The world of classic rock is littered with bands who have seen the monumental heights of success, only to lose it all through in-fighting within the band. From Fleetwood Mac to Guns N’ Roses you’ll find bands who used to be able to work together in the studio, but seemingly could not hold it together anywhere outside of those sound-proofed walls. One band in particular who still experiences this today is the multi-platinum selling band Styx.
After years of playing music with friends and neighbors, in 1972 Dennis DeYoung formed Styx with fellow bandmates JY Young, John Curulewski, Chuck Panozzo, and chuck’s brother John. For the next few years the band released an album nearly every 12 months, including 2 albums in 1973. Their tireless work grew the band a substantial fan base in their home city of Chicago, but it wasn’t until John Curulewski leaves the band in 1975 and Tommy Shaw is brought in to replace him that the band takes another large step forward in their legacy.
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Fast forward to 1977 and Styx releases what most critics consider to be their breakthrough album. It includes a top-ten radio hit in the DeYoung-written “Come Sail Away,” which reached No. 8 in 1978. Meanwhile Tommy Shaw’s “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” was the second radio hit off the album, which further seeded what would become an in-band rivalry that fractures the group irreparably.
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1979 brings more attention, success, and drama to the band. The album “Cornerstone” yields their first #1 hit in Babe. The band was on an undeniable trajectory now for world fame bringing in record sales not just in North America, but in far-away countries like Japan, and Germany. Things were great on the surface, but behind closed doors, Tommy Shaw is gaining support within the band to abandon the rock-opera sound of songs like Roboto, and Come Sail Away in favor of heavier songs of the 80s that felt more in line with what a contemporary rock band sounds like.
Finally after recording the platinum concept album “Kilroy Was Here” Shaw decided he had enough, and left the band. Shaw proved to be the glue holding everything together – months after his departure, the band decides to call it quits.
Over the years Styx has made a few attempts at getting the core group back together to record music, and tour. However in 1999 the band had once again had enough of Dennis DeYoung’s love of broadway and dramatic sounds in his music. This would be the last time DeYoung is called a member of Styx.
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In the years that have passed, there have been rumors that Styx was considering a reunion, only to be shot down by Tommy Shaw publicly. In fact, just this past year, Dennis DeYoung made a public plea for the band to do one last farewell tour, but he’s being realistic about the chances of it happening.
Whatever the reason may be, you can bet that fans want Tommy and Dennis to patch things up so the band can get back to Sailing away with each other. Fortunately for us, should they decide to reform, it shouldn’t be tough. Right now all of the guys probably have Too Much Time On Their Hands.
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Category: WHY
