Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
band is known for melding the style of
prog-rockProgressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater.
The band is best known for the hit songs "Lady" (#6, 1975), "
Come Sail Away"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion . Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" charted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum...
" (#8, 1977), "Babe" (#1, 1979), "
The Best of Times"The Best of Times" is the first single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theater. It reached #1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second #1 in that country, and #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100....
" (#3, 1981), "
Too Much Time On My Hands"Too Much Time on My Hands" is the second single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theatre and reached #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the Top Rock Tracks chart for one week...
" (#9, 1981), and "
Mr. Roboto"Mr. Roboto" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by the band Styx on their 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. In Canada, where they were always more popular than in their native U.S., it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart, becoming their third single to top the charts in...
" (#3, 1983). Other hits by the band include "
Show Me the Way"Show Me the Way" is the second single released from Edge of the Century by Styx.Lead vocalist/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, a devout Roman Catholic, originally wrote the song for his son, Matthew, as a pseudo-hymn about the struggle to keep the faith in a "world so filled with hatred"...
" (#3, 1990), "Don't Let It End" (#6, 1983) and "Renegade" (#16, 1978). The band has four consecutive albums certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.
Early years
Twin brothers
ChuckCharles Salvatore "Chuck" Panozzo is an American musician best known as the bass player for the rock band Styx. A longtime member of Styx, he founded the group with his fraternal twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, who died in July 1996, and singer Dennis DeYoung...
and
John PanozzoJohn Anthony Panozzo was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx.Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with his fraternal twin brother, Chuck . At age 7, the twins took musical lessons from their uncle in which John took an...
first got together with their neighbor
Dennis DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
in 1961 in the
RoselandRoseland, located on the far south side of the city, is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois. It includes the neighborhoods of Fernwood, Princeton Park, Lilydale, West Chesterfield, Rosemoor, Sheldon Heights and West Roseland...
section of the south side of
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, eventually taking the band name "The Tradewinds".
Chuck PanozzoCharles Salvatore "Chuck" Panozzo is an American musician best known as the bass player for the rock band Styx. A longtime member of Styx, he founded the group with his fraternal twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, who died in July 1996, and singer Dennis DeYoung...
left to attend seminary school for a year but returned to the group by 1964. Tom Nardin had been brought in to replace Chuck on guitar and Chuck decided to play bass guitar when he returned to the band. John Panozzo was the drummer, while Dennis DeYoung had switched from accordion to organ and piano. In 1965, the name "Tradewinds" was changed to TW4 after another band called
The Trade WindsThe Trade Winds was an American pop group formed in Providence, Rhode Island. The group's members were Peter Andreoli and Vincent Poncia, Jr., and had previously had a hit single together under the name The Videls with a song called "Mr. Lonely", which hit #73 on the U.S...
broke through nationally. By 1966, the Panozzo brothers had joined DeYoung at
Chicago State UniversityChicago State University is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago.-History:Cook County Normal School was founded in 1867, largely through the initiative of John F. Eberhart, the Commissioner of Schools for Cook County...
and kept the group together doing gigs at high schools and frat parties while studying to be teachers. In 1969 they added a college buddy,
John Curulewski, on guitar after Tom Nardin departed. Guitarist
James "J.Y." YoungJames "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
came aboard in 1970 making TW4 a quintet.
In 1972 the band members decided to choose a new name when they signed to
Wooden Nickel RecordsWooden Nickel Records was an American independent record label started in 1971 by Bill Traut, Jim Golden and Jerry Weintraub as a successor to Dunwich Records. Most of Wooden Nickel's releases were by acts based in the Chicago area, including the Siegel-Schwall Band, Megan McDonough and Styx. The...
; several suggestions were made and, says DeYoung, Styx, the name of
the riverIn Greek mythology the Styx is the river that forms the boundary between the underworld and the world of the living, as well as a goddess and a nymph that represents the river.Styx may also refer to:-Popular culture:...
in
Greek mythologyGreek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
between Earth and the Underworld, was chosen because it was "the only one that none of us hated".
Wooden Nickel years
The band's
Wooden Nickel recordingsThe Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings is a 2-Disc set released by Styx in 2005. The compilation contains remastered versions Styx's first four albums, Styx, Styx II, The Serpent Is Rising, and Man of Miracles, which were released by Wooden Nickel Records...
StyxStyx is the self-titled debut album by Styx, released in 1972. It was reissued in 1980 under the title Styx I with new artwork.-Track listing:#"Movement for the Common Man" – 13:11#*"Children of the Land" #*"Street Collage"...
(1972),
Styx IIStyx II is the second album by Styx, and was released in 1973 . After Styx moved to A&M Records and achieved national success in the United States, the album was reissued in 1980 by their prior label, Wooden Nickel, under the title Lady with new artwork—which is not to be confused with a Styx...
(1973),
The Serpent Is RisingThe Serpent Is Rising is the third album by Styx, released in 1973. The album was reissued in 1980 with new artwork and a new title, Serpent. The band consider this to be their worst recording...
(1973), and
Man of MiraclesMan of Miracles is the fourth album by Styx, released in November 1974. Produced by John Ryan and Bill Traut, who had produced the band's first two albums, this would be the band's last original album on the independent Chicago-based label Wooden Nickel Records before moving to the major label...
(1974) were a mixture of straight-ahead rock with some dramatic
prog-rockProgressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
flourishes and
art-rockArt rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
aspirations. These albums showcase intricate and powerful organ, guitar, vocal, and percussion solos as well.
