathena KS which served Coors at 35 cents per draw where a band called USA played often. Once in a blue moon, Steve Walsh would show up and play keyboards with them. He didn't sing, he just played keyboards. He did this at least until Leftoverture was released, and then I think he may have moved to Atanta. I don't know his connection with the band USA, but maybe they were from his White Clover days. Just guessing.
Sad about the cut off but thanks for the warning
There was only one better than Steve. Robert Plant pretty good company .Live Steve was great entertainer.i grew up in Cincinnati n got to see alot of bands.Kansas was n is still is one of top shows i ever seen everyone in the group was top notch. Kansas will always b the best of the best had there own sound. Garth Brooks favorite band to.Thanks Steve n kansas 9for doin what u done n definitely belong in R+0ock hall of fame
Steve‘s work with 80s band STREETS was also awesome.