The Real Reason Steve Walsh Left Kansas

May 2024 · 1 minute read

And that someone was Steve Walsh, who departed the group for the first time in 1981, as Ultimate Classic Rock remembers. "Creative differences" were cited, perhaps at least in part because Livgren had experienced a religious conversion and seemed increasingly uncomfortable with the kind of material Kansas recorded and performed. Livgren left, too, at the end of 1983, and by 1985 Walsh was back, this time to stay — for a while, at least.

By 2014, however, it was clear to bandmate Richard Williams that Walsh simply lacked the drive to continue. As Louder Sound reports, after more than 40 years of rock-and-roll, Walsh was suffering from vocal problems. In addition, he was struggling with motivation. "It wasn't like we wanted to get him out of the band," said Williams. "He just wasn't enjoying it anymore.... I said to him point blank, 'As much as I love doing this, you hate it an equal amount' ... . I really felt for him and eventually Steve said, 'I've had enough.'" As Ultimate Classic Rock relates, Walsh's own explanation was simple and to the point: "it's time for me to go, and yes, it makes me sad to have to admit that."

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