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How Styx Broke Through With ‘The Grand Illusion’

As Styx finally achieved a long-hoped-for measure of success, they did a rare thing in rock music back then: They looked inward. The Grand Illusion , released on July 7, 1977, talked with bold frankness about the trappings of celebrity, the uncertainty of their new position and the worries each member had about the way fame might change him.

These sweeping themes grew out of the title track, brought to Styx by Dennis DeYoung and appropriately placed as the album-opening song.

"It spoke to all of us and what we were experiencing as members of the same band, as our popularity grew and we started to make some money," Tommy Shaw told the Daily Herald . "We were a very tight group musically at that time, and it was all for one and one for all – this wonderful moment in the life of any band. So we all began to pour our hearts into it like one big 'amen!'"

Shaw has called this era, which also included the 1978 follow-up LP  Pieces of Eight , "the prime season of innocence." He'd joined the year before, becoming a key creative element on 1976's transitional Crystal Ball , but The Grand Illusion – featuring his Top 30 hit "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" – was where Shaw completely integrated with the group's larger dynamic.

"We went on the road and toured, and it really took that time for us to become a band with Tommy. We became writers together and The Grand Illusion is the outcome," DeYoung told Classic Rock Revisited . "I was the theme guy in Styx and I had come up with the theme. I got everyone together and I said, 'Look, in the last year we’ve made more money than we ever thought we would make in our entire lives. How has it affected us?' I know how it had affected me. We set on a course of trying to make a loosely thematic album based on success, failure and money."

Even before DeYoung's "Come Sail Away" became their second Top 10 single, there was the sense that The Grand Illusion represented a creative – and commercial – breakthrough. Album sales certainly confirmed the latter, as the project became the first of four straight multi-platinum releases for Styx.

Listen to Styx's 'Come Sail Away'

"I think we all knew that this was our best work to that point," James "J.Y." Young told UCR . "There was a very cohesive thing from the title of the record. There was a resonance there of a concept album or whatever, so I think we felt like we really had captured something."

The success-hungry alienation of "Fooling Yourself" and "Come Sail Away," with its dark, underlying theme about pots of gold never found, gave way to sharply drawn deeper cuts like "Man in the Wilderness." Composed on the spot by Shaw after Styx played an eye-opening early support gig for Kansas before thousands of fans in Detroit, it outlined the range of emotions in this fast-moving time.

"To go that big opened up all kinds of ideas in my mind, and the next time I was alone with my acoustic, the song more or less unfolded itself. The lyrics were there in rough form right away," Shaw told the Daily Herald . "Think about it: To go from playing in a bowling alley lounge to the kinds of venues we were beginning to play on a regular basis, and being away from home all the time, it was strange at first to be standing out there getting that kind of response from so many people who didn't really know me or how I was feeling at the time."

Elsewhere, the theme is completed by "Miss America," Young's hard-eyed, riffy indictment of superficiality; and "Castle Walls," an elliptical examination of the barriers that surround us from DeYoung. Styx's newfound ability to maintain the delicate balance between those competing musical impulses is what made The Grand Illusion such a breakthrough moment.

"The beauty of the creative team back then is that we were different," Young told UCR. "We were all different individuals and so everything that creatively came out was really held to very high standards from a dozen different angles, as opposed to everyone playing the same thing. There was lots of layers to what we did, both musically and arrangement-wise – and the amazing thing is that the work really seems to have wonderfully withstood the test of time."

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Styx is an American rock band from Chicago, USA. Their peak of fame was during the mid-70s till the early 80s.

Styx is known for their unusual musical style: they meld pop rock with the extreme power of hard-rock guitar and elements of musical theatre. Their style of rock has been described as anything from progressive to soft rock.

The current line-up of the band consists of Chuck Panozzo, James "J.Y." Young, Tommy Shaw, Todd Sucherman, Lawrence Gowan and Ricky Phillips. The band was started by Chuck Panozzo and his twin brother, John, in 1961 whilst the brothers were still in adolescence. The original name of the band was ‘The Tradewinds.’ In 1972 the band signed with Wooden nickel Records and became Styx, producing their first, self-entitled, album which was followed by many more.