The Serpent Is RisingThe Serpent Is Rising is the third album by Styx, released in 1973. The album was reissued in 1980 with new artwork and a new title, Serpent. The band consider this to be their worst recording...
would foreshadow later endeavors by the group — the so-called
concept albumIn music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
is an
idiomIdiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
upon which Styx would rely heavily by the 1980s.
On the strength of these releases and constant playing in local clubs and schools, the band established a fan base in the Chicago area, but was unable to break into the mainstream until an earlier song, the power ballad "Lady" (from Styx II), began to earn some radio time, first on
WLSWLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
in
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and then nationwide. In the spring of 1975, nearly two years after the album had been released, "Lady" hit #6 in the U.S., and
Styx IIStyx II is the second album by Styx, and was released in 1973 . After Styx moved to A&M Records and achieved national success in the United States, the album was reissued in 1980 by their prior label, Wooden Nickel, under the title Lady with new artwork—which is not to be confused with a Styx...
went gold soon after.
Move to A&M
On the heels of its belated hit single, Styx signed with
A&M RecordsA&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
and released Equinox (1975), which sold well and yielded a minor hit in "
Lorelei"Lorelei" was the 1976 single released from rock band Styx's album Equinox. The song peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the band's second top 40 hit single....
", #27 in the U.S. More importantly, it contained the rock anthem "Suite Madame Blue", which gained the band considerable recognition and airplay on FM radio in the relatively new
Album Oriented RockAlbum-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
(AOR) format. Following the move to A&M, Curulewski suddenly left the band in December 1975 to spend more time with his family just as they were to embark on a nationwide tour. After a frantic last-minute search, the band brought on guitarist
Tommy ShawTommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
as Curulewski's replacement. Curulewski later died of a brain aneurysm in February 1988.
Crystal BallCrystal Ball is the sixth album by Styx, released in 1976.This album marked the recording debut of new guitarist Tommy Shaw. The track "Mademoiselle" was Tommy Shaw's vocal debut and the album's Top 40 hit....
(1976) was moderately successful and also included Shaw's "
Mademoiselle"Mademoiselle" is the first single released from Styx's Crystal Ball album. Its B-side was "Light Up", from the previous album, Equinox. It peaked at #34 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, Styx's third top 40 hit. Most of the early pressings on the U.S. 7"single played too fast . This made the...
" (which was another minor hit, reaching #36) and DeYoung's "This Old Man".
Breakthrough
The Grand IllusionThe Grand Illusion is the seventh studio album by Styx, released on July 7, 1977 . It became the band's first Triple Platinum album, and spawned the Top 10 hit "Come Sail Away" and the Top 30 hit "Fooling Yourself"....
was released in 1977 and became Styx' breakthrough album, reaching Triple Platinum
certificationIn the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
. It spawned a top-ten hit and AOR radio staple in the
DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
-written "
Come Sail Away"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion . Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" charted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum...
," which reached #8 in 1978. Shaw's "
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)"Fooling Yourself" is the second single released from Styx's The Grand Illusion album. On the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in the U.S., the single peaked at number 29.The song was written by guitarist Tommy Shaw...
" was a second radio hit, and reached #29 the same year. The title track also received significant airplay.
Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, the band enjoyed its greatest success. Their 1978 album Pieces of Eight found the group moving in a more straight-ahead pop-rock direction and spawned the singles "Renegade" (#16 in the U.S.) and "
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)"Blue Collar Man " is the first single that Styx released from the Pieces of Eight album. The single was released in two 7" vinyl formats, one with the b-side "Superstars", a track from The Grand Illusion, and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side...
" (#21 in the U.S.), plus a minor hit "
Sing for the Day"Sing for the Day" is the second single that Styx released from the Pieces of Eight album. It reached number 41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. It was later the B-Side of their next single Renegade....
" that stopped just short of the Top Forty at #41.
Styx' 1979 album Cornerstone yielded their only #1 hit, the DeYoung ballad "Babe." By early 1980, "Babe" had become the band's biggest international hit and first million-selling single, reaching number six in the United Kingdom. The album also included the #26 DeYoung hit "
Why Me"Why Me" is a song from Styx's 1979 triple-platinum album Cornerstone. Released as a single, it reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart....
" and "Borrowed Time," which was co-written with Shaw, plus Shaw's "
Boat on the River"Boat on the River" is a 1980 song by Styx, from their album Cornerstone. It was released as a single, but did not chart in the band's native United States...
", which was a hit in most of
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The popularity of the album helped win the band a
People's Choice AwardThe People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
for Best New Song in 1980. At the 22nd Grammy Awards, Styx received a nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, and Cornerstones engineers
Gary LoizzoGary Loizzo is an American guitarist, singer, recording engineer, and record producer. He is best known for being the lead singer with The American Breed.-Biography:...
and Rob Kingsland were nominated for a Grammy for Best Engineered Recording.
Paradise Theater
On the success of "Babe", DeYoung began pushing for a more theatrical direction, while Shaw and Young favored a harder-edged approach. This arguing over musical direction led to a bit of tension in early 1980 after JY and Shaw objected to the ballad "First Time" released as the second single from Cornerstone, and DeYoung was fired from the band. However, things were quickly smoothed over, and cooler heads prevailed, leading to his quick return.
