A classic rock band reunited for a special concert near their hometown after several lineup changes over the past two years.
Phil Ehart, Richard Williams, Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope joined Kansas on stage during a performance Friday in Bonner Springs, Kansas. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, they appeared alongside Kansas’ current lineup during encore renditions of “Hold On” and “Carry on Wayward Son.”
Ehart and Williams, the original drummer and guitarist for Kansas respectively, are still considered official members of Kansas, but Ehart left the band’s 50th anniversary tour last year after the drummer suffered a heart attack and Williams was recently replaced by guitar player Scott Bernard.
“I am not stepping down nor retiring, but I am slowing down,” Williams said last month, calling Bernard “my hand-picked choice to help carry on the legacy of the band Kansas.”
Williams, 75, co-founded Kansas with Ehart, 74, in Topeka, Kansas, in 1973 and played on the progressive rock band’s biggest hits, including “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind” and “Play the Game Tonight.” Williams famously lost his right eye in a childhood fireworks accident and wears an eye patch after years of using a prosthetic eye.
“Macular degeneration has made travel increasingly difficult to the point where it impedes my ability to get to as many shows as I want. I will still be at, and perform at, as many concerts as I can,” Williams said in August. Macular degeneration is an eye disease that can cause vision loss in older adults.
Livgren and Hope are both former members of the band. Livgren provided guitars, keyboards and backing vocals from 1973 to 1983 plus several reunions and guest appearances over the years. Hope contributed bass and backup vocals from 1973 to 1983, plus several reunions and guest appearances.
The rest of Kansas’ current lineup includes vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, keyboardist/vocalist Tom Brislin, guitarist Zak Rizvi, violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon, bassist/vocalist Dan McGowan and drummer Eric Holmquist, who has been filling in for Ehart since last year.
