FES: Hello, Mr. Richard Williams from the band Kansas.

Richard Williams: Thank you very much.

FES: Where are you based out of now?

RW: We have been based out of Atlanta, GA since the late 70’s, most of us.

FES: Rocking after all these years, do you find it amazing the lasting power of Kansas?

RW: It’s starting to come amazing. We are almost at the 30 year mark, you kind of become a force to be dealt with and there is a credibility that can’t be denied.

FES: You’re still out there, still touring, still releasing new albums, Kansas in 2006 is kicking ass, props to you.

RW: Yes, I’m happy about it too because I don’t have to get a real job, it keeps me from doing what everyone else has to do.

FES: The fact that you are still out there, not only with the touring but enjoying the touring, could that be attributed to being the lasting force?

RW: What a great job, should I call it a job, what do I do? I play a guitar and move my fingers for an hour and a half, people scream and I get paid for it.

FES: You were in a band called “White Clover?”

RW: Yes, that was pre-Kansas with Dave (Ragsdale), Phil (Ehart) and Steve (Walsh).

FES: Is there “White Clover” music floating around?

RW: The demo we did when we got the deal with Tom Kirschner, that was “White Clover” that got that record deal. Some of the songs on the demo was on the first Kansas album.

FES: There is a Kansas 1, Kansas 2 and Kansas 3?

RW: This is THE Kansas, we are the ones on the first album and what I call Kansas despite the purists might say but I don’t care because we are the ones that got the record deal, got rich and famous and became rock gods. (Laughs).

FES: Are you finding new generations of fans for Kansas?

RW: Oh yes, this year especially, we noticed in the last 3 or 4 years it happening but a lot in 2006 with young kids in the audience. Our older fans still come out but they are jaded because they’ve seen us hundreds of times but the young fans have looks on their faces that are priceless.

FES: What do you feel about online publications such as Florida Entertainment Scene that represent the future?

RW: My opinion about online publications and downloads is that you better embrace it because it is the future. That’s probably why so many more kids are coming to see us because they are discovering new things all the time. I have a 17 year old son who asked me recently if I’ve heard of Crosby, Stills and Nash and I said “yes” and it’s amazing he’s discovering what I grew up with.

FES: Do you still get pumped up for live shows?

RW: Oh yea, there is something about live that recordings are missing, the tension, capturing the moment, it’s just something you can’t assembly line manufacture.

FES: What are some of your bands and musicians you’ve played along with?

RW: We toured with YES which was great and ZZ Top, I love that stuff. We did the first Queen tour and we did a Bad Company tour called, “Kansas Runs With The Pack” is what it was called.

FES: Please explain “Meatwall Sound?”

RW: In rehearsals working on material, it would be like a big power chord in an 80’s rock ballad. A big wall of gutsy guitars and it became a technical term. With me being a large guy as well, it turned into a noun describing me.

FES: What’s the toughest thing about being on the road?

RW: The travel but we don’t let it get that tough anymore. We learned to take the bad stuff out of it. We wont be gone for 3 weeks at a time, driving over 500 miles a night. Now, we stay in nice hotels and it’s like a mini vacation where I have friends all over the place, it’s like a family reunion for me.

FES: Is there someone that you would have loved to tour with but never got the chance?

RW: Jeff Beck, the best guitarist of all-time.

FES: Mr. Richard Williams, thank you for your time and we look forward to enjoying Kansas for years to come. One last question, what would you like to say to your fans?

RW: If I could say one thing, we are eternally grateful for a hobby that turned into a career, 32 years later, I’m still doing this and if it wasn’t for the fans sticking with us, I’d be a bartender. I’ve been handed as wonderful a life as you can imagine and it’s thanks to the fans for making that happen.

FES: Check out Kansas on their official Website at Kansasband.com and check out the tour dates, upcoming releases, news and anything you could ever want to know about the band Kansas. Thank you very much sir.

RW: Thank you.

Musician Interview by Eric Scott – Copyright © 2007 Florida Entertainment Scene – All Rights Reserved.

Eric Scott can be heard on The Animal House Show – LIVE Sunday Nights at 7:00 pm ET at: AnimalHouse69.com.