Credit: Mike MartinKansas has welcomed a new member to its lineup.
Tom Brislin has replaced keyboardist Dave Manion. Manion, who joined the band in 2014 after founding singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh retired, is leaving to pursue other musical endeavors.
Brislin’s musical resume includes stints touring with Yes, Meat Loaf, Blondie singer Debbie Harry, Renaissance and ex-Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung. Tom also has released a few solo albums, fronted the pop-rock group Spiraling and is a member of the contemporary prog-rock outfit The Sea Within.
“We are extremely excited for Tom Brislin to be the newest member of Kansas,” says founding drummer Phil Ehart. “His background speaks for itself, and we are looking forward to working with him. We cannot wait to get started, and think Kansas fans will really enjoy what Tom brings to the band.”
Adds Brislin, “It’s an honor to be asked to join [such a] legendary band as Kansas. Their music has been in the soundtrack to so many of our lives, and their repertoire has enduring depth, beauty, and power. I’m thrilled to perform the classics and I’m equally excited to be a part of the new music that Kansas creates.”
Tom’s debut with Kansas will take place during the Rock Legends Cruise VII, which sets sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 14 and returns to port on February 18. Kansas will play at least two shows during the cruise.
Meanwhile, Kansas has 2019 tour dates mapped out from a March 1 concert in Baltimore through a May 31-June 1 stand in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
All shows through the band’s May 11 performance in Fort Wayne, Indiana, are part of Kansas’ Point of Know Return Tour celebrating the group’s classic 1977 album.
Here are all of Kansas’ confirmed 2019 dates:
2/14-18 — Fort Lauderdale, FL, Rock Legends Cruise VII
3/1 — Baltimore, MD, Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric
3/3 — Wilkes-Barre, PA, The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
3/8 — Des Moines, IA, Hoyt Sherman Place
3/9 — Peoria, IL, Peoria Civic Center Theater
3/15 — Salina, KS, The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
3/16 — Salina, KS, The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
3/22 — Charleston, WV, Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences
3/23 — Louisville, KY, Louisville Palace Theatre
3/29 — Beaver Creek, CO, Vilar Performing Arts Center
3/30 — Denver, CO, Paramount Theatre
4/2 — Tucson, AZ, Fox Tucson Theatre
4/4 — San Diego, CA, Balboa Theatre
4/6 — Los Angeles, CA, The Orpheum Theatre
4/7 — Santa Barbara, CA, Arlington Theatre
4/10 — Oakland, CA, Paramount Theatre
4/12 — Portland, OR, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
4/13 — Seattle, WA, Paramount Theatre
4/24 — Vancouver, BC, Canada, The Orpheum
4/26 — Edmonton, AB, Canada, Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
4/28 — Calgary, AB, Canada, Jack Singer Concert Hall
4/30 — Saskatoon, SK, Canada, TCU Place
5/1 — Regina, SK, Canada, Conexus Arts Centre
5/3 — Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts
5/10 — Rockford, IL, Coronado Performing Arts Center
5/11 — Fort Wayne, IN, Foellinger Theater
5/30 — Bethlehem, PA, Sands Event Center
5/31 — Atlantic City, NJ, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
6/1 — Atlantic City, NJ, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
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