The band’s big breakthrough in to the mainstream market, however, did not come until the release of their seventh album, ‘The Grand Illusion’ on 7 July 1977. It reached triple platinum certification. The band then went on to achieve great success from the late 70s and moving on to the 80s.

Following their sudden success, the band suffered a number of splits and reformations, especially throughout the 90s. Various band members were lost and subsequently replaced throughout this period.

To date, Styx are best known for their hit rock songs "Lady" "Come Sail Away" "Babe" , "The Best of Times" , "Too Much Time on My Hands" and "Mr. Roboto", amongst many others.

Live reviews

We experienced the guys in Murphys, California on a near full moon. This is the eleventh time for me in nearly forty years and the fifth time with this lineup. Though there are songs and moments we all expect in a Styx show, there were also some nice surprises and successful road-testing of their more recent material this evening.

As always, they put on a spirited, highly professional show. The sound mix was clear and plenty loud, though a little too muddy in the bottom end for me - this might have been an issue with the house sound.

Singer-keyboardist Lawrence Gowan has emerged as the showman of the group, with Tommy Shaw is a steady yet passionate frontman. Gowan spun his keyboard, pranced about when not providing keyboard support and stood on his stool with his other foot planted on the keyboard for "Come Sail Away". The rhythm section of Ricky Phillips on bass and Todd Sucherman on drums was steady and unassailably in the pocket with the rest of the band. Their vocal harmonies and arrangements were spot-on. Founding member Chuck Panozzo took the stage for a short duet with Gowan on the brand-new "Lost at Sea". Chuck remained on stage for the later classics, including Renegade and Mr. Roboto. Most of the songs we all know rocked: The Grand Illusion, Lady, Fooling Yourself and Blue Collar Man.

They opened with the first song on their new album, "The Fight of Our Lives" and soared later in the set with "Sound The Alarm". The uplift it provided was only boosted by the rest of the songs. Also onstage with an electric guitar was Will Evankovich, who co-wrote a lot of the material from 2017's The Mission and this year's Crash of the Crown. He was curiously underused here, as the group did not play any songs that would have benefited from another set of strings. "The Red Storm", "Our Wonderful Lives" or even "Boat on a River" come to mind.

Which leads to my only quibble: The set was way too short. REO Speedwagon, the opener, played for at least ninety minutes; Styx performed for a little over an hour. They have such a great body of work and energy to spare - why didn't they play a few more songs tonight?

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Styx are not only know as legendary recording artists, but as legendary rock performers. With such a prolific career it would be easy to see how they could slip over the years. However, I was able to see them recently and I can assure you, they have lost nothing.

I went to the concert a bit skeptical. Could the Styx I love still bring the rock? As I stood waiting for the show to start I noticed the crowd was a lot of young kids and older adults. It’s impressive that a band like Styx can bring together multiple generations. Everybody seemed real fans of the band. No one just standing around with there arms crossed like you see at a lot of concerts.

The second the band took the stage everyone took to their feet. The band didn’t wait a moment to engage us. With a “Are you ready to rock?” they jumped right into “Blue Collar Man”, one of my favorites. From then on the show was an hour straight of all the songs you remembered and some you had even forgot you knew. There was really something for everyone. The concert ended with an energy-overloaded performance of “Come Sail Away” followed by the radio favorite “Mr. Roboto”. Even after the show stopped and the lights came up, everyone was still talking about the set list. While it may sound crazy, seeing Styx live should be something everyone does before they die.

What an amazing show! The opening act for United We Rock was Don Felder and wow! He sounded great and he played all of the Eagles massive hits.

Then Styx came out and the crowd went nuts! They started off with their new hit song "Gone, Gone, Gone" and their set just kept getting better as they went on! I've seen several Styx shows and each time I cant imagine they getting better, but they do! Tommy Shaw apologized that he had had a cold, but honestly, you couldn't prove it by me. His voice was just as strong and true as ever! The applause was thunderous when they ended and they came out for an encore of the best version I've ever heard of "Paradise Theater"and their signature end of show "Renegade".

