Styx (music)

Origins

The group was originally formed in the area of Chicago at the end of the Années 1960 under the name The Tradewinds . The constitution of this group included the singer and clavierist Dennis DeYoung, and a rhythm section including/understanding the brothers Chuck and John Panozzo. Modifying their noun briefly for TW4 , the group saw to associate the guitarists James Young and John Curulewski, and they were put under contract by the label Wooden Nickel Records, under the name Styx .

The Years 1970

The albums of the group under Wooden Nickel, Styx (1972), Styx II (1973), The Snake Is Rising (1974) and Man off Miracles (also 1974) were a combination of rock'n'roll which one would describe as " classique" today, of elements of progressive Rock'n'roll with the ambitions of the Art Rock'n'roll. While resting on these albums and by a constant presence in the schools and the clubs, the group succeeds in being established a local base of fans in the area of Chicago but was unable to bore at the national level before 1975. At this time, the ballade " Lady" (of the album Styx II ) started to play local radio, then through the United States. In spring of 1975, nearly two years after the exit of the album from which it is resulting, " Lady" reached signal 10, and Styx II was certified gold little time afterwards.

On the dash of this late success, Styx signed with A&M Records and launched the album Equinox in (1975), which was sold well and comprised a minor success in " Lorelei". But in Quebec, the song " Continuation Mrs Blue" , made up for the bicentenary of the independence of the United States (1776-1976), started the beginning of their apogee. As many other artists rock'n'roll, than it is Genesis, Pink Floyd, Shawn Philips, Chris de Burgh, The Police, Queen or Backstreet Boys, Quebec adopted them and will not démordera.

Following the transition to A&M, Curulewski left the group, and was replaced by the guitarist and singer Tommy Shaw. The first album carried out with Shaw, Hook Ball , in (1976), was a modest success, then the following, The Grand Illusion in (1977) became the greatest commercial success of the group while being certified platinum and generating a success of signal 10 is " Like Sail Away".

The end of the year 1970 made it possible Styx to reach the top of its popularity: the album Parts off Eight of (1978), in which the group chooses an orientation davantages pop-rock'n'roll and on which appeared successes " Renegade" and " Blue Collar Man" , as well as the album Cornerstone of (1979) which generated the first success No 1 of the group, the ballade " Babe" of DeYoung, in addition to their greater international success, " Boat one the River".

The Years 1980

In 1980, Styx launched Paradise Theater , which approached the format " album-concept" , which became their greater success, reaching number 1 of the prize list Billboard and containing 5 successes of signal 40, including signal 10 " The Best Off Times" and " Too Much Time one My Hands".

For this period ostentation, internal tensions started to appear, particularly between DeYoung and Shaw. Being based on the success of " Babe" , the DeYoung member-founder wanted to borrow a more theatrical and pop direction, whereas Shaw supported an approach more " hard". The group followed the desideratas of DeYoung for their following project, Kilroy Was Here : another album-concept, this time pushed further than Paradise Theater , whose matter is located in a near future where even the music became illegal. Critics declared that the concept behind the album was rather misty; members of the group acknowledged to them-even that he escaped to them somewhat. Kilroy and the ambitious and theatrical round which followed was a popular success but a disaster criticizes and the tensions in the group brought it close to the point of rupture. Kilroy counted some successes, including " Mr. Roboto" , based on the synthetizers, and a ballade of DeYoung' S " Don' T Let It End".

With the mid- 1984, the version of Styx which had been the most success was separated and its members had chosen careers which proved to be moderate successes. DeYoung launched several albums solos which were sold well, centered on ballades pops and melodies " software rock" , while success solo of James Young was limited more. Shaw formed the group Damn Yankees in 1989 with Ted Nugent, Jack Blades and Michael Cartellone.

