John Wenlock-Smith: Good day Ronnie, how are you doing?
Ronnie Platt: Hello again John, yes, I am very well thanks, how’s things with you these days?
JWS: All good here, we’ve both had our vaccinations and we can see things starting to open a little here now, which is good. We had our first coffee out on Tuesday which was good, no masks and almost normal even, have you had all your vaccinations yet?
RP: Yes I am all good, did you have any reactions, flu-like symptoms or anything?
JWS: No, all fine, my arm ached a little a few days after but, otherwise, nothing.
RP: So, is everything open again now?
JWS: It is getting there but not everything yet.
RP: What about travel, can you go freely yet?
JWS: Around the UK, yes but internationally, no. We still have a list of approved places that we can go to but everything is starting to open a bit. It will get much better in June when more restrictions are lifted.
RP: Yes, it is pretty much the same here. I am speaking from the suburbs of Chicago, from my den in the basement, which is full of old guitars and equipment, if you could see the mess that it is in!
JWS: Well this is my den (shows him guitars, CD’s and piano).
RP: Can you play John?
JWS: Sadly I am a one finger only type player. I can play most melody lines but nothing with the right hand really.
RP: Whether you are playing with one finger or are an established player, I always say that music is the best therapy, how long have you been playing guitar?
JWS: Years, however I cannot really play much, I can do chords and rhythm but nothing technical really.
RP: Well, keep at it, practice makes perfect I find.
JWS: So the new album is out next Friday?
RP: Yes, ‘Point of Know Return: Live and Beyond’, we could not be prouder of it.
JWS: Can I ask, why is there no live video of it?
RP: Into today’s world, when I kook out in the audience, I see everyone holding their phones up watching and it ends up on YouTube. It makes it all exceedingly difficult to do and compete really, hopefully, at some stage, we will be able to do something but right now our attention is focused on getting back out on the road and playing live again.
JWS: London next year for you (Kansas) isn’t it?
RP: Yes, hopefully we will get there next year as the last two times were cancelled. In the 7 years I have been in the band we have wanted to come, especially since ‘The Absence of Presence’ is doing so well there.
JWS: We are hoping to be able to get to it ourselves, my wife knows that I want to go and she is happy to come along with me. So how was it for you singing these songs from ‘Point of Know Return’?
RP: It is amazing to me to, and I will include the entire Kansas catalogue in this, these songs that I have just loved my entire life, being a huge fan for many years. It is really a dream come true and surreal to be doing it. For my generation, you would buy an album and memorise the entire sequence of songs. It is special how I bought these albums and also being such a huge Kansas fan for all my life. To play the album in its entirety in the sequence that it was recorded in is a real honour and privilege to do.
JWS: I grew up in the 70’s and first heard Kansas in 1975. I then got hold of the ‘Point of Know Return’ album and it was a favourite of mine for many years but I especially loved songs like Hopelessly Human and Closet Chronicles. Kerry Livgren was such an awesome writer, his material is always strong and good.
RP: So John, you are like me, you love the deep cuts, not just Dust in the Wind but the less celebrated tracks like Nobody’s Home, I love singing those deep cuts.
JWS: I used to have the album cover on a mirror but that has gone now, sadly. I like that this album has some rather obscure Kansas songs like Two Cents Worth which is completely different to Song for America. The only disappointment for me is that People of the South Wind does not have Phil Ehart’s fabulous drum fills on it but, even without the drums, you keep the groove going. Will it be the same set in London?
RP: We will possibly change a song or two but we will do all of ‘The Point of Know Return’ album but who knows what it will be? It’s one of the great things about Kansas, there is such a library of music to draw from.
JWS: I am really looking forward to that show, my wife is looking forward to seeing the band and she trusts my taste in music. We are also seeing Genesis in October this year.
RP: Another of my favourite bands, ‘Wind and Wuthering’ is one of my favourite albums along with ‘A Trick of the Tail’.
JWS: I spoke to Steve Hackett a few weeks ago, he has recorded three albums in lockdown!
RP: Wow, he has been a busy boy, that makes us look lazy! I believe that Genesis will be in Chicago sometime in November but we will be out on the road ourselves, so I will probably not be able to catch them.
JWS: I spoke to Tony Banks last year and he said that with Genesis, it is always a case of never say never, we are always talking about reconvening activities.
RP: I used to open with Dodo in one of the bands I was in during the 80’s, I even took my mother to see Genesis.
JWS: Well Ronnie, my time has almost gone.
RP: Thanks John, it has been good to talk to you again, keep practising the guitar and keep playing the keyboard and we will hopefully see you next year in London.
Kansas – ‘Point of Know Return: Live & Beyond’ is released on 28th May, 2021.
Order the album here:
Point of Know Return Live & Beyond (burningshed.com)