The last was REO Speedwagon. They were wonderful as well. I am a massive Styx fan so I didn't know as many of REO's songs I did enjoy it very much.

The only thing I would have changed was that Styx would have been the headliner. People seemed to be leaving a third of the way through REO's set. Of course it could have been that the concert was on a Tuesday night and I'm sure not everyone was able to take the next day off and it did take almost 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

All in all this was an epic show and I will certainly attend more Styx shows!

Followed the boys for 3 shows. Catoosa, Enid, and Durant. Each show was better than the one before. Styx still rocks the house better than anyone. Tommy Shaw still has a awesome voice, JY makes the guitar sound better than ever, Lawrence Gowen is a awesome keyboardist, Ricky's bass playing kicks you in gear, Todd Sucherman is one of the most fantastic drummers I've ever had the pleasure to watch, and it was great to see Chuck still out there laying it down. I cannot express how awesome these guys are! It's also refreshing to them still having fun after all these years. Catch them if you get a chance, you will not be disappointed.

The concert was wonderful! They each still have the talent of their youth. The vocals and guitar were still very impressive. I became a fan later in their career, so they played a lot of music I didn't know, but I enjoyed it all. They have so much good music to pick from, they didn't play all of my favorites. I missed "Babe" and "Best of Times" in particular, but I would have also loved to hear "Don't Let It End" and "Mr. Roboto," which I didn't expect them to play anyway. They had some showmanship as well, so I can easily recommend seeing their show.

As always Styx was phenomenal. Celebrity theater doesn’t have a bad seat in the house. They haven’t lost a step. They still sound like they did in the seventies. Great stage show and fan friendly. They reach out to the crowd and fist bump high five. Each song takes you back when rock was rock. Phoenix loves Styx so much they sell out back to back shows every time. Going to the second show tonight. If you get a chance to see them don’t miss it. They are the best.

My husband, our friends and family, as well as myself, ALL LOVED Styx!! We just recently saw them last year on A Carnival Cruise, as well! They are great. My only complaint is that we were unable to see them due to the venue, Sleeptrain Ampitheater being a VERY Large Ampitheater and there was nothing of them put up on the Jumbotrons for the people out on the grass or in the top back seats. That was a bummer. Other than that, they sounded amazing!!

First time seeing the legendary Styx. I have always enjoyed their mysic in the past, but would not have considered myself a huge fan. The times, they have changed.

Musically, better than listening to anything that had been recorded. Showmanship was better than most young bands out now.

Styx has gained my greater appreciation of their music & their live show. I will definitely pay to see them everytime they come through the NW.

This was the second time that I have seen STYX, and it was great again!! They are incredible musicians and wonderful singers. However, if you are hoping to hear some of their pop hits (Babe and Mr. Roboto for example), you will not hear them. The older rock hits are showstoppers and they rocked them hard!! If you are a fan of the rock hits, you will love the concert. I did!!!

Styx was awesome! Like they always are. However, the sound was inconsistent as far as volume. I know it was windy but there was something else going on.

Again Styx was great. I last saw them about 16 years ago. The are so consistent, they play the songs from 40 years ago like they just wrote them! Highly recommend seeing Styx.

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Styx is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 47 concerts across 2 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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The Grand Illusion Turns 42 Today!

• Jul 07, 2019

by Mike Mettler, resident Styxologist

Come on in and see what’s happening: Styx’s biggest-selling album,   The Grand Illusion , was released 42 years ago today by A&M Records on the cosmically cool stardate of July 7, 1977 — or, as it’s better known on the back of many a Styx t-shirt, 7/7/77.

Demo’ed at S.I.R. Rehearsal Studios and ultimately recorded at Paragon Recording Studios in Chicago in early 1977,   The Grand Illusion  was engineered by Barry Mraz and Rob Kingsland, but the overall production credit was given to the entire band in the liner notes as simply, “Produced by Styx.”

