Concert: Styx

Keywords

Styx Concert Schedule

Chicago Gigs

Styx

Album

Songs

Video

Music

Background:

Styx began as an artsy rock band but were transformed into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s. It was because of a fondness for bombastic rockers and soaring power ballads. The band basically started from another Chicago band during the late '60s, the Tradewinds, which had brothers Chuck who was the bassist and John Panozzo who was the drummer together with a friend Dennis DeYoung who was a vocalist and the keyboard player. In the early '70s, the group had changed their name to TW4, and guitarists/vocalists, James "JY" Young and John Curulewski joined the band. The band got a recording contract with Wooden Nickel Records in 1972. In a very less span of time the group opted to change their name once more, this time to Styx, which is after a river from Greek mythology that ran through the 'land of the dead' in the underworld.

In their earlier albums the band showed the same kind o musical talent as that of rockers as Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the Moody Blues. They released a self titled album in 1972 followed by Styx II in 1973, The Serpent Is Rising in 1974 and Man of Miracles in 1975. though the numerous albums and the tours helped them gain popularity but they achieved main success from a track which was originally from their second album, "Lady." The song was soon released as a single nationwide, and quickly went to number six on the singles chart, as Styx II was certified gold. After this the band changed their record label to A&M for their fifth release titled Equinox in, 1975. Tommy Shaw replaced Curulewski who proved to be the perfect member for Styx, as majority of their releases throughout the late '70s earned at least platinum certification. Like Crystall Ball released in 1976, The Grand Illusion in 77, Pieces of Eight in 78, and Cornerstone in 79.

The band decided to release a concept album in the '80s and released in 1981 Paradise Theater, which was based on the rise and fall of a once-beautiful theater. It was their career's biggest hit. They released another album in 1983 which was also a concept based album titled Kilroy Was Here. It was a major hit but the group had many personal differences behind the scenes and led to the break up of the band.

The band was reformed where newcomer Glen Burtnik replaced Shaw and released a new studio album in 1990, titled Edge of the Century, which had yet another hit power ballad, "Show Me the Way." the group again disbanded and the members went their separate ways.

A re-recording of their early hit, "Lady" which was for a Greatest Hits compilation, finally reunited Shaw with his former Styx bandmates and it led to a full-on reunion tour in 1996.
The band with the following members Shaw, Young, Burtnik, Sucherman and Gowan released in 2003, titled Cyclorama. It had a star appearance by John Waite, Brian Wilson, and actor Billy Bob Thornton. By the end of the year, Burtnik was replaced by former Bad English and Babys member Ricky Phillips. The Styx Anthology from 2004 titled Come Sail Away did a good job of showcasing the band's career in two CDs while 2005's double disc The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings collected the band's first four albums.

Discography:

1972 Styx
1973 Styx II
1974 The Serpent Is Rising
1974 Man of Miracles
1975 Equinox
1976 Crystal Ball
1977 The Grand Illusion
1978 Pieces of Eight
1979 Cornerstone
1981 Paradise Theater
1983 Kilroy Was Here
1984 Caught in the Act [Live]
1990 Edge of the Century
1997 Return to Paradise [Live]
1999 Brave New World
2003 Cyclorama