channeling is a demonic occult experience. to be gifted naturally and filled with the holy spirit is a new creation in Jesus Christ called being "born again"

The higher power you refer to is Jesus.

@@robertgieske4531 I agree. The Wall was a masterpiece both musically and lyrically. The lyrics to this song accurately reflects Kerry's lengthy search for spiritual fulfillment which had become obstructed by the emergence of a metaphorical wall. These lyrics resonated with many young fans who were also on a similar journey, whose final destination was still uncertain and yet to be completed. However, it is important to note that when he wrote "The Wall", Kerry was channeling Buddha not Jesus. IMHO, Kerry's best songs were written during his Zen Buddhist period. Kerry's Zen period includes all material from the debut album through the Leftoverture and The Point of Know Return albums. However, in 1977, shortly after the release of "Point of Know Return", Livgren announced, "I discovered a book that has convinced me I have reached the end of my quest. It is called The Urantia Book ." As a result of this discovery, Kansas' next studio album, 1979's Monolith, would contain a few songs, such as the majestic "A Glimpse of Home", that were inspired by The Urantia Book. I should add that the Urantia Book deals with the life of Jesus although some of its teachings concerning Jesus "supersedes the information" provided by the Bible. After the release of Monolith, the band began a long tour in support of the album. Although the Urantia Book may have led Kerry to Jesus (or a Jesus), his quest was not completed until a couple of months into this tour when Kerry became an evangelical Christian (which he remains today) As an evangelical Christian, Kerry released his first solo album "Seeds of Change" in the summer of 1980. Although this album produced no hit singles (largely due to the fact that the record company chose not to promote it), this album is best known for the prog masterpiece titled "Mask of The Great Deceiver". This awesome song, which warns the listener of Lucifer's deceitful ways, was a bit controversial at the time of its release because it featured Black Sabbath's new front man Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals. In early fall of 1980, Kerry's solo album was followed by the Kansas album "Audio Visions". Kerry chose the opening song on this album, "Relentless", as a means to announce his new and "final faith" to the rock world. Also from Audio Visions came Livgren's first and only Top 40 hit with Christian lyrics. This was the song "Hold On", which peaked at #40 (barely making the Top 40)!!! The group's next album, "Vinyl Confessions", contained Livgren's final Top 40 hit, the song "Play The Game Tonight. "Play The Game Tonight", which peaked at #17, was originally written by Flower and Frazier, but Kerry, Rich, and Phil were credited as co-writers since they made some changes to the song which included a brand new set of lyrics. (These lyrics are about an ethical dilemma facing celebrities/rock musicians and should not be considered Christian lyrics.) This album also contained Livgren's powerful Christian rocker "Crossfire", but the band chose not to release this song as a single. The lyrics to this song were so overtly "Christian" that Steve Walsh refused to sing it. This song was also considered a catalyst regarding Walsh's decision to leave Kansas prior to the recording of Vinyl Confessions. (After Livgren left the band, Kansas released their final Top 40 hit. This hit was "All I Wanted". It was written by Steve Walsh and Steve Morse and it was on the "Power" album. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard Top 100. Chart.)

i'm afraid so,genius group

... and composer...

@Fuzzy Butkus what? Him and Rich Williams were very good guitarists. .

Incredible songwriter!

I think you guys don’t realize Kerry was more of a keyboardist than guitarist for the band. Even many of the parts Steve Walsh, the singer, played on keyboards were songs written by Kerry.

Not only that the focus was songwriting, not shredding for it's own sake. They were writing songs where the music writers were trying to match the lyrics writers emotion and intent.

it was a great come back to a uninformed host!

Heaven and hell are Eternal says the Bible from Genesis 2 on, so we better be ready for eternity you better have Jesus Christ and be serving him, then you're sure to go to heaven. 1st John 1:7 if you walk in the light as He is in the light blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin.

@Fuzzy Butkus true dat. yeah tell that the Abraham now you have the Nation of Islam after Sarahs suggestion

Dave has been a minister for years. Still gets up to play when Kansas are in his part of Florida!

Dee Bee you wrote your reply 14 years ago. My husband, then my boyfriend also saw this interview when broadcasted. We have loved the music of Kansas since High School days 1973- 77 to the present. We were living with his mom and dad, after being kicked out of our apartment because of spending our money on drugs and alcohol instead of paying rent. In fact I developed a crush on my husband, year ahead of me in HS because he looked like Robby Steinhardt. His older brother had beat alcoholism after getting saved. He had been witnessing to us an inviting us to church. After watching the interview. Glenn said, “maybe there is something to this Jesus thing. His mom said, why don’t we all visit Chris and Al’s church this Sunday. We did and then continued to visit. We were married in that church after living together 3 years. This year we will be married 40 years this September l. Would be 42 if we had not lived in sin for 2 years. God knew the time and the place. When we had a meeting with the pastor after several months off attending that little church and asked him to marry us, we said, “ what we have been reading in our Bible study makes us realize, we should get married.” He bowed his forehead to the desk and in an exclamation of relief saying , “Thank You God!” He sat back up laughing with genuine tear’s,and said” I have to tell you this, some of our grandmas and grandpas in Christ have been in and out of my office scolding me, saying ‘Pastor, you have to talk to that young couple! You know they are living together.’ But God kept telling me Wait! Not Yet, You will know when you have to. And God has told You.” When we left after setting a date, we look at each other and my husband said, “You know if he had confronted us about this. Month ago you would have gotten your back up.” I said, Yes, God is gracious, He knows me and He knows what He is doing. “ it’s one of those things between us and God that makes us smile.

