I saw Kansas about 5 years ago I believe it was and Steve was singing with them again sounding better than ever. I believe he had one of the greatest voices in Rock and Roll history
All of you people are awesome.....Kansas will always be, one of the best progressive rock bands of all time. Steve did not care about acting cool, he just did whatever he felt. If we all could be like that maybe this world wouldn't be such an uptight place to live. I was a little crazy on stage myself.....Steve is a great writer, Kansas message was unlike any other band they sang about life and feelings with the music as punctuation.
A great voice, but sadly ravaged by a steady flow of chemicals, time, and life on the road. I was one of the 2 Tour Managers for Kansas from 1989-1999 along with Buck Holmes (and won't mention which one), and was running with the Band during this show and this tour. Steve actually was a Health Nut for 2 years before this and I woke him up at 7 am each day and he worked out most mornings. You can see here, he was skinny, but pretty ripped. He got into the coke heavily and was hard to manage. I used to find him sleeping in the closet of our tour bus. I'd load him up on a luggage cart (we took from The Marriott Hotel in Texas) and I'd wheel him through the Hotel, up the elevator, to his room. I put a tarp over the cart so nobody knew he was under there, but he would be blurt out things and screamed crazy things from under the tarp. I would get stares, but it was usually 2 am in the morning. He started getting crazy and wouldn't listen to reason toward the end of the Tour. The Jean Jacket he wore on stage in this video he would wear all the time, with a pair of white running shorts and an Indian Feathered Head Dress and would run around the parking lot. The hotel we stayed at cleaned his jean jacket that he's wearing in this video, and apparently left it in the dryer way too long. It was delivered to his room and it had shrunk to 1/2 it's original size! It used to hang down to the top of his jeans, but look at it HERE, it barely fit! I told him NOT to wear it, but he wouldn't listen to me and after a bottle of Jack and a 1/2 gram of coke, he snuck out on stage blown out of his mind, wearing the Jean Jacket the Hotel left in the Dryer too long, and consequently shrunk TWO Sizes Too Small! That's why I always Laugh when I see this video! Great Guy Steve was and we had an Absolute Blast, it was a magical time I will always cherish! But I wish I could have kept the group going for longer. Whenever he would look at me and say, "I want to Kiss the White Capped Mountain Tops Pappy", that was CODE for I better have some fresh "Powder" ready to go in the dressing room. Steve gave me that Jean Jacket at the end of the tour, and when I had my first son, he would run around the house at age 5, wearing Steve's Famous Jean Jacket. It always put a Smile on my Face!
I am soooo sick of everyone who reads previous posts and instantly know all the answers to everything because of what the last person said. You say that you were involved with the band (stage manager) If I believe you, then what are you doing 25 yrs later popping up talking about Steve's coke addiction especially since this post has been up for years and 80% or better of the responses say the same thing . And if you were in that position then you probably contributed to the problem but I have a feeling you are as full of horse dung just like the person before you who claims to be "close" with brothers Steve and Joe Walsh. if all you have to say (this is for everyone) is "Steve was all coked up", as if you're the only one that is aware he wasn't doing his best that night, just shut up and click on Beeber or something
Norm, I love Kansas, all I can do is speak the truth. The truth shall set you free. And by the way, I think he did great that night, Passion! Anyone can do 25 takes in the studio, he is letting it all hang out. Music is meant to be spontaneous, not perfect, and there is greatness contained within a less than perfect performance. Sure he Fell Down many times but he got back up, just means He is Human, just like we ALL are!
I agree norm...even if true, it's sad to see such a breach of confidence on Texas part.~Firstly, I see passion flowing out of Steve-coked up or not--those were the days, my friend. ~This is my all time Favorite Song by Kansas and I am proud to say I lived it in real time. Brilliant lyrics~!
I appreciate the story... BUT I just have to say.... that I think you may have the jean jacket part confused maybe? If you are suggesting that the jacket was a normal sized normal length BEFORE it was laundered, there is now way. The hottest temperature in the wash and dry cycle could not ever shrink a cotton jean jacket more than maybe a half inch at best not 7 inches! not half it's size that is impossible. haha. A sweater a wool one could shrink extensively but not a jean jacket no way. I am a designer I know this, many jackets and sweaters in the 70's were designed to fit like that. They were called SHRUGS.
