The Most Underrated Drummer in The World, Phil Ehart

Hey all you cats and jammers, can you guess who this drummer is? Everyone knows one song of theirs, but that song didn't merit a drum set part, so wanting to be part of it he recorded some light conga's at the end.
There is a story of them warming up a stadium level band and when the Headline Act came on, they were booed by the audience because they had just witnessed live musical perfection, and the featured band could not come close to their level.
No bands wanted them as their warm up act after this. Can't say I blame them. Didn't matter though, they went on to headline their own stadium tours with multiple platinum albums.

[@warrenrayledbetter9957]

Phil is tremendously underrated, just as Kansas has always been.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Yep, case closed.

[@rickvenlo1362]

@@BroMoNtheExpress Just try to play a song for America on a drum kit

[@jeffreynolds2190]

I had to good fortune to see Phile Ehart in 1978, Always love his work, placement of beats

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Right, you saw them at a pinnacle. Was Robby Steinhardt front and center?

[@kansasisaband]

Thank you for making this video. I've been a Kansas fan for years. My friend in 8th grade played the drums and admired Phil and played a lot of his riffs/songs. As we grew up, I learned keyboards and we'd 'jam' in his house for hours, playing/hacking tunes we loved. I had the chance to shake Phil's hand as he handed me a drumstick one night after a gig here in AZ at a local casino. All night long I kept yelling, "PHIL" "PHIL"...after each song..."PHIL" "PHIL">>>>.at the end of the show, he walked right up to me ( i was in the front row) and handed me a stick with his left hand and shook my right hand. Always was and will be a classy guy as well as the MOST UNDERRATED DRUMMER in Rock and Roll history. Peace and Love.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

What a cool story, not only to Jam to their music but I hope one day to be able to say I met him.

[@ssgi4059]

Great memory!

[@stevefallone]

So true: I saw Kansas live in concert, i think in 2018 or so. And i was so impressed with Phil's playing. At his age, i wondered if he'd still play good, and he was incredible. Didn't lose a thing. What an amazing drummer!

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Truth, his precision is beyond my comprehension. Maybe if I practiced 6 hours a day for the next 100 years. lol

[@adude394]

No argument's here. Kansas has been my favorite band for more than 45 years, and I've always loved Phil's playing. Laid-back, solid as a rock, and believe me, Kansas's music is NOT easy. There are some crazy meters and rhythms.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Your assessment is soooo accurate. I've always felt they appeal to the more intelligent mind.

[@stevemurrell6167]

I love this.....Kansas was always under-rated and I always thought Phil was an insane drummer who never got his dues from critics....much like the band he played in. Nice work mate.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Exactly, thank you.

[@barrydutton9056]

Keep in mind that one of the things Phil was known for was playing actual melodies on his drums!

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

I will have to re-listen with this in mind. Thank you.

[@ssgi4059]

Right, so much drumming seems to be about speed and seldom tells a rhythmic melodic story.

[@richardwalker9826]

i never heard him play a bad note. he was and still is at the top of my list of great drummers. thanks Phil without you Kansas wouldn't have been half as good

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Right

[@BaconIsNotBiceps]

I've always loved Phil and believed he was severely underrated. I feel the same about Jethro Tull's drummer Barrimore Barlow.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Definitely

[@Krankster666]

I've been saying that for decades, very underrated drummer.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

No question, and without him probably no Kansas.

[@bitadanger7131]

This entire band is top of the mountain players in every aspect including the vocals.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

No truer words were ever spoken. I just saw them at the Eckels Preforming Arts Theatre in SLC and their level still blows my mind. And Phil if by chance you ever read these comments. When the concert ended and you were leaving the stage last, I was the guy who yelled "We love you Phil", because, We Do! Thanks for the wave.

[@robertjenkins2827]

By the way.... guess who RUSH calls when the need a drummer? Yep, Phil....

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Love these tidbits, never knew that. Saw one guy play them with Alex and Geddy recently and he is good but there was still a pronounced difference.

[@terryjestersr.6769]

Phil Ehart - the best ever!!!! Always watch him play at every concert I've seen of Kansas- from 1977-2017 at least 7x

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

What a great history you've seen!

[@frankvet1]

No question this band was and is my very favorite and music I played to regularly later in my amateur drumming career. Nothing like Kansas.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

I just got chills thinking of days gone by. Those of us who understand and know the magic are a select group.

[@KDCobb]

Phil handles his drumming like a percussion section in an orchestra. Kansas' music is very orchestrated and Phil supports it perfectly. He's an orchestrator. But he can rock when he needs to! He's got one of the meanest cut time rock grooves ever.

