Wouldn't It Be Nice....

[AnnieOprah]

CHICAGO (AP) - A band that has been going at it for over 35 years is doing something special on the 30th Anniversary of their biggest album. July 7th, 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of Styx's landmark album, The Grand Illusion, which was released on 7/7/77. To commerate this anniversary, Styx, which has had more internal feuds than the Middle East, has cast aside all differences and will be releasing an album of all new material with key member and vocalist Dennis DeYoung for the first time since 1998's flawed Brave New World. Joining DeYoung will be guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, bassist Chuck Panozzo, long time guitarist James "JY" Young, guitarist/bassist Glen Burtnik, keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, and Drummer Todd Sucherman. "We all got together in the same Chicago studio where we recorded 'The Grand Illusion' and decided we had to get along and develop the songs that brought together Dennis, Tommy's and my difference." claimed spokesman JY. "In the past, I have been very negative about some of our past material that Dennis DeYoung brought to the table, and for that I apologize. I realize that Styx is a balance of the three of us and that our ballads are just as important, and a big reason for our success, as the rockers that I have contributed." Styx retains their four surviving classic line-up members and brings back Glen Burtnik who contributed songs in the 1990s and on the recent Cyclorama album and Lawrence Gowan who sang what is the closest song that Styx has had to a hit since 1991, their cover of the Beatles "I am the Walrus". But that has all changed as Styx is once again climbing the singles chart very quickly with the album's first single, "All For Love", co-written by DeYoung and Burtnik. It has received substantial airplay and is currently #25 with a bullet on the Billboard Top 100 chart after only 4 weeks of release.

Bigger yet is the concert tour set to begin next month and playing major arenas across the United States. Styx will be putting on a 3 1/2 hour show (including a 15 minute intermission) where they will play all of their biggest songs from the last 35 years including "Lost Treasurers" like Best Thing, Castle Walls, Pieces of Eight, and Love Is The Ritual. In every city, the band will be paired with a 80 piece symphony orchestra, which should make for a robust concert experience. As of press time, the set list was still being finalized but was expected to include the following:
Best Thing
Lady
Light Up
Lorelei
Suite Madame Blue
Crystal Ball
Mademoisele
Come Sail Away
Miss America
Grand Illusion
Foolin Yourself
Castle Walls
Pieces of 8
Queen of Spades
Sing For The Day
Renegade
Blue Collar Man
Babe
Boat on The River
Borrowed Time
Lights
Rockin The Paradise
Too Much Time
Snowblind
Best of Times
Mr. Roboto
Don’t Let It End
Love Is The Ritual/Edge of The Century
Show Me The Way
I Am The Walrus
5 New Songs

40 dates have been announced with the tour kicking off at Madison Square Garden in New York City...

[styxfansite]

Lets not forget Ricky to. Get every version of Styx in the studio for a "Big Band" version.

[AnnieOprah]

Lets not forget Ricky to. Get every version of Styx in the studio for a "Big Band" version.

Sorry Ricky just doesn't do it for me...
Leave him out. He has really not contributed much.

[gr8dane]

Cute.
I like the way you have JY apologizing.Not.No mention of Dennis ofcourse(except he gets to write their new hit song).
Anyways...
If this was happening ,one of the 2 sets would be playing Grand Illusion from start to end.This is what we are celebrating.

[bugsymalone]

AnnieOprah. In a parallel universe somewhere.....

But, then, perhaps in a parallel universe, the band would not have broken up in the first place and would be enjoying a sort of Rolling Stones-type attention, and long overdue respect, late in their career.

Bugsy