LIVE! | STYX 2012

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer –

February 17, 2012 at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, NV

Back by popular demand, Styx returned to Vegas for a sold out performance at the Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, NV. This was my first time at the venue and the acoustics were perfect for this outstanding event. The line circled all the way down to the Grand Cafe upon entrance. The age range of the fans ranged from the die-hard early fans to the new generation of fans at the arena show.

Opening with “Blue Collar Man,” singer Tommy Shaw took full command of the audience. Las Vegas radio station KOMP were playing Styx songs all week long to get the fans pumped up for the show. But nothing compares to hearing these classic hits live. Hit after Hit, Styx wasted no time kicking the show in full gear from the opening song. Next up “The Grand Illusion” and “Too Much Time On My Hands” soared.

There were so many highlights of the show one of them included the song “Lady.” Keyboardist Lawrence Gowan performed on a revolving platform with his keyboards. His voice was flawless. Also, I might add the harmonies of the band were spectacular. Singer Tommy Shaw said that the band wanted to perform all of the hits but also bring some of the more obscure some to the table this time around including “Man In The Wilderness.” Styx has been touring non-stop. Receiving great reviews from Coast to Coast and tonight’s performance was outstanding!

Highlight of the show was the acoustic performance of “Crystal Ball;” the finger-picking acoustic guitar and lyrics of this song say it all. The couple behind me even commented out loud this is one of the bands best songs! The song built into a powerful crescendo with the rest of the members of the band joining in at the end.

Not many bands have a set list full of hit songs like the classic set performed tonight by Styx. The songs brought back a lot of memories growing up. Styx ended the night with the encore “Renegade’ in a blast of confetti falling from the air! Be sure to check out the band when they come to a city near you.

Special Thanks to Amanda Cagan for letting Hardrock Haven cover this event.

Set List:
Blue Collar Man
The Grand Illusion
Too Much Time On My Hands
Lady
Lorelei
Man In The Wilderness
I’m OK
Crystal Ball
Suite Madam Blue
Piece Of Eight
Fooling Yourself
Miss America
Come Sail Away
Rockin’ The Paradise
Renegade

Photos appear courtesy of Deb Rao

STYX | REGENERATION, VOLUME I & II

by John Kindred
Staff Writer

The question of the day is, “Why are bands re-recording and releasing their original recordings from decades ago?” With many bands firmly on this band wagon, why should we not expect a classic band like STYX not to follow suit? After all, like many of today’s current touring and recording artists whose humble beginnings began in the late ’60 and ‘70s, they are a shell of their former selves. Often sporting one or two original members.

So here we have Regeneration Volume I & II packaged together for the first time and available to the mass public instead of only being sold at the band’s concerts. Although fronted by original members, Tommy Shaw and James “JY” Young, the rest of their band-mates only have been around since ’95, at the earliest. Currently the band is emphasizing that the current lineup has actually has been together longer than the original group. It’s unclear if that justifies re-recording and releasing material originally sung by band founder and contributing songwriter, Dennis DeYoung who left the band in ‘99. The band’s original drummer, John Panozzo, died in ’96, while his brother, bassist Chuck Panozzo, sits in on specific songs during the band’s live set. Lawrence Gowan, DeYoung’s replacement, and really is a clone of the former vocalist and keyboardist. Bassist Ricky Phillips and drummer Todd Scherman round out the current lineup.

Regeneration Volume I & II boasts re-recorded versions of classic STYX compositions, a brand new song “Difference In The World” and re-recordings of “High Enough” and “Coming Of Age,” from Shaw’s former band, Damn Yankees. The majority of the songs on both CDs were and continue to be FM rock radio staples: “The Grand Illusion;” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man);” “Lorelei;” “Crystal Ball;” “Come Sail Away;” “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights);” “Miss America;” “Renegade;” ”Too Much Time On My Hands;” and “Snowblind.” “Sing for the Day” and “Queen of Spades” are more obscure album tracks that only diehard fans would know. Both songs are throwaways and blur the continuity of what could be considered another “greatest hits” package.

Listening to the re-recorded songs on Regeneration Volume I & II offers nothing new regarding re-interpretation of the music. Although we are a couple of decades away from the ‘70s and ‘80s and the technology and equipment used to record with has advanced with the times, the songs sound similar in tonality as well as sonically. The guitar tone is that same Marshall-esque crunch of the ‘70s. Guess what? Tommy Shaw still sounds like, well, Tommy Shaw, that’s guitar and vocals. And Lawrence Gowan sounds, well, a lot like Dennis DeYoung. If the band wanted to re-create the songs sung by DeYoung, then they had to find someone who sang damn close to the original singer.

Regeneration Volume I & II is what it is, whatever the reason. As a fan of the band, would you buy it for one new song? It would be better for STYX to have released a new album of songs than to revisit the past. It’s all a bit too nostalgic.

