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Always original Dennis DeYoung of the Styx

Twins Chuck and John Panozzo, along with Dennis DeYoung and Tom Nardini, were regulars at the Chicago bar circuit from 1963 to 1969. Nardini left the group after 1969 when the Panozzos and DeYoung joined Chicago State University. There they met John Curulewski, with whom they formed TW4. James Young joined a year later prompting them to change the name of the outfit to Styx (after the river that flows through Hades in Greek Mythology).

Extensive touring followed and their official crack at stardom came in 1975 with the single Lady , featuring the blaring vocal triads that became a Styx trademark. From 1977 until their breakup in 1984, every one of their releases sold platinum or better.

One of the leading exemplars of the FM radio-oriented hard pop known as ‘Pomp Rock’, Styx has the distinction of having been named (in a local poll) the most popular rock band among American fans aged 13 to 18. Their concerts were invariably sold out. Apart from their albums some of the singles that did well were Come sail away, Fooling yourself (the angry young man), Blue collar man (Long Nights), Babe, The Best of times and Too much time on my times.

In 1983 the group toured 3000 seat halls with a theatrical presentation of Kilroy was here, an anti-censorship concept album that included the hit singles Mr. Roboto and Don’t let it end. In 1984 the group members went their separate ways for a while. DeYoung and Shaw, who had replaced Curulewski after they released Equinox in 1975, embarked on their respective solo carriers.

Four members of Styx, with newcomer Glen Burtnik, released the comeback album Edge of the century in the fall of 1990. A song from the aforementioned offering, Show me the way, became something of a theme song for the Gulf war. In 1995 DeYoung played Pilate in the Broadway revival of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He later completed his on musical based on The Hunchback of Notredame.

By 1990, founder member and drummer had developed a drinking problem and became a victim of this habit in July 1996.

A. GEORGE ANTONY

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