I'm interviewing C.J. Scheppers. "Maybe this belongs in Keyboard Magazine, but I did meet Steve Walsh. "I worked at a music store in KC in the late 1970s. A crate showed up, the name on the crate was KANSAS, some address, Lawrence, Kansas. Inside was a Hammond C-3 that needed repair. I was the only technician allowed to work on certain problems with Hammond organs, namely anything wrong inside the tone generator or manuals. As I played up the scale on each drawbar, the pitches sounding were not the correct pitches of the musical scale. You could say the organ was way out of tune but actually each key and drawbar was playing the wrong fundamental or harmonic. Under each key are nine key contacts stacked to touch nine busbars running horizontal through each manual. On top of each busbar and under each key contact was a precious metal wire to make connection and pass the correct pitch through. The wires on top of the busbars were cut through and scattered throughout the manuals so every keypress played some unrelated pitch or harmonic. The manuals were so shorted out that management determined the repair was unfeasible. "A month or two later, the store gets a service call request, go to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas to install a rebuilt vibrator scanner. The oil for the run motor seeps into the insulators on the vibrato scanner, eventually shorting out the scanned capacitors to ground, that makes the vibrato and chorus sound choppy. Chorus is the stringy celestial sound the organ can make and is used in all jazz, Jimmy Smith, ELP, etc. music. The store kept a rebuilt scanner handy to just replace the bad one in the field and later rebuild the core trade-in. The band playing this gig at Memorial Hall was Kansas. "I arrived Friday afternoon and set about replacing the scanner. It had multi-colored wires to connect and this was difficult because the lighting guy was running through all of the lights which made the wires change color every few seconds. The organ was propped back by two wood wedges on the floor so it could be played in the standing position. The music rack was removed for a small synthesizer to go on top. The Leslie had a JBL upper driver and some heavier woofer was installed below. An active crossover drove two Altec 80 watt tube amplifiers for the high and low speakers. "The band was arriving so security was chasing everyone out but they said I could stay. Steve Walsh came in. He wailed away on the organ during sound-check and was glad the vibrato/chorus was repaired. I offered that I was the technician who checked out the first Hammond at the music store. I found that the organ had been played so much that the key contacts had cut through the busbar contacts and bits of the wire were floating through the manuals so that the organ was rendered unplayable. And I said it wasn't just the C's, E's and G's which were cut, it was every key in the organ that had failed. Steve was so delighted with this. "Steve offered tickets to me to see the show but I said I had already bought two, his music was so good, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to see and hear the band. "Hundreds of years from now people will still listen to Kansas as classical music. For the present, give classical music a listen, it is progressive, too. "And to add to other comments here, beware; alcohol and drugs might or might not fuel creativity but they come at a terrible cost. People miss every artist and their performances that have been lost to them."
@kcdigitalvideo * Would you be interested in taking another look at one of Steve's Hammond C-3s? I have one downstairs that I got from Clay Schell in Atlanta that may need some attention. The cabinet is pretty rough, but it's always sounded fine to me. It was in a white road case emblazoned with KANSAS and an address in Beverly Hills California. I might make somebody a good deal on it if it needs a lot of work. I'm retired and don't play that much anymore anyway. It would be perfect for a Rock & Roll museum etc.
I remember going to see Kansas at the Meadowbrook amphitheater in a suburb of Detroit.. The Wall was their 4th song of the night, and Steve’s voice blew out in the middle of the song.. after that it got worse… we kept waiting for them to announce that they would be unable to go on, but they did.. he fought thru it.. a usher asked my brother and I , he’s not the original singer is he?? I said yes he was and that is the problem. He’s been doing this a very long time and the wear is really starting to show.. When his voice is right, there are few singers that could equal him
Had the good fortune to see many a Kansas concert in the 70's and 80's..You go watch "All I Wanted" and then look at him here and wonder why the spiral downhill from the 80's to the 90's. Glad he's come to his senses now.
This is an awesome performance. These guys are giving the audience everything they have. Life can be a difficult gig. They're performimg in "hair metal ally". The music they're performing has been passed up by Joe Q. Public, who, at the time of this performance is in the process of passing up hair metal for grunge. I'm glad that they believe in what they're doing. Quite remarkable.
I saw the 2 nites ago Fremont street Las Vagas, I am not sure I would have gone if I had known Steve wouldn't be singing ...Thank you Steve for all the beautiful music
Well kudos to him for surviving all that and staying strong. This group was highly underrated. I liked their comination of instruments. They were kind of like Queen in that respect. They weren't afraid to add some strings to their mix. My all time favorite of theirs is Dust in the Wind. Thanks for posting this.
I love this version .. I don't care what they were high on .. we were all high back then This song has SO much feeling truely a big part of my best memories
I saw Kansas when they opened up for Yes in 2000. I loved their performance. Steve Walsh was amazing. Ever since Kansas came onto my radar, I have loved his voice, and still do, regardless of some of the setbacks he had in the past. I'm glad he's doing better now.
I've seen Kansas more times than I can remember. The entire band was always kind to me, and I have nothing but kind things to say in return. So much judgement on Steves outfit, and hyperactivity in this thread;,but if that's what you see, you're missing a fantastic show! His voice was a little harsh? Well, ya! This was a never ending tour! He's on drugs? Who wasn't. His voice is insanely good! Even on his worst days, he's better than some of todays best vocalists! All of my kids first concerts were Kansas, even if they were pulling each other around in a little red wagon, starting to walk, and talk, you could find all of them right up front and knowing every word. Those kids are now 34, 29 and 26! They still share Kansas with their friends, saying, "check this out!" . The epic headstand on the piano is just a fraction of the energy they put out to the audience when in concert - you almost felt like you could do it too! Loved them then, and love them still! Watch and enjoy !
What an outstanding band! This was unfortunately when Steve started slipping. He was such an outstanding singer, but here the chemicals had started taking its toll (and, yes, he was indulging, I even have it on tape in an interview I did with a member of the band). It's great he got himself sorted out, cleaned up and got back in the band later on. The voice may not be like in his youth (who does?), but he's still a great singer and the new solo album is well worth checking out!
Texas Axe. This is so damn sad. But thank God for helping Steve get back his life before it killed him . Thank the Lord Steve realized the torcher he was putting on himself and those who loved him. Everyone has a demon to fight. Loved Steve then and love him now. Everyone give him a break!!!!
