Kansas’ Richard Williams Photo: Andy Laudano

For nearly 35 years, Kansas has thrilled live audiences with their signature brand of progressive rock. Based on the huge success of their previous records, Leftoverture and Point of Know Return, in 1978 Kansas released their first live album, Two For the Show. Now, 30 years later, the band celebrates that historic release with a reissue, complete with a second disc of never-before-heard material from that tour.

Coming straight out of America’s heartland — their namesake’s capital of Topeka to be exact — Kansas was a band like no other. Combining stellar musicianship with keyboardist Steve Walsh’s distinctive vocals, songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Kerry Livgren’s philosophical and spiritual lyrics and Robby Steinhardt’s trademark violin playing gave Kansas a unique, one-of-a-kind, instantly recognizable sound.

Guitarist Richard Williams has been there since day one. “Four of the original guys went to high school together,” Williams recalls. “The first band I was ever in was with our drummer, Phil Ehart. I played in a lot of different bands with (original bassist) Dave Hope. As time passed, a lot of other musicians were becoming less dedicated. They were more concerned with their day jobs or school, and we sort of became the last guys standing.”

In the beginning, Williams shared guitar duties with Livgren (before he left to pursue a career in Christian rock) and for a short time with Steve Morse (current Deep Purple guitarist). Today, Williams has the stage all to himself. “It’s a little bit more responsibility, but I really enjoy it,” Richard reveals. “Both ways were good, but I enjoy what we’re doing now more than I ever have. It’s great that 34 years later, I’m having the best time I’ve ever had.”

The band remains on great terms with Livgren. He continues to send them songs and ideas and still joins them onstage for shows in their home state. “We did a show with a symphony earlier this year, and Kerry played with us. Whenever we’re in the neighborhood, he still performs with us.”

Thanks to their timeless classics and rock anthems that include “Dust In the Wind,” “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Hold On,” “Point of Know Return” and “Play the Game Tonight,” Kansas carved their place in rock history.
They’ve also inspired countless musicians to follow in their footsteps. “I really don’t give it much thought,” Williams insists. “But it is quite a compliment when a great band like Dream Theater says we were an influence on them. That’s nice.”

With the inclusion of “Carry On Wayward Son” on Guitar Hero II, Kansas is reaching a whole new generation of fans. “There’s been a whole new army of nine to nineteen year olds in the front row because of Guitar Hero II,” Williams relates. “It’s become a big deal to be a part of. It’s a new way of getting your name out there. Technology’s gonna come. You can’t hold it back; you might as well embrace it.”

Thanks to modern technology, Kansas is able to give their fans something special with their new 30th anniversary edition of Two For the Show. “Disc one is the original disc remastered,” Williams explains. “For disc two we went into the vault. There was a lot of material we recorded that we didn’t use because of the time restrictions of vinyl. Now we had the opportunity to pull that stuff back out and look at it again. But this was 30-year old tape, so it had to be handled with care. What happens is the tapes are baked in an oven, and then you get the opportunity for one good pass at making digital copies from them before the tape pretty much self-destructs. After that, the songs were digitally remixed, but there’s been no overdubbing. The music remains just as it happened. There are also new liner notes and new photos from that era.”

In closing, Williams wanted to thank their fans. “Because of them I’ve avoided real work my entire life. Only my fingertips are calloused from work. My hobby turned into a career and into a way of life. Without the fans, I couldn’t have done that. Thank you.”