The Years 1990

In 1990, whereas Shaw obtained good performances with Damn Yankees, the other elements of Styx were reformed with Glen Burtnik to replace it. The new formation left an album, Edge off the Century , including/understanding the ballade of DeYoung " Show Me The Way, " who drew the media attention right before the first war of the Persian Gulf. Certain radio stations modified this success signal 5 by adding to it the voices of children whose parents were deployed in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 1991. The writing of Burtnik also allowed " Edge off the Century" to reach certification but, while taking part in successes " Coil At First Sight" and " Coil is the Ritual." Received Styx of criticisms mitigated for the American round which followed, before another separation when A&M did not renew its agreement with the group. In 1994, DeYoung recorded " 10 one Broadway, " showing an unexpected talent for the repertory of the musical comedies.

The group meets once again in 1995 to re-record " Lady" for Styx Greatest Hits (1995) and a round in 1996, but John Panozzo was unable to take part in it due to a staggering health caused by alcohol problems which ended up causing its death little time afterwards. With Todd Sucherman substitute Panozzo, the round " Large Illusion" of Styx in 1997 was also a success which made it possible the group to leave its first album since almost a decade, Brave New World (1999). Again, however, from the conflicts of personalities separated the members from the group. Whereas the new material of Tommy Shaw and James Young followed a vein " hardware rock" , leaning it of DeYoung Refusals for the style of Broadway made furious his/her colleagues. Moreover, DeYoung was handicapped by a viral infection which made it excessively sensitive to the light. In 1999, before it is likely to take again its place in the group, DeYoung is lived replaced by Lawrence Gowan on the insistence of their recording company so that they take again the road as quickly as possible. Chuck Panozzo also left Styx for revealing later that it was reached AIDS. Glen Burtnik made a return to take again the station of Chuck to low.

The Years 2000

The beginning of the year 2000 were for a major part last in round. In 2004, Burtnik left Styx to spend more time to the house, and was replaced by Ricky Philips, in the past of the groups The Babys and Bad English. Chuck Panozzo continues to take part in the group occasionally.

During this time, DeYoung continued its career solo by carrying out rearrangements of its successes obtained with Styx and by interpreting them accompanied by a symphony orchestra, and prosecuted his/her ex-colleagues by affirming that they used the name of the group without his assent. An agreement was finally reached when it was accepted that DeYoung could be described like " interpreting the music of Styx" or " in the past of Styx" but not " the voice of Styx". A new version of Styx including/understanding Shaw, Gowan and the only original member of the formation always active James Young launched an album called Cyclorama in February 2003. In 2005, DeYoung launched CD of re-recordings of successes of Styx in solo with a symphony orchestra, whereas the remaining members of Styx recorded a new album including/understanding of the resumptions of parts rock'n'roll, Big Bang Theory . In June 2005, Styx undertook a European round, a first visit of 24 years. Tommy Shaw known as: " We found our public which was always there to await us with enthusiasm. There are daily discussions as for knowing when, how, where we will be able to return so that it is as soon as possible ".

Principal discography

1972 Styx
1973 Styx II
1974 The Snake Is Rising
1974 Man off Miracles
1975 Equinox
1976 Hook Ball (album)|Hook Ball
1977 Large The Illusion
1978 Parts off Eight
1979 Cornerstone
1980 Paradise Theater
1983 Kilroy Was Young stag
1984 Caught in the Act
1990 Edge off the Century
1995 Styx Greatest Hits
1996 Styx Greatest Hits Pt. 2
1997 Return to Paradise
1999 Brave New World
2000 Arch Combine: Live At Riverport (in spectacle) (with REO Speedwagon)
2001 Styx World: Live 2001 (in spectacle)
2002 At the River' S Edge: Live in St Louis (in spectacle)
2003 21st Century Live (in spectacle)
2003 Cyclorama
2005 The Supplements Wooden Nickel Recordings (2 Discs)
2005 The Big Bang Theory
2006 One With Everything

Bonds external (in English)

Bonds towards several major sites: * Official site: * Styx Collector:

Simple: Styx (band)

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