In January 1981, Styx released Paradise Theatre, a
concept albumIn music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
that became their biggest hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard pop albums chart and yielding five singles, including the top ten hits "
The Best of Times"The Best of Times" is the first single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theater. It reached #1 in Canada on the RPM national singles chart, their second #1 in that country, and #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100....
" by DeYoung (#3) and "
Too Much Time on My Hands"Too Much Time on My Hands" is the second single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theatre and reached #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the Top Rock Tracks chart for one week...
" by Shaw (#9). Paradise Theater became the band's fourth consecutive Multi-Platinum album.
The band was accused by a
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
religious group and later the
P.M.R.CThe Parents Music Resource Center was an American committee formed in 1985 with the goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to be violent, have drug use or be sexual.The committee was founded by four women: Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice...
of
backmaskingBackmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward...
SatanicSatanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
messages in their anti-
cocaineCocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
anthem, "Snowblind."
James YoungJames "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
has denied this charge during his introduction for "Snowblind" when played live.
Dennis DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
has denied the accusation as well, joking on the
In the Studio with RedbeardIn the Studio with Redbeard is a North American radio program, produced and hosted by Dallas, Texas based rock and roll disc jockey Redbeard....
program "we had enough trouble to make the music sound right forward."
Throughout the 1980s, the band would use the album's opening track, "
Rockin' the Paradise"A.D. 1928 / Rockin' the Paradise" is the fourth single release from Styx's 1981 triple-platinum album Paradise Theatre. It was released to rock stations as defined by Billboard Magazine. "A.D. 1928" is a short, piano-based song by Dennis DeYoung, set to the same melody as "The Best of Times",...
" (charted at #8 on Top Rock Tracks Chart) to open their shows.
Kilroy was Here and breakup
The band followed DeYoung's lead with their next project,
Kilroy Was HereKilroy Was Here is the eleventh album, a rock opera/concept album by the rock band Styx, released on February 28, 1983. The title comes from a famous World War II graffiti "Kilroy was here".-Background:...
(1983), another more fully realized concept album, embracing the
rock operaA rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
form. Set in a future where performing and playing recorded rock music has been outlawed due to the efforts of a charismatic evangelist, Kilroy featured Dennis DeYoung in the part of Kilroy, an unjustly imprisoned rock star. Tommy Shaw played the part of Jonathan Chance, a younger rocker who fights for Kilroy's freedom and the lifting of the ban on rock music. This future society is served by robots. Called Robotos, these automatons perform many jobs, not the least of which are as Kilroy's prison guards.
Part of the impetus for the Kilroy story was the band's reaction to accusations of including backwards satanic messages embedded in their prior releases. The album included
James YoungJames "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
's song "
Heavy Metal PoisoningHeavy Metal Poisoning is a song by American rock band Styx. It was included as the fifth track on their 1983 studio album Kilroy Was Here.The song in the story of Kilroy Was Here has the character of Dr Righteous preaching the evils of rock and roll...
", which includes lyrics sarcastically mocking the allegations against the group. Its introduction intentionally included a backward message, the Latin phrases, "annuit coeptis" and "novus ordo seclorum," from the reverse side of the
Great Seal of the United StatesThe Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. The phrase is used both for the physical seal itself , and more generally for the design impressed upon it...
. Referring to the
United States Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
in 1776, these are translated, "
Annuit cœptisAnnuit cœptis is one of two mottos on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States....
- He (God) favors our undertakings, and
Novus ordo seclorumThe phrase Novus ordo seclorum appears on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, first designed in 1782 and printed on the back of the United States one-dollar bill since 1935. The phrase also appears on the coat of arms of the Yale School of Management, Yale University's business...
- A new order of the ages." Both choices also served the Kilroy story as well, as the villain is an evangelist that seeks to expand his vision of morality movement through mass demonstrations.
Kilroy went
PlatinumPlatinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
in 1983, boasting two Top Ten hits, the
synthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
-based "
Mr. Roboto"Mr. Roboto" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by the band Styx on their 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. In Canada, where they were always more popular than in their native U.S., it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart, becoming their third single to top the charts in...
" (#3 U.S.) and power ballad "
Don't Let It End"Don't Let It End" is the third track on the 1983 album Kilroy Was Here, by Styx.The song was written and sung by Dennis DeYoung. The track is a mid-tempo ballad about one who breaks up with a lover and pleads to get the person back...
. (#6 U.S.)" The album earned a nomination as Best Engineered Recording for engineer and long-time friend
Gary LoizzoGary Loizzo is an American guitarist, singer, recording engineer, and record producer. He is best known for being the lead singer with The American Breed.-Biography:...
, and fellow engineers on the album Will Rascati and Rob Kingsland, for the twenty-sixth Grammy Awards (1983).
In 1983, the band mounted an ambitious stage show in support of Kilroy featuring theatrical presentations of three songs utilizing instrumental backing tracks, including "Mr. Roboto", which featured DeYoung singing live while disguised as a Roboto, "Heavy Metal Poisoning" with James Young as the evangelist Dr. Righteous singing while the Panozzo brothers acted as his henchmen on stage, and "Haven't We Been Here Before" with Tommy Shaw as Jonathan Chance and DeYoung (as Kilroy in Roboto costume) duetting. The elaborate show was expensive to produce and was not as profitable as previous tours.
Kilroy brought the creative and competitive tensions within the band beyond the breaking point. Tommy Shaw departed the band for a solo career at the conclusion of the Kilroy tour. In 1984, the band released its first live album,
Caught in the ActCaught in the Act is a live album by Styx, released in 1984. It contains one new song, "Music Time", which was released as a single, reaching #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts....
