Styx – Dell Sweet

Styx Band Overview

Formation: Styx was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1972, emerging from the band “The Tradewinds” in 1961. The original lineup included Dennis DeYoung, James “J.Y.” Young, John “J.C.” Curulewski, and brothers Chuck and John Panozzo.
Name Origin: The band’s name “Styx” was chosen because it was “the only one that none of us hated.”

Rise to Fame

Early Success: Styx gained popularity with their self-titled debut album in 1972 and the hit single “Lady” from the album Styx II in 1973, which reached No. 6 on the US charts.
Commercial Breakthrough: The band’s commercial breakthrough came with the album “The Grand Illusion” in 1977, featuring the hit single “Come Sail Away”. This album reached triple platinum certification and launched Styx into superstardom.
Success in the 80s: Styx continued to enjoy significant success in the early 1980s with albums like “Paradise Theatre” (1981) and “Kilroy Was Here” (1983), which featured hits like “Mr. Roboto” and “Too Much Time on My Hands”.

Band Members

Current Members:
James “J.Y.” Young: Guitarist and vocalist, founding member
Chuck Panozzo: Bassist, founding member
Tommy Shaw: Guitarist and vocalist, joined in 1975
Todd Sucherman: Drummer, joined in 1996
Lawrence Gowan: Keyboardist and vocalist, joined in 1999
Will Evankovich: Guitarist and backing vocalist, joined in 2018
Terry Gowan: Touring bassist, joined in 2024
Former Members:
Dennis DeYoung: Founding member, lead vocalist, and keyboardist (left in 1999)
John “J.C.” Curulewski: Founding member, guitarist (left in 1975)
John Panozzo: Founding member, drummer (died in 1996)
Glen Burtnik: Guitarist and vocalist (joined in 1990, left in 2003)
Ricky Phillips: Bassist (joined in 2003, left in 2024)

Interesting Facts

Styx has sold over 20 million records for A&M between 1975 and 1984.
The band was one of the first to be awarded four consecutive multi-platinum albums.
Styx has had eight songs that hit the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The band has undergone several lineup changes, with Dennis DeYoung and Chuck Panozzo being the only consistent members until DeYoung’s departure in 1999.