Drastic Measures

"Drastic Measures" is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Kansas, released in 1983. This album marked a significant departure for the band, particularly in its musical direction and lyrical content, compared to their earlier works.

The shift in Kansas' direction began with their previous album, "Vinyl Confessions," which gained attention from both mainstream and Christian audiences. However, tensions arose within the band when some members, including violinist Robby Steinhardt, grew weary of the band's newfound Christian affiliation being emphasized by fans. Steinhardt eventually quit the band after the 1982 tour.

"Drastic Measures" was a response to criticisms that "Vinyl Confessions" had become too repetitive of Kansas' past efforts. The album featured new lead singer John Elefante prominently, with him contributing most of the compositions. In contrast, Kansas co-founder Kerry Livgren, who had previously been a key songwriter, only contributed three tracks to the album. Livgren expressed his dissatisfaction with the band's new direction, particularly comparing it unfavorably to the styles of bands like Loverboy and Foreigner that were popular at the time.

Despite its departure from their usual sound, "Drastic Measures" included some indirect Christian lyrical content, although much of Livgren's material with more explicit Christian themes was held back for his future projects. The album's artistic choices, including its album cover and overall presentation, confused longtime fans and disappointed some Christian listeners.

Commercially, "Drastic Measures" became Kansas' lowest-charting record since their debut in 1974. The tensions within the band continued to escalate, leading to their official disbandment after a New Year's Eve concert at the end of their 1983 tour. However, some members, including Elefante, stayed briefly to record a song for a compilation album before pursuing other ventures.

Following the dissolution of Kansas, Livgren and Dave Hope formed AD, while Elefante found success as a producer in contemporary Christian music and as a performer in his own right in the Christian music scene.

"Drastic Measures" was re-released on CD in remastered form in 1996 and again in 2011, ensuring its legacy among fans of Kansas and rock music enthusiasts.