[@gordoh7634]

Your key word is UNDERRATED! And you are spot on. As is the Kansas album, Monolith, which is very much underrated, too. For me, some of Phil's coolest 😎 work is within Monolith. Lastly, put Graham Leer on your underrated list too.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Well said! Graham... Santana and REO both bands I love!

[@stevefallone]

oh yeah, Monolith is, in my humble opinion, their best album. my favorite in their catalog.

[@reedebrown6006]

Awesome drummer. Awesome band!

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Thanks Reede, kool spelling of your name. I invite you to suscribe if you haven't. It turns out if I get 1000 KZbin will send me some pennies. I didn't know that when I started the channel and it's not why I make the effort but why not. Keep rockin!

[@stevefix5800]

Couldn’t agree with you more. Kansas has been my favorite band of all time then rush right behind them. RIP Neil and god speed to Phil’s recovery. I really hope that he’ll make a full recovery and be behind a set of drums again, for all to hear.

[@groundedrootsarlingtontx2769]

It was Phil & Robbie on 'Two for the Show ' that locked me in forever!!

[@halcyon289]

Phil Ehart . I met him on two occasions . Nice guy. Phil was and still is an amazing drummer. Tight as anything. As for underrated in a Rock context , I'd say it's a two headed coin ; Phil and the legendary (amongst drummers) Barriemore Barlow from Jethro Tull .

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

I hope to meet Phil and agree, Barriemore Barlow is incredible! Love Tull!

[@halcyon289]

@@BroMoNtheExpress It's remarkable that Phil is still playing at such a high standard for a man in his 70's .

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

@@halcyon289 No question, I hope to catch them again next year and bring a couple of my daughters, they will finally understand my love for Kansas. Such positive complex music in a world of simple negative music. I may even get the VIP package so I can finally meet one of my hero's. They played Layton which is close and months ahead all the seats were gone. Except a site asking $250 for tickets costing half that price. I tried up until 5pm the night they went on to get 2-3 reserved seat tickets but only found one. By the way I have a few tunes out on Spotify, iTunes etc. and invite you to check them out. Plus another album in the works that I'm very happy with. I invite you to subscribe to this channel. I have a product coming out and most of the other subscribers are here because they wanted to know "how I did that" after experiencing the effects of this product I was testing, but, I still cannot talk about it until it's official release. It will be announced on this channel when that day comes.

[@berndeigner8837]

I would add Doane Perry! Awesome drummer !

[@jacksdrums1]

Phil's great ability really shows in recording of No One Together

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Right, so precise!

[@toddboothe1846]

Great video. Kansas Rocks.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Right on Todd!

[@alanhembra2565]

I love Phil’s drum work.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

With you all the way.

[@strattuner]

TO VIEW KANSAS in the beginning,which i did,met the band in 1974 backstage,worked with steves dad,from 4 feet away,the sounds the timing the driving force of KANSAS IS NOT TO BE BELIEVED,ONLY IN CONCERT DO YOU FEEL WHAT I DID,if you think the albums and headphones do them justice,no my friend KANSAS IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL,AND EHART well he's just fricking GENUIS,THEY ALL ARE,I WAS 23 HEARING THEM JAM,NO AUDIENCE,ME AND A FEW OTHER GUYS,I followed them nationwide on vacations,trying to hear that same feeling,same same,too much

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Phil Ehart was as important to Kansas as Kerry Livgren, Steve Walsh, and Robby Steinhardt( RIP 🎻) was. Kerry's compositions couldn't have worked without Phil. Kerry, in his autobiography Seeds of Change called Phil( paraphrase) " The brand keeper ". Phil is the band's business manager today, and he has final say( along with guitarist Rich Williams)on what goes on the albums today/set lists for live shows. He is the main reason the current lineup still sounds fantastic today

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Michael, thank you. This is good to know. They came and played a small venue 10 minutes from me and I was watching for tickets months early and couldn't get 3 seats to introduce my daughter to them. I hope they come around again. Years back I caught them 2x at the Salt Palace 3rd row center, slept overnight, met a girl and passed out before I got her number. Next day couldn't find her.

[@markcastillo2757]

Phil Ehart is a beast, truly underrated as well as Ian Paice and Barrymore Barlow

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Totally agree! Ian Paice is the only drummer that Phil idolized or drew inspiration from. Recently our band wanted to throw in Smoke on the Water for a gig in 2.5 weeks and while the main guitar riff may be easy I mentioned that one of the worlds great drummers played the drum part. Fortunately we pulled it off, but they didn't understand that for me to learn the part and copy the feel in just a few weeks took more effort than I had planned on. Ian sat in with Queensryke and did a incredible job! Great video on KZbin. .