The Grand Illusion   reached as high as No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, and it spawned two Top 30 singles — “Come Sail Away” reached #8, and “Fooling Yourself” reached #29. The album has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA for selling over 3 million copies (though GI has likely sold over 6 million copies to date, so we demand a re-certification!). The Grand Illusion   was the first entry in the band’s groundbreaking string of releasing four multiplatinum albums in a row — a feat no other band had ever done before, BTW. The album’s iconic cover art by Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse is modeled after Belgian surrealist René Magritte’s 1965 piece titled Le Blanc Seing , a.k.a. The Blank Check .

Styx played The Grand Illusion   in its entirety when it was paired with   Pieces of Eight   on a 2010 tour that’s since been commemorated on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Its core songs remain as indelible fixtures in the band’s live set, which can also feature other sweet   Illusion   gems like “Miss America,” “Man in the Wilderness,” and “Castle Walls” during many a headlining show.

As noted, three of the album’s core songs appear in every show: 1) the title track, “The Grand Illusion,” which is either the first or second song performed just about every night and is sung with much aplomb and panache by keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan; 2) “Fooling Yourself,” which, if he’s in the house that night, will also feature original bassist Chuck Panozzo playing on the entire track and taking its brief but iconic bass break the moment guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw calls out, “Chuckie!”; and 3) “Come Sail Away,” which closes every main set with great cosmic bombast, and, at the song’s conclusion — if you’re lucky, and if the venue allows it — features cannons releasing lots and lots of confetti into and onto the audience from either side of the stage.

As easy as it is to sing along to it, “Fooling Yourself” is actually one of the most complex musical pieces the band has ever composed. Both its intro and outro are performed in 6/8 time, while the vocal sections are in 4/4. The synthesizer solo section is in 7/4 before returning to 4/4 for the final chorus. Two measures of 5/8 follow the brief intro recap with a return to 6/8 and another synthesizer solo before the fadeout. In fact, bassist/vocalist Ricky Phillips cites “Fooling Yourself” as having always been his favorite composition by Styx: “People ask me, ‘What is it that gives Styx their sound?’ The way Tommy and JY play together has been a huge part of that sound, but it’s also the odd time signatures like you get in this song.”

Towards the end of the recording sessions for The Grand Illusion , an Oberheim 4 Voice analog synthesizer arrived in the studio to further enhance the proceedings. “Its rich sounds unleashed another dimension of textures no one had yet taken advantage of,” observes Tommy Shaw. Lawrence Gowan has since made sure to program that vintage Oberheim sound into his current touring rig so that he can call it up for whatever song that needs it.

Eagle-ear listeners will also note that vintage Oberheim sound quite deliberately lends a certain authentic weight to Styx’s most recent studio album, The Mission , which was released on June 16, 2017 on LP, CD, and digital-download formats via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. Tommy confirms the sound of The Grand Illusion — along with that of 1978’s Pieces of Eight and Side 2 of 1975’s Equinox — was instrumental in that key Mission production/performance gear decision.

And now, in a Styxworld exclusive, all six bandmembers recount the impact   The Grand Illusion   has had over the years — and continues to have, night in and night out. The stage is set. . .

James “JY” Young   (co-founding guitarist/vocalist): Dennis [DeYoung] is the one who gleaned the idea that it was our seventh record. I think the release date had originally been scheduled for 7/8/77, or something like that, and we went, “No, we want it on 7/7/77.” Just trying to stack the deck — not that we’re superstitious, or anything. (chuckles) So they changed the original release date to the 7th — which is fantastic! It has such a beautiful resonance and synergy.

Dennis wrote the lyrics, but as the man behind [the title track to 1974’s] “Man of Miracles” [which features lines like, “He was a man of miracles/Riding golden meteorites/Ruler of distant galaxies/Born of the Northern Lights”], I had suggested “Come Sail Away” become not a song just about a sailing ship, but that it should morph into a song about a starship, which was my idea. “Come Sail Away” was also lifted by the release of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the same year, so ’77 was the year for outer space.