Genre: Classic Rock

Band:
Tommy Shaw (v)(g)
James “JY” Young (g)
Lawrence Gowan (v)(k)
Ricky Phillips (b)
Todd Scherman (d)

Track Listing:

DISC 1
1. The Grand Illusion
2. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
3. Lorelei
4. Sing For The Day
5. Crystal Ball
6. Come Sail Away
7. Difference In The World

DISC 2
1. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
2. Miss America
3. Renegade
4. Queen Of Spades
5. Boat on The River
6. Too Much Time On My Hands
7. Snowblind
8. Coming Of Age
9. High Enough

Label: Eagle Rock

Styx can be found on the web at:
http://www.styxworld.com/
http://www.facebook.com/styxtheband
http://twitter.com/STYXtheband

Hardrock Haven rating: n/a

Ricky Phillips of Styx

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

Exclusive Ricky Phillips of Styx Discusses Upcoming Styx Vegas performance

One of the great rock bands that helped defined the classic rock genre Styx will be performing a special concert Sept. 24 at the Hard Rock at The Joint in Vegas. Styx bassist Ricky Phillips gives Hardrock Haven exclusive details surrounding the special event.

Hardrock Haven: Ricky, thank you so much for checking in with Hardrock Haven. Styx is going to be coming to Vegas on Sept. 24 performing at The Joint at the Hard Rock. Now the band has been touring non-stop all summer. Styx just got off the road doing a summer tour with Yes. Tell us what the Vegas fans can expect to see at the Hard Rock.

Ricky: It’s always fun for us to go to Vegas. We have a good time in Vegas. It’s always a good show. This year we are kind of interjecting some of the deeper album cuts along with the hits everybody wants to hear. Last year we did a run of shows at theaters on the East Coast. We played all of The Grand Illusion album. Then we took an intermission and then came back and did the entire Pieces Of Eight album. In doing that I started to perform songs that have never been performed live by the band. It got such a great fan response; we have been interjecting night to night. We change it up a little bit. I am not sure which songs will be in there. A lot of the stuff that the die-hard fans think that they are not going to hear. We are kind of just trying to surprise everybody and throw stuff in. We change it up so it is fresh for us and fresh for the audience. We have a lot of people that have seen us multiple times. It is just something that has worked out to be a win win for us.

Hardrock Haven: How long will your set be? Will you be doing two sets? I think Reo Speedwagon is on the same bill that night.

Ricky: Yes, I think so. And if that is the case both bands will be restricted to 75 minutes a set. We get up there, we mean business. We take charge. We will be slamming out songs for 75 solid minutes. We don’t like to stagnate. We like to keep the band fresh and moving forward. We up the bar and up the game every year. We want the next gig to be better than the last one. We have a great crew. There are about 21 people on our entourage. Our crew is every bit part of the show and every reason, we are able to do as many shows as we do and with the quality. We got a really good army of people. We are looking forward to the Vegas show simply because Vegas is so damn much fun!

Hardrock Haven: Since Vegas is all about the glitz and glamor; will the stage set be elaborate? Styx’s music surely stands on it own with just straight ahead rock and roll.

Ricky: I don’t think so. Only because we are out of concert season. This summer we had the big rig out. I think it is going to be what you said just straight ahead rock and roll. It’s funny I talk to fans and some just love the down and dirty shows where it is just the band. With all the content up there is a lot going on. I don’t think anybody will be disappointed.

Hardrock Haven: Vegas is gearing up for the Styx concert. The radio was just playing “Blue Collar Man” the other night. It’s amazing; year after year Styx is garnering new fans. Did you find that on the recent tour with Yes that families were bringing their kids to see the band and introducing them to your music?

Ricky: Yes there are a few things going on that we discovered. Families are bringing their young kids. Six or seven years ago, we discovered there have been 14, 15, 16 year old fans both boys and girls. Some of them discovered the band on a musical quest and not from family members. Maybe from Zeppelin or Hendrix records. I was singing “Lady”; it is kind of an aggressive pop song. Here I am singing this kid was singing along giving me this kind of full on Billy Idol scowl and Mohawk singing “Lady” at the top of his lungs. He was probably 15. I think by people going back and they’re not caught up going on when these songs were initially recorded they are taking the songs by face value.

Hardrock Haven: Regeneration Volume 2 is now out for the fans. Tell us about the new album.

Ricky: It is cool what is going on with this. We did the recordings at the time to kind of save the masters. There were trying to find the masters and some of them were found and some of them were misplaced. Then when you find them sometimes they are not playable. Regeneration 1 and 2 are being embraced by our fan base. We were doing “High Enough” for fun this summer and we put that on Regeneration Volume 2. It is something new for the fans to get along with the songs that were basically being archived.

Hardrock Haven: What was the goal of Styx when re-recording these classics hits? Did you want to keep it true to the sound but maybe make it fresh and bring in a little bit of the new element?

Ricky: I think that is what ended up happening. Initially, we were trying to stay so true to the original that we were paying homage to them. Never did we want to say this is how we do it now. To be honest. I think we have great respect in reference to the original master recording. Those were the songs that defined the time. I always say there is nothing worse to go hear a guitar lick or melody or a certain place in a song that I love and they don’t do it. We weren’t trying to re-invent the wheel and say this is how we do it now. A lot of the young kids who listen to the band let them know us as their Styx with great respect to the masters

Hardrock Haven: So many of the Styx catalog are hits and these songs have remained timeless. What do you think makes a good song stand the test of time?