I gossa say: The Whiskey ain't no fancy gig, it's a tight room with a well-used stage... andno matter if he's taking stuff or whatever, Walsh is an incredible performer and the band sounds great here. Most of the hacks who take this stage now haven't got either the pipes OR the presence to perform with this level of energy. I'd rather see this than any of the posers who stumble around up here nowadays... Kansas is a big band with a lot of mouths to feed - a high maintenance band just for the sheer amount of stuff they haul around. It's true all the guys are musicians but Walsh is a one-of-a-kind performer that made them famous enough to get bread-money. What-his-name took the frontman spot for a little while but nobody else in the business has a voice that sounds anything like Steve's. Yeah, those cats can write and play but it's like a writer of a screenplay...the writer usually isn't going to act the part - taking it into the public's awareness always rests on the frontman's sheer ego or guts from Van Halen to Kansas to even Geddy Lee of Rush... Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden said that the frontman has to go into every venue and project his ego like a balloon out into the crowd in order to really convey the song and that's what you see here...along with some coke, maybe, lol...but this is an arena performer playing to a club crowd. These stage moves are made for reaching the nosebleed section and it sticks out when it's so up close. But the chops are undeniable...!
steve and the other guys give real visual sweaty life to the song and what the words really mean to him and them - so much more than just an audio recording can give thanks for this posting
Jesus this takes me back. I knew I was high back then but this music is as awesome as I remember it being. I would listen to this on my bed with my eyes closed and sing out loud, love it.
Before i read your coment I was thinking to my self "This is Joe Cocker with good looks" :) Even though he might act a bit strange, Walsh rocks, and I actually like this raw sound of his voice! :)
I'm in love with Steve's voice, but he didn't sound good here at all. In his prime, his voice was BEAUTIFUL. One of my top 5 favorite vocalists. Too bad he didn't take care of himself better. It's tragic to lose a voice like that.
He recovered his voice after the 2000s; his voice was magnificent at the Topeko concert in Kansas in 2009. He sings like before but even better on certain songs.
I saw Kansas on this tour in a club and they were absolutely smokin'. Walsh put on a vigerous, highly visual show. The rest of the band turned in a great performance on every track they did that night. I saw them once before this when Steve Morse was playing with them and two times after this but it was this show that always stands out to me.
I spent the night at Steves place in mid 80s with Billy in Atlanta, he treated me as if I was a band member, later in 93, an outdoor concert I was on the bus hours before the show with Steve, again, we got bombed, but always was cool.
I remember seeing Kansas live many times when I was younger in my late teens, and they were awesome. Hell, I still remember trying to get out of the parking lot and a drunk girl sitting on the passenger window of her friends car screaming "Steve Walsh is the Ultimate". I never laughed so hard but she was right on! I love him and I'm so happy he's found some peace. For a man to bring so much joy to others, he deserves joy back in spades!!!
Steve is one of my favorite vocalists, but this period of his life certainly didn't produce his best efforts. "The Wall" is such an amazing song. I think Bach himself would cry at the beauty and simplicity of the violin solo. Such an amazing song, but not NEARLY as good as the studio version.
Scott Wilcox I disagree musically this version kicks the studio versions ass, guitar tone is better and more aggressive along with controlled feedback and the violin is better, absolutely no disrespect to Robbie but David Ragsdale is a beast
This version vocally was definitely not my favorite. As someone else mentioned the guitar tone is great and the violin stands out more. The studio version it can easily be mistaken for a keyboard to anyone that dosent know better. Steve definitely done way to much blow that day. You can see it in his eyes.
Come down man! When you get the chance to play that stuff for over 35 years it's normal to improvise in your live shows. If a band always plays their songs exactly like on the CD both, band and audience, would get bored very soon. And don't call Steve a loser, he's a damn legend!!
Steffan Pila Actually Kerry Livgren has not been with Kansas since 1983, but he is responsible for their studio album back in 2000 "Somewhere To Elsewhere."
Steve’s REALLY terrifying me in this performance & that’s saying something because this is truly one of my favorite Kansas compositions….drugs are evil!😡
Even though he was high, I still think it is a good performance! And for the person that commented " his voice is gone and the studio cut is way better?" NOT! I personally cant stand studio recordings. Live performances are WAY better, and that goes for any band!
If Steve and the Kansas bunch here, was opening for first time on stage and nobody knew what they were before, everyone would have cringed, and walked out!
I've been around coked out musicians before. Steve Walsh is their poster child in this video. So sad Thank God he lived throught it. Many that I knew did not.
It just amazes me because i have seen them live often throughout the years and Steve has always been a very "intense" person and high or not he just gets lost in the music...Everyone in the audience seems to be enjoying ~~
This is the directors cut of the video. Steve went back into the studio and re sang certain songs, such as this one, that were not satisfactory, they then edited the video and CD and released it, From what I understand Steve was sick during this show with a sinus infection and at the same time was under the influence as well. It's still a good show.
steinberger us a company that makes stringed instrumints, notably guitars and basses. one if the trademarks is the tuning knobs are at the base of the instrument, rather than the headstock, or top of the neck
this version is pre-mixed raw audio and video.. a listen to the finished version shows the difference.. On "Hold On" which I chose not to post has a great Ragsdale guitar solo that cannot be heard on this version.
