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Posted on Fri, Jan. 18, 2008
Styx rides into Strand
From staff reports
After spending 2007 touring the U.S. with fellow rockers Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, Foreigner and Deep Purple, one band is kicking off the new year with a tour of its own.
Power balladeers Styx, best known for the hits "Babe" and "Lady," as well as the '80s staple "Mr. Roboto," will sail into House of Blues on Saturday for a performance.
Only days into its early winter tour, Styx will again team up with Def Leppard, as well as REO Speedwagon for several dates in March and April, at the tour's conclusion.
With changes in lineup and new accomplishments during Styx's more than 30 years of performances, here's a timeline to get you up to speed on all things Styx.
1969 | After forming a band known as TW4, neighbors Dennis DeYoung and brothers Chuck and John Panozzo enroll at Chicago State University. The trio hooks up with another student, John Curulewski, who offers his skills on guitar.
1970 | Guitarist James "JY" Young joins the quartet.
1971 | The band's demo is heard by the Wooden Nickel label, and the following year the band is offered a recording contract.
1972 | The band is renamed Styx, after the mythological river around Hades. The band releases "Styx I."
1973 | "Styx II" is released. "Lady," written by Dennis DeYoung, gets airplay in the Chicago area. "The Serpent Is Rising" is also released this year.
1974 | "Lady" is re-released as a single, and the song reaches No. 6 on the U.S. charts.
1975 | "Styx II" moves steadily up the charts as a result of the success of "Lady," and the band signs with A&M Records. John Curulewski makes the decision to leave the band, and Tommy Shaw joins the lineup after an audition.
1976 | "Crystal Ball" is released and features four tracks written by Shaw. The album goes gold, and the single "Mademoiselle" moves steadily up the charts.
1978 | A&M Records releases the single "Come Sail Away," which would enter the Top 10. "The Grand Illusion" becomes the first album from Styx to go platinum. The singles, "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)," and "Miss America" contribute to the success of the album. Later in the year, the band would follow up with another platinum-selling album, "Pieces of Eight," featuring the hit singles, "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)," "Renegade" and "Sing for the Day."
1979 | A national Gallup poll reveals that Styx is the most popular rock band with teenagers. By December, the band's album "Cornerstone" reaches No. 2 on the charts. The No. 1 single "Babe" becomes the best-selling single of the band's career.
1981 | The album "Paradise Theatre" is released and attains platinum status. The band becomes the first in the history of rock 'n' roll to have four consecutive triple-platinum albums.
1983 | Styx releases the concept album, "Kilroy Was Here." The single "Mr. Roboto" reaches No. 3, and becomes the second best-selling single in the band's career.
1984 | Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw decide to pursue solo projects, and the band goes on hiatus.
1991 | A single from "Edge of the Century" titled "Show Me the Way," begins chart ascension into the Top 10 during the Gulf War.
1995 | Styx release Greatest Hits: Volume 1, featuring a re-recorded version of "Lady" with Tommy Shaw.
1996 | In May, the classic lineup returns with The Return to the Paradise Theatre tour. "Greatest Hits: Volume II" was released in the summer featuring a few new songs. For the first time in 13 years, Dennis DeYoung, James Young, Tommy Shaw, and Chuck Panozzo were performing together.
1997 | In May, CMC International Records, a division of BMG Entertainment, releases a double album of new studio tracks plus live recording of Greatest Hits from the 96 tour, appropriately titled, "Return to Paradise." Due to popular demand, Styx embarks on a 50-city North American tour in support of the release.
1999 | The band goes in to the studio in Chicago and Los Angeles to record "Brave New World," and embark on a subsequent tour.
2000 | The band goes on tour with REO Speedwagon.The tour is so successful that the two bands record and release a double live album and DVD, "Arch Allies: Live at Riverport."
2001 | "Styxworld Live 2001" is released, and the band continues to tour.
2002 | Styx continues to tour and records a new studio album, "Cyclorama."
2003 | "Cyclorama" is released. Bassist Ricky Phillips replaces departing member Glen Burtnik.
2004 | Styx has a radio hit with "I Am the Walrus," rapidly ascended the charts to No. 2 across the nation at Classic Rock Radio.
2005 | "Big Bang Theory," a reinterpretation of the "Great Rock Songbook," is released.
Source | www.Styxworld.com
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If you go
Styx
Where | House of Blues, 4640 U.S. 17 S., Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach
When | 8:30 p.m. Saturday
How much | $29.50
272-3000 or www.hob.com/myrtle
beach



