Throwback Threesome – Styx

Styx is one of those bands that has always been hard to pin down in one category. Formed in Chicago in 1972, this group of talented and versatile musicians easily navigated between hard rock anthems and soft rock ballads, and from the prog rock of the ’70s to the synth-pop of the ’80s. They even incorporated elements of musical theater into their repertoire.

During the initial run of success for Styx, Dennis DeYoung sang lead vocals on the majority of their singles. He and the band parted ways in 1999, after which singing duties were shared by Tommy Shaw, James “J.Y.” Young, and Lawrence Gowan. The three videos below are from the DeYoung era.

• Babe (1979)

  “Babe” was the lead single from the band’s 1979 triple-platinum album Cornerstone. The song was written by Dennis DeYoung as a birthday present for his wife, Suzanne. It was not originally intended to be a Styx track, but band mates James “J.Y.” Young and Tommy Shaw convinced DeYoung to put the song on the album. It was the group’s first, and only, #1 single in the U.S.

• The Best of Times (1981)

  “The Best of Times” was released by Styx in 1981 as the first single from their tenth album, Paradise Theatre. It made it up to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Despite the song’s success, the song has not been performed live by the band since Dennis DeYoung was replaced in 1999. However, DeYoung still performs the song regularly on his solo tours.

• Mr. Roboto (1983)

  “Mr. Roboto” was written by Dennis DeYoung for the 1983 concept album Kilroy Was Here. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Kilroy Was Here was a rock opera about a world where rock music is outlawed and is named after a famous World War II graffiti tag “Kilroy was here”. It was the final album of original material to be released by the classic Styx lineup of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James “J.Y.” Young, John Panozzo, and Chuck Panozzo.