Of the great prog acts of the 1970s, KANSAS is now the only one who still releases studio albums with new material. "The Absence Of Presence", the current longplayer of the American septet, shows that the band is still extremely vital and has not swept its progressive side under the table. Guitarist Zak Rizvi, who has been the band's main songwriter and co-producer for five years, played a major role in the new songs. We reached the man from the US state of New Jersey in the middle of a Corona-related tour break
The 1977 album "Point Of Know Return" is one of KANSAS' masterpieces, just like its predecessor "Leftoverture". In autumn the band plans to visit Germany as part of the "Point Of Know Return Anniversary Tour", so that local fans can experience all the songs of the album classic live for the first time. In addition, there are various hits and fan favourites as well as songs from the new album "The Absence Of Presence", which will be released at the end of June. eclipsed spoke with guitarist Rich Williams (70) and singer Ronnie Platt (58).
LED ZEPPELIN - The Last Remaster?
"That's it," my ass! Jimmy Page has charmingly told us about the new editions of "Presence", "In Through The Out Door" and "Coda". With "The Complete BBC Sessions" the 72-year-old Englishman once again enters the Remasters-Ring and adds eight songs to the live recordings from the late 60s and early 70s as well as a lot of discussion needs. We report what awaits the fan and discuss with Jimmy Page the new extended and revised re-release - possibly the last remaster.
THE BEATLES - Always on the move
What a new line-up can do! Although Kansas were still a very respectable live band on the stages of this world in recent years, the gentlemen didn't want to tackle an album any more. After the exit of front man Steve Walsh (2014) the situation was completely different...
Drummer Phil Ehart, who brought the original Kansas line-up together in 1973, is as so often on tour with his band. Nevertheless, the 65-year-old finds time for a half-hour chat about the current Kansas album "The Prelude Implicit", which heralds the end of a 16-year studio break, before the sound check begins in Wendover/Nevada. It's not just a work of contract fulfilment, on the contrary: the band is fully motivated again - which is why "The Prelude Implicit" can't be classified as a farewell gift, but as the beginning of a new era.
eclipsed: For a long time it seemed that the prospects for a new Kansas studio album were nearing zero. In 2009 you said, "The Kansas Recording Mill is painful because we take everything so seriously." Why did you change your mind now?
