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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSTYXUS AOR group formed by brothers Chuck (bass) and John Pannozzo (drums; d 16 July 1996, Chicago, aged 47, a chronic alcoholic), who'd met Dennis De Young (keyboards, vocals) in Chicago '63; adding guitarists John Curulewski and James 'JY' Young '68 they became the Tradewinds; changed to Styx '70, signed to Wooden Nickle and made Styx I and Styx II. The Serpent Is Rising and Man Of Miracles '73-4 were recycled into Rock Galaxy by RCA after they broke big; 'Lady' from Styx II was their first hit single (no. 6 '75). Equinox '75 on A&M included 'Suite Madame Blue', pointing to symphonic pretensions; the replacement of Curulewski by Tommy Shaw for Crystal Ball '76 was even more significant. The Grand Illusion '77 made a breakthrough, with no. 8 single 'Come Sail Away', stage favourites 'Miss America', 'Castle Walls', 'Superstars'. Having found a platinum formula of harmonies, keyboards and pomp aplenty, they stuck to it with Pieces Of Eight '78, Cornerstone '79, USA hits 'Renegade' (no. 16) and a syrupy ballad 'Babe' (no. 1; 6 UK). Paradise Theatre '80 was a concept album around a Chicago playhouse that fell down, a parallel with the USA of the late '70s, including hits 'The Best Of Times', 'Too Much Time On My Hands'; at no. 1 for three weeks it was their biggest. A stage show for Kilroy Was Here '83 was preceded with an eleven-minute film, a rush-like telling of a totalitarian state where rock is outlawed; 'Mr Roboto' a no. 7 hit. Solo projects from De Young (Desert Moon '84) and Young (Girls With Guns '84) indicated dissatisfaction with their rut, however profitable; Young's was more rock'n'roll-oriented while De Young's could have been a Styx album. Caught In The Act '84 was a two-disc live set; they reunited '90 with Glen Burtnick replacing Shaw, but Edge Of The Century reached only no. 63. They had been the first band to have four consecutive albums go double platinum. Then DeYoung left for good '99, replaced by Lawrence Gowan, who had been successful in Canada, but was frustrated because CBS wouldn't release his albums in the USA.The other members of the band had felt that DeYoung's theatrical bent had held them back. Cyclorama 2003 was their first album of new material; Big Bang Theory 2005 was an album of covers of classic rock, and there were live albums and two EPs, Regeneration I & II, rerecording early Styx hits. They were still gigging in 2011, concentrating on the live act. |