I meant to write on earlier comment, that for some people to try and pick apart, critize & dissect every element in an effort chase after the elusive ultimate insulting comment type of thing, to me, shows an element of jealousy. I mean to even insult the phrasing & antics in a live performance, when the guy of subject, is one of the guys who came up with these songs, I would think he has a vision of how he wants it conveyed and the way he can best fit in phrasing around volume of band and so on.
A former co-worker / fellow Kansas fan told me that Walsh had been suffering from a fever that was approaching 104 degrees prior to this show ... drug use, not withstanding, being sick certainly can cause this sort of vocal imperfection. Having sung sick myself, I certainly give Steve credit for making a good effort.
J adore ce chanteur Steve morse il y met tout son coeur il met l ambiance et joue clavier super bien je suis fan quel talent et musicalement c est époustouflant il a une voix qui touche mon coeur bravo à tous soyez heureux tous
He was having a lot of issues with substance abuse. HE got his shit together but had to mostly retire in 2014. His voice, sadly is shadow of what it was.
Such an emotionally wrenching song. Steve already having vocal problems early on just like Meat Loaf . Just shows how important it is to take care of that delicate instrument. Still they both put out the most extraordinarily, heartbreakingly beautiful music. "Heaven Can Wait" kills me too!
@debbiechickie5 If by "performer" you mean singer, then yes, Karen Carpenter was a brilliant singer with one of the most pure voices of the past 100 years. If you don't think so, download a few of her songs and then come back to comment.
The good thing is he is totally clean and looking great .. ''Saw them with the orchestra a few weeks back... His voice is really back to great form. Rags has put new life into these guys !
Besides, Kansas, or Walsh, have nothing to apologize for here.This, as are practically all their performances, good on various levels. Art from a different era, shouldn't be judged like some karaoke contest from an era which is either flat out less creative, or, at least, where less imaginative things are being chosen to be promoted in public entertainment venues. These guys pour their hearts out,& under hot stage lights,not easy-drugs or no. Advocating sobriety with a civil manner is also good.
Lástima que murio el violinista , legendario original de la banda , Robbie Steinhardt , pero su legado vive , y Kansas sigue siendo Kansas , por los buenos sustitutos que tiene en la actualidad! Saludos🖖😀🇲🇽
Cool, I was at the show in Saarbrücken this wednesday and they were awesome! By the way, your Englisch isn't so bad. Aber von mir aus können wir auch deutsch reden xD
Arguably one of the greatest vocalist performer and musicians ever. Steve was admittedly f'kd up around this time. He actually said he was still Indulging before and after this show! Not good! Man is still a living legend!
The '2 for the Show' live album reflects some of the band's beautiful and complex arrangements and Walsh was awesome there and thriughout their era. Steve is not the same here, sadly in a way. I hope he has realised that and changed to his brilliant self.When was the concert held ? How is he now ? Legendary Kansas from those days nevertheless. Special and unique category in the musical hall of fame for them !
Oh, this is sad, and a shame. I hate what drugs can do to people who are so massively talented. Just really, really sad. I hope that he is past all this. This is one of my favorite songs.
One of the single greatest songs in music history, it sums up how I see the world at my core. What a beautiful song.
It's so beautiful and moving and so true...
I saw Kansas about 5 years ago I believe it was and Steve was singing with them again sounding better than ever. I believe he had one of the greatest voices in Rock and Roll history
Yes, to me, Steve Walsh and Brad Delp of Boston, two best voices on Earth.
2023 and still in love with this! Classic rock at it's most beautiful and best.
High as a kite..this legend still perform this song to perfection -- thank you Steve Walsh and Kansas =)
All of you people are awesome.....Kansas will always be, one of the best progressive rock bands of all time. Steve did not care about acting cool, he just did whatever he felt. If we all could be like that maybe this world wouldn't be such an uptight place to live. I was a little crazy on stage myself.....Steve is a great writer, Kansas message was unlike any other band they sang about life and feelings with the music as punctuation.
In my opinion, the best song ever done by Kansas & probably one of my favorites of all time....a true masterpiece!
A great voice, but sadly ravaged by a steady flow of chemicals, time, and life on the road. I was one of the 2 Tour Managers for Kansas from 1989-1999 along with Buck Holmes (and won't mention which one), and was running with the Band during this show and this tour. Steve actually was a Health Nut for 2 years before this and I woke him up at 7 am each day and he worked out most mornings. You can see here, he was skinny, but pretty ripped. He got into the coke heavily and was hard to manage. I used to find him sleeping in the closet of our tour bus. I'd load him up on a luggage cart (we took from The Marriott Hotel in Texas) and I'd wheel him through the Hotel, up the elevator, to his room. I put a tarp over the cart so nobody knew he was under there, but he would be blurt out things and screamed crazy things from under the tarp. I would get stares, but it was usually 2 am in the morning.
He started getting crazy and wouldn't listen to reason toward the end of the Tour. The Jean Jacket he wore on stage in this video he would wear all the time, with a pair of white running shorts and an Indian Feathered Head Dress and would run around the parking lot. The hotel we stayed at cleaned his jean jacket that he's wearing in this video, and apparently left it in the dryer way too long. It was delivered to his room and it had shrunk to 1/2 it's original size! It used to hang down to the top of his jeans, but look at it HERE, it barely fit! I told him NOT to wear it, but he wouldn't listen to me and after a bottle of Jack and a 1/2 gram of coke, he snuck out on stage blown out of his mind, wearing the Jean Jacket the Hotel left in the Dryer too long, and consequently shrunk TWO Sizes Too Small! That's why I always Laugh when I see this video! Great Guy Steve was and we had an Absolute Blast, it was a magical time I will always cherish!
