Platt expects to fully recover
Kansas frontman Ronnie Platt has revealed he’s been diagnosed with throat cancer. The classic rocker says after surgery and rehab, he’ll be back to himself.
“For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate, it has not spread. It’s contained to my thyroid. I just have to have my thyroid removed. Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle,” he writes on social media. “I sincerely appreciate everyone’s positive thoughts and prayers. I have some absolutely amazing people going to bat for me!! as it has been put to me, this is just a bump in the road and will be behind me very soon! so everyone please CARRY ON!”
As a result, Kansas has canceled shows in New Orleans on February 21st and Lake Charles, Louisiana on March 1st. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.
“The band apologizes for the inconvenience and hopes to be back on the road soon,” the band shares on its social media accounts.
The setback is the latest of several affecting the band. Last year during the final leg of its 50th Anniversary Tour – Another Fork in the Road, original drummer and band manager, Phil Ehart, took time away from behind the kit to recover from a major heart attack. Guitarist Richard Williams was forced to miss concerts last fall due to the devastation of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. The band was also forced to cancel its September show in Las Vegas due to the hurricane and illness.
With a legendary career spanning five decades, Kansas has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands. This “garage band” from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.
The group is best known for “Carry On Wayward Son,” a song that continues to be one of the top five most-played songs on classic rock radio, and “Dust In The Wind,” which has had more than three million spins on radio.
Platt chatted with us in fall 2022 on The Music Universe Podcast.
