E168: Phil Ehart - The Heartbeat of Kansas!
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- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- My guest is the great Phil Ehart, drummer and founding member of the legendary band, "Kansas." We do a deep dive into the history and genesis of Kansas, as they celebrate their 50th anniversary! Phil shares some never-before-told stories of their early years, and shares some great insight into their amazing success and longevity. We also discuss Phil's incredible drum part for "Carry On Wayward Son" and play the track! Come along for the ride! Please subscribe!
"Live From My Drum Room" is hosted by drummer and music industry veteran, John DeChristopher, and is a series of intimate "conversations" with legendary drummers and music industry friends, drawing from John's five decades in the music industry. Voted the #5 Best Drum Podcast, it's a peek behind the curtain that only John can offer. And no drummers are harmed during any broadcasts!
Prayers up for Phil Ehart, recovering after a heart attack in early February. Godspeed, Phil.
It's obvious to me that Phil and Richard have kept Kansas alive from the beginning to today. Thank you!
Yes, miracles happen, I’m adding my faith to this.
I hope to see Phil in the chair again feeling good and laying it down.
Caught you in SLC for the 50th and am so grateful you came out and finished the show.
“We love you Phil”!
Yeah, I’m that guy.
Kansas is one of those handful bands that set our generation apart from the kind of music that was grown organically through these wonderful players not afraid to do things differently
Kansas - Two For The Show double album is one of the most underrated live records ever, their finest hour.
Only live album in those decades that met or exceeded the studio version. They were and are that good.
There is a great short video: The world’s most underrated drummer Phil Ehart by Bro Mo & The Express (I think I got the video name right)
Awesome interview. Thank you so much. Kansas has been a favorite band of mine since Jr. High! Phil is such a humble man, that is so refreshing to see. He is one guy I would love to sit and talk with.
My thanks to you for that great interview with Phil. I wish him the best in his recovery from the heart attack. A very original roadie from the very early 70's in KANSAS as well. The state that is. Robbie 'Shotgun' Robbins. All the best.
My favorite to hear Phil play…Perfect Lover.
When Leftoverture was released I was 11 years old. my older brother had bought the album and was listening to it and I came in from baseball practice and Miracles out of no where was playing. I stopped in my tracks with my glove still on my hand. I had to be Drummer from then on. Phil and Carl Palmer are still my favorite drummers. Hope he is healing well. Thanks Phil.
I met Phil in 1976 in a motel swimming pool,Leftoverture Album was recorded at The Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana,the band was staying in The Sportsman Inn Motel!
KANSAS is SO GREAT ‼️
I’ve seen them over 20 times! 🎼🎵🎶🥁👍🏼
Phil had his iconic drumming will go down in rock history!!! Great show!!!
I have been a fan since day 1! I just saw the band in Toledo @The Stanahan theater April 2024. They sound as good as they possibly could. I love Phil's talent and professionalism. Hopefully you get back with your band soon! Your drum tech did a great job in Toledo. Thank you for continuing to keep the band going. I would love to meet you someday! Thank you again Tim Zdybek
Thank you for your support! Obviously your a Kansas fan!
Phil, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better! I'm facing a possible stint placement in the next few weeks, so I empathize with what you're going through. I saw ya'll at Clemson University back in the late 70's, and needless to say, I was blown away, despite the venue's dismal acoustics (you played the gig in the gymnasium)! Hang in there brother, I hope your health continues to improve. Thanks for all the great music. God bless you.
I saw Kansas in 1975 at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. They opened up for the Guess Who. I took several photos of both groups, as I had a front row center isle seat. Mostly Kerry and Phil were in the pics. Kerry inspired me to set my keyboards the same way he did.
Phil is a class act and one of the most underrated drummers.
I’ve followed Kansas since 1976. Phil is a great player, he fits Kansas so well. Can’t believe he is self taught👏
Thanks John and Phil for an insightful conversation of multiple stories-Jim Morrison? Phil's drumming is very impressive as a natural self-taught drummer. His playing of Kansas odd meter songs left a tremendous impression on me in the 70's. Much love and respect for Kansas and their🎼 50+ years of music and performances.
Legend.
I got a padded tall bar stool from a club owner then cut two inches off the steel legs. I have long legs so I always sat high above the drums.The stool was just a bit high where my bass drum leg angled down but I could play very powerfully that way. I wore out several 8-track tapes of the Monolith album by Kansas back in the day. I`d listen to it all summer during school vacation. My brother and three others with him were killed in a car accident November 30, 1979 coming back from a Kansas concert in Shreveport, La after the steering failed. I was in 9th grade and my brother was age 22. I inherited all his music and it led me to become a singer, musician, and drummer. My brother was a founding member of The King`s Messengers band and was a singer too.
Hey John,
thanks for this very cool talk with legendary drummer Phil Ehart of Kansas. I am such a big fan of the band though I would not claim to be all that knowledgeable about their history and all iterations of the band.
I have seen them twice but, the first time was epic. It was 1981 at the Oakland Coliseum during one of the late great Bill Grahm's Days On The Green. Get this line up: 38 special opened, then Ronnie Montrose and Gamma, then UFO, then Kansas and finally REO Speedwagon. I was fine with most of those bands and really into RM and Gamma but, Kansas was my favorite that day and one of my favorites of all time. Their music had then and still does have a huge impact on me.
For my money I thought Kansas absolutely killed it that day. The band was at the height of their power and they were absolutely on fire and I was completely enthralled and thrilled with the show they put on that day.
