Guys, just wondered if we have any Kansas fans in the club. I grew up with Kansas as my fav. Saw them about 12 times. Anyway, Phil is one ---- of a drummer and at age 60 or so he still has it. Saw Kansas last summer at a casino in Iowa and man, I just loved it. So how bout it, any P.E. fans out there?
JC
Oh yeah. Used to put Leftoverature on the platter and play along......many, many times. Glad to hear he's well and still playing.
B
add me to the list. Interesting story....I sold a drum set for a guy from Topeka Kansas who told me that he was the founding drummer for Kansas and that he left the band while still in high school and was replaced by none other than Phil Ehart. The set I sold for him was a 1965 Trixon Gold Glitter absolutely museum quality kit that sold on ebay to a guy in Australia for $10,000.00 (picture attached). The guy's name is Ray Stansbury and I have no reason to doubt his story. He drove the Trixon kit to my place in Illinois, spent the night because it was very late by the time we got done talking ****, beating some drums and staving off thirst. Very interesting person and I do believe what he told me about the start of Kansas. I asked him if he felt like Pete Best and he answered, "honestly, no". When we speak, I call him "Pete". P.S. - yes, the bass drum and tom are missing the round inlay's
which is the ONLY issue with that set. The buyer in Australia is extremely pleased with the set, which he also does not play...wow.
[IMG]http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj507/Drumfactory/SDC11681.jpg[/IMG]
Most deffinently. One of my personal favs. Went to a drum clinic at Big Dudes Music in KC in 83 or 84. I remember him talking about soloing and said that all you need to do is play your favorite beat but instead of playing the ride or hh move that hand around the drums, throw in a few fills and and you have a solo. wife and son just went to see Kansas on there colligiate tour. Awesome with a full orchestra behind them.
Another thing I like about P.E.'s playing is how he starts fills on an odd beat. Makes trying to learn Kansas tunes a challenge sometimes.
Cool story on the trixon gold glitter, beautiful drums. Il bet that was very interesting hearing his story too. And yes hard to duplicate Phils style, at least for me, but Im just beginning, again.
JC
Phil was awesome when they were recording.
Yes, I am a fan. I attended a clinic Phil gave several years ago (20 or more) at Ohio State University. After he finished they had a drawing and my ticket was called...I got to go up and shake his hand and pick a piece of hardware from his Yamaha kit to take with me.
I've used that bass drum pedal ever since.
I've been a huge fan ever since Song for America came out. Extremely imaginative and creative drummer. I remember putting on the headphones and trying to play along to "Magnum Opus" and never quite getting some of the strange time signature changes. Phil ranks high on the list of progressive rock drummers.
Loved that big chrome Slingerland set. Kansas put on a great stage show ... 1979 at Ohio University: This had to be on tape but Steve Walsh played a marimba solo while running in place with leg kicks and all.