We have the good fortune of The Grand Illusion continuing to be a resonant topic, and The Mission resonates with The Grand Illusion in a variety of ways. The theme of Tommy Shaw’s “Man in the Wilderness” intersects with “Radio Silence” — an individual against the forces of nature, wherever you happen to be. And there’s no greater wilderness than the absolute zero-temperature environment of outer space! (laughs)

Tommy Shaw   (guitarist/vocalist): It’s 7/7 again — the date that changed everything! We made a record that sounds really good, and we worked really hard at trying to get it right. It wasn’t always romantic and sometimes we lost sleep over it, but what matters is how it turned out. It’s the creative process.

I run into people almost daily who tell me that “Man in the Wilderness” and “Fooling Yourself” are the songs that helped them get through high school. I like hearing that. And now, to look out in the crowd when we’re playing “Man in the Wilderness” and see people singing along who weren’t even born yet when it came out — that’s very satisfying.

Chuck Panozzo   (co-founding bassist): The Grand Illusion was the right album at the right time. Why is it our best-selling album? It has the best songs. And it was a true collaboration.

Lawrence Gowan   (keyboardist/vocalist): When we did   The Grand Illusion-Pieces of Eight   tour in 2010, we discovered what a cohesive composition that album is from beginning to end. Delving into the parts and playing the songs in the actual running order reignited my enthusiasm for that album as an album. I was a fan of it then, and I’m a fan of it now.

I should also mention that the album’s artwork has stood the test of time. It looks so engaging today. I love seeing that equestrian image mixed with the forest and the woman’s eyes whenever it gets projected onscreen behind us. It’s one of the great visual icons of rock history.

Ricky Phillips   (bassist/vocalist): “Fooling Yourself” has always been my favorite composition by Styx. But being able to play “Castle Walls” is awesome too, because I come from a heavier place. I appreciate that it’s a great track — and it’s bass-heavy, on top of that.

The first time I heard [the song] “The Grand Illusion” was when I was with The Babys, when we were touring with Styx. It has that very clever, “Welcome back my friends/here we are tonight” vibe — it’s grand and pomp, with that bolero beat. So very cool.

Todd Sucherman   (drummer):   The Grand Illusion   will always have a soft spot in my heart because it’s the first full Styx record I ever heard, or bought. My uncle Dennis happened to put that one on during one of our visits with him, shortly after that record came out.

My brother and I immediately went home and bought it, and we would play that record every day. It was the first record I ever bought from the band, and I continued to buy all of their records in succession after that. To me, that album was the genesis of me liking the band, really.

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STYX has just  released a video for its classic hit  "Too Much Time On My Hands" , filmed from the band's home studios in support of the Pittsburgh #SteelersNation and their game against the  Baltimore Ravens .

Check it out below!

• Dec 01, 2020

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White Castle®, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been an inspiration to artists and bands for decades. The home of The Original Slider ®  celebrated titans of the music industry by inducting three extraordinary Cravers into its exclusive Cravers Hall of Fame.

STYX singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw, renowned concert promoter Danny Zelisko, and the late singer-songwriter John Prine join fellow legends in the Castle halls of Crave. John Prine very sadly passed away in April 2020 due to complications caused by COVID-19.

Reserved for the most devout fans, White Castle's  Cravers Hall of Fame   has been inducting legends from main street to the main stage for nearly 20 years. Among the well-known honorees are rock icon Alice Cooper, the late comic pioneer Stan Lee, and the stars of "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," John Cho and Kal Penn.

• Oct 01, 2020

• Sep 01, 2020

• Aug 21, 2020

Bensalem, PA

Parx casino, jim thorpe, pa, penn's peak, new york, ny, beacon theatre, washington, d.c., warner theatre.

STYX and FOREIGNER, With Very Special Guest John Waite Announce “Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” Tour

SET TO LAUNCH JUNE 11 IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Tickets on sale starting friday, december 8.

