Iconic 70s rock band to resume tour after lead singer’s cancer diagnosis

Ronnie Platt of Kansas has announced his cancer diagnosis (Picture: Getty Images)

Kansas singer Ronnie Platt revealed he and the band will resume touring after doctors gave him the ‘all clear’ following his recent cancer diagnosis.

Platt, 63, underwent surgery to treat thyroid cancer and is now far enough along in his recovery for his band to resume performing on April 4 in Ivins, Utah.

“’You can return to work without restrictions.” To me? That is music to my ears!’ he wrote.

‘Today was my post surgery follow-up with my surgeon. I have been given the all clear!

‘It’s hard to believe that less than two months ago I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer… It really was just a bump in the road! Thank you so much for your prayers, your positive vibes, and encouraging and hopeful messages.’

The singer originally shared news of his health struggles on social media, telling fans he would soon be ‘back in the saddle.’

Ronnie Platt took over as lead singer for Steve Walsh in 2014 (Picture: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

He wrote: ‘For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99 per cent 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.’

Platt concluded by referencing one of Kansas’ most famous songs, Carry On Wayward Son: ‘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 of Platt’s diagnosis, the iconic band cancelled two shows in Louisiana on February 21 and March 1.

Fans were quick to share their well wishes for Platt on social media, with X user @The_Rock_Oracle writing on X: ‘Hoping for a quick defeat of cancer.’

@smoothyesfan agreed: ‘Get well soon Ronnie! Can’t wait to see you down the road.’

@PhyllisMorgart wrote: ‘I’ve seen them 4 times with Ronnie Platt, and they are frickin Awsome! God speed, ronnie, I wanna hear you sing again. ????’

Fans offered Platt an outpouring of support online after the news was announced (Picture: Facebook)

Platt took over as lead singer of Kansas back in 2014, replacing Steve Walsh.

He featured on the group’s last two albums, 2016’s The Prelude Implicit and 2020’s The Absence of Presence.

Known for massive hits like Dust in the Wind, Carry on Wayward Son, and Play the Game Tonight, Kansas was one of the biggest American rock bands of the 1970s.

The band has produced nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums, one other platinum studio album (Monolith), one platinum live double album (Two for the Show), and a million-selling single (Dust in the Wind).

Kansas has managed to draw massive crowds for over 50 years (Picture: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Even more impressively, Kansas appeared on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Kansas celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2023 and have managed to continue to tour and draw enormous crowds throughout that time.

And they’ve managed to do so with an almost constantly changing rotation of musicians. The original group (and the one responsible for the biggest hits) was comprised of guitarist Richard Williams, drummer Phil Ehart (who are both still with the band today), guitarist-keyboardist Kerry Livgren, singer-keyboardist Steve Walsh, singer-violinist Robbie Steinhardt, and bassist Dave Hope.

Steve Walsh (left) and Robby Steinhardt were the original singers of Kansas before Platt (Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

But the group has had nine additional members since 1973, with Platt taking over for Walsh in 2014.

In a Billboard interview, drummer Phil Ehart said that the changes are part of what makes the band great: ‘There’s a small paragraph on the cover of our first album that says, “Kansas is a band.” It’s not Kansas featuring somebody or certain people. When Kansas plays, it sounds like Kansas,’ he explained.

‘If there’s a bit of rotating of members under the moniker of Kansas, then so be it. So this time Kansas is going to be Steve Morse playing guitar — boy, what a great addition he was. Or David Ragsdale on violin. Or Ronnie Platt coming in, or Billy Greer on bass.

‘There has been a lot of different people coming and going, but it’s all under the auspices of the band. We go out and do what we do best, which is write and play Kansas music.’

A version of this story was originally published February 20, 2025.

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