. The project featured one studio track, "
Music Time"Music Time" redirects here. For the British TV series, see here."Music Time" is the sole studio track released on the live Styx album, Caught in the Act. It peaked at number 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart....
", which became a Top 40 hit. The concert was also filmed and released on VHS under the same title (and on DVD in 2007). However, by the time of the album's release, the band had already parted ways.
Solo careers
Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw released a string of solo albums, beginning with DeYoung's
Desert MoonDesert Moon is the debut solo album from former Styx keyboard player/singer/songwriter Dennis DeYoung. It was released in 1984 by A&M Records.The album reached #24 on the Billboard album charts in the fall of 1984...
and Shaw's
Girls with GunsGirls with Guns is the debut solo album from Styx guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw. It was released in October 1984 by A&M Records.The title track was a top 10 hit at rock radio, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reaching a high of #33 on the Hot 100...
in 1984. Both Shaw and DeYoung generated a moderate amount of interest with their first solo albums. DeYoung scored a Top 10 hit with the title track, "
Desert Moon"Desert Moon" is a song written and performed by Dennis DeYoung, a former member of Styx, from his debut solo album of the same name in 1984. The single reached the #10 position in the US Billboard Hot 100 during the fall of that year, and ended up at #97 on the Billboard top 100 hits for the year...
", which was also heavily featured on
MTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Shaw also cracked the Top Forty with "Girls with Guns" and he made a cameo appearance on the
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series
Miami ViceMiami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
. DeYoung's follow up single "Don't Wait for Heroes" also featured a video that was heavily featured on MTV, but it failed to generate significant radio airplay, only peaking at #83. During the filming of the video, DeYoung injured his back, causing him to back out of opening a North American concert tour for
Huey Lewis and the NewsHuey Lewis and the News is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually scoring a total of 19 top-ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts...
. Shaw, however, did tour in the fall of 1984 as an opening act for
The KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
.
Shaw's 1985 album What If and DeYoung's 1986 album
Back to the WorldBack to the World is the second solo album from Dennis DeYoung. It was released in 1986 by A&M Records. It reached #108 on The Billboard 200 Charts...
also charted, along with singles from film soundtracks. Shaw's "What If (Remo's Theme)" from
Remo Williams: The Adventure BeginsRemo Williams: The Adventure Begins, also released as Remo: Unarmed and Dangerous, is a 1985 American film. The action–adventure-thriller film featured Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley and Kate Mulgrew, as well as many guest roles...
entered the
BillboardBillboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100, while DeYoung's "This is the Time" from
The Karate Kid, Part IIThe Karate Kid, Part II is a 1986 American martial arts film and is a sequel to 1984's The Karate Kid. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi, respectively. The original music score was composed by Bill Conti...
soundtrack was featured for a short while on MTV. The first single from DeYoung's Back to the World, "Call Me", peaked at #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart and was a modest pop hit, peaking at #54 on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, by the late 1980s, both Styx members' solo careers gradually simmered down to a modest but loyal fan base. Neither DeYoung's
BoomchildBoomchild is the third solo album from Dennis DeYoung. It was released in February 1989 by MCA Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Dennis DeYoung, except as noted:# "Beneath the Moon" – 4:42# "The Best Is Yet to Come" – 4:15...
nor Shaw's Ambition achieved nearly the same levels of earlier albums, although Shaw's cover of
Jim PeterikJim Peterik is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the band Survivor and as vocalist and songwriter of the hit song "Vehicle" by The Ides of March...
's "Ever Since the World Began" charted briefly. Shaw also recorded sessions with Peterik's group,
SurvivorSurvivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme...
, on 1986's
When Seconds CountWhen Seconds Count is the sixth album from American rock band Survivor, and the second featuring vocalist Jimi Jamison. The album included the hit single, "Is This Love", which peaked at #9 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1987. The album reached #49 on the Billboard 200 album...
, and Shaw's solo band opened the majority of the U.S. shows for
RushRush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
's 1987-88 Hold Your Fire Tour.
Meanwhile, James Young recorded his own solo albums: City Slicker (with
Jan HammerJan Hammer is a composer, pianist and keyboardist. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s, as well as his film scores for television and film including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme", from the popular 1980s...
) and Out On a Day Pass, both attracting only minimal attention. In 1995 James Young partnered with other Chicago musicians and released an album under "James Young Group" titled Raised by Wolves.
In 1989, Tommy Shaw formed
Damn YankeesDamn Yankees was an American hard rock supergroup.-History:The band was formed in 1989, consisting of Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Ted Nugent of The Amboy Dukes and a successful solo career, and Michael Cartellone...
with
Ted NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
,
Jack BladesJack Martin Blades is an American musician. He has worked in several bands: Rubicon, Night Ranger , and Damn Yankees . He also recorded with Tommy Shaw under the name Shaw/Blades, and has done work alongside TMG, the Tak Matsumoto Group...
, and
Michael CartelloneMichael Cartellone born in 1962 is the current drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd , and the former drummer of Damn Yankees and Accept . He is also an accomplished painter, having done so for many years. Before joining Damn Yankees, Tommy Shaw, both of Styx and Damn Yankees, recalled Michael painting...
. Meanwhile, the remaining members of Styx made plans for a comeback in the new decade.
Edge of the Century
In 1989, with Shaw's commitment to
Damn YankeesDamn Yankees was an American hard rock supergroup.-History:The band was formed in 1989, consisting of Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Ted Nugent of The Amboy Dukes and a successful solo career, and Michael Cartellone...