God did not find Kerry. Kerry found this oppressive idiotic religion.

Neal Morse Band and Flying Colors are really something extraordinary

Vinyl confessions is my favorite album too

Marxism is a disease and killed over 100M people.

Religion may be a disease, but Jesus is Lord!

Religion is corrupt. The only church is the body of Christ.

Christianity is a relationship with Jesus. He was against religion.

Christianity is a relationship with Jesus. He was against religion.

+Roger Jones The concert footage shows them performing "Crossfire" from the Vinyl Confessions album, which was released June 1982. Also, John Elefante is visible in the footage, who joined in early 1982. Livgren left Kansas at the end of 1983....

It probably had more to do with being on the road. You stop eating as much in a lot of bands cases, drugs aid that...it’s a convergence of lifestyle and circumstances

@@opaljk4835 Plus, I understand they were all put on a budget of a dollar a day, so they could save up for better guitars, keys, and amps. Try being able to eat dingdongs and twinkies on those wages--even in 1975 dollars! Also, being away from home so much probably meant he couldn't sneak over to ma's house in Topeka anymore for down home cookin

youandwhosearmy? A beautiful melody sung by a beautiful voice..and the lyrics are brilliant

ANOTHER BIRDBRAIN.

In 1981 dollars. That figure would be closer to $110,000 today. Which tells me that he was either lying about how much he was doing, or he was paying for a lot of his friends to get high, something that coke users don't do. There is no such thing as a generous coke head.

I agree with your first sentence. Kansas has always been a Christian, or at least, a spiritual band. Even before Kerry's becoming a born-again Christian, their lyrics were of a dark/light, heaven/hell, good/bad nature. I'm not a Christian, but it never bothered me. Kansas never mentioned "Jesus" or "Christ" in their lyrics, unlike so many of the CCR acts today who run that message into the ground.

Being born again doesn't happen to a band, it happens to an individual. Kansas was never a Christian band. It was a band with some Christians in it.

+Jonathan Kohns Ever hear Charlie Rose interview David Lee Roth in the 80's...same thing...clueless to who is sitting right in front of them! Fast food TV shows...UGH! I guess you can't be an expert on all your guests but you can get someone to write good questions so you can act as a mouth piece.

I pretty much agree with you, but - in Livgren's defense, this was before the great televangelist scandals of the 80's, so perhaps he didn't see Robertson for the snake oil salesman that he is. Just a speculation....cheers!

I couldn't disagree more - the moment a band decides to start as a Christian band, or "go Christian" as the case with Kerry and Dave with AD, they've just cut off at least 75% of the potential fan base. I also think that God can and does use rock music to reveal himself to others. This is already a known fact with the song Dust in the Wind - a song that has brought many to Christ, even though it was not written by a Christian (at the time), or meant to convey a Christian message.

ArizonaBasement .. I am Pretty SURE that No "SONG" has Brought Anyone "to Christ" .. what is that anyways ? . Someone Says .. "I believe" ? .. That Mean Nothing . Demons Believe and That won't Save them anymore than some Person Believing that Christ or God is Real - James 2:19 .. :) . Right ? ........

gremlinjr2 In the literal sense you're correct, ultimately God opens people's eyes to the truth, but He uses different mechanisms to achieve this - through songs, other people, movies, etc. Take it from a 35+ year Christian...

The difference between demons belief and Believers belief is that demons don't have faith in Jesus and make Jesus their Lord. Read on in James 2:19: the demons shudder! Their goal is to lead you astray from His truth! They shudder because they know He is Truth. They had to flee from Him, as they knew He was all powerful. Their job is to lie and deceive. God can use whatever method He pleases to bring anyone to Christ, even a Kansas song. He is God, we are not. God works in mysterious ways: we cannot comprehend His infinite wisdom, His omniscience, His omnipresence and His omnipotence. He is unfathomable (Romans 11:33). Some day 'at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. and that every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' (Philippians 2:10-11)

Dude, this was recorded in 1982. People make choices, then and now. Lame? Joke? Who are you to make this determination for other people? Don't want to watch a show? Then don't.