But I wish I could have kept the group going for longer. Whenever he would look at me and say, "I want to Kiss the White Capped Mountain Tops Pappy", that was CODE for I better have some fresh "Powder" ready to go in the dressing room. Steve gave me that Jean Jacket at the end of the tour, and when I had my first son, he would run around the house at age 5, wearing Steve's Famous Jean Jacket. It always put a Smile on my Face!
I am soooo sick of everyone who reads previous posts and instantly know all the answers to everything because of what the last person said. You say that you were involved with the band (stage manager) If I believe you, then what are you doing 25 yrs later popping up talking about Steve's coke addiction especially since this post has been up for years and 80% or better of the responses say the same thing . And if you were in that position then you probably contributed to the problem but I have a feeling you are as full of horse dung just like the person before you who claims to be "close" with brothers Steve and Joe Walsh. if all you have to say (this is for everyone) is "Steve was all coked up", as if you're the only one that is aware he wasn't doing his best that night, just shut up and click on Beeber or something
Norm, I love Kansas, all I can do is speak the truth. The truth shall set you free. And by the way, I think he did great that night, Passion! Anyone can do 25 takes in the studio, he is letting it all hang out. Music is meant to be spontaneous, not perfect, and there is greatness contained within a less than perfect performance. Sure he Fell Down many times but he got back up, just means He is Human, just like we ALL are!
I agree norm...even if true, it's sad to see such a breach of confidence on Texas part.~Firstly, I see passion flowing out of Steve-coked up or not--those were the days, my friend. ~This is my all time Favorite Song by Kansas and I am proud to say I lived it in real time. Brilliant lyrics~!
I appreciate the story... BUT I just have to say.... that I think you may have the jean jacket part confused maybe? If you are suggesting that the jacket was a normal sized normal length BEFORE it was laundered, there is now way. The hottest temperature in the wash and dry cycle could not ever shrink a cotton jean jacket more than maybe a half inch at best not 7 inches! not half it's size that is impossible. haha. A sweater a wool one could shrink extensively but not a jean jacket no way. I am a designer I know this, many jackets and sweaters in the 70's were designed to fit like that. They were called SHRUGS.
"I'm woven in a fantasy I can't believe this thing fits me
The jacket I have chosen now appears to be too small"
eccentric genius vocalist,extraordinary group,of genius musicians all of them
Love this song ❤ the Wall, Kansas!
I'm interviewing C.J. Scheppers.
"Maybe this belongs in Keyboard Magazine, but I did meet Steve Walsh.
"I worked at a music store in KC in the late 1970s. A crate showed up, the name on the crate was KANSAS, some address, Lawrence, Kansas. Inside was a Hammond C-3 that needed repair. I was the only technician allowed to work on certain problems with Hammond organs, namely anything wrong inside the tone generator or manuals. As I played up the scale on each drawbar, the pitches sounding were not the correct pitches of the musical scale. You could say the organ was way out of tune but actually each key and drawbar was playing the wrong fundamental or harmonic. Under each key are nine key contacts stacked to touch nine busbars running horizontal through each manual. On top of each busbar and under each key contact was a precious metal wire to make connection and pass the correct pitch through. The wires on top of the busbars were cut through and scattered throughout the manuals so every keypress played some unrelated pitch or harmonic. The manuals were so shorted out that management determined the repair was unfeasible.
"A month or two later, the store gets a service call request, go to Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas to install a rebuilt vibrator scanner. The oil for the run motor seeps into the insulators on the vibrato scanner, eventually shorting out the scanned capacitors to ground, that makes the vibrato and chorus sound choppy. Chorus is the stringy celestial sound the organ can make and is used in all jazz, Jimmy Smith, ELP, etc. music. The store kept a rebuilt scanner handy to just replace the bad one in the field and later rebuild the core trade-in. The band playing this gig at Memorial Hall was Kansas.
"I arrived Friday afternoon and set about replacing the scanner. It had multi-colored wires to connect and this was difficult because the lighting guy was running through all of the lights which made the wires change color every few seconds. The organ was propped back by two wood wedges on the floor so it could be played in the standing position. The music rack was removed for a small synthesizer to go on top. The Leslie had a JBL upper driver and some heavier woofer was installed below. An active crossover drove two Altec 80 watt tube amplifiers for the high and low speakers.
"The band was arriving so security was chasing everyone out but they said I could stay. Steve Walsh came in. He wailed away on the organ during sound-check and was glad the vibrato/chorus was repaired. I offered that I was the technician who checked out the first Hammond at the music store. I found that the organ had been played so much that the key contacts had cut through the busbar contacts and bits of the wire were floating through the manuals so that the organ was rendered unplayable. And I said it wasn't just the C's, E's and G's which were cut, it was every key in the organ that had failed. Steve was so delighted with this.
"Steve offered tickets to me to see the show but I said I had already bought two, his music was so good, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to see and hear the band.
"Hundreds of years from now people will still listen to Kansas as classical music. For the present, give classical music a listen, it is progressive, too.
"And to add to other comments here, beware; alcohol and drugs might or might not fuel creativity but they come at a terrible cost. People miss every artist and their performances that have been lost to them."