, Styx reformed, bringing in
Glen BurtnikGlen Burtnik is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a former member of Styx.The spelling of his name has changed a few times over the years .Burtnik appeared in the Broadway production of Beatlemania as Paul McCartney,...
(in 1990) to take Shaw's vacated position.
The new line-up released one album,
Edge of the CenturyEdge of the Century is the twelfth studio album by Styx, released in 1990. It was the first Styx album featuring A&M solo artist Glen Burtnik, the only album to feature the Dennis DeYoung/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Chuck Panozzo/John Panozzo lineup, and the last album to feature John Panozzo on drums...
, featuring the Dennis DeYoung ballad "
Show Me the Way"Show Me the Way" is the second single released from Edge of the Century by Styx.Lead vocalist/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, a devout Roman Catholic, originally wrote the song for his son, Matthew, as a pseudo-hymn about the struggle to keep the faith in a "world so filled with hatred"...
", which received an additional boost just prior to the first
Persian Gulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Some radio stations edited the Top Three smash to include the voices of children whose parents were deployed in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 1991. This contributed to the song's longevity at Adult Contemporary radio, where the song also peaked at #3 and notably remained in the top 40 for 23 weeks. With the huge success of "Show Me The Way," Styx joined a handful of musical acts to have top 10 singles in 3 different decades and under 4 different presidential administrations.
Burtnik's songwriting also helped buoy Edge of the Century, contributing to the moderate hits "Love at First Sight" (#25 Billboard Hot 100 Charts, #13 Adult Contemporary) and "
Love Is the Ritual"Love Is the Ritual" is the first single released from Edge of the Century by Styx. It was written by and features the lead vocals of Glen Burtnik, who had been recruited by the band to take the place of Tommy Shaw. Shaw was at that time busy as a member of the group Damn Yankees...
" (#80 Billboard Hot 100, #9 Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks), as well as album tracks "All In a Day's Work", "World Tonite", and the title track. On the strength of the singles, particularly "Show Me the Way", Edge of the Century peaked at #63 on the Billboard album chart and was certified Gold.
Styx toured across the U.S. in the spring and summer of 1991, but despite the success of the album, a top 3 single and a top 25 single, the band was dropped after A&M Records was purchased by PolyGram Records. A set of demos internally titled "Son Of Edge" were completed and shopped to other record labels. But with
GrungeGrunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
now dominating the rock press, video channels, and airwaves, and with singles being phased out, there was little interest from major record companies, and by 1992, Styx disbanded once again. Portions of the "Son of Edge" demos have resurfaced in various forms over the years in Styx, DeYoung, and Burtnik anthologies.
In 1994, DeYoung recorded
10 on Broadway10 on Broadway is a solo album of Broadway standards from Dennis DeYoung. It was released in 1994 by Atlantic Records. The idea for the album came in connection with DeYoung's performance as Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar as part of the 1992 national tour of the production.-Track listing:...
, an album of showtunes. A single "On the Street Where You Live" received limited airplay.
Reunion
The band reunited once again in 1995, with Tommy Shaw returning to the fold, to re-record "Lady" for
Styx Greatest HitsStyx - Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the American rock band Styx. It was released by A&M Records on August 22, 1995.This album essentially replaced Styx's previous greatest hits album, Styx - Classics, Volume 15, which was released by A&M in 1987...
. A tour was mounted in 1996, but John Panozzo was unable to participate in the tour due to declining health caused by problems with
alcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
which eventually claimed his life.
The band continued with
Todd SuchermanTodd Sucherman is a drummer who is best known for playing with Styx since 1996.Sucherman grew up in a musical family and followed in his father's footsteps by playing the drums. His father, Arnold J. Sucherman, was a doctor by day and a drummer by night, playing in the house band at the famed Chez...
replacing Panozzo. The 1996 "Return to Paradise" tour was also a success. They documented the reunion tour with a two-disc live set, 1997's Return to Paradise, which featured three new studio tracks: "On My Way", "Paradise" (a soft rock hit that also appears in another version on Dennis DeYoung's
Hunchback of Notre DameThe Hunchback of Notre Dame is a recording of music written by Dennis DeYoung for his musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The musical was performed at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville to very positive reviews...
album) and "Dear John", a tribute to the late Styx drummer John Panozzo that has become a cult favorite among Styx fans. Return to Paradise was a surprise hit in 1997, achieving gold status, with the single "
Paradise"Paradise" is the only single release from Styx's 1997 live double album Return to Paradise. The song was originally written and recorded by Dennis DeYoung for his musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame...
" peaking at number twenty-seven on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Return to Paradise was the first gold album for Styx's new record company, CMC.
Brave New World and split
Two years later, in 1999, the band released its first new studio album in almost a decade:
Brave New WorldBrave New World is the thirteenth studio album by Styx, released in 1999. It is the last album with the band's original lead vocalist and keyboardist, Dennis DeYoung...
. The album received a lukewarm reception, sold very slowly, and the single, "
Everything Is Cool"Everything Is Cool" is the only single release from Styx's 1999 album Brave New World. It did not chart.This song is the longest on the album by five seconds. It is also one of the most complex. At the beginning, you hear chaos, along with samplings of earlier Styx songs I'm Gonna Make You Feel...
", failed to chart.