Ricky: I think the great natural sense for the guys to write these multiple harmonies that became sort of the Styx sound. But also what we developed started in 1975 with James Young and Tommy Shaw, they have a dance that they do not physically on the stage but with their guitars. There is some choreography that happens with these guys naturally. When they both play guitar, they are playing completely different. But it creates this one bigger sound together. It is really identifiable as a part of Styx. That is something that really came apparent to me after doing multiple shows with the band. James Young has made sure that the sound has stay true to its original. That is a hurdle that I had to jump through. It has just been something that has paramount to the bands integrity. This isn’t the new Styx. This is Styx and the only Styx.

Hardrock Haven: Styx has their own signature sound. No band in rock and roll has a sound like Styx. The great aspect is that Styx can pull off this sound live. The band spends over 200 nights a year tour.

Ricky: Exactly. We are lucky that we can keep our voices. We actually like doing five shows a week. Some of the bands that we tour with that can’t do that. They have one lead singer. Because Styx has always had three lead singers, we can move around some of the high notes in the places that just tear up your throat. I think our record is for this year; we did 30 shows in 36 days. There have been times in dry weather that can really tear at your throat like Vegas. In the Midwest, when we were playing this summer muggy weather is really good singing weather. Not good for the hairdo but good for the throat.

Hardrock Haven: During your illustrious career as a musician. What is your greatest accomplishment as a musician? How did playing in a cover band doing five sets a night help build your stamina for touring in Styx?

Ricky: That was definitely Rock And Roll College. Definably, playing four and five sets a night before I headed to LA and try and go it. I knew I had to go to either New York or Los Angeles if I was really serious. After I was ready and had done the work, I went to Los Angeles in 1978. Inside a few months ended up getting in an International touring act called The Babys. That is where I met all the guys in Styx and that is where I was first onstage with in 1979. Tommy Shaw and I remained friends throughout this time. When he was in Damn Yankees I was in Bad English. Tommy and I laugh about it now and say can you believe we are in a band together? It is so cool. One of the things I am proudest of is I am one of the guys that rose to the top. I am thrilled that I did. This is not what I expected. If you told me after the beginning of my career after having meeting Styx that I would one day be in this band I would have laughed. I wouldn’t have thought this was possible. However all the planets aligned and all the dots connected for me to be here at this time at this point in my career, I feel that I have won the lottery. I am with guys that know how to be in a band. Respect and know how to protect a band as great as Styx and make the changes necessary so that the band thrives and lives. It is better to sound better than it ever has for that love and nurturing.

Hardrock Haven: In your free time to you get to pursue any of your hobbies?

Ricky: I am a golfer. If I can get on that golf course, when I am on the road I will be just fine.

Hardrock Haven: The metal genre just lost Jani Lane. He was an avid golfer. Did you ever play golf with Jani?

Ricky: I played golf with Jani. God Bless him. He was a lot of fun. Him and I played golf a few times. It has actually been a while now since I have been in Styx now that I think about it. Bobby Blotzer from Ratt, Jani and some of the guys from Warrant played golf together.

Hardrock Haven: Anything else that you want to say about the upcoming Vegas show Sept. 24 at the Hard Rock?

Ricky: Everybody come and have a good night. It is the first time we have played with Reo Speedwagon in quite some time. It is going to be a big party!

LIVE! STYX

by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer

September 2, 2011 at the L.C. Pavilion, Columbus, Ohio

If you listened to rock radio in the 1970s and 1980s Styx was one of those bands that even if you didn’t buy their records, you knew all their songs. They owned the rock airwaves and chicks loved them, burning their songs into their boyfriends heads. Their rock-ballad “Come Sail Away” ruled supreme for nearly a decade as a prom theme standard. With their radio friendly songs the band became a concert giant touring the United States and the world behind massive selling albums like The Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight and Paradise Theater.

Seriously, in the days of big arena rock, Styx was one of rocks biggest acts. Add three decades and the band’s faithful following remains strong and loyal. Sure, the crowds may be a bit smaller but the power of their songs was enough to draw thousands of Columbus area residents out in 90 plus degree temperatures.

The stage was flanked by a large black banner emblazoned in gold with the bands stylized “Styx” logo as the staged lights were dumped. In the darkness, stage crew members removed the covers from the bands on-stage amps revealing light boxes. As the lights were slowly raised, Tommy Shaw slowly emerged from the shadows on stage left, slender and wrapped in black clothing, sunburst Gibson Les Paul slung low, and sauntered to the mic.

As the sun dipped below the western horizon, the lights exploded on the stage as the band broke into “Blue Collar Man”. The band strutted and grinned as they acknowledged the crowd while belting out the hit. From the audience, most of the 4000 plus were singing along; “Give me a job, give me security, give me a chance to survive,” an ironic anthem for the times but evidence of the enduring quality of the tune.

Bowing to the cheers of the L.C. Crowd, Styx kicked into “Grand Illusion” and “Too Much Time,” taking the fans back to their high or college days. With a bit of gray stubble in his blond beard, Styx stalwart guitarist Tommy Shaw and his band-mates did their best to turn back the clock by playing a virtual best of set list of Styx hits.

The ninety-minute set was energetic, well presented and greatly appreciated and received by the fans. The setlist for the Columbus performance was composed of:

Blue Collar Man
Grand Illusion
Too Much Time
Lady
Lorelei
Man In The Wilderness
I’m Ok
Crystal Ball
Queen of Spades
Castle Walls
Pieces of Eight
Fooling Yourself
Miss America
Come Sail Away
Walrus
Renegade

For more information on Styx and their current tour visit: www.styxworld.com

Photos appear courtesy of Chris A.

