Happy birthday, Styx rocker Dennis DeYoung!

Dennis DeYoung, born February 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, is a founding member of the awesome rock band Styx, as well as their primary lead vocalist and keyboardist up until June 1999, when he left the band.  He wrote 7 of 8 of the band's Billboard Top 10 singles.

Styx found themselves in a state of limbo after Tommy Shaw left the band in 1984, so DeYoung went solo from 1984-89.  Styx reunited in 1990 and released Edge of the Century, with Show Me the Way, written by DeYoung being the biggest selling single from the album.

DeYoung tried his hand at acting between 1993-95.  He reunited with Styx in 1995 but left again in 1999 (this time for good) due to the musical and personal differences that had plagued the band in the early 1980s.

Styx releases "Paradise Theatre" 1981

Uber-rock group Styx released Paradise Theatre January 19, 1981, their tenth studio album.  It went to #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and stayed for 3 weeks.  It's the only album to reach #1 in the U.S. and the fourth consecutive triple-platinum.

It generated five singles, three of which made it to the top 10 on several charts.  Too Much Time on My Hands (my favorite) reached #2 and Rockin' the Paradise made it to #8 on the Mainstream Rock chart.  Too Much Time on My Hands went to #9 and Best of Times went to #3 on the Pop Singles Chart.

Dennis DeYoung wrote Best of Times and sang lead.  Tommy Shaw wrote and sang lead on Too Much Time on My Hands.  James Young wrote Snowblind with DeYoung and sang lead with Tommy Shaw.

Chuck Panozzo played bass guitar and his twin brother John played drums.

 

"Renegade" by Styx released 1979

Renegade by the rock group Styx was released January 9, 1979.  It was the third single to be released from their eighth studio album Pieces of Eight, which had been released the September before.  Renegade reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring.  Tommy Shaw sang the lead and James Young played lead guitar.

The song is a first-person narrative of an outlaw who is about to be executed by hanging for the crimes he has committed.

Happy birthday, Styx rocker James Young!

James Young, born November 14, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, is guitarist and vocalist for the super rock group Styx.  He also wrote and co-wrote songs for the band, including Snowblind, one of his biggest hits where he sings lead with Tommy Shaw.  It comes from my favorite Styx album, Paradise Theatre.

Right now, he is the only original band member left and has appeared on all Styx's albums. 

Styx releases "Kilroy Was Here" 1983

Styx released their eleventh studio album, Kilroy Was Here, February 22, 1983.  The concept album, which is based on a dystopian future where rock music is outlawed, was in part a mocking reponse to fundamentalist Christian groups, who managed to persuade the Arkansas State Senate to pass a bill requiring that all albums containing "back-masking" be labeled.  Styx was among other groups such as the Beatles, ELO, Pink Floyd and Queen.

According to wikipedia.com, the fifth track Heavy Metal Poisoning, contains the two mottoes found on the U.S. one-dollar bill back masked.

This is the last album of original material to be released by the "classic" lineup of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young, and twins John and Chuck Panozzo. 

The biggest hit from teh album was Mr. Roboto, which reach #3 on the Billboard charts.

Happy birthday, Tommy Shaw!

Tommy Shaw, born September 11, 1953 in Montgomery, Alabama, is best known as a guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Styx! He's been with the group since 1975, Crystal Ball being his first album with them.

Shaw wrote Renegade and Blue Collar Man for their Pieces of Eight album.  He performed Too Much Time on My Hands from Paradise Theatre.