FOR OPENERS

[yogi]

I assume Styx has toured after completing each new album. I was wondering which song Styx used to open up each new show. The ones I know for 100% sure I will post:

Styx 1 - ??????
Styx ll - ?????
The Serpent Is Rising - ????
Man Of Miracles - ????

I am sure most of the above were gymnasium/ bar shows, does anyone know what songs they opened with for these?? Where any of you there for these EARLY EARLY Styx concerts.

Equinox- Born For Adventure
Crystal Ball - ?- but I think I know
The Grand Illusion - I am pretty sure I know this one
Pieces Of Eight - Great white Hope
Cornerstone ( The Grand Decathelon) ???
Paradise Theatre- A. D. !928/ Rockin The Paradise
Kilroy Was Here- Movie - Mr. Roboto
Edge Of The Century- Love Is The Ritual??
Return To Paradise - A.D. 1928 - Rockin The Paradise
Grand Illusion ll- Act like Return To Paradise Tour - then The Grand Illusion
Brave New World - Everything Is Cool
Arch Allies- Everything Is Cool
Styx/Bad Company - Borrowed Time
Cyclorama- Too Much Time On My Hands

Dennis solo??????



WAAAYYY off this topic but I wonder if Dennis has heard Welcome To Hollywood?? If he has I wonder what he thinks of this MASTERPIECE?? And finally, I wonder and sure hope Dennis allows Glen to perform some songs from it ( Superboy, Another, Bam ). Dennis has ALWAYS been GREAT at sharing the spotlight in concert, and on albums!!!

Edit soon sorry

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Most of Dennis' shows were opened with "Grand Illusion" except for one of the Chicago shows with "Back To Chicago" and another show with "Rockin' The Paradise", that one threw me off - LOL

The very early shows at the high schools they played a lot of cover songs. Yes this did - LOL

Yogi wrote:

WAAAYYY off this topic but I wonder if Dennis has heard Welcome To Hollywood?? If he has I wonder what he thinks of this MASTERPIECE?? And finally, I wonder and sure hope Dennis allows Glen to perform some songs from it ( Superboy, Another, Bam ). Dennis has ALWAYS been GREAT at sharing the spotlight in concert, and on albums!!!

Yogi, the Morristown show will be very special for Glen. He will be performing at LEAST 4 solo songs. Dennis did treat him great during the EOTC album and I'm sure he'll treat him great again.

As for Dennis playing "Welcome to Hollywood", I'm sure he has, but I'm sure it wasn't cranked up in his stereo real loud - LOL

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Yogi wrote:

Where any of you there for these EARLY EARLY Styx concerts

Sorry, I was just a little kid in elementary school (LOL)

Yogi, I hope this information helps you out :)

Equinox tour
Equinox was made and Styx was then an opening band for major contenders. Lady was still a masterpiece and of course Suite Madame Blue. For most of the shows, Born for Adventure was the opener... and remained on the list two or three years thereafter but muted to the Encore section. Lorelei took place and Midnight Ride gave Styx a chance to "Jam" for the pleasure of their fans. Light up from the newest album was also played. The big thing happened on that tour for Styx opening for Bad Company in Montreal's Forum. Suite Madame Blue took a special place in the hearts of the Montrealers and never got out of there. Even today that song is still the most popular song up here in Canada. It was the kick off for Styx.

Crystal Ball tour
Styx opened for Kansas for most of the US tour of "Ball". Up here in Canada, they were already headliners and Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto were real big shots for STYX. This was the last tour that gave the chance to hear songs from the WN years, except Lady of course who remained there without moving. Put me On was the opener, Mademoiselle,
Shooz, Ballerina and Crystal Ball were on the list from the album. This last one is the only one which survived the test of time even if the guys played Mademoiselle on the next tour. Ballerina died in Montreal due to a cold receiving from the audience of the Forum.