LIVE! | Styx & Yes

by Kim Shockley
Staff Writer

July 18, 2011 at Starlight Theater in Kansas City, MO.

In spite of the oppressive heat and humidity, Styx played to a full house on Monday July 18, 2011 at Starlight Theater, Kansas City, Mo. This band, together for more than 30 years, are true professionals still at the top of their game. They seem to truly enjoy what they do, and are all about having fun on stage. The crowd came to their feet from the first song, “Blue Collar Man,” and the energy of the show never waned.

The years have been good to lead singer and guitarist Tommy Shaw. Not only has he maintained an athletic build, his voice is still A+. He has the energy of any 30 year old musician as he moves across the stage. James Young is still as animated as ever on stage, and his vocals were spot on during “Miss America.” James Young’s guitar solo during “Grand Illusion,” was nothing short of masterful.

The only new song performed was “One With Everything,” which leans a little more to the progressive side. was well received by the crowd and definitely showcased Shaw’s vocal range.

Bassist Ricky Phillips has carved out his place in the band, and has no trouble keeping up with boys. To the surprise and delight of the crowd, former bassist Chuck Panozzo (brother of late drummer John Panozzo) looking quite dapper in his shirt and tie, joined the group for two songs, “Fooling Yourself” and “Come Sail Away.”

Lawrence Gowan, keyboardist and vocals, doomed to a lifelong comparison to Dennis DeYoung, held his own during the show. He’s taken the Dennis DeYoung classics and made them his own, without loosing the spirit that made them signature songs, like “Suite Madam Blue” and “Lady,” Some might think Gowan’s almost constant 360 degree spinning of the keyboard and Keith Emerson style maneuvers somewhat distracting.

Shaw broke out the twelve string for fan favorite “Crystal Ball,” and gave it his all, singing and playing to the crowd. He explained that this song was written around the time he lived in Montgomery, Alabama and was approached to join STYX. One glaring omission was “Snowblind,” but with so many hits and a short time to play, they just can’t do them all.

Legendary prog band YES opened for Styx and they put on a decent show. Their current lead singer, who they discovered on YouTube (sound familiar Journey fans?) just didn’t quite have the chops. He gave it his all, and I found myself silently cheering him on to hit the high notes. At the same time, there were other songs that if you closed your eyes, you could almost hear Jon Anderson. Almost. Overall, YES entertained the crowd and they seemed to be enjoying themselves on stage, in spite of the sweltering heat.

Styx Set List: Blue Collar Man; The Grand Illusion; One With Everything; Too Much Time On My Hands; Lady; Lorelei; Man in the Wilderness; Suite Madame Blue; Crystal Ball; Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man); Miss America; Sail Away; Renegade.

Yes Set List: Tempus Fugit; Yours Is No Disgrace; Heart of the Sunrise; I’ve Seen All Good People; Fly From Here; And You and I; Owner of a Lonely Heart; Starship Trooper; Roundabout.

Photos appear courtesy of Kim Shockley

Ricky Phillips of STYX

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

One of the greatest hard rock bands that helped define the classic rock era Styx is currently performing on The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Tour performing both albums track by track in their entirety. Catchy melodies, power ballads, and a combination of progressive rock, and stellar musicianship are Styx’s strongest forte. Styx emerged out of the Chicago area inspiring many hits including, “Lady,” “Babe” and ”Come Sail Away.”

In 2010, there seems to be a whole new generation of fans discovering the band for the first this. This prompted the re-recording of six of the bands greatest hits in a new album release available at the bands concerts entitled REGENERATION, VOLUME 1. The EP also contains one new song entitled “Difference In The World.”

Hardrock Haven had the privilege of speaking with Styx bassist Ricky Phillips after the opening night of The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Tour. In this exclusive interview Ricky gives the readers a detailed look into the making of one of the most anticipated tours of the season.

HRH: Ricky, Thank you for checking in with Hardrock Haven. Styx recently kicked off The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Tour. How did opening night go? What were some of the highlights?

Ricky: The highlights were remembering the songs. (Laughter) We are actually doing a lot of material in the set that we haven’t played in ages, and some stuff that Styx that has never performed. We have got such a comfortable place in our set where we are running around jumping off the drum riser, summersaults all kind of crazy stuff onstage. Now all of a sudden we got to stop and think there are moments when I got lead boots and I am just standing there going oh my God what is next? But it gives it a great energy. I have to say last night’s show had such an undercurrent of intensity that we talked about afterwards that we got offstage. There is a very cool vibe. There is a different type  of audience coming to this. More of the audio file type of audience and we like that. It is fun to see and fun to feel. It is not so immediate of people just jumping up and down and rocking out for no apparent reason. It is people who are checking it out and us out in the process. It was a great show and good fun.

HRH: Do you find there is a whole new generation of Styx fans out there? Does it feel like you are performing the hits all over again for the first time with the new audience attending the concerts?

Ricky: Some of them yes. Some of the immediate gratification songs, I would say like ”Come Sail Away” and “Fooling Yourself”, you say oh yeah. Some of the stuff is a slow burn and it pulls you in. You are right, there is sort of the Styx army building over the years who have discovered the band . Some of them through their parents or grandparents and also some of them just in a search of music and what became before. It is kind of the same way I discovered Howling Wolf and Albert King and a lot of the people through the British musicians that was re-introduced back to the Americans back in the 60s. So whatever way they get there as long as they get there. It is fun to look at and see young faces in the crowd.