@kcdigitalvideo * Would you be interested in taking another look at one of Steve's Hammond C-3s? I have one downstairs that I got from Clay Schell in Atlanta that may need some attention. The cabinet is pretty rough, but it's always sounded fine to me. It was in a white road case emblazoned with KANSAS and an address in Beverly Hills California. I might make somebody a good deal on it if it needs a lot of work. I'm retired and don't play that much anymore anyway. It would be perfect for a Rock & Roll museum etc.
I remember going to see Kansas at the Meadowbrook amphitheater in a suburb of Detroit.. The Wall was their 4th song of the night, and Steve’s voice blew out in the middle of the song.. after that it got worse… we kept waiting for them to announce that they would be unable to go on, but they did.. he fought thru it.. a usher asked my brother and I , he’s not the original singer is he?? I said yes he was and that is the problem. He’s been doing this a very long time and the wear is really starting to show.. When his voice is right, there are few singers that could equal him
Had the good fortune to see many a Kansas concert in the 70's and 80's..You go watch "All I Wanted" and then look at him here and wonder why the spiral downhill from the 80's to the 90's. Glad he's come to his senses now.
😢💗I understand I Ravages of Cocaine Addiction. I will always love Mr. Steve Walsh, in any way, shape or form!
He is a beautiful gift to us from God. 💗
One of my favorite bands from the early seventies
This is an awesome performance. These guys are giving the audience everything they have. Life can be a difficult gig. They're performimg in "hair metal ally". The music they're performing has been passed up by Joe Q. Public, who, at the time of this performance is in the process of passing up hair metal for grunge. I'm glad that they believe in what they're doing. Quite remarkable.
The people in the crowd were absolutely enjoying the performance ,no doubt about it
I saw the 2 nites ago Fremont street Las Vagas, I am not sure I would have gone if I had known Steve wouldn't be singing ...Thank you Steve for all the beautiful music
Well kudos to him for surviving all that and staying strong. This group was highly underrated. I liked their comination of instruments. They were kind of like Queen in that respect. They weren't afraid to add some strings to their mix. My all time favorite of theirs is Dust in the Wind. Thanks for posting this.
I love this version .. I don't care what they were high on .. we were all high back then This song has SO much feeling truely a big part of my best memories
I think Steve was the only one high haha but I still love the performance
A classic Kansas tune! This is the time, when I met the band and really started my journey with them! Cool times!
I saw Kansas when they opened up for Yes in 2000. I loved their performance. Steve Walsh was amazing. Ever since Kansas came onto my radar, I have loved his voice, and still do, regardless of some of the setbacks he had in the past. I'm glad he's doing better now.
I've seen Kansas more times than I can remember. The entire band was always kind to me, and I have nothing but kind things to say in return. So much judgement on Steves outfit, and hyperactivity in this thread;,but if that's what you see, you're missing a fantastic show! His voice was a little harsh? Well, ya! This was a never ending tour! He's on drugs? Who wasn't. His voice is insanely good! Even on his worst days, he's better than some of todays best vocalists! All of my kids first concerts were Kansas, even if they were pulling each other around in a little red wagon, starting to walk, and talk, you could find all of them right up front and knowing every word. Those kids are now 34, 29 and 26! They still share Kansas with their friends, saying, "check this out!" . The epic headstand on the piano is just a fraction of the energy they put out to the audience when in concert - you almost felt like you could do it too! Loved them then, and love them still! Watch and enjoy !
Bless you Kerry Livgren. And all Kansas.
What an outstanding band! This was unfortunately when Steve started slipping. He was such an outstanding singer, but here the chemicals had started taking its toll (and, yes, he was indulging, I even have it on tape in an interview I did with a member of the band). It's great he got himself sorted out, cleaned up and got back in the band later on. The voice may not be like in his youth (who does?), but he's still a great singer and the new solo album is well worth checking out!
I don't care what he took or what he looks like in this. He is amazing and always will be amazing. The best Kansas tune by far
I saw Kansas a few times in the 70s. Steve Walsh was definitely the show man of the group. He can really sing!
Texas Axe. This is so damn sad. But thank God for helping Steve get back his life before it killed him . Thank the Lord Steve realized the torcher he was putting on himself and those who loved him. Everyone has a demon to fight. Loved Steve then and love him now. Everyone give him a break!!!!
I had no idea that Pauley Shore was in Kansas!
one of the best voices in rock history, imho..
I gossa say:
The Whiskey ain't no fancy gig, it's a tight room with a well-used stage...
andno matter if he's taking stuff or whatever, Walsh is an incredible performer and the band sounds great here. Most of the hacks who take this stage now haven't got either the pipes OR the presence to perform with this level of energy. I'd rather see this than any of the posers who stumble around up here nowadays...
Kansas is a big band with a lot of mouths to feed - a high maintenance band just for the sheer amount of stuff they haul around. It's true all the guys are musicians but Walsh is a one-of-a-kind performer that made them famous enough to get bread-money. What-his-name took the frontman spot for a little while but nobody else in the business has a voice that sounds anything like Steve's. Yeah, those cats can write and play but it's like a writer of a screenplay...the writer usually isn't going to act the part - taking it into the public's awareness always rests on the frontman's sheer ego or guts from Van Halen to Kansas to even Geddy Lee of Rush...