Grand Illusion tour
Styx was gaining a lot of credit and were hot. In the United States, the band were still openers but quickly became headliners while reinforcing their position in Canada who was already at their feet crowding the 15 000 thousand seats venues easily. Foolin Yourself was born to never die after. The Grand Illusion became the opener and Come Sail Away the closer. Miss America gave JY the place he owns in the concert set list. I know they played Man in the Wilderness once in Miami and once in Manchester UK. These are the only places that are known that this song took place. Superstars remained unheard as well as Castle Walls... too bad. Anyway Styx took the road performing a mini european tour in England, France, Germany, a tour that lead the band on stage til early in the 1978 spring. Styx was still playin Put me on Light up and Mademoiselle from time to time on that tour and remained with Suite Madame Blue, Midnight Ride and Miss America without forgetting Lady. The bootleg market is full of shows from that tour. Lorelei was also still on the set list for the last time to reapear only in 1996.

Pieces of Eight tour ( The Main Event )
That tour took the band to a new peak as headliners. Songs from the new album took a great part of the show opening with The Great White Hope. I'm OK, Renegade, Blue Collar Man and Queen of Spades were on the set list. John Pannozzo adopted Renegade for drums solo from that tour. Grand Illusion songs were still heavy contenders while we did not see anymore Wooden Nickel songs on the list. Only lady was still played from that era. Crystal Ball took a new form being preceeded by this Blue Grass thing that Tommy performed. Once again STYX invaded Europe with a mini-tour. This is still to be confirmed but I've heard that the band played the title song Pieces of Eight and Sing for the Day on and off on that tour. Recordings from that tour are pretty hard to find and unfortunatly are usually of poor sond quality. However, this tour is the beginning of a fixed concert set list. The body of STYX concerts was taking form. Montreal was once again a great step for STYX cause it's the first place they played songs from Pieces of Eight at Place des Nations september 2nd 1978. Blue Collar man and I'm OK were performed.

Cornerstone tour ( The Grand Decathlon )
This tour is something mysterious cause it did not marked the band as hard as the other ones. My personal opinion of The Grand Decathlon is the band toured just because they had too. Again, I may be far away from the right on there. This tour is the one which is the most difficult to find recordings of. If you know of any, signal me please. Come Sail Away, Suite Madame Blue, Lady were the everleading songs with Renegade and Great White Hope. Borrowed Time took the job of opening the show! That song remained on the set list for the next tour as well. Why Me, Eddie, Lights and of course Babe took care of promoting the newly born album of STYX. Boat on the River? As far as I am concerned, I know of no rendition of that song on the Decathlon tour. It became a hit on the next tour! You may correct me on that one. Light up from Equinox was not played anymore while Miss America was the "encore song". Only Babe is still played regularly by the band from the Cornerstone album. Strangely, Blue Collar man was not played on every date.

Paradise Theater tour
The Paradise Theater tour... the first woldwide tour for the band... Great show, what a show!!! more than 140 minutes of music. Opening and closing of the show was held by the concept of the reopening of the Paradise Theater presented by the album. Too much time on my hands, The Best of Times, Snowblind, Half Penny-Two Penny , Rockin the Paradise were songs played from the brand new album at that time and almost all of these are still there. Nothing ever goes has planned was also played on and off on that tour. Tulsa and Meadowlands are among dates that this song was performed. Never heard of other songs from PT that were on the set list. The band played everything on that tour, carrying over with Lights and Borrowed Time from the previous album and introducing the new european hit Boat on the River. The giants were still played: Foolin Yourself, Blue Collar man, Renegade, Come Sail Away, Suite Madame Blue and so on. The band expanded the tour to Far East being on tour for more than a year. Snowblind was played with a psychadelic intro that was never performed pass that tour. Paradise Theater tour was the biggest ever and it will remain that way...