Once again, during work on the album, personality conflicts drove the band members apart. While Tommy Shaw and James Young's material attempted to convey a hard rock vein, Dennis DeYoung's penchant for other styles resulted in dramatic differences in the material on Brave New World. According to DeYoung, another crucial difference was the fact that he was not the overall producer on this album, as he'd been on the others. It had been he who had tried to maintain a consistent sound from track to track on all the band's releases up to this point.
Arguments over which songs to release as singles, the album's artwork, the track sequencing, the slow album sales, and the omission of DeYoung's vocals and keyboards from many of the Shaw/Young tracks fueled the fire. The band was further hindered by a viral illness contracted by DeYoung which temporarily made his eyes sensitive to light. DeYoung asked his bandmates to delay touring, but they refused and decided to go forward without him.
Chuck Panozzo was sidelined in 1998 due to health issues, his battle with
HIVHuman immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/
AIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. His public "coming out" occurred in 2001 at the annual
Human Rights CampaignThe Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
banquet, with James Young in attendance for support.
On June 5, 1999, Styx played their final show with Dennis DeYoung for the Children's Miracle Network Telethon. This was probably one of the hardest shows to do as DeYoung had already been replaced by Canadian
Lawrence GowanLawrence Gowan is a Scottish-born Canadian musician. Gowan has been both a solo artist and the current keyboardist and vocalist of the band Styx. His musical style is usually classified in the category of progressive rock.-Career:...
, though no official statement regarding a firing or replacement had been made. As a result of the replacement, DeYoung filed a lawsuit charging that the remaining members of the band were using the Styx name without his consent, and he in turn was eventually countersued by Shaw and Young for using the billing of "Dennis DeYoung, the voice of Styx" in his solo concerts. The suit was eventually settled with the agreement that DeYoung could bill himself as "performing the music of Styx" or "formerly of Styx", but not as "the voice of Styx", and Styx continued on with Shaw and Young at the helm.
Cyclorama and beyond
With Chuck Panozzo focusing on his health concerns, Glen Burtnik returned to Styx, this time as bass player, to fill Chuck's duties, with Chuck participating on a part-time basis, sitting in as his health permitted.
Styx's new lineup released several live albums and released the studio album
CycloramaCyclorama is the fourteenth studio album by Styx, released in. This was the first studio album with Lawrence Gowan, following the departure of group co-founder Dennis DeYoung in 1999. It was also the only album released by the Lawrence Gowan/Tommy Shaw/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Todd Sucherman...
in February 2003, which reached #127 on the Billboard 200 album charts failing to make much of an impact. Although a single "Waiting for Our Time" reached #37 on the Billboard mainstream rock chart, it charted for 1 week and failed to make much, if any, impact. Styx toured extensively during this period and released additional live albums.
Burtnik left Styx in September 2003 and recorded a solo album, Welcome to Hollywood. He was replaced by
Ricky PhillipsRicky Phillips is an American bass guitarist and the current bass player for the rock band Styx. He has also played in Nasty Habit, The Babys, Bad English, and Coverdale-Page....
, formerly of
The BabysThe Babys were a British rock/pop group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time," and "Every Time I Think of You." Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and reached #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in the late 1970s...
and
Bad EnglishBad English was an American/British hard rock supergroup formed in 1988, reuniting keyboardist Jonathan Cain with singer John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips, his former bandmates in The Babys.- History :...
. Burtnik would go on to join up with Dennis DeYoung for numerous tour dates over the next several years.
On June 5, 2004, Styx participated in Eric Clapton's
Crossroads Guitar FestivalThe Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
covering songs by
Jimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, B.B. King, and
Slim HarpoSlim Harpo was an American blues musician. He was known as a master of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.-Early life:...
with
Jeff BaxterJeff "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s...
as a special guest.
In 2005 Styx released an album of cover tunes, Big Bang Theory, which reached the Billboard Top 50 on the album charts, their highest charting album since 1990. Their version of the Beatles song "I am the Walrus" received some radio play and a video was made for the song, which was subsequently featured in their live shows. Still the album had a short life on the charts and failed to make much of a dent.
DeYoung continued his solo career by re-arranging and performing his Styx hits with a symphony orchestra. In 2005, DeYoung released a CD of re-recorded Styx hits from a solo concert with a symphony orchestra (titled
The Music of Styx - Live with Symphony OrchestraThe Music of Styx - Live with Symphony Orchestra is a recording of Dennis DeYoung's live performance of his work both as a solo artist and with the band Styx. The performance was recorded live on April 4, 2003 at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. As indicated by the album title, the...
). The album also contained three new DeYoung songs. DeYoung's CD became a major hit in Canada, selling 50,000 copies there. Burtnik now often appears with DeYoung in his solo shows.
In 2009, DeYoung released "One Hundred Years From Now" in the U.S., his first full collection of new songs in some time.
As of April 21, 2006, according to the RIAA which awards artists and groups gold/platinum status, Styx ranks number 127 with 17.5 million records sold within the United States. The blurb on Amazon.com about Chuck Panozzo's book "The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx" states that Styx has sold over 54 million records.
On April 16, 2007,
Def LeppardDef Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
announced a 50-date 2007 tour, which included Styx and
ForeignerForeigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
as supporting acts.
On October 16, 2007 Styx received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) in
Nashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
In 2008, Styx performed on a double bill with
BostonBoston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
in a North American summer tour, playing 53 dates in 12 weeks.
