Kansas Bassist Billy Greer Calls It Quits
via Nothing Shocking / Youtube
Billy Greer, who has been the bassist and co-lead vocalist for Kansas for almost 40 years, has announced his retirement from the band.
In their message to fans, Kansas expressed their gratitude for Greer’s long tenure with the group. Drummer Phil Ehart praised him for his dedication, saying, “For 39 years, Billy has been a loyal, dedicated, and immensely talented bandmate. He’s traveled around the world with us, including USO tours.” Guitarist Richard Williams added:
“He stood shoulder to shoulder with us through both the ups and the downs. His voice, both singing and emceeing, has been a constant with us on stage. The entire Kansas family will miss him.”
Billy Greer: A Closer Look at His Legacy with Kansas
While not an original member, Greer’s time with Kansas ranks as the third longest after Ehart and Williams. He joined the band in 1985 as part of a new lineup following a brief hiatus. Over his nearly four-decade career with Kansas, he contributed to seven of the band’s studio albums: Power (1986), In The Spirit of Things (1988), Freaks of Nature (1995), Always Never the Same (1998), Somewhere to Elsewhere (2000), The Prelude Implicit (2016), and The Absence of Presence (2020). In recent years, Greer also took on the role of emcee during live performances, becoming a key figure on stage.
Reflecting on his career, Greer mentioned in a 2023 interview with 100% Rock Magazine, “I consider myself lucky. There have been a couple of incarnations along the way, but we’ve managed to push through the rough times. I was part of those rough times. In the ‘90s when grunge became the flavor of the month, that set us on a course for doom.” He added:
“We kept going. Those were some dark times. Playing small clubs from Tuesday through Thursday to get to the good gigs on the weekends. It was a rough go for a lot of years, but we slowly made our way back.”
Greer gave his final performance with Kansas on September 1 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. While the band has yet to announce his replacement, they have reassured fans that his departure “will not impact any Kansas performance scheduling,” as they continued with their next show last September 7 in Spencer, Iowa.
