Kansas To Release Groundbreaking Concert Film DVD 'Device Voice Drum' On Compendia Music On Oct. 8, 2002

Companion Double CD To Include Enhanced Bonus Track

24-Sep-02

America's premier proponents of Midwestern-flavored progressive rock and hard rock -- will release the live concert film 'Device Voice Drum' DVD on October 8, 2002, through Compendia Music Group. A specially selected career-spanning set list, breathtaking Animusic computer animation and many special bonus features comprise the DVD, which was two years in the making. A double live CD, featuring a live multimedia bonus track not included on the DVD, will arrive in stores the same day. The 'Device Voice Drum' DVD and CD are each sold separately."" 'Device Voice Drum' is not your run-of-the-mill live video. It is a true film and was conceived as such. It's not a carelessly assembled release meant for us to simply have a DVD product on the market,"" says Kansas drummer Phil Ehart.'Device Voice Drum' was shot on film -- not videotape -- using six cameras at a special concert staged specifically for the DVD filming on June 15, 2002, at Earthlink Live in the band's longtime base of Atlanta, GA. Much of the audience of approximately 1,000 was comprised of Kansas fan club members; these fans, affectionately known as ""Wheatheads,"" came from all over the world to be part of this career-defining event.Vocalist/keyboardist Steve Walsh, vocalist/violinist Robby Steinhardt, guitarist Richard Williams, bass guitarist/vocalist Billy Greer and Ehart aspired to make 'Device Voice Drum' the highest performance, audio and video quality possible because, as Ehart says, ""We may never get a chance to make another DVD again so we wanted to do it right.""'Device Voice Drum' -- playfully based on the DVD acronym since Kansas fans commonly refer to the band's album titles by acronyms -- was directed by Michie Turpin, co-owner of Reel Life Productions in Atlanta. Since it was shot on film, the picture has a richness, depth and texture that cannot be achieved with videotape. A custom-designed stage laser and lighting rig was brought in for the concert, and the moodiness of this original lighting was not interfered with by extra film lighting. The DVD picture is in widescreen (letterbox) format and is mastered in two audio configurations: Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS.Despite all the planning and technical logistics, Ehart says everything went smoothly. The band retained its normal touring schedule of long weekends, therefore, it was necessary to find an Atlanta-area venue in which to work on weekdays ""off,"" not that there was such a thing as a day off. Earthlink Live was perfect because it is a concert venue and already had much of the needed technical amenities. Three intense days of work were put into pre-concert preparation. Camera blocking was done, and a dress rehearsal show was performed the night before the actual concert was put on film forever.The set list for the 120-minute DVD includes: ""Introduction,"" ""Belexes,"" ""Icarus II,"" ""Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel,"" ""Song For America,"" ""Howlin' at the Moon,"" ""The Wall,"" ""The Preacher,"" ""Journey from Mariabronn,"" ""Dust in the Wind,"" ""Cheyenne Anthem,"" ""Child of Innocence,"" ""Miracles Out of Nowhere,"" ""Point of Know Return,"" ""Portrait (He Knew)/The Pinnacle,"" ""Fight Fire With Fire,"" ""Play the Game Tonight"" and ""Carry On Wayward Son.""The enhanced double CD will include all of these songs, as well as the multimedia bonus video track ""Distant Vision,"" which was specifically taken from the concert for inclusion on this soundtrack.""I think this is the best live recording of Kansas we have ever done,"" Walsh says.""This concert was one of the top 10 events I've ever experienced in my life. It was great,"" says Steinhardt.""The Preacher"" features the vocal talents of 60 members of Atlanta's New Advent Choir. This song comes from the 1988 concept album 'In the Spirit of Things.'""I think 'In the Spirit of Things' was, by far, the most underrated album we've ever made,"" says Williams.""Dust in the Wind"" includes a string section, and the arrangement was based on the version from 1998's 'Always Never the Same' on which Kansas re-recorded its classics with the London Symphony Orchestra.""It was a very intimate setup at Earthlink Live,"" says Ehart. ""The band was on the floor near the fans, not the stage. The stage was used for the choir and the string section.""Ehart raves about the DVD's cutting-edge computer animation effects by a new company called Animusic, but in order to preserve Animusic's delightful surprises, nothing will be given away here. Suffice to say that Animusic combines animation and music (hence the company's name) in a groundbreaking way, right down to the actual MIDI-based computer programming codes and algorithms that generate the images.DVD bonuses include animated menus, extensive interviews, a making-of feature, discography (with voice-over), behind-the-scenes photos, a computer screensaver and a profile of Animusic. No ""Easter eggs"" are hidden on the DVD because, frankly, the quality of the content on 'Device Voice Drum' is too good for anything to be hidden. Kansas wants everything out in the open.Compendia Music Group's staff is thrilled to be involved with Kansas on the 'Device Voice Drum' DVD and CD project because of the band's die-hard, active fan base. And the fan base's expectations are high.""What Kansas brings to the marketplace is a proven act with an active fan base that happily follows the band with every new project it does,"" says Compendia Music Group Vice President and General Manager Walt Wilson. ""Kansas is unique in that way. Their fans like to hear the old classics, but they totally embrace new songs, new albums or whatever the band's current new project is. This fact separates Kansas from many other bands of that era. Kansas is still creating vital, innovative, intricate music.""It's diverse fan base is remarkable too. It's international, and you have a healthy mix of men and women and mixed ages as well. Sometimes you'll see bands somewhat similar to Kansas' style drawing virtually only male fans of about the same age. But Kansas' appeal is broad. When we were planning this project, Phil kept emphasizing the fact that the band's fans demand inventiveness and quality with everything they do. We are all extremely happy with what we've achieved with 'Device Voice Drum.' ""