Styx

Styx is proof positive that critical acclaim isn't the measure of a band's success.  Never a favorite of the rock-n-roll pundits, Styx was able to achieve phenomenal success in the late '70's and early '80's with their crowd-pleasing live theatrics and distinctive, orchestral brand of rock.

"The press never understood that we had four albums before we went to A&M, and that we had paid our dues," says bassist Chuck Panozzo.  "But the critics have been a lot kinder this time around."

Styx is currently on a reunion tour that unites guitarist Tommy Shaw with the band for the first time in 13 years.  Original drummer and band co-founder John Panozzo, Chuck's twin brother, died on July 16 of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage.  He also suffered from cirrhosis of the liver, the result of chronic alcoholism.

Styx, minus Shaw, reunited to make a record and a comeback attempt in 1990.  Shaw re-joined the band briefly last year when A&M requested a new, live version of their hit "Lady" for their first greatest hits album.

"We did it and it turned out pretty good," says Panozzo.  "Then Tommy's manager came to us and said he thought he could put together some tour dates, and we said 'We think we should be able to do this.'"

The Panozzos formed an early version of Styx in the '60's with fellow Chicagoan Dennis DeYoung.  John and Chuck were just 12 when they began jamming with DeYoung, then an accordion player.  From these humble beginnings, Panozzo never imagined the kind of success the band would achieve.

"I have a photo from January of '63 when we played a New Year's Eve party," Panozzo reminisces, "so I can look back at this thing from a different perspective.  It's fun to know that people can read about you in books or look you up on the computer.  I never envisioned that happening.  I feel good about the sacrifices everyone had to make.  We were in a career that had no guarantees.  We had to survive on our own gumption."

If the media never embraced the band entirely, millions of fans certainly did, and by the looks of ticket sales for the current tour, still do.  With fellow '70's arena favorites Kansas as an opening act, this tour might be a baby-boomer's dream come true.  But Panozzo has observed that not only are old Styx fans in their 30's and 40's turning out, but quite a few younger fans as well.

 "The demographics of the audiences are very wide.  We still have a lot of loyal fans that have been around for a long time.  And there are quite a few people that are re-discovering the group."

Styx literally ruled the FM airwaves at their zenith with their pomp rock ballads and hard pop rockers.  They were the first group to boast four consecutive triple-platinum albums.  And with numbers like that, the critics be damned.