Derek Papp is leaving Kansas after 19 years with the 70s rock band. Papp has been the group's monitor engineer and state manager during his time with the group. The news was released via Kansas' Facebook page, with the group issuing a statement about their long-standing engineer.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"After more than 19 years and 1,500 shows, tonight is the last show for longtime KANSAS monitor engineer and stage manager, Derek Papp,"
the statement reads. "Derek, from all of the band members and crew, past and present, thank you! Carry on!"As noted by Parade, Papp's departure coincides with the band's 50th-anniversary tour.
"Papp's departure occurs during the group's 50th-anniversary tour, a trek slated to run through August alongside other iconic acts such as Deep Purple and Jefferson Starship," Parade reported.
While Papp's role wasn't public-facing, his work was undoubtedly essential to Kansas' ability to consistently produce memorable and engaging live shows. His experience will be missed and difficult to replace. However, after almost two decades in the role, it's understandable why he would look to move on to the next phase of his career.
It's worth noting that Kansas has not announced Papp's replacement, although the search is likely underway.
Kansas Is Still Hugely Popular Among Rock Fans
Kansas was formed in 1973. For the past five decades, they've wowed their fans with a memorable brand of progressive rock and metal. Their unique sound has ensured their music stands the test of time. According to Spotify, the group is still drawing more than 10 million monthly streams on the platform.
"Dust In The Wind" is the group's most popular song on the platform, with over 999 million hits all-time. "Carry On My Wayward Son," which is also an iconic theme for the TV hit Supernatural, is second in the band's all-time list, drawing more than 848 million all-time hits.
These numbers are just for Spotify. They would be notably higher if we accounted for Apple Music, Amazon Music, and the other streaming platforms. Nevertheless, Spotify is the only one that makes bands' streaming numbers visible within the platform itself.
Kansas' last release came in 2022 with the new version of "Can I Tell You.' After losing Papp, and with their advancing age, their current tour could be their last. If that is the case, we should all celebrate them for an amazing career.