Kilroy was here tour
Another worlwide tour for the band... of course, the Roboto concept was surely perfect fit for the Far East public. Once again, in a theatrical way where members of the band played a character in the Kilroy saga. That gave the fans an unusual rock show. Mr. Roboto opened the thing. Don't let it end only survived Kilroy tour while Cold war was there to die fast. Interesting how Tommy jammed his guitar for a long solo during that song. There was also that extra verse that was not on the album with the digitalized voice. Haven't we been here before was a good closer. Heavy metal poisoning was a big piece in the theatrical stuff and well interpretated by JY. Johnnie was still doing good drums solos on Renegade. The band kept their audience on their feet with the classics. In Montreal, Crystal Ball was performed with the extra verse, lucky we are! Great Balls of Fire also took place in the set list with Dennis to sing it. Everybody Dance !!! The whole thing was closed the same way the album was. Don't let it end ( reprise ). Ironically, it ended... for more then 8 years.

Edge of the Century tour
After a long absence, STYX took the road again with new guitarist Glen Burtnik. Even if Glen performed all of Tommy's parts in the old hits, the tour really was focused on the new album from A&M. The title song from the new singer opened the show. None less than 7 songs from Edge were performed. Love is the Ritual, Show me the Way, All in a day's work, Not Deat Yet, World Tonite and Homewrecker from JY. That last song was preceeded by a fabulous blues of JY. Finally, I have heard that Love at First Sight was also played on and off ( maybe in another Edge song's place ) on the tour. If somebody could confirm this to me, I'd be glad. Babe suffered a curious cut, guitar bridge being dropped! Crystal Ball was not performed. The first and last absence of that song. Anyway, how Glen could have played that song??? It is so Tommy Shaw's song. A good show anyway... without Tommy Shaw who was yelling at the Yanks... curious... Once again they died for a few years.

[yogi]

Where did this concert review come from?? It is AWESOME!!!!! I honestly dont remember Edge Of the Century opening up the Edge tour. I will have to go back and check my boot.

So what about the Wooden Nickle era tours??? Anybody know????

AWESOME reviews!!!!

Thanks!!!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I love trying to find all this information I'll keep looking.

This is all I found (so far) on the Wooden Nickel years

The early years... The Wooden Nickel Years
In the beginning, Styx was a club playin band and spent a great deal of time covering other bands like all beginners do. In these times, they were sure playin the stuff from the bands who were their idols. To mention a few of them, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis. From what I know of that period of time, they were of course playin Styx material as well. Lady was always on the set list with Best thing. I had the chance to contact a few person who saw Styx playin High School shows. From The Serpent is Rising album, 22 Years and Witch Wolf were often played. John Panozzo was performing a drum solo in 22 Years. You Need Love took part of the set list and remained on the list until the Equinox tour. Every chance to play live for Styx was good and the guys did not lose confidence in themselves and kept playin and playin.

[gr8dane]

Nice bit of history.Thanx Suite.Kinda makes me look forward to that bio soonish/one day, to come out.
Wonder how that is going?

[yogi]

Suite,

Where are you getting this from??

Didnt Froy say he say them in a gym somewhere back in the early 70's??? If so what did they open with??

[SuiteMadameBlue]

You're welcome Yogi & Gr8dane

Yogi, as a Styx fan, don't you have EVERY article or anything that has to do with Styx bookmarked??? LOL I'M JUST KIDDING!!!!

Here's the link.

http://www.abacom.com/~henrid/Concert.htm

I love to look at the old pictures too on there

I'll ask Froy if he doesn't post soon about the early concerts.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Yogi,

Here is one from 1975 when they played a high school. If you look at the pictures, Dennis is making "shadow puppets" with the lights - LOL I'M ONLY KIDDING!!!! This site has a lot of older articles too!!

http://www.racerrecords.com/Styx/DGSPaper.html

Styx plays DGS (high school paper)
an article from the 1975 Downers Grove South High School paper
March 17, 1975

Styx, a popular rock group performed at Downers Grove South High School on February 28. Approximately 3,500 people artended the concert.
(John) (Styx)

Styx gains popularity
"We're trying to appeal to all people the best we can. We are playing for the audience inclusively." Styx, a popular Chicago rock group performed recently at Downers Grove South High School. Sponsored by the senior class, the concert attracted more than 3,500 rock fans.
Styx, comprised of Dennis DeYoung, vocals and keyboards, James Young, guitar and vocals, Chuck Panozzo, bass and vocals, and John Panozzo, drums, have been together for four years. Along with three other members of the group, DeYoung sang in the Chicago College Choir.