In 2009, Styx went on tour with
REO SpeedwagonREO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
and .38 Special. Styx and REO Speedwagon teamed up to record a single entitled "Can't Stop Rockin", released April 23, 2009. That tour continued into early 2010.
On February 21, 2010 the current incarnation of the band performed before the Sprint Cup
Auto Club 500The Auto Club 400 is a long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race...
In
Fontana, CaliforniaFontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
.
On March 3, 2010, Tommy Shaw and Styx played in the
Auditorio NacionalNational Auditorium is an entertainment centre located at Paseo de la Reforma #50, Chapultepec in Mexico City right in front of the Polanco hotel zone next to Campo Marte....
of Mexico City in a double concert followed by REO Speedwagon.
In a North American tour beginning in May 2010, Styx were co-headliners of United in Rock with
ForeignerForeigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
and special guests
KansasKansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
.
In July 2010, Styx announced the forthcoming release of
Regeneration: Volume 1Regeneration: Volume 1 is an EP by the band Styx released in 2010. It consists of re-recordings of classic Styx songs, as well as one new track entitled "Difference In The World." It will be sold on every date of Styx's The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight tour, which began October 14 2010 in...
, a new
EPAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
featuring six re-recorded hits and a new song entitled "Difference In the World". This coincided with The Grand Illusion / Pieces Of Eight Tour, on which both albums were played in their entirety.
In November 2010, Styx announced that they would be filming their concert in Memphis on November 9 for a DVD. They also announced that they'd be touring the UK with Journey and Foreigner for 5 dates in June 2011.
As of March 18, 2011, Dennis DeYoung's name was removed from the history section of Styx's official website.
In early April 2011, it was announced that Styx would join up with
YesYes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
for a “Progressive U.S. Tour” that began on July 4, 2011.
Band members
Current members
- James "J.Y." Young
James "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
– Vocals, guitars, keyboards (1972–1984, 1989–1992, 1995–present)
- Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
– Vocals, guitars, mandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, autoharpThe autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, talkbox (1975–1983, 1995–present)
- Todd Sucherman
Todd Sucherman is a drummer who is best known for playing with Styx since 1996.Sucherman grew up in a musical family and followed in his father's footsteps by playing the drums. His father, Arnold J. Sucherman, was a doctor by day and a drummer by night, playing in the house band at the famed Chez...
– DrumsA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion (1995–present)
- Lawrence Gowan
Lawrence Gowan is a Scottish-born Canadian musician. Gowan has been both a solo artist and the current keyboardist and vocalist of the band Styx. His musical style is usually classified in the category of progressive rock.-Career:...
– Vocals, keyboards, guitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1999–present)
- Ricky Phillips
Ricky Phillips is an American bass guitarist and the current bass player for the rock band Styx. He has also played in Nasty Habit, The Babys, Bad English, and Coverdale-Page....
– Bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (2003–present)
with
- Chuck Panozzo
Charles Salvatore "Chuck" Panozzo is an American musician best known as the bass player for the rock band Styx. A longtime member of Styx, he founded the group with his fraternal twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, who died in July 1996, and singer Dennis DeYoung...
– Bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, bass pedalsBass pedals are an electronic musical instrument with foot-operated pedal keyboard with a range of one or more octaves. The earliest bass pedals from the 1970s consisted of a pedalboard and analog synthesizer tone generation circuitry packaged together as a unit...
(1972–1984, 1989–1992, 1995–1998, 1999–present [recurring live and occasionally in studio])
Former members
- Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
– Vocals, keyboards, accordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
. (1972–1984, 1989–1992, 1995–1999)
- John Panozzo
John Anthony Panozzo was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx.Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with his fraternal twin brother, Chuck . At age 7, the twins took musical lessons from their uncle in which John took an...
– drums, percussion (1972–1984, 1989–1992, 1995–1996)
- John Curulewski– guitars, vocals, autoharp
The autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, synthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
(1972–1975)
- Glen Burtnik
Glen Burtnik is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a former member of Styx.The spelling of his name has changed a few times over the years .Burtnik appeared in the Broadway production of Beatlemania as Paul McCartney,...
– guitars, vocals (1990–1992); bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals (1999–2003)
Consecutive Multi-Platinum albums
From 1977 to 1981, Styx released four consecutive albums that have been certified Multi-Platinum, for at least 2 million units sold each, by the RIAA:
The Grand IllusionThe Grand Illusion is the seventh studio album by Styx, released on July 7, 1977 . It became the band's first Triple Platinum album, and spawned the Top 10 hit "Come Sail Away" and the Top 30 hit "Fooling Yourself"....
, Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone, and Paradise Theatre.
A longstanding, oft-repeated claim in the music industry and the mainstream press is that Styx were the first band to release four consecutive Triple-Platinum albums, signifying at least 3 million units sold. During the period when these albums charted, the RIAA's only certifications were for Gold (500,000 units sold) and Platinum (1 million). Multi-Platinum awards were introduced in late October 1984. Following this development, record companies submitted their most popular artists' sales records to accountants in order to achieve the new thresholds.
Styx did score three Triple-Platinum albums—Paradise Theater, Pieces of Eight and The Grand Illusion—and one Double-Platinum album—Cornerstone—on the same date, November 14, 1984. Complete and detailed historical sales figures for record albums are not readily available to the public, but the certifications, which can be found at the RIAA site, show that the feat the band actually achieved was being the first group to be awarded four consecutive Multi-Platinum albums with three of those ranking better than Double Platinum. Styx achieved another Double-Platinum album—Greatest Hits (Volume I)—on August 23, 2005.