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden said that the frontman has to go into every venue and project his ego like a balloon out into the crowd in order to really convey the song and that's what you see here...along with some coke, maybe, lol...but this is an arena performer playing to a club crowd. These stage moves are made for reaching the nosebleed section and it sticks out when it's so up close. But the chops are undeniable...!
jenniferlacex word
steve and the other guys give real visual sweaty life to the song
and what the words really mean to him and them -
so much more than just an audio recording can give
thanks for this posting
Jesus this takes me back. I knew I was high back then but this music is as awesome as I remember it being. I would listen to this on my bed with my eyes closed and sing out loud, love it.
I want to know why these guys haven't been inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame long over due
I was so in love with Steve when i was a kid. He used to run around in just shorts, gym socks and runners. Everything to a 12 year old girl.
he puts his all into every performance
Before i read your coment I was thinking to my self "This is Joe Cocker with good looks" :) Even though he might act a bit strange, Walsh rocks, and I actually like this raw sound of his voice! :)
I'm in love with Steve's voice, but he didn't sound good here at all. In his prime, his voice was BEAUTIFUL. One of my top 5 favorite vocalists. Too bad he didn't take care of himself better. It's tragic to lose a voice like that.
So true. So sad.
I was about to make a comment and say almost the same thing. He's trying so hard here, it's heartbreaking.
Oh my..still good..he's trying..sad
He recovered his voice after the 2000s; his voice was magnificent at the Topeko concert in Kansas in 2009. He sings like before but even better on certain songs.
I saw Kansas on this tour in a club and they were absolutely smokin'. Walsh put on a vigerous, highly visual show. The rest of the band turned in a great performance on every track they did that night. I saw them once before this when Steve Morse was playing with them and two times after this but it was this show that always stands out to me.
Man I love this song. It speaks my life to a T. I pray I make it to Heaven.
I remember seeing Kansas in Oklahoma City around this time when this CD came out, I really enjoyed it.
This is Steve back in his whiskey and weed days
My favorite Kansas song, a classic for the ages.
I spent the night at Steves place in mid 80s with Billy in Atlanta, he treated me as if I was a band member, later in 93, an outdoor concert I was on the bus hours before the show with Steve, again, we got bombed, but always was cool.
I remember seeing Kansas live many times when I was younger in my late teens, and they were awesome. Hell, I still remember trying to get out of the parking lot and a drunk girl sitting on the passenger window of her friends car screaming "Steve Walsh is the Ultimate". I never laughed so hard but she was right on! I love him and I'm so happy he's found some peace. For a man to bring so much joy to others, he deserves joy back in spades!!!
Steve is one of my favorite vocalists, but this period of his life certainly didn't produce his best efforts. "The Wall" is such an amazing song. I think Bach himself would cry at the beauty and simplicity of the violin solo. Such an amazing song, but not NEARLY as good as the studio version.
Cocain snuck up on these legends across all style and artists. This Song makes me weep....
Scott Wilcox I disagree musically this version kicks the studio versions ass, guitar tone is better and more aggressive along with controlled feedback and the violin is better, absolutely no disrespect to Robbie but David Ragsdale is a beast
This version vocally was definitely not my favorite. As someone else mentioned the guitar tone is great and the violin stands out more. The studio version it can easily be mistaken for a keyboard to anyone that dosent know better. Steve definitely done way to much blow that day. You can see it in his eyes.
Oh Thanks God! What Precious Song and Lyrics. God Bless you guys.
yes this song is very deep and amazing! beautiful!
kansas rock! once, violins were for orchestras and classical music.... then along came kansas and ELO, and violins became cool!🎻🎵🎶🎤🎸🎹🎧
Come down man! When you get the chance to play that stuff for over 35 years it's normal to improvise in your live shows. If a band always plays their songs exactly like on the CD both, band and audience, would get bored very soon. And don't call Steve a loser, he's a damn legend!!
A Song like this is eternal....
Steffan Pila
Actually Kerry Livgren has not been with Kansas since 1983, but he is responsible for their studio album back in 2000 "Somewhere To Elsewhere."
Good thing i saw them in New Haven CT back in 1982.
Steve is coked out of his mind at this point in his career
Cocaine is a terrible drug. Shame.
OMG hes scary
and still a quite beautiful performance.
Blitzed
Steve’s REALLY terrifying me in this performance & that’s saying something because this is truly one of my favorite Kansas compositions….drugs are evil!😡
Even though he was high, I still think it is a good performance! And for the person that commented " his voice is gone and the studio cut is way better?" NOT! I personally cant stand studio recordings. Live performances are WAY better, and that goes for any band!
This IS very good performance, indeed !!!
If Steve and the Kansas bunch here, was opening for first time on stage and nobody knew what they were before, everyone would have cringed, and walked out!
I've been around coked out musicians before. Steve Walsh is their poster child in
this video. So sad Thank God he lived throught it. Many that I knew did not.
It just amazes me because i have seen them live often throughout the years and Steve has always been a very "intense" person and high or not he just gets lost in the music...Everyone in the audience seems to be enjoying ~~
This is the directors cut of the video. Steve went back into the studio and re sang certain songs, such as this one, that were not satisfactory, they then edited the video and CD and released it, From what I understand Steve was sick during this show with a sinus infection and at the same time was under the influence as well. It's still a good show.
steinberger us a company that makes stringed instrumints, notably guitars and basses. one if the trademarks is the tuning knobs are at the base of the instrument, rather than the headstock, or top of the neck
One of the best songs ever recorded...
this version is pre-mixed raw audio and video.. a listen to the finished version shows the difference.. On "Hold On" which I chose not to post has a great Ragsdale guitar solo that cannot be heard on this version.