Fast forward about 30 years. My mom and dad are retired and on their annual vacation driving through the western states on their way to Montana to visit family. They stop in (I think) Henderson, Nevada for the night after a long day of driving. My mom was swimming laps in the pool which was empty except for a couple of guys just relaxing hanging out. My mom used to swim for about an hour almost every day so eventually in the course of her laps she starts talking with the two guys who were there watching her work out. At the time my mom ws probably in her early 70's or so.
Eventually a couple of other guys joined the other two and my mom was talking to them and told them when they asked that she and my dad were on vacation and just staying the night. She asked them what they were up to and they said they were a rock band and they were playing that night. My brother and I are big music fans so she was compelled to hear a lot of our music whether she wanted to or not so she asked them what the name of their band was.
They told her we are called Kansas to which my mom replied: "Oh, I know who you guys are. My sons are really into you." Hahaha I would have died and gone to heave to have met one of my all time favorite bands and my mom just rolls with it. Hahaha I don't know but, maybe there is a thing with Kansas like the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon? hahaha When she told me that when they got home I was so jealous. Such is life eh?
Thanks again John for such a fun talk with one of the legends of the Silver Age of Rock and Roll.
Pete St. John
Fresno, CA
Our prayers are being answered, John! In listening to an update from singer Ronnie Platt, Phil is doing great after a couple of stents through his wrist.
Isn't modern medicine wonderful ?! Hopeful that maybe you could have a follow-up with Phil if he has the time. Kurt
Self taught drummers in my opinion are the best out there my oldest son is self taught and he’s pretty good. Phil Ehart in my book is very underrated and KANSAS should be in the HOF.
Natural born rhythm makes all the difference in the world. You either have it or you don't. It gives you a head start and an advantage over others who had to learn to become a drummer in order to play in a band
Excellent interview !
Great stories....Paul Rothchild (The Doors producer) became my friend after seeing me and my band Riverdogs perform in Hollywood. Paul wanted to produce Riverdogs. We had a European Deal so we passed....Big mistake ! John your interviews are ALWAYS very inspiring .....Phil, you're A True Musician and Gentlemen. Kansas Is Awesome and stands the test of time, 50 years, Excellent. Very informative information guys.
Thank You 🙏
I did a U.S.O. tour with a band I was in back in the eighties called Red 7 and Kansas was the headliner. (We were both on MCA at the time which is why I believe we were asked!) They were superb every night of the tour and total nice guys. Phil and I actually double drummed while we backed up a couple of the other acts on the tour, Tom Johnston from the Doobie Brothers and David Jenkins from Pablo Cruise. Great to see Phil here and obviously still kicking ass. Tell him "hi" from me.
As a violinist in grade school in the 1970s, I was so thankful to Kansas and ELO for making strings relevant and cool on the radio. I was safe at the bus stop with my violin case as long as my "friends" had heard Evil Woman or Carry On Wayward Son.
I had the privilege of talking a little small talk with Phil as a VIP event with the band. It was when it was picture time backstage before the show. Phil told me that I had a good looking son, who was with me It sure made me proud. We went to a few more shows together. GOOD times.
I grew up listening and being influenced by Phil.
I'm also a huge fan of Yamaha products!
Thank God for the band KANSAS!!!
Thank you for specifically requesting the Phil Collins story.
Phil E. told that story with textbook comedic timing; I burst out laughing at the punch line.
Great job, John! I have always enjoyed how Phil's work constantly fits the song perfectly and I will continue to enjoy every second that Kansas puts out!
And, I get to see them in a couple of months from now!
Jeez, you couldn’t pause for five minutes to change the battery in the smoke alarm? 😂
Love Kansas, my very first concert was in 1979 at Boston Garden, the Monolith tour. Thanks for the interview, and to Phil for giving you that much time
My brother-in-law, who is not a drummer, was playing a round of golf with two of his friends at a resort many years ago. Just before they teed off, the course manager asked if they would mind having another golfer join them as a foursome. It turned out to be Phil Ehart who was at the resort to play a show with Kansas. My brother-in-law said he was so friendly and unassuming, mentioning that he was there to play drums for a show but never mentioning Kansas by name. As a drummer, I so wish I had been part of that foursome that day, although it would've been tough to not ask a lot of questions.
So Phil Ehart was never able to get Slingerland to do for Neil Peart, what Carmine Appice was able to get Ludwig to do for John Bonham. Perhaps Carmine did a better sell job for Bonham, or Ludwig had a more open mind than Slingerland, I don't know. I do know that the irony of Rush and Kansas going on tour together in 1976 was significant. Both bands had just been through the "three strikes and you're out" policy with their respective record labels, Mercury and Kirshner/CBS. Labels in those days gave you three chances to come up with a hit album and if you don;t produce, you're off the label. Same with Journey, by the way. Both bands were ready to hang it up and go back to their farms. But, alas 2112 and Leftoverture turned both bands fortunes around in 1976, and they found the key to success that would make them legends
The Jim Morrison/Doors story just illustrates what a small world the rock industry was in the 1960s and early 70s. That a little garage band from Topeka would be known by someone with the stature of Jim Morrison and the rest of the Doors would remember them and perform with them, would be unthinkable in today's rock world. Jim Morrison was not as "untouchable" as people would think, because of how small the rock scene was then
Phil NEVER gets his due as a drummer playing in a classic prog rock band that ruled the late 70s.
*BEEP*
So enjoyed this show!