[@todddale7041]

Phil is the greatest drummer because he’s a great musician playing in the greatest band of all time: KANSAS! Their first 3 albums are masterpieces 😊

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Preach! :)

[@Mr01081960]

Phil è uno dei 5 migliori batteristi mai esistiti gente ❤️

[@richrogers299]

D'accordo!

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Truth!

[@magicman0365]

I was a pro guitarist, had 2 pro drummer brothers, and we all have PHIL E, JOHN B, NEIL P, and RINGO S, on our top 5 list! My 5th is EDDY B. My brother 1 is BUDDY R. and my brother 2 is KEITH M.

[@ssgi4059]

Legends!

[@smeer001]

Finally, someone gets it right.

[@ssgi4059]

Right

[@gambler143]

I totally agree about Phil, but I would throw Alan White from Yes in the mix.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Yes!

[@jimilove7773]

Barry Brant Angel/ Hirch Garner /New England

[@ikechristopher5133]

Totally agree

[@barrygoheen7484]

Mitch mitchell was extremely incredible, dont forget about that guy, very musical he was

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Hendrix, definitely.

[@HarryJoiner]

Phil is not underrated. Kansas is underrated. Anyone who knows Kansas knows Phil is a badass (and a model of longevity and consistency). The Cal Ripken of drumming.

[@stevezoutman7533]

My pick also

[@rickvenlo1362]

They were signed because of the drummer.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Love to hear you elaborate on that comment. When Phil entered the stage at their last concert in SLC he received a standing ovation. I love that they gave us such incredible enduring music.

[@rickvenlo1362]

@@BroMoNtheExpress It was a comment I heard him make a long time ago that it was the drummer that convinced him to sign them

[@rickvenlo1362]

You know he Kirschner was fired from the previous record company for releasing a single for the Monkees that wasn’t authorized by the upper office That sounded too much like a Neil Diamond single

[@geraldinevenzke5970]

Wow someone who thinks like I do🐸😳

[@JerryTheVeganRockstar]

I love Phil but before him was Cozy Powell and Ian Paice doing all this

[@Kritikateur]

.....Yes, very true unfortunately. Phil Ehart stands in the category of underrated drummers, as much as Steve Gadd stands in the category of overrated drummers. Music industry is indeed a funny business! Carus Alambra🤔

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Thank you, this is an interesting thought. I may need to listen to some of Steve Gads work now. I just read he was inducted into the drummer hall of fame in 1984. A local drummer I rank in my top 5 said the Steely Dan auditioned allot of drummers for aja until they choose his version. I just connected the dots that Steve Gad was the session drummer according to Siri. Regardless I believe Phil is incredible in all aspects.

[@Thefarmyard7633]

You said to listen to all their albums and start with Masque why not the first album

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

A great question, the short reply is 'personal taste', which developed from the album Masque being my first Kansas album I was introduced to by a girl I was dating at the time. She had heard the album in a *black guys car that she went to lunch with. *I was listening to Parliament (Funk) before Rap became a cultural thing. If memory serves me I read Parliament was credited as having the first rap song but I don't know if it's factual. It seems a peculiar twist to me over time.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

After reading this I went back and indulged in their first album. It is incredible. Thanks for the comment.

[@db321g]

@@BroMoNtheExpress Song for America, 2nd album is Awesome too. The drums on the title song are mind-blowing.

[@TinusTegenlicht]

I don't underrate Phil, he is great!

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Right, those of us who know...

[@gracegeek4678]

I take Ehart over Peart any day

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

Absolutely and I am Rush fan to an extent, especially 2112. But Kansas with Phil's flowing articulation combined with incredible interpretation and perfect feel is unmatched by Neil's precision. I truly believe in Heaven we'll see some of the great composers of ancient times at Kansas concerts.

[@racinguy17]

A band full of Master Musicians! This guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about in terms of drumming. Heard this before multiple times through the years. The time signatures, etc... Yes - Phil rocks, and is a badass drummer -> TRUTH.

[@BroMoNtheExpress]

I have Kansas tickets and am taking my wife who has yet to become a fan. I tried to explain to her it's compositional rock which if Mozart was alive today he would have been either in Kansas or a fan.

[@ssgi4059]

With you on this!