RIP Robby Steinhardt (Kansas)

[petereanima]

He played Violin/Viola and also sang lead vocals on some songs, like Miracles Out Of Nowhere.
Sad that he's gone, i have a special place in my heart for Kansas, esepccially Leftoverture and Point of Know Return.

Farewell!

[Shawn]

Damn, sad news....RIP

[Greg McCoy]

Fucking love Kansas. Up there with Toto in terms of being one of the most ridiculously musically talented groups the US has ever produced. Their vocal harmonies are on another level, especially for the era they were recorded in before DAW tech. That's one of the most iconic harmonized vocal teams in rock.

Robby Steinhardt also had the good sense to quit in '82-'83 when they started becoming a Christian band.

Kansas only wrote one good song after he left. "Fight Fire with Fire".

[Mike]

Fucking love Kansas. Up there with Toto in terms of being one of the most ridiculously musically talented groups the US has ever produced. Their vocal harmonies are on another level, especially for the era they were recorded in before DAW tech. That's one of the most iconic harmonized vocal teams in rock.

Robby Steinhardt also had the good sense to quit in '82-'83 when they started becoming a Christian band.

Kansas only wrote one good song after he left. "Fight Fire with Fire".

The last couple of albums have been pretty good, though he wasn't involved for health reasons.

He was a great player, and "Miracles Out of Nowhere" is one of my favorite songs. Up to the "Two For the Show" live album, they were among the best bands in the U.S., and their catalog has held up very well.

[Greg McCoy]

The last couple of albums have been pretty good, though he wasn't involved for health reasons.

He was a great player, and "Miracles Out of Nowhere" is one of my favorite songs. Up to the "Two For the Show" live album, they were among the best bands in the U.S., and their catalog has held up very well.

Leftoverture is a total landmark of an album, but it's an album of "musicians' musicians", they were so technically and theoretically brilliant people didn't even realize how progressive they were.

"Carry On My Wayward Son" is possibly the most iconic "compound odd time signature feel" song ever written, but it's so seamless a lot of casual listeners don't even notice. They don't have the kind of "credibility to theory jazz nerds" over the span of their entire career like Steely Dan, but nearly everyone interested in theory agrees "Carry On..." is theoretically one of the most out there/advanced "popular music" songs in history.

It comes across seamlessly too. Unquestionably one of the most progressive moments in rock music history. Kansas is THE American prog band. Especially considering that at that time the US wasn't as known for progressive stuff as the UK or Canada, but Leftoverture has gone down in history as one of the most seamless progressive albums of all time.

[jacksonplayer]

Steinhardt's vocals were the X factor in that band. I saw them a few times over the years, and the times he was there were significantly more interesting.

[Mike]

Steinhardt's vocals were the X factor in that band. I saw them a few times over the years, and the times he was there were significantly more interesting.

I would agree up until this latest post-Walsh lineup. While not the glory days, it's the best lineup in terms of live performance since 1980 or so.

[petereanima]

Out of the "newer" times, this is a real good live recording:

(and if a Mod could add the missing "t" to Steinhardt, it would be appreciated, thanks!)

[lespauled]

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't he the one who threatened Steven Tyler's life when he tried to pull the plug on them, when they were upstaging Aerosmith?

[Markus]

Damn, I've been spinning Leftoverture (literally) a lot the last few weeks, after I found it on vinyl on a flea market. Great album - listening to it I really notice a few moments that Symphony X and Dream Theater have "been inspired" by.

[Mike]

Damn, I've been spinning Leftoverture (literally) a lot the last few weeks, after I found it on vinyl on a flea market. Great album - listening to it I really notice a few moments that Symphony X and Dream Theater have "been inspired" by.

Absolutely. It's funny, going back and listening to that record and remembering the punks calling them "Corporate Rock". What the hell is corporate about something like "Cheyanne Anthem"?

[petereanima]

Interesting "timley" coincidence happening for me, which i realized yesterday seeing the new Dune trailer - first time I read Dune, i was listening to Leftoverture all the times to it. So for me this albuma nd Dune are kinda "linked" a bit.

[DingusMaximus]

I have had Leftoverture for years, spun it a few times but never thought to wonder what else they had. Man I really love their recent music (I'm working my way back) cheers for the catalyst

[Mike]

I have had Leftoverture for years, spun it a few times but never thought to wonder what else they had. Man I really love their recent music (I'm working my way back) cheers for the catalyst

The most recent two studio records are actually very, very good.

[Markus]

The most recent two studio records are actually very, very good.

I just gave "The Absence of Presence" a listen. It's really good! I can't think off a single other new album by a band that has been around for 50 years that sounds this fresh and inspired. Probably helps that the recent lineup changes haven't just been filling in for past members, but actually contributing with songwriting.

[zepp]

Man

I love those couple Kansas albums, with Miracles out of Nowhere being a high point. RIP.

[Mike]

I just gave "The Absence of Presence" a listen. It's really good! I can't think off a single other new album by a band that has been around for 50 years that sounds this fresh and inspired. Probably helps that the recent lineup changes haven't just been filling in for past members, but actually contributing with songwriting.

That does seem to be the case. "The Prelude Implicit" is also very good, and pretty much in the same vein.

[jacksonplayer]

Damn, I've been spinning Leftoverture (literally) a lot the last few weeks, after I found it on vinyl on a flea market. Great album - listening to it I really notice a few moments that Symphony X and Dream Theater have "been inspired" by.

Since I was turned on to Kansas many years ago, my reaction was sort of the opposite. Hearing those types of things, it was always, "Oh, this is mostly a bunch of 'heavy Kansas.'" And that's not a bad thing.

All of their albums up through Point of Know Return are essential, and even the two after that (Monolith and Audiovisions) are pretty damned good. The Prelude Implicit is decent, but I felt like it needed a few more uptempo pieces. Haven't delved into the newest album.