John Elefante & Mastedon

About The Artist

John Elefante’s name will surely be familiar to fans of one of classic rock’s leading bands, Kansas.

After all, Elefante was the first singer/keyboardist to replace Steve Walsh in the band, a post he occupied from 1981 through 1985, which resulted in such popular albums as 1982′s ‘Vinyl Confessions’ and 1983′s ‘Drastic Measures’ (not to mention the hit single, “Play the Game Tonight”). And now, Elefante is back with his latest release with his solo outfit, John Elefante and Mastedon, titled ‘Revolution of Mind.’ “I think there are shades of Kansas in just about everything I write,” explains Elefante.

“I’m a tenor singer like Steve Walsh, I like a lot of mood changes in songs, although sometimes I get in the mood to just write a straight pop song from head to toe. Like in all great Kansas records, there are a lot of twists and turns and things you don’t expect musically, that keeps the listener surprised. And at the same time, excited.”

But there is much more to the multi-talented Elefante. He has earned numerous GMA Music Awards, four Grammy Awards (most recently in 2000), and a staggering ten Grammy nominations for his work, primarily due to his production work with popular Christian rockers Petra. And since 1989, Elefante has issued releases under the John Elefante and Mastedon moniker.

“Mastedon is my show, so the sky’s the limit – I can do whatever I want. I’m not confined to a brand that’s already in place. Nowadays, things have definitely changed. Instead of going into a big-time Record Plant type studio, which we used to own, I’ll go to a friend’s house who is a killer drummer, and in his basement, he’s got his drums mic’d up to the max, with a ProTools rig. It’s so easy and fun – there isn’t any down time in setting up mics to get drum sounds.”

As a result, ‘Revolution of Mind’ proves to be different than Elefante’s previous efforts with Mastedon. “Sonically, it’s different. It’s definitely a different record. Sonically I think it’s more modern. We were quite limited in the old days, we didn’t quite have the technology we have now. We had more capability to do more things. And the one thing that makes it different is the past Mastedon records were a little more like an Alan Parsons Project, where it was a studio thing and we’d have guest singers and guest musicians all over the place. This time, I sang everything – I wanted to sing everything. So that inherently makes it way, way different.”

And with the arrival of ‘Revolution of Mind,’ Elefante has been reunited with a former Kansas band mate, guitarist Kerry Livgren. “These days, another thing that makes it easier for people to work together is you don’t have to be in the same studio and in the same room anymore. I can literally send files to Kerry and hear what he’s doing in real time. The song ‘One Day Down By the Lake,’ I was going to take it off the record, because I thought it was a little too ‘Kansas-y,’ if you will. So I kind of put the song on hold for a while, and when Kerry agreed to play on it and when I heard what he did on it, I went, ‘Wait a minute, now it makes sense.’ So I decided to put it on the record. I probably get more email about that song then any other song on the record.”

But there are also other tracks on ‘Revolution of Mind’ that stand out for Elefante. “I probably like, not necessarily in this order, the song ‘Questions (It’s About Time),’ I think it’s current. A lot of current questions that a lot of people are asking each other these days. I think the song ‘One Day Down By the Lake (See You Real Soon),’ I mean, how many ten and a half minute songs are floating around these days?! And I love the song ‘The Western World,’ that’s one of my favorites – I just really enjoyed singing it, I like what it says. I think in some ways, our society has become a little numb to things. We’re so self-indulgent and involved in what we’re doing, that sometimes we tend to get a little bit complacent about things. I like what it says and was great to sing. It kind of reminds me of the group that did ‘Hold Your Head Up,’ Argent.”

With an album that he strongly believes in, the next step is for Elefante to take it to the people, with live dates.

“The touring plans are in the works. We’re going to take it as it comes. We’re working on getting some opening dates. I would like to secure an opening slot for a multi-band tour. I think that would be right up my alley. Even though I don’t have the mega hits that Styx had, without tooting my horn, I think the people will be pleasantly surprised when they hear what I have to offer.” And despite ‘Revolution of Mind’ having just been released, Elefante is already looking to the future. “I’m always working on the next record. Focusing on this one as far as getting it off the ground. But I’m always working on putting stuff in the can and what I’d like the next record to look like. You never know.”

Artist Discography

Revolution Of Mind

2011

The first singer/keyboardist to replace Steve Walsh in Kansas, John Elefante, has just issued a new album from his solo band (credited to John Elefante and Mastedon), titled ‘Revolution of Mind.’ And fans of Elefante’s former band are sure to find plenty of satisfaction within the album’s grooves. “I think there are shades of Kansas in just about everything I write,” explains Elefante, who was a member of Kansas from 1981 through 1985. “I’m a tenor singer like Steve Walsh, I like a lot of mood changes in songs, although sometimes I get in the mood to just write a straight pop song from head to toe. Like in all great Kansas records, there are a lot of twists and turns and things you don’t expect musically, that keeps the listener surprised. And at the same time, excited. “The album also features guitar work from none other than Elefante’s former band mate in Kansas, Kerry Livgren. Elefante also sees a difference between his work with Mastedon compared to his earlier work with Kansas. ”Mastedon is my show, so the sky’s the limit – I can do whatever I want.”

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