http://www.rockpages.gr/interviews/Styx2005-eng.htm
Lawrence Gowan joined Styx in 1999, with the difficult mission of filling in for keyboarder-vocalist Dennis De Young and after some hard work he made it. Judging by the successful Styx live shows during the last 6 years, Gowan has been finally accepted by the Styx fan base. Glasgow-born Gowan is a superstar in his native Canada, having sold over 1.5 million albums (that means five platinum and four gold records, as well as four number one singles). In the past critics have compared him to Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Chris de Burgh and Chris Rea. Lawrence Gowan talked exclusively to Rockpages.gr about Styx and many other things. Interview: Christos Stamelos
Rockpages.gr: How easy was for you to fill in Dennis DeYoung's shoes?
Lawrence Gowan: I don't' think it is a case of filling ones shows, I think it is a case of what I bring to the band as apposed to he and other member brought to the band. It is inevitable that when a group stays strong for over a quarter century new blood maybe required
Rockpages.gr: Watching the "Arch allies" DVD I can see a tight band with great chemistry. Do you enjoy touring with Styx, although on a heavy schedule?
Lawrence: The most invigorating part of music comes from playing live and we are a band that can't get enough of it. That is why the shows are so strong and that is why the band keeps drawing new followers.
Rockpages.gr: What's your favourite Styx song for playing live?
Lawrence: My favourite songs change, at the moment we have been playing "I Don't Need No Doctor" and "Summer in the City" in our live shows and that makes them my current favourite ones.
Rockpages.gr: Do you have any plans for a new solo album?
Lawrence: I have plans, but I have no specific time on when that will be accomplished. Styx is my primary focus.
Rockpages.gr: Many of your solo albums are hard to find in Europe. Any plans for reissues?
Lawrence: I am sure there will be at some point, but similar to the last question timing is the factor.
Rockpages.gr: Tell us a funny story while touring with Styx in the last 6 years.
Lawrence: I once announced to the audience early in the show that they were going to see something tonight that they have never seen and then accidentally, on cue, I wiped out off the side of the stage falling face first into the crowd. That was not what I had intended but the crowd like it anyway.
Rockpages.gr: "A criminal mind" is one of my favourite songs ever. Tell us the story behind that song.
Lawrence: I had the melody for "A Criminal Mind" and was looking for a subject that was as haunting as the melody required. And as luck would have it, I met a prison guard who shared some stories with me about his work in the penitentiary. Realizing that all of us, at some point and to some degree have our darker side I wrote the lyric accordingly, this song gives expression to the demon within us all.
Rockpages.gr: What kind of artists do you like listening to?
Lawrence: I love a lot of bands Radiohead, The Darkness, Keane, Flaming Lips, and recently started listing to Genesis again. The list could go on and on.
Rockpages.gr: Have you ever been in Greece? What do you think of the Olympic Games in Athens last year?
Lawrence: I love the Olympic Games! I would have loved to been able to attend but could not. However, Greece is in my plans as a country to visit in the future.