HRH:What inspired the band to play these albums back to back in their entirety?

Ricky: A lot of the credit goes to Charlie Brusco our manager.  We have been doing  a lot of shows. We are on the road 280 days a year. He figured we needed something to spice it up for us. Even though we have a 2 hour set or 70 minute set, we change up what material goes with that format. He could see us getting to a point where we needed to do something a little bit different. We do get a lot of fan mail people requesting this song  or that song . The sweet spot seems to be The Grand Illusion or Pieces Of Eight albums. He said why don’t we do this. This is a new concept this is a theater tour. Why don’t we do Grand Illusion take an intermission come back and do Pieces Of Eight that simply. Nobody said anything, we just kind of looked around the table and thought that is a great concert cool idea. Other bands have done it. I remember Cheap Trick doing three nights at the House Of Blues in LA each night with a different album. So it was a very cool thing. What we are trying to do is recreate the  album experience and bring the album experience where you bring the album experience where you play a A side and a B side in such a way that it is sequenced. We are playing it exactly in order of the album. The live show is normally put together very differently. You start with an opening  big number and you build your set back up to a frenzy till the end of the encores. When you released the album, you stack  heavy on the front side because you want people to hear songs that you feel are your best songs and so they will buy the album. So we will come out on “Grand Illusion” and open with “Grand Illusion” and then go straight into “Fooling Yourself”, and “Come Sail Away.” Big songs on the front side and then it gets a bit introspective and works towards that last song on the A side where you walk over and flip the vinyl over and you start the new experience of the side B. It is tricky. It is a whole different way of listening. It is a whole different experience. It is a different way of going through each catalog from both records. For us it is as different as was it was the audience.

HRH: Tell us about the stage show? It is elaborate or are you just concentrating on the music?

Ricky; I don’t really want to give away the stage show. There are a couple of things that we are doing I can’t see because I concentrating on what is coming up next. There is a lot of vocals and things coming up next. It is not just bombastic music hitting the audience over the head. There are those moments where it chills way down and because a little more of a moodiness that comes to the show. There are different plateaus and different levels. I think for the theater it  has been a sit down audience for one night I think it has proven so far to be very interesting. It is kind of just like going to the theater. It stresses the theater format.

HRH: In 1977 the breakthrough album The Grand Illusion hit the airwaves. Then the following year you had Pieces Of Eight and all of the hits including “Renegade.” How would you say those albums differ musically in style?

Ricky:  I think that Grand Illusion is an album that is very well put together. Opening with Grand Illusion and kind of building up this different time signatures and complexity rhythms that develop in a song. Although it may appear to be a very melodic song there is a long going on. Each song seems to graduate to the next up until the last song which is the grand finale. It is very well put together. There is a lot of thought put into the  creation of Grand Illusion. Then as you see as you see as you go into Pieces Of Eight a little more looser  format  a little bit more the performance of the musician. The songs get a little bit more looser in the sense the musicianship that is displayed takes it to another level. I always think about when I saw The Beatles perform “She Loves You” to Sgt. Pepper. Where is gets a little bit crazier even though there is great production and great techniques used it starts to get “Wow” these guys are serious. It is kind of that progressive.

HRH: Styx has a brand new album Regeneration, Volume One. Six songs that are re-corded and one brand new song entitled,” Difference In The World.” Tell us what you were striving for in the studio when you were recording the six hits that are going to be displayed on the new album?

Ricky: I think what we were striving for is not to change the songs. That wasn’t the reason for going in and doing Regeneration. It kind of came out of Guitar Hero and Rockband wanting tracks from us for our games. You go back and try and find the original recordings and you wonder does the record label have them? Are they in storage?  When you find them are they in good enough shape to be played. Some of these things have to be baked. There is a process where they seriously have to be heated up before they can get a playoff. They try to digitally try and record what is left and the tape disintegrates basically. So there was an actual reason for us re-doing them. And then we thought we do get fan mail from some of the younger fans who say wow we come and see this power packed band and we go buy the records and we don’t sound the same like the same band. Well some of the people are not the same. But we do respect highly the original recordings. They were meticulously put together with great due respect, we are not trying to come up with new licks or new arrangements nothing like that. It is basically, the band as musicians they mature  They get better, and recording techniques get better. So we are just trying to get good representations of the band today playing those tracks. “Difference In The World” which is a new track that Tommy Shaw wrote, I am a huge fan of that song. When Tommy first wrote it, he played it for me and I flipped. I said dude that has got to be a Styx song. I didn’t want him sending it off to another artist or having them have a hit with it or be in a movie if it wasn’t us playing it. Everyone else seemed to agree. The next thing I knew it was going to be a bonus track or a piece of new information on Regeneration.

HRH: Well the release is perfect timing for the new fans and it also showcases the evolution of the band too. Do you agree?

Ricky: Yes, exactly and that was specially the point.

HRH: How would you say Styx has evolved since the heyday?

