Phil Ehart, drummer for US classic rock pioneers KANSAS - know for their legendary albums Leftoverture (1976) and Point Of Know Return (1977) - is featured in a new interview with Jeb Wright at Classic Rock Revisited. Check out an excerpt from their in-depth discussion of the Leftoverture album:

Jeb: It has been 35 years since Leftoverture was released. Does it seem like it has been that long?

Phil: "It just hit me a couple of months ago, that it has been that long. You know, that is a really good question, as I am not sure what 35 years is supposed to feel like. Albums are a snapshot of what was going on at that time. When we think of Leftoverture, we can tell you where we were, what we were doing, where we worked up the songs, and when we went down to Bogalusa, Louisiana to record it, but we really can’t tell you much about anything else from that time period. It is pretty to cool to have things like that."

Jeb: The story of Leftoverture really begins with the album, and tour, that came before it, Masque. As legend holds, Don Kirshner was pressuring the band for a hit song.

Phil: "It is a pretty well known fact that Leftoverture, being our fourth album, had Don wanting us to have a hit. He had had enough of the FM radio play, and of having us be an opening band for seven thousands bands across the country. It wasn’t really pressure. He would just say, 'Guys, let’s try to get something on the radio.' As it turned out 'Carry On Wayward Son' was that song."

Jeb: That almost didn’t happen.

Phil: "It almost didn’t make it on the record. We had already worked up, chosen, and rehearsed all of the songs that were going on the record. We were packing up all of our gear and Kerry [Livgren] said, 'I have another song that I wasn’t to play for you when we get down to the studio.' If he hadn’t have been persistent, and not believed in the song himself, then it might not have happened. Of course, as soon as we all heard it, we worked it up immediately."

Click here for the complete interview.

As previously reported, Kansas have been confirmed for the 2011 edition of the Sweden Rock Festival, set to take place from June 8th - 11th in Sölvesborg.

Confirmed acts now also include: AGENT STEEL, BUCKCHERRY, CLUTCH, THE CULT, DESTRUCTION, ELECTRIC WIZARD, FLÄSKET BRINNER, GHOST, GROUNDHOGS, THE HAUNTED, HELLOWEEN, JASON AND THE SCORCHERS, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, KANSAS, MOLLY HATCHET, MOONSPELL, MUSTASCH, OZZY OSBOURNE, OVERKILL, RAGE (acoustic), RAUBTIER, DAN REED BAND, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, MASON RUFFNER, SAXON, STRYPER, STYX, WALTER TROUT, WHITESNAKE, ROB ZOMBIE.

Tickets to Sweden Rock Festival 2011 are available online at Swedenrock.com.