I meant to write on earlier comment, that for some people to try and pick apart, critize & dissect every element in an effort chase after the elusive ultimate insulting comment type of thing, to me, shows an element of jealousy. I mean to even insult the phrasing & antics in a live performance, when the guy of subject, is one of the guys who came up with these songs, I would think he has a vision of how he wants it conveyed and the way he can best fit in phrasing around volume of band and so on.
Yey! Rick, thanks! Write my channel any time. Rock on!
I use to have the Cd. I never knew their was a Video. Now I must Try to find it. Any True Kansas Fan shouldn't be without it.
One of the greatest songs of all time, imo.
BTW, was that one of the Geico cavemen in the audience at 5:15?
I want this song sung at my funeral.
+Sonya mom LOL so true! But keep it straight!
By someone better than this I hope.....my god his voice is trashed here.
I've been saying this since I was 15 when I discovered this song yeah it really speaks to one's life
Today it has a new meaning for me but still want it sung at my funeral
Me too.
A former co-worker / fellow Kansas fan told me that Walsh had been suffering from a fever that was approaching 104 degrees prior to this show ... drug use, not withstanding, being sick certainly can cause this sort of vocal imperfection. Having sung sick myself, I certainly give Steve credit for making a good effort.
J adore ce chanteur Steve morse il y met tout son coeur il met l ambiance et joue clavier super bien je suis fan quel talent et musicalement c est époustouflant il a une voix qui touche mon coeur bravo à tous soyez heureux tous
This song literally takes me to a place that I feel like I've been but but I know I never been. If that makes any sence. Especially the ending.
He was having a lot of issues with substance abuse. HE got his shit together but had to mostly retire in 2014. His voice, sadly is shadow of what it was.
It's hard to believe Steve would have chosen that outfit even in 1992.
Such an emotionally wrenching song. Steve already having vocal problems early on just like Meat Loaf . Just shows how important it is to take care of that delicate instrument. Still they both put out the most extraordinarily, heartbreakingly beautiful music. "Heaven Can Wait" kills me too!
excellent performance. He was ontime, no faults here. and the power...wow!
love these Stevie is brilliant the best😀😀😀
Thanks for letting me know!
It gets me mad seeing such a masterpiece without ROBBIE I rest my case.
you can't even spell Robby
Rubbey?
@debbiechickie5 If by "performer" you mean singer, then yes, Karen Carpenter was a brilliant singer with one of the most pure voices of the past 100 years. If you don't think so, download a few of her songs and then come back to comment.
steve looks whackadoodle on here but damn he is one of the best ever
well thats what i meant.... he always amazes me even on a "bad day". Long live Kansas and SW.
The good thing is he is totally clean and looking great .. ''Saw them with the orchestra a few weeks back...
His voice is really back to great form.
Rags has put new life into these guys !
Besides, Kansas, or Walsh, have nothing to apologize for here.This, as are practically all their performances, good on various levels. Art from a different era, shouldn't be judged like some karaoke contest from an era which is either flat out less creative, or, at least, where less imaginative things are being chosen to be promoted in public entertainment venues. These guys pour their hearts out,& under hot stage lights,not easy-drugs or no. Advocating sobriety with a civil manner is also good.
Lástima que murio el violinista , legendario original de la banda , Robbie Steinhardt , pero su legado vive , y Kansas sigue siendo Kansas , por los buenos sustitutos que tiene en la actualidad! Saludos🖖😀🇲🇽
I love this band all my life what a f****** shame what happened to him
can you say wig d
Cool, I was at the show in Saarbrücken this wednesday and they were awesome! By the way, your Englisch isn't so bad. Aber von mir aus können wir auch deutsch reden xD
Very well put.
"you once again is surrounded by a brilliant white light..."
jeeeeeeeeeeeesus! Never thought of that before!
DT!... X0
This performance is only equalled by its performance on their album "Always Never The Same" with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Steve Great Emotion!!!
Arguably one of the greatest vocalist performer and musicians ever.
Steve was admittedly f'kd up around this time. He actually said he was still Indulging before and after this show! Not good! Man is still a living legend!
Yes Mister Walsh noch immer beeindruckend und Gänsehaut pur
5 Stars the biggest
The '2 for the Show' live album reflects some of the band's beautiful and complex arrangements and Walsh was awesome there and thriughout their era. Steve is not the same here, sadly in a way. I hope he has realised that and changed to his brilliant self.When was the concert held ? How is he now ? Legendary Kansas from those days nevertheless. Special and unique category in the musical hall of fame for them !
I was only 6 years old when this show was performed.
I was front row!
Walsh completely out of his mind here Love it
Great power and presence.
That is one very sad episode for Kansas....:(
Hey fluffy, remember guy with the the eye patch? Yeah we had a blast ! Hope all is well!
Steve can be a bit much, but the power of the ensemble is marvelous.
Oh, this is sad, and a shame. I hate what drugs can do to people who are so massively talented. Just really, really sad. I hope that he is past all this. This is one of my favorite songs.
shame that he could not sing time :(((( . Killed this song !!
be nice ,we all fall down.he got back up hes fine now
David Ragsdales Frisur ist einfach genial....sein Violinenspiel natürlich auch