Ricky: I was first onstage with Styx in 1979 and they were a strong unit then. I was in a band called The Baby’s and they were always a strong unit. It is basically things just changed. For something to thrive and stay alive and to get better and to grow there has got to be change within. Some of those elements have changed and some of those happen to be members. Unfortunately Johnny, the drummer for Styx passed away John Panozzo. Todd Sucherman came in. He was also a Chicago drummer. He was also voted World’s best rock drummer in Modern Drummer in the readers poll last year. All of the people who have come in Lawrence Gowan who came in on keyboards who is a huge star in Canada was basically one of those magical finds in a magical fit to come and fill the keyboard spot and also be able to sing the way he does and perform the way he does. He has got his own bevy of fans. He is a dynamic performer and singer. Each of them who have come in, I don’t want to take away anyone who has come before in the band because there is great respect for anyone who has been in Styx. The way it is formed, the way it has grown and the way it is now is an a place where it is probably at it’s highest intensity. We are tough on each other. We are a band of brothers but we care enough about the music to always discuss it at the end of the night. If something isn’t right or a tempo isn’t right we jump on it then and there. With that in mind and with that intent the band has been able to grow and flower.

HRH: It is amazing. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard “Babe” on the radio this week.  What would say the secret of the longevity of Styx is?

Ricky:  I think any good song. I think if you are 17, 18 or 19 and a song comes out on the radio and reflects a relationship you are in or reflects your life and the melody repeats itself where you can hang on to it and it grows and grows and grows. There are certain songs that just land at the right time. I was a huge Led Zeppelin fans and remember buying Physical Graffiti and played it once. I said what the hell happened to my band? It is terrible. Well it ended up becoming my favorite album of all time. There was so much meat to it. It  took a second, third or fourth listen. There is so many ways of things growing and becoming as big as they may become. I think that every generation has its music and sound. There are very subtle differences. Sure you might be able to take a song and play a song from the 60′s with an 80′s type production and boom it becomes a hit if it is good song within. But there is a lot of color that goes in to creating records. That is one of the things that is kind of cool about this experience that we are doing right now with Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Tour. We are re-visiting those things and maybe just us playing them updates the songs just a bit.  We are not trying to it is not intentional. It is just the development and growth within a band.

HRH: How long will this tour run? Will it go into next year? Will you add another leg to it? Do you think?

Ricky: I think it is too soon to tell to be honest. It could happen. We were going to do eight shows and now it grew to 22 and we said stop. We need some time off. We need some time off. We have already been out and did three tours this year. Now we are adding this fourth one. We need a break. Everybody needs to go back to their families and chill a bit. I do believe if this 22 run of the theaters catches on  and people seem to like it, we will do it again at some point.

HRH: You are such an established bass player. You have also performed with The Baby’s, Bad English, Coverdale/Page. What were some of the highlights from those days?

Ricky: Well, I think The Baby’s days were a pure time in music. There has always been trends but it wasn’t so cookie cutter of the bands from the ’60s and ’70s didn’t sound like the next. The ’80s began to get homogenized. The Babys was a band that we were all trying to be Humble Pie and The Rolling Stones. We were all little brothers of what became before and we spit it out in our style. We loved fashion and we loved good tumble rock and roll songs. We loved Led Zeppelin. When Bad English came along we were at a time when bands had the same haircuts and clothing designers. All songs sort of sounding similar. Productions styles were similar. But in Bad English we were all accomplished musicians. That is kind of how we came together. A couple guys from Journey, a couple guys from The Baby’s. we were trying to be more of a musical band. Then to get radio airplay in those days, you kind of had to be the flavor of the month. The record tried to pressure you to do tracks. What we would do we would record all the songs the record company would throw at us. We tried to beat them by writing songs. They would all fall to the wayside. generally, it would come down to the bands material. But that was something a real battle that every band had to follow in those days to get airplay and to keep a record deal. Then when the Coverdale/Page thing came along that came out of Bad English touring with Whitesnake. We were the same management as well. David said I hear from management that you guys are splitting up and I am going to be doing this project with Jimmy Page. It might be a super group it might be just the two of us we don’t know? Would you be interested in working with us? So that is how my involvement in that project started. At the end of the four or five month period all of a sudden I had a plane ticket and I was flying to a little mountain in Vancouver, Canada where we ended up cutting the record. That just a great time for me because I was a huge Led Zeppelin fan and became a huge fan of David Coverdale. I had been a fan of his since he was in Deep Purple. I had never seen the process of what it was like to work with a guy like Jimmy Page in the studio in production and writing and creating arrangements. I played all of the keyboards on our demos. Most of my keyboard parts ended up getting copied and performed by more proficient keyboard players for the record. I was deeply invested in that project from the very beginning. I learned a lot of stuff from both David and Jimmy.  We had a blast.

HRH: Is there anything  else that you want to say about the Styx Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Tour? I know you are hitting the  area up in Lowell, Mass at the Tsongas Arena on November 3rd.

Ricky: Yes, we are just looking forward to everybody coming out and checking out this experience. If you want something that you may not expect. A little something different, a introspective but still exciting and fun and a lot of hits. C’mon out because it is maybe a one time thing. We don’t know at this point. But if anything to gauge it on such as the first show, it has proven to be a little bit bigger than we expected. We are having a blast doing it.

Kansas, Styx and Foreigner LIVE!

