Dust in the Wind

Check out the Special Edition 35th Anniversary Dust in the Wind Book! Filled with information, lyrics, and memorable fan stories!

The band Kansas is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Dust in the Wind’s release as a single. Released early in 1978, Dust reached its peak on
February 18,1978 when it hit #6 on Billboard’s Top Hits chart.
Dust went certified gold quickly by selling well over 1 million copies of the single. By 2005, Dust again reached certified gold status for selling well over 1 million digital downloads. Credit stats: RIAA Recording Industry Association of America)
From the list of The 100 Greatest Recordings of 1977 (Point of Know Return LP was released in 1977), Dust ended the year at #22, with Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville #21 and Jackson Browne’s Running on Empty at #23. Great company!!
Dust in the Wind has sold over 7,000 copies of its sheet music and will soon be releasing a 35th Anniversary edition.
Since its release in 1977, Point of Know Return LP/CD has gone 4x platinum! Can’t wait to see what the next 30 years bring!

The song is featured in the film Old School, during which Will Ferrell's character sings it to his deceased friend Joseph "Blue" Palasky.
It was also used during the second season episodes of Highlander: The Series, including The Darkness, after Duncan MacLeod's mortal girlfriend dies, and Unholy Alliance.
Dust in the Wind is featured in an episode of The Simpsons in which Bart realizes he is not a child anymore.
It made an appearance as well in an episode of Desperate Housewives called Your Fault (Season 1).
References in Popular Culture
Dust in the Wind is referenced in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, when Ted tells Socrates that "All we are, is dust in the wind, dude."
It was also used in a commercial for the Subaru Tribeca SUV, drove by other vehicles that turned into dust.
It was also featured in an episode of Recess, where Gus (on being proclaimed the "New Kid") shook his head and said "All we are is dust in the wind..."
It is also in an episode of Jimmy Neutron in relation to his clone/ alter ego.

Soprano and Broadway star Sarah Brightman covered "Dust in the Wind" on her 1999 album Eden.
It has also been covered by Scorpions, Mägo de Oz, Metalium, Eric Benét, Keren Ann, Chantal Richard, Daughter Darling, J.B.O., Interface, and Gabriel & Dresden featuring Molly Bancroft.
Will Ferrell sang it in the movie Old School.
A Spanish version has also been recorded by the Chilean Punk Rock Los Mox!, named Polvo en el Viento.
It was also covered as an instrumental piece by baseball player and jazz guitarist Bernie Williams.

Although Point Of Know Return LP was released in 1977, the single of Dust in the Wind was not released until 1978.
Composer Kerry Livgren wrote this song after reading a book of Native American Poetry. The line that caught his attention was: For All We Are Is Dust in the Wind.
Pressed to come up with a follow up hit to Carry On Wayward Son, Kerry’s wife Vicci, while listening to Kerry practice, suggested that he put lyrics to the guitar finger exercises he was using at that time.
Dust in the Wind crossed over to different formats including rock, country, and adult contemporary radio.
Dust in the Wind can be found on 16 different Kansas releases and 21 different compilations world-wide.
The band was almost done with Point of Know Return LP when Kerry played this song for them. He did not want to use it because it was not typical of their sound, but the band insisted they record it. It is all history from this Point.
Dust in the Wind was not the first single released from Point Of Know Return. It was the second song released after the title track.
Dust in the Wind was Kansas' first acoustic song.
Dust was Kansas' second big hit following Carry On Wayward Son.
The song Dust in the Wind has one more verse that was written but not recorded.
The guitar picking technique used in Dust in the Wind is called “Travis” picking.
Dust in the Wind ranks #22 on “The 100 Greatest Recordings of 1977”.
Dust in the Wind peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Hot 100, February 18, 1978.