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1994-10-02
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66 lines
STYX
line up: Dennis De Young (vocals/keyboards)
Tommy Shaw (vocals/guitar)
James Young (guitar/vocals)
Chuck Panozzo (bass)
John Panozzo (drums)
In the U.S. starts in the mid seventies a new stream within the hardrock,
that's called pomprock (derived from pompous). More and more American bands
make from British symphonic rock and traditional American rock'n'roll a new and
colorfull sound. One of the most popular pomprock bands is Styx, from Chicago.
This band is formed in 1970 from T.W.4: a band with Dennis De Young, the
Panozzo-brothers and guitarplayer John Curulewski, who played all in a band
called The Tradewinds. The name Styx is first used by signing a record deal
with Wooden Nickel Records, a subsidiary of R.C.A.. In 1972, the band has a
second guitarplayer, James Young, and releases their debut album. The band
could on this album be described as the American version of Uriah Heep: high
vocals and sometimes screaming guitars and keyboards. Styx knows how to vary
this with beautifull, peacefull songs. One of those songs is "Lady" of the
second album "Styx II" and this is their first hitsingle. With the following tw
o
albums, "The Serpent is Rising" and "Man of Miracles", there doesn't change
much. Both line up and the impressive symphonic rock'n'roll stay the same. But
when this band (called after the river in Dante's 'Inferno') gets a new
contract with A&M and they get more money to record albums, the sound improves
with a big step: lead and harmony vocals are sounding better and also the songs
are getting better. The album "Equinox" for instance, has the song "Suite
Madame Blue", a classic song, and on "Chrystal Ball", where Curulewski is
replaced by the young talented Tommy Shaw, the songs "This Old Man",
"Ballerina" and the title track are especcially worth listening. As composer
Shaw directs Styx to a more commercial way, which, combined with the smooth
approach of De Young and the agressive approach of James Young, gives them a
very varied public. The very good album "The Grand Illusion" means the big
international breakthrough. The singles "Fooling Yourself" and "Come Sail Away"
and also the album itself are big hits in America. The following "Pieces of
Eight" with the hits "Sing for the Day" and "Blue Collar Man" is also a big
success. The band plays from now on also on big-ticket concerts in Europe and
Japan. The next one, "Cornerstone", however, is a bit precarious. It seems that
they're lacking a bit inspiration. The sweet ballad "Babe" and the nice "Boat
on the River" are however still big hits. With the also precarious concept
album "Paradise Theatre", they only get more popular. The album is number one
for weeks in the U.S. But with "Kilroy was Here", another concept album, they
can't stay on top no more. The experimental techno-pop approach is not very
appreciated by the public. The ambitious live album "Caught in the Act" is
therefore the last Styx album. Dennis De Young goes solo with mainstream
popmusic, James Young records two albums, one with Jan Hammer, and Tommy Shaw
chooses for a solo career in poprock.
albums: Styx (Woodennickel '72)
Styx II (Woodennickel '73)
The Serpent is Rising (Woodennickel '73)
Man of Miracles (Woodennickel '74)
Equinox (A&M '75)
Chrystall Ball (A&M '76)
The Grand Illusion (A&M '77)
Pieces of Eight (A&M '78)
Cornerstone (A&M '79)
Paradise Theatre (A&M '81)
Killroy was Here (A&M '83)
Caught in the Act (A&M '84)
.