June 3, 2010 at Starlight Amphitheater, Kansas City, MO.

by Mike Allen
Guest Staff Writer

A beautiful night under the stars was the perfect backdrop for this show. Three excellent bands on one bill.

Kansas opened the show with a 45-minute set, which definitely was not long enough for this once-major act to play. However, Kansas wasted no time tearing into their set. The show opener, “Point of Know Return” was performed without flaw, with bassist Billy Greer adding his vocals to the intros of each chorus. Steve Walsh’s voice was in raw form, sounding great and not strained as had been reported from previous reviews of the band. The band’s original lead guitarist Rich Williams still has the crunch and tone that keeps the Kansas sound very much alive. Rich plays with great finesse on, both, electric and acoustic, perfectly playing very difficult finger picking parts, while letting loose on his electric solos. Violinist David Ragsdale, who replaced original violinist Robby Steinhart about five years ago, plays very precisely, leaving nothing and adding in a little of his own flair and style to the music. Ragsdale also is an accomplished guitarist in his own right. Rounding out the band is original drummer Phil Ehart. The man is a monster on the drums and proved it throughout the show.

Kansas never disappoints, and this night, the only disappointment about Kansas was the band didn’t get to play long enough, which was out of their control.

One of several high points of the show was during “Icarus: Born On Wings of Steel,” in which Steve Walsh showcased his fantastic keyboard abilities. As the crowd watched and heard him preach the song while he played his classic sound, you, at times, really could feel the emotion Walsh was pouring out. Of course, Walsh let loose on his keyboard solo during “Carry On Wayward Son,” which brought the entire crowd to its feet.

It was a very quick and tight set. Kansas needs to be on a tour with one less band and be afforded more time to play. They undoubtedly are not tired and ready to rock.

Kansas Set List:
Point of Know Return (No intro music. They go straight into the song)
Miracles Out of Nowhere
Hold On (With the Peaceful & Warm Section)
Dust in the Wind
Icarus: Born on Wings of Steel
Portrait
Fight Fire With Fire
Carry on Wayward Son

After a brief intermission, Styx took the stage. Opening up with the music to “Light Up,” playing as they took the stage, the house, by this time, was full and everyone was on their feet. Styx, no doubt, has the ability to bring a crowd to their feet during their entire show. Although the term “poser” is normally meant for someone who has no talent but knows how to look the part, this isn’t the case for Styx. These guys are the best posers in the business. The band is very photo friendly and offers an incredible stage presence. Tommy Shaw probably is the most talented poser ever. Watching Styx is very exciting. It’s so hard to believe that James Young and Tommy Shaw are 118 years old when you combine their ages. They both look and sound very young and move like they did in their younger days. Nothing has been lost, and the years have been so kind to Styx.

The opener, “Borrowed Time” went over really well. It’s nice to hear a band open a show with a little more of an obscure song, rather than just start playing the hits. They did a bit of a medley during “Borrowed Time,” sneaking in excerpts from “Mr. Roboto” and “Rockin The Paradise,” then returning to “Borrowed Time” to end the song. The audience loved it and screamed loudly throughout the entire show. Not enough can be said about Tommy Shaw’s talent. He’s the little man with the big voice.

Lawrence Gowan, the replacement for Dennis DeYoung, is a great fit in the band. He has a very similar voice to that of DeYoung, and his stage presence is sort of like Rod Stewart meets Mick Jagger. He keeps the crowd’s attention with not just with his voice, but his keyboard playing stays very true to the original Styx sound. He plays note for note, exactly what Dennis played. His background vocals and harmonies are spot on.

Ricky Phillips’ (formerly of Baby’s and Bad English) bass playing is very tight. He’s a seasoned pro and fits right in with the rest of Styx. Todd Sucherman’s drumming is nothing short of incredible. He’s a double-bass playing, technical drummer who pays close attention to detail and never, ever misses anything.
All in all, Styx’s energy level and enthusiasm makes for a really fun show to watch. A very cool screen with all sorts of graphics that go along with the songs is a really nice added touch. For example, they had a flag with the Statue of Liberty as part of a montage of scenes, along with girls dancing in sync as the backdrop for “Miss America.” And during “Come Sail Away,” the lyrics popped. These effects also were used during “Foolin Yourself” and “GET UP, which makes it fun to watch Styx.

Styx stepped outside the box and even covered Shaw’s Damn Yankee song, “High Enough.” With Lawrence Gowan covering Jack Blades’ harmony and playing piano, this song really sounded great. Also, hearing James Young’s interpretation of a Ted Nugent solo was a nice thing to hear. He did Nugent justice by playing key notes but still played it the way only JY can do it with quite a few more notes in the solo that were performed very tastefully.
James Young sounded great. He’s a very underrated guitarist and an even more underrated singer; He pulled off “Lorelei” like he’s owned it all along.
Styx certainly is enjoying a second youth these days. It was an incredible and energetic performance.

