Just saw on the Kansas FB feed that he quit and his last show with the band is Aug 16th in Iowa.
Mixed emotions on my part, his voice has been deteriorating the last few years. Saw them last week and he sounded rough but the band was great. I've probably seen Kansas live more than any other group ( with the possible exception of Rush ).
Steve Walsh from about 1973-1990 was one of the absolute best vocalists in rock and roll, hands down.
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That's really sad news, but 41 years (plus however long he was in precursor bands) is a long time. And I have to agree that his voice just isn't good for the old songs any more. I saw them open for Styx on the "Back to Paradise Tour" in 96 (just after John Panozzo died) and he didn't sound too bad then. Some of their early stuff from Kansas, Song for America, and Masque was the equal of anything by Yes or The Moody Blues when it came to lyrics and music. Between Steve & Robbie they really laid down some vocals! Some of my favorites.
Phil
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Old age sucks for singing voices. I've noticed the same thing has happened with Paul McCartney and Phil Collins. The singing voice becomes weaker and raspier. As for Geddy Lee, to me he sounds just as good as he did 25 years ago.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Listen to Peter Gabriel from one of his latest live shows, he's like Fred Savage now.
He did In Your Eyes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He sounded ok, but the problem with a lot of his music is that I am not sure how much the voice is altered when he originally made the albums.
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Originally Posted By: Destructis
He did In Your Eyes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He sounded ok, but the problem with a lot of his music is that I am not sure how much the voice is altered when he originally made the albums.
I don't think it was altered at all. His voice sounded the same from his early days with Genesis all the way up through his last big album in the early 90's.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Oh not at all. Listen to Steam or Digging in the Dirt, on the album, and listen to Supper's Ready and you'll see even by then his voice had gotten far raspier.
Listen to this comparison:
The Jedi Master
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Old age sucks for singing voices. I've noticed the same thing has happened with Paul McCartney and Phil Collins. The singing voice becomes weaker and raspier. As for Geddy Lee, to me he sounds just as good as he did 25 years ago.
Most of them probably sang outside there normal/natural range. I sang a few times outside my natural range, and while people said it sounded good, I didn't like the way my throat/neck muscles felt afterwords.
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Originally Posted By: WangoTango
Kansas is still together ?
Lol. I thought the same thing. I'm constantly surprised by some old bands that are still around. I just recently found out that The Who will be releasing a new album later this year!
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 07/05/1401:47 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
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Originally Posted By: Jedi Master
In the 21st century they know now you rock till you drop, literally.
The Jedi Master
Like with so many other bands, no one buys their new albums so the money to be made is in concerts where they play their classic songs. Madonna has exploited this to the fullest!
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
Old age sucks for singing voices. I've noticed the same thing has happened with Paul McCartney and Phil Collins. The singing voice becomes weaker and raspier. As for Geddy Lee, to me he sounds just as good as he did 25 years ago.
Rush never schedules back-to-back nights, while Geddy tries not to even talk on the off days. Probably helps that they never lived the R&R lifestyle.
For example, Metallica on Axl Rose not taking such good care of his singing voice (see 1:13)...
Hey, if Geddy ever loses his voice they have plenty of instrumentals!
Oh, and I love Kansas, think I'll have a Kansas MP3 marathon today.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run