In other media
- In Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
season 2 episode 12 "Nightshifter" the song Renegade plays as the episode ends
- In The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Homerpalooza"Homerpalooza" is the 24th episode of The Simpsons seventh season and originally aired on May 19, 1996. The plot focuses around Homer's depression about aging and no longer being cool, and his quest to become cool again by joining the "Hullabalooza" music festival as a carnival freak. The episode...
", Homer walks into a record store and looks for records of his most favourite bands. When the record store owner advises him to look at the 'Oldies' section, Homer takes out a Styx record and says "Oldies?, but you got all the top bands in here. Styx? I just heard them on the King Biscuit Flower HourThe King Biscuit Flower Hour was a syndicated radio show presented by the D.I.R. Radio Network that featured concert performances by various rock artists.-History:...
."
- In the Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
episode "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings"The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" is the eighteenth episode in the fourth production season of the animated television series Futurama, and was aired for the first time in the United States on August 10, 2003 as the sixteenth episode of the fifth broadcast season...
", the Robot Devil sings at one point "I will marry her now and confine her to Hell, How droll! How droll!, Where Styx is a river, and not just a band, Though they'll play the reception if all goes as planned."
- In the South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
episode "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut"Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut" is the second episode of the second season of the animated series South Park, and the 15th episode of the series overall. It premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on April 22, 1998...
", Cartman reveals that he hates to leave things unfinished and that he has the urge to finish the song "Come Sail Away"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion . Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" charted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum...
" whenever he hears the first few verses. Kyle sings the verses causing Cartman to sing the rest of the song very fast.
- Only 7 months after the episodes premiere, in November 1998, the CD Chef Aid: The South Park Album
-Episode reference:- Singles :* "Chocolate Salty Balls "CD1# "Chocolate Salty Balls " - Performed By Chef# "Oh Holy Night" - Performed By Eric Cartman...
was released, where a professionally produced cover version of "Come Sail Away" sung by Cartman has been included.
- In the TV show Arrested Development, the actor Tony Hale
Tony Hale is an American actor, best known for his role in the Fox comedy series Arrested Development as the neurotic Byron "Buster" Bluth.-Early life:...
dances and sings to the song "Mr. Roboto"Mr. Roboto" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by the band Styx on their 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. In Canada, where they were always more popular than in their native U.S., it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart, becoming their third single to top the charts in...
" inside of the family car.
- In the 1999 movie Big Daddy, the main character Sonny (played by Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
) chats with his date about how they both like Styx, while "Babe" plays on the radio. "Blue Collar Man"Blue Collar Man " is the first single that Styx released from the Pieces of Eight album. The single was released in two 7" vinyl formats, one with the b-side "Superstars", a track from The Grand Illusion, and a second single with the instrumental album track "Aku-Aku" as the b-side...
" is also played during another part of the movie, and "Mr. Roboto"Mr. Roboto" is a song written by Dennis DeYoung and performed by the band Styx on their 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. In Canada, where they were always more popular than in their native U.S., it went to #1 on the RPM national singles chart, becoming their third single to top the charts in...
" is mentioned as well.
- In the American comedy-drama series Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks is an American teen comedy-drama television series, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season...
, in the episode "Girlfriends and Boyfriends", Nick makes advances towards Lindsay as he plays "Lady" on his stereo and sings to it.
- The song "Come Sail Away
"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion . Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" charted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum...
" appears in the Off-Broadway production Power BalladzPower Balladz is a live comedy performance featuring a mixture of comedy, trivia, and iconic rock n' roll songs from the 70s, 80s & 90s for which it is also named...
.
- In an episode of That 70's Show, Eric Forman
Eric Albert Forman is a fictional character and the male lead on the Fox Network's That '70s Show between seasons one through seven. Portrayed by Topher Grace, Eric is based on the adolescence of show creator Mark Brazill. Most of the show takes place at the Formans' home, particularly in the...
sings the intro to "The Grand Illusion" in his basement. He is excited that Styx will be playing a local show for Thanksgiving. He camped the night so he could get tickets. At the ticket window, Eric is the first and only one in line. Also, in the same episode, Eric's friends claim they hate Styx, despite Kelso and Fez trying to steal a Styx album from a record store.
- In an episode of Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, Dennis DeYoungDennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
calls a fan-based KissKiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
public-access televisionPublic-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
cable TV show to bad mouth the group, when the show's host recognizes him, and dares him to compare "Detroit Rock City" to "Come Sail Away"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion . Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" charted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum...
."
Volunteers For America
Volunteers For AmericaVolunteers For America was a benefit concert held on October 20, in Atlanta, Georgia and October 21, 2001 at the Smirnoff Music Center, Dallas, Texas. The concerts were held in tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Styx band members, Tommy Shaw, James Young along with others put...
was a
benefit concertA benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
held on October 20, 2001 in
Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and October 21, 2001 at the Smirnoff Music Center,
Dallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. The concerts were held in tribute to the victims of the
September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. Styx band members,
Tommy ShawTommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
,
James YoungJames "J.Y." Young is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, and member of the rock band, Styx. Young began playing keyboard and piano at the age of five. He attended Calumet High in Chicago and learned to play clarinet and guitar during those years.J.Y...
along with others put the benefit concert together in a short period of time. The Concert was in Atlanta Georgia on October 20, and moved over night to Dallas, Texas for the October 21 show. Proceeds from the concerts went to the families of firemen killed in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
External links