Ten years ago, DeYoung started a group called TW-4, the forerunner to Styx. "We were poor, destitute, TW-4 was just a hobby then. We used everybody else's music, The Who, Led Zepplin, the Beatles," he said. Battling all the other groups in the Chicago area for a place among the real talent, Styx were "as good as could be expected for the times," said John Panozzo. "We did probably as good as any band in the circuit, because we worked every Friday and Saturday night," he added.

Until recently, Styx popularity has been confined to the Chicago area. But since their hit single "Lady" has reached the number seven spot on record charts across the country, Styx has begun receiving national acclaim. "We are pleasantly surprised by our success. Styx has always wanted to sell records at a nationwide level," said James Young. Over 600,000 copies of "Lady" have been sold, bringing Styx close to a gold record for a song that was released in the Chicago area approximately two years ago.

Since their popularity has been on the increase, Styx has been doing their own music. "We're free to just about whatever we please," commented DeYoung. Styx is considering the possibility of releasing a live album. "We do some things live that we've not done on an album" DeYoung said. Even if the possibility of a live album is rejected, Styx will still release a new album in September or October, and the first week of April, a new single will come out. The single has not yet been decided, but "Man of Miracles", "Rock 'n Roll Feeling" and "Best Thing" are being considered.

Along with popularity increases comes the introduction to television. Styx has been offered a spot on the Midnight Special three times, but has turned down all offers. "TV is not a good medium for rock 'n roll," said DeYoung. "Most bands do not come off well."

Showmanship is necessary in promoting a band. According to DeYoung. showmanship takes talent. "People come to a concert not just to listen, they want to see a show. We try to give them that." Those who were present at the February 28 concert at Downers Grove South High School, were aware of the show that Styx put on. Throughout the concert, Styx attempted to entertain the audience with antics on stage, clouds of smoke and unexpected explosions. "We're trying to get the audience to like us," said James Young.

On April 25, Styx will be performing at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, their first major concert. Styx will again try to entertain the audience. DeYoung commented that there is still a possibility that Styx will again be performing for high school audiences, although they won't be back in the Chicago area until their Auditorium concert.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Here's a follow-up to the one I posted.

Styx plays DGS (high school yearbook)
an article from the 1975 Downers Grove South High School yearbook
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I think the kids of this school should be offered new and different opportunities to have some good times. There isn't a whole lot to do in Downers Grove and I believe school affiliated activities should try to remedy this," said senior Mike Hart. His hopes came true on February 28, the evening Downers South presented the legendary Styx concert. Sponsored by senior officers through Dex Card, the class was able to reap 10 percent of ticket sales; a sum totalling $1400 to be used for prom.

Holding a capacity crowd of 3600, conditions were far from perfect. Many students found it hard to endure sitting on the floor and the heat radiating through the bleachers. Cindy Kelso stated, "I really liked the concert except all the smoke and cramped conditions made the gym unbearably hot."

Reactions to the show put on by Styx were varied. "Fantastic" said Lynn Gonio. "Lousy compared to other more professional groups I've seen," were Dave Nystrom's feelings. Pat McCullugh liked the strobe lighting and felt it created an interesting atmosphere. Keith Chvatal complained about the backup group. "Fawn wasn't very good and it seemed like they played for an eternity." One girl was irritated by students continually standing up while another was scared when the big boom went off. Favorite songs included the hit, "Lady", "Father", and "All You Really Need is Love".

It was a strange feeling to observe the DGS gymnasium packed with unfamiliar faces. Some students felt as though teens from all over the Chicago area were joining together to celebrate an exciting event.

Clockwise: Drummer John Panozzo beating the skins. James Young shouts out a song. A capacity crowd fills the gymnasium. Performing antics is John Curulewski. Dennis DeYoung plays the synthesizer for the song "Father". An enthusiastic fan boogies.