Styx Set List:
Borrowed Time
Grand Illusion
Too Much Time on My Hands
Lady
Lorelei
Can You Take Me Higher
Suite Madame Blue
Fooling Yourself
Miss America
Come Sail Away
encore
Blue Collar Man
Renegade

This brings us to Foreigner. It’s been rumored that during this tour, Styx and Foreigner have been switching as headliners. This writer is glad that Foreigner was able to close the show because from the second they took the stage to the second they left 90-plus minutes later, Foreigner tore it up. Kelly Hansen, formerly of the ‘80’s-‘90’s band Hurricane, took the helm for Lou Gramm, who left the band six years ago because of health reasons. Kelly is a singer to be reckoned with. He has all the range of Gramm, the sound of Gramm and the energy of Steven Tyler. What a talent. There absolutely was nothing about his voice that sounded bad. He is so on top of his game that it’s borderline orgasmic to listen to him. He is 150 percent balls-to-the-wall the entire show. He belted out all the high parts of “Juke Box Hero,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Hot Blooded” and even breathed life into “I Want To Know What Love Is.” Not enough can be said for what Kelly Hansen has done for Mick Jones and Foreigner. Jones probably said it the best when he introduced Hansen to the crowd. Summing it up, he said he found a singer that could bring life back into the songs and restore them to their original energy and form, and Kelly is the MAN! Lou Gramm’s shoes are big, big shoes to fill. If anyone was disappointed in Hansen’s performance, it wasn’t shown by anyone in the full-to-capacity crowd. He literally brought down the house.

Jones still has everything he always did. He looks great with his bleach-white, spiked hair and skin-tight leather pants. Most people would say that a man in his 60s shouldn’t be wearing that type of stuff. But Jones undoubtedly is the rockstar he always was. In fact, having seen him several times over the past 30 years, he was more “on” this night than seen I’ve seen in a long time. He still has all the crunch and meanness in his tone. The force is very much still alive in Jones. His version of “Starrider” still sounds every bit as good as it ever has with this time being an exception . His vocals sounded nice, but the four-minute guitar solo that erupted out of Jones during this song was awesome. Mick still knows how to work a crowd the old-fashioned way: Shut up and play guitar!

Foreigner’s new songs, “Can’t Slow Down” and “Pieces” came off sounding like classic Foreigner songs and definitely were a great way to boost a few album sales after the show.

To sum up the entire night, one word comes to mind: ENERGY; and lots of it. Two thumbs up and way to rock it, to all three bands.

Foreigner Set List:
Double Vision
Head Games
Cold As Ice
Can’t Slow Down (new)
Dirty White Boy
Pieces (new)
Starrider
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent
I Want to Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded
encore
Jukebox Hero

Dennis DeYoung LIVE!

February 12, 2010 at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

by Kimberly Shockley & Gary Dean Ash
Staff Writer

The Friday night rock and roll show was more like a “double bill” than an opening band followed by the main attraction. Shooting Star performed only a few less songs than Dennis DeYoung and company. Those who made the trip out on that cold February night, definitely got a two-for-the-price-of-one!

Shooting Star is BACK. If you’ve not seen them in several years, you’ve got to make sure you catch them at an upcoming show. The new lead singer, Ronnie Platt, is from Chicago, as is Dennis DeYoung. Platt was on top of his game during this performance, and his personality and energy pull the band together on stage. Janet Jameson, the new violinist is red hot and can bring the audience to its feet in admiration of her talent. The “dueling” strings performance after “Hang On For Your Life,” which featured founding band member and lead guitarist Van McClain and Jameson, was one of the highlights of their performance. The other founding member, Steve Thomas, delighted the crowd with his solo performance during “You’ve Got Love.” Thomas really showcased his talent and proved he knows how to pound the skins. Shooting Star fans will want to be on the lookout for a new live album, featuring the current lineup.

Shooting Star Set List:
1. Summer sun
2. Bring It On
3. Flesh and Blood
4. You Got Love
5. Hollywood
6. Don’t Stop Me Now
7. Tonight
8. Breakout
9. Hang on For Your Life
10. Guitar Violin duel
11. Last Chance

The Dennis DeYoung and Music of STYX performance was more of rock and roll show than past performances over the last few years. New lead guitarist, August Zadra, took the spotlight in three new STYX classics that were added to this tour: “Blue Collar Man,” “Renegade” and “Too Much Time.” Zarda’s vocals were right on the money, and if you closed your eyes, you might have thought you were hearing Tommy Shaw on stage. As DeYoung put it, “Surprise, surprise!” This was only the second performance for the new band, and although at times Zarda and guitarist Jimmy Leahey appeared to be less than confident on stage, the rest of the time, they played the stage with high energy like they owned it. The energy was contagious, not only for DeYoung and the rest of the band, but you could feel the energy in the crowd, which was on its feet for most of the performance. Singing backup, Suzanne DeYoung showed she still has “it,” not only the voice, but the looks. Dennis DeYoung assured the audience there is no Botox, no face lift, and that “them puppies is real,” which brought cheers from the crowd. All in all, Dennis DeYoung and his new band played a fantastic rock and roll show.

Both bands have new albums out, but surprisingly neither chose to include even one new song in their set list. This fact did not detract one bit from either performance, though. The crowd heard the best of the best from each performance. This was truly a rock concert in every sense of the word.

Dennis DeYoung Set List:
1. Grand Illusion
2. Lady
3. Lorelei
4. Blue Collar Man
5. Desert Moon
6. Light Up
7. Mr. Roboto
8. Too Much Time on My Hand
9. Babe
10. Suite Madam Blue
11. Rockin the Paradise
12. Renegade
13. Best of Times
14. Come Sail Away

Photos appear courtesy of Kimberly Shockley & Gary Dean Ash