Styx is an American pop-rock band that is widely known in narrow circles. The band's popularity peaked in the 1970s and 1980s of the last century.
Creation of the Styx group
The musical group first appeared in 1965 in Chicago, but then it was called differently. The Trade Winds group was known throughout the University of Chicago, and the girls really liked the beautiful musicians.
The group's main occupation was playing in local bars and nightclubs. The band even made money with their performances, and for that time it was a good start.
The team consisted of three musicians, including:
- Chuck Panozzo - guitar
- John Panozzo - percussion
- Dennis DeYoung is a vocalist, keyboardist and accordionist.
After changing the name of the group to TW4, the line-up was replenished with two more musicians:
- John Kurulewski - guitarist
- James Young - vocals, keyboards
The artists decided to change the name of the group, and the only option that did not cause a gag reflex was the group Styx, according to DeYoung.
Victory move forward
The band began to collaborate with the Wooden Nickel Records label and began working hard on albums. From 1972 to 1974 The musicians have released 4 albums, including:
- Styx;
- Styx II;
- The Serpent is Rising;
- Man of Miracles.
The contract with the famous label helped the group climb to the top of Olympus. Two years after the release of the first album, the whole world already knew about the group Styx.
In 1974, the musical composition Lady took the 6th position in the music hit parade.
Sales of the Styx album increased, and when the musicians learned that half a million discs sold like hot cakes, their joy knew no bounds. In addition to financial success, the group expected career growth.
Band contract with A&M Records
The well-known company A&M Records wanted to cooperate with the team. The contract with this firm prompted the group to create new popular compositions.
In 1975, the band released the album Equinox, which went on to go platinum.
Despite the popularity and significant cash fees, John Kurulewski decided to leave the band. In his place was a young guitarist and songwriter, Tommy Shaw.
The 23-year-old musician quickly joined the band and wrote four songs for the Crystal Ball album.
The peak of the team's fame and the collapse of the Styx group
The work of the musicians was consistently successful, but they did not even expect how popular and recognizable they would become in 1977. Their new album The Grand Illusion exceeded all the expectations of the producer and critics. The most hit songs were:
- Come Sail Away;
- Fooling Yourself;
- Miss America.
The album was certified three times platinum, and the musicians were preparing bank accounts for dizzying sums.
In 1979, Styx was named the most popular group. Their songs were at the top of the charts for weeks, there was not a single American who did not know at least one song of the band.
But all success eventually comes to an end. The team began to "rot from the inside" - a lot of disagreements appeared. Soon the band members decided to announce the breakup.
Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw went solo and began writing their own songs.
Lineup reunion
After 10 years, the group reunited again, but Tommy Shaw was busy with a solo career and refused to invite friends. Instead of him, Glen Bertnick was taken into the group.
Together, the team released the album The Edge of the Centure. He did not become platinum, but he received gold status, and DeYoung's song Show me the way took 3rd position in the charts.
The team went on a tour of America, fully completed the tour, but soon the Styx group broke up again.
In 1995, the musicians got together again to remember the good old days and decided to release their last album, Styx Greatest Hits.
By this time the band had already lost one musician. John Panozzo died from the effects of alcohol addiction. Todd Suckerman took his place.
Having successfully completed the tour, the group returned to studio recordings only two years later. But the former glory was no longer among the old musicians.
Dennis left the group due to health problems, Chuck left due to disagreements with colleagues. A new face appeared in the team again - Lawrence Govan, and Bertnick decided to return to the bass guitar.
In the future, the group expected not the best of times. De Young sued his colleagues for ownership of his songs, and the lawsuits lasted until 2001.
Group Styx today
In 2003, the Styx group released 3 new albums, but did not receive the expected response.
In 2005, the musicians interested the public with their old hits, which they re-recorded in a new arrangement. Well-known cover versions, indeed, are still remembered, but the Styx group failed to rise above the 46th position of the charts.
In 2006, the band recorded the same cover versions accompanied by an orchestra. On this, perhaps, the popularity of the group ended.
In 2017, the remaining musicians in the band released the album The Mission, but it was not very popular, and only those people who were nostalgic for the 1980s bought it.
To date, the group has disappeared from the music world, and its members are engaged in other projects.
