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It
was back in 1979, when I was 13 years old and some friends of mine
introduced me to some bands of the so called "prog rock" scene.
I'd never heard of such a sort of music before and I was wondering
what this music was all about. We were sitting around a campfire
when "People of the South Wind" was played on a mobile tapedeck.
My friends told me that this band was called Kansas. Before that
time, I only knew Kansas as a state in the USA and I was not really
interested in that song. But after listening to it for a while
the voice of the lead singer blew me away. I really had no reason
for that, but I remember it was a kind of an emotional electricity.
"Who's that vocalist?" I asked my friends, and I was told that his
name is Steve Walsh. Wow! I thought and asked my friends and
myself why I'd never heard of him or his voice before. So they told
me that a song called "Dust in the Wind" is also by Kansas. Of course
I knew this song but never recognized that the band behind it is
Kansas.
A
few days later I went to a record store and bought "Monolith," my
first Kansas album.
What should I say? I have never heard a better voice before. Now
I began to buy every Kansas album and I was totally consumed by
this music and by his voice. I recognized that his voice led the
music directly to my heart. I became a Kansas fan and especially
a fan of Steve Walsh, who is my all-time No.1 musically!
In
those days I was listening to Steve every day and recognized that
his voice was the first one that gave me that unique feeling when
I am listening to it. His ability to transfer emotions via music
is unique. I think every Walsh fan will know this feeling.
So
I was very happy with my favourite band and I expected to hear much
more music from them. But then the disaster happened! On my way
back from school I bought a music magazine to read some news. While
sitting in the bus I read an article about Steve's departure from
Kansas.
"How could this happened!" I thought. "Where will he go?" and "What
will he do?" I asked myself. I was totally shocked and "my
world" broke down.
Later
on, Vinyl Confessions was released and I gave it a try. But
the mighty big shoes that Steve left with his departure were
empty. The next years were filled with silence about Steve.
I heard nothing about him. Streets was not popular in Germany and
I first heard about Steve again in 1986, when I visited a record
store. As always, I had a look at the Kansas drawer and I saw a
new record called "Power." A look at the backside of the cover
and....I couldn't believe my eyes.....Steve Walsh - vocals and keyboards.
The Wayward Son was finally back. What a day!
On
the 5th of April in 1989 I experienced my first Kansas show during
their ItSoT Tour here in Germany. Philipshalle Düsseldorf was
the first place I saw him live. Blue Oyster Cult opened the show
and then -with a giant "Howlin' at the Moon"- my first Kansas show
began. Right before the vocal part, Steve entered the stage
by climbing up a ladder to the top of the hall. I was completely
fascinated. I can't express my feelings during that show, but Steve
was superb, as was the whole band. His voice was incredible. I felt
like I was dreaming. The dream lasted for some days, because I was
not able to realize that I saw HIM live!
Steve
came back to Germany with Kansas in 1990, but I was not able to
see him, so I had to wait until 1994, when they played in a nearby
town with the strange name "Castrop-Rauxel". It was the 17th of
December back in 1994 when I saw him live for the second time. Bobby
Kimball opened for Kansas and he did a good job. Then Kansas started
their show. Steve's voice was not in good shape and he sounded very
rough. But at all it was wonderful. They played many of my favourite
songs.
In
1999 I joined the worldwideweb and I was fascinated by the quantity
of Kansas websites and information about the band. It tooks days
to read it all and I was very happy about it.
But
I was wondering, there was no separate website about Steve Walsh
and recently I decided to do that, to give him the honour he deserves.
On the 30th of August in 2000 I received an e-mail from Steve and
he told me that he would like to help me with some information.
And.. he did! To talk to my idol, was the fullfilment of a dream,
that is more than 20 years old.
During our e-mail conversation he was very humble, honest and pleasant.
He coloured my life and the world I live in and I am sure it will
go on in the future. His
voice is immortal and he is a star that shines brightly!
Carry on Steve, you're still the greatest singer ever!
Ferdinand Arning, 1st of December 2000
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