Kansas was a lifeless corporation creation?!?

[Crabsdonthum]

*

[thumpbass1]

Certainly not true! I'd rather listen to Kerry Livgren and the boys of Kansas tell the real history of the band and their music, than to
listen to some clueless critics. I've been a fan of Kansas ever since their first album, and corporate they weren't. They were also one
of the best live units I ever saw back in the day. I've seen them a bunch.

[avvie]

I've never heard that before, but that's insane. Ignore it as necessary.

As an aside, it has always surprised me that in all discussions of prog rock bands, Kansas is rarely- if ever- mentioned.... same with SAGA.

[My name is Mudd]

First I've heard of it.

[Big John66]

If by corporate creation you mean a bunch of guys who went to school together, played hundreds of bar gigs-school dances-frat parties throughout the midwest, then self financed a home-made demo that eventually caught the ear of Don Kirshner, then continued to open for almost every early '70's rock band until they finally started to get some radio play, then yes they were a corporate rock band.

[thumpbass1]

Originally Posted by Big John66

If by corporate creation you mean a bunch of guys who went to school together, played hundreds of bar gigs-school dances-frat parties throughout the midwest, then self financed a home-made demo that eventually caught the ear of Don Kirshner, then continued to open for almost every early '70's rock band until they finally started to get some radio play, then yes they were a corporate rock band.

#! Exactly! They were the furthest thing from a major recording label manufactured act that one could think of.
Especially back in the early 70's. They stuck to their vision with a tough midwestern work ethic that eventually paid off
for them.

[Commreman]

To this date, the original Kansas ranks as one of the best live acts I have ever had the privilege to see. They were spectacular.

[JTE]

Originally Posted by Crabsdonthum

...and even in some music magazines in the past (Guitar Player, Bass Player).

Cite your reference, please.

John

[ack]

My first real concert ever! Took the train from NJ to Madison Square Garden to see these guys. From that standpoint, they will always be kinda special. They always seemed to have a humble, Midwestern aura and work-ethic to them.

The only thing worse than music critics are the folks that take those words as some sort of gospel.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by Commreman

To this date, the original Kansas ranks as one of the best live acts I have ever had the privilege to see. They were spectacular.

I caught them a few years ago. They still put on a hell of a show.

[dug dog]

I suppose the next thing we're gonna hear is that The Partridge Family was a lifeless, corporate creation.

God help us.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I saw them at NAMM back in the 90s (Stanley Jordan opened). They rocked pretty well.

[jollygiantchris]

Err...Wasn't Boston basically a one-man show and the dude recorded the first album in his basement? I thought that band was basically one guy + hired help like post-Mothers Frank Zappa(or Mothers Frank Zappa depending on who you ask).

I'm not really a fan but kinda weird to call that group corporate rock.

[R Baer]

I still put Left overture as one of my 10 best albums of all time.

[My name is Mudd]

Originally Posted by jollygiantchris

Err...Wasn't Boston basically a one-man show and the dude recorded the first album in his basement?

Yep.

[the byronic man]

it seems to me that article isn't claiming these bands were CREATED by corporations, but they were part of the so called "genre" that came up in the 70's that many people called arena rock/corporate rock. this was meant to describe bands who made very polished/produced records that would sell well/get radio play/enable the group to book large tours of arenas or other large venues which would generate money for both the groups and the records labels/radio stations(read:corporations).
and as far as mentions of change in format, pretty sure that is just in regards to radio and the move towards FM stations where the DJs felt less restriction on what they could get away with playing(especially where song length was concerned).

[JTE]

Originally Posted by Crabsdonthum

That '70s Show: A new breed of rock band emerged in the '70s and still roams the Earth

Corporate Rock, what the... [Archive] - SH Forums

soo.. what was it that defined a band as being Corporate rock ? [Archive] - The Gear Page

The Gazette article lumps Kansas in with Journey, Boston, Styx, etc. The other two links are forums with guys irritated about how Kansas was percieved by Rolling Stone and some of the critics at the time of Kansas' heyday.

I agree with all of you - I think it's crazy what the "critics" said. And hey, if Journey, Boston and Styx were "corporate rock" I guess I was just a lame radio listener at the time. Still am, I suppose.

Oh, I was seeking something from a music magazine because you mentioned Bass Player and Guitar Player in the first post.

John

[JimK]

Originally Posted by the byronic man

it seems to me that article isn't claiming these bands were CREATED by corporations, but they were part of the so called "genre" that came up in the 70's that many people called arena rock/corporate rock. this was meant to describe bands who made very polished/produced records that would sell well/get radio play/enable the group to book large tours of arenas or other large venues which would generate money for both the groups and the records labels/radio stations(read:corporations).
and as far as mentions of change in format, pretty sure that is just in regards to radio and the move towards FM stations where the DJs felt less restriction on what they could get away with playing(especially where song length was concerned).

I agree with your analysis.
The FM thing, too...I have friends that are FM jocks (today)...they began in the '70s & played whatever. No more. The 'small/locally owned' station is now just a cog in a corporate machine. 'Sfunny, once upon a time, these these true believers mocked that crap. Now they're locked in-step. Guess marriage, kids, houses, cars, etc do that to a man.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by Crabsdonthum

The Gazette article lumps Kansas in with Journey, Boston, Styx, etc.

Always cracks me up when people do this. Foreigner also gets put into "that group" a lot. REO Speedwagon too.

Seriously, each of those bands had their completely own thing going on. Anyone who doesn't (or didn't) get that just wasn't paying attention.

[gjbassist]

I would not call Kansas a "corporate" rock band. They do unfortunately get lumped in with the arena rock bands of the 70's and 80's quite often by critics. I prefer to think of them as a prog rock band.