Styx set to bring classic rock favorites to Phonenix and Rancho Mirage

Who: Styx

Where: Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26 and 27; Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, CA on Saturday, March 1

Learn more: styxworld.com.

 

Styx is currently on tour, with upcoming dates set for California and Arizona.
From left, Todd Sucherman, Lawrence Gowan, Chuck Panozzo, James "JY"
Young, Tommy Shaw, Terry Gowan and Will Evankovich.
Photo credit: Jason Powell

Styx is one of the great classic rock bands that continues to inspire audiences with powerful live performances and via compelling new studio albums — notably 2017's The Mission and 2021's Crash of the Crown.

Back in October 2024, Styx singer-keyboardist Lawrence Gowan chatted with me about the band's continuing success and connection with their dedicated audience.

"It's very evident and authentic when you see how much we love what we do," said Gowan, noting rock music is the "greatest form of entertainment I've come across."

"It's a thing that bonds us as people. As you get older you get to appreciate what a fantastic experience it is. Now it comes down to enjoying the moment. Look, it's a band of extroverts; we have no qualms about expressing how good we feel."

Styx has a slew of upcoming concert dates in Arizona, Washington, Oregon and California over the next month. All of these live events will showcase the top-tier talents of Glasgow, Scotland native Gowan as well as James "JY Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Will Evankovich (mandolin, guitars), and Terry Gowan (bass, guitar vocals). 

There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into each concert. Indeed, Gowan explained that there are two hours of warm-ups by the band before they take the stage, including the hour leading up to taking the stage when the members do vocal warm-ups to "get voices chiming together." Indeed, sumptuous harmonies are a major part of the Styx sound.

"We step on stage — there is our actual age and our stage age. The minute we step out there, we're living our 15-year-old dreams. We enjoy it that much. I feel 20 years old when I am on stage. It's such an inspiring place to be on stage.

Gowan noted that part of what makes Styx so special is how the band's music is a rich hybrid of rock, classical and pop — "a broad palette" that has a singular sound of its own.

During our interview I noted how impressed I was with the band's two most recent albums; indeed The Mission was one of the best album releases of 2017 and Crash of the Crown landed as one of my favorite new discs of 2021.

"We are so proud of those records," Gowan explained. "We made these records to intentionally connect with the classic rock era." 

Indeed, the studio albums were recorded on tape with 24-track machines, and with the members of Styx performing in the studio together.

"People of all ages have embraced the sound of classic rock; the only way to achieve that is with the old clunky analog machines."

Gowan noted that at every concert about a half of the attendees are under the ago of 40, and of those, 75 percent are under the age of 30.

"The music has crossed generations and they have embraced it."

Fans of Styx have hopes that the band's run that began at the dawn of the 1970s continues far into the future.

"Honestly, anything beyond the age of 35, you have to really thank the universe for dropping this in our lap," Gowan said. "Last week I saw Jeff Lynne; he was so good, why wouldn't (you not continue to perform) at that level?" 

Robert Kinsler

Editor's note: Read Robert Kinsler's review of Styx's Nov. 9, 2024 performance in Prescott Valley, AZ HERE

STYX: Rock icons reflect on their legendary career In all-new episode of “The Big Interview” airing April 17

Rock icons STYX showcased in all-new episode of 'The Big Interview' airing on Tuesday, April 17 at 9 p.m. (Eastern), and 6 p.m. (Pacific)

 

 

 

 

Los Angeles, CA (April 16, 2018) – Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, and Lawrence Gowan of the chart-topping rockers STYX sit down with Dan Rather for a revealing conversation, as they open up about the driving force that compels them to continue touring and performing in these exclusive looks at an all-new episode of The Big Interview—airing Tuesday, April 17 at 9pE/6pP.

 

Armed with a roster of hits including “Come Sail Away,” “Renegade,” “Blue Color Man,” and “Too Much Time On My Hands,” a passionate fan base, and the impressive distinction of being the first band in history to achieve four consecutive multi-platinum albums, STYX has long established themselves as one of the most influential and beloved bands in rock. After over 46 years in the industry, there isn’t much that the band has yet to accomplish. Asked why they still continue to do what they do after all of these years of tremendous success, guitarist Young thoughtfully explains, “We’re meant to bring this music—which comes from a higher place and is channeled through us and has the power to soothe, to calm, to inspire, and, in the best cases, to heal. We are the stewards of this mighty power, and it’s our great joy to get out here and use that power.”

 

“I would also add that we’re completely unqualified to do anything else on the planet,” says frontman Gowan, lead singer and guitarist Shaw to humorously chime in, “My charm wears off pretty quickly at home, I don’t recall my wife ever being in tears when I left again.”

 

Check it out here: https://youtu.be/2lIu3dJbHco

 

In addition, Shaw and Young explain to Rather their rocky relationship with former STYX frontman Dennis DeYoung. Though many of the band’s biggest hits were written during DeYoung’s tenure, creative differences ultimately led the band to shake up the roster, causing DeYoung’s official exit in 1999. On the possibility of DeYoung rejoining the band in the future, both Shaw and Young are a firm negative, with Shaw likening their relationship with DeYoung to a divorce. He says, “You get married when you’re young and everything’s rosy. Then, as you start to get a little older, you realize you didn’t have that much in common and then you go through a tough divorce… We still have songs that we co-wrote together, and those are our children, and we’ve managed to find a way to keep those things in play.”

 

Shaw is content to let the past remain in the past, choosing instead to surround himself with positivity as he enters the next part of his career. He continues, “Personality-wise, at this stage in my life, I want to be happy. I want to be around people who love me and that have my best interest at heart, and I don’t have to fight with. There’s just not enough years left that I would want to risk not having that again.”

 

Gowan took over on lead vocals following DeYoung’s dismissal, and he has now been with the band longer than their previous frontman. While he has heard all of the stories surrounding the band’s tumultuous partnership with DeYoung, he prefers to look at it as just one part of the journey that has led STYX to becoming one of the most iconic acts in the history of rock. Gowan explains, “I hear the angst and the history that they had to live through as a band, and I’m respectful of that… I look at it as if we are a great band, and what’s made us great is that we are the culminations of the efforts of everyone who’s been in the band… Sometimes in life you need a blood transfusion. Although I’m Canadian, apparently I was a match.”

 

Check it out here: https://youtu.be/KCJvxiW9yxI

 

To see more of this insightful episode, tune in to The Big Interview on Tuesday, April 17 at 9pE/6pP, only on AXS TV.

 

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