Some bands, from their very creation, are destined
for stardom, and one would be hard pressed to argue
that Styx – taking their name from Greek mythology
– was one of the premier bands of the 1970s, even
setting history as the first band to have four back-to-back
triple platinum albums.
Before they were known to the world as Styx, the band
began as The Tradewinds in the latter part of the Sixties.
Founded by brothers Chuck and John Panozzo, the band
would eventually add Dennis DeYoung, James Young, and
John Curulewski. By 1972, they’d changed their
name to Styx and secured a recording contract with the
RCA subsidiary Wooden Nickel Records. Their self-titled
debut was released that same year, and Styx consistently
released albums in the next few years: “Styx II”
(1973), “The Serpent Is Rising” (1974),
and “Man of Miracles” (1975).
During the same period, Styx toured constantly, but
they didn’t get their big break until their single
“Lady” hit the airwaves in Chicago in 1974;
it was so well-received by listeners that Wooden Nickel
Records released the single throughout the U.S., and
it catapulted to number six on the charts.
Prior to the release of “Equinox” in 1975,
Styx signed with A&M Records; shortly thereafter
Curulewski exited the band, and Tommy Shaw took his
place. What followed were four phenomenal albums that
would each go triple platinum: “Crystal Ball”
(1976), “The Grand Illusion” (1977), “Pieces
of Eight” (1978), and “Cornerstone”
(1979).
The new decade opened with a concept album from Styx,
“Paradise Theater,” in 1981. But in 1983,
with the release of “Kilroy Was Here,” an
album that told a science fiction story through its
lyrics, the band became frustrated, and promptly went
on hiatus the following year.
Styx would reunite in 1990 with their latest effort
“Show Me The Way,” but the reunion proved
short as the band members instead opted for solo careers.
Six years later, the group would reunite for a tour,
minus John Panozzo who died in July 1996. Todd Sucherman
replaced Panozzo, and the tour was a smashing success
by all accounts. In fact, securing Styx concert tickets
was a challenge for fans as all shows sold out in minutes.
Styx followed their reunion tour with the live album
“Return To Paradise” in 1997, and the band
was introduced to a whole new generation when their
songs were used in such popular shows as “South
Park” and “Freaks and Geeks.”
Styx went on to release several more albums, including
“Cyclorama” (2003), “Come Sail Away:
The Styx Anthology” (2004), and “The Complete
Wooden Nickel Recordings” (2006).
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