Ten years is a long enough wait for two powerhouse and legendary classic rockers to hit the road together again! STYX and FOREIGNER – who continue with the next leg of their two-year Farewell Tour – team up this summer for the “ Renegades & Juke Box Heroes ” co-headlining trek, produced by Live Nation. Legendary British rocker, John Waite , will bring his #1 songs, “Missing You” and “When I See You Smile” to the party, rounding out a great night of hits.

FOREIGNER and STYX are ready to rocket across North America starting June 11, 2024 in Grand Rapids, MI at the Van Andel Arena. Nothing sounds more like summer than collective feel-good anthems such as “Come Sail Away,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Renegade,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Mr. Roboto,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

Check out this video to learn more about the STYX/FOREIGNER/John Waite “Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” tour.

General tickets for various cities will go on sale starting Friday, December 8 at 10am local time on LiveNation.com . STYX and FOREIGNER will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning Tuesday, December 5 at 10am local time at Foreigneronline.com and StyxWorld.com . Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, limited on stage seating for FOREIGNER, backstage tour, Q&A session and photo op with the band (socially distanced), exclusive merchandise & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com .

Citi is the official presale credit card of the U.S. “Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” tour dates. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Monday, December 4 at 10am local time until Thursday, December 7 at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment. For complete presale details, visit www.citientertainment.com . 

STYX founding guitarist James “JY” Young exclaims, “We’re very excited to be sharing the concert stage with FOREIGNER and John Waite in the summer of 2024. We have previously toured with FOREIGNER and the result was both bands kicked ass and had a great time doing it. Looking forward to seeing everybody this summer!”

Says FOREIGNER founding member and lead guitarist, Mick Jones, “I am very much looking forward to the band being back on the road with our old friends, STYX.  Our ‘Soundtrack Of Summer’ tour ten years ago was a blockbuster, and our tour album was a Billboard chart success. It’ll be a great time had by all.  As an added bonus, John Waite will accompany us on the journey, adding his #1 hits to a special night of Classic Rock.”

“As we continue on with our Farewell Tour, I have been very moved by the support and reaction of all of our fans. To perform these next shows with our friends STYX and John Waite makes it even better. I am so looking forward to spending many beautiful summer nights all around the country, full of great Classic Rock, music, and great friends,” added FOREIGNER lead singer, Kelly Hansen. 

And as John Waite declares, “Looking forward to blazing across the USA with my band this summer. All the hits in all the cities. It will be major. A great night. Don’t miss it – be there!”

Coming December 11 to align with the band’s announcement for the next leg of FOREIGNER’s Farewell Tour, Rhino Records will release brand new Atmos remixes of their classic compilation album, RECORDS . It spans the group’s first four full-length studio albums and remains one of their best-selling albums to date. Re-released earlier this Fall by Rhino Atlantic as a 1LP BEST OF package in black vinyl as well as a clear vinyl Walmart Exclusive, this new digital offering of RECORDS will be available at all digital streaming partners who support spatial audio mixes, including Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. Mick Jones continues to elevate FOREIGNER’s influence and guide the band to new horizons with his stylistic songwriting, indelible guitar hooks and multi-layered talents while lead singer Kelly Hansen, one of rock’s greatest showmen, has led FOREIGNER into the digital age inspiring a whole new generation of fans. Bassist Jeff Pilson; Michael Bluestein on keyboards; guitarist Bruce Watson; Chris Frazier on drums and guitarist Luis Maldonado provide an unprecedented level of energy that has resulted in the re-emergence of the astounding music that speaks to FOREIGNER‘s enduring popularity.  FOREIGNER has an extraordinary streaming and radio audience driven by a catalogue of no less than sixteen Top 30 hits. With more Billboard Top 10 hits than Journey, and just as many as Fleetwood Mac, FOREIGNER is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 80 million.  Responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems, including “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Say You Will,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Long, Long Way From Home” and the worldwide #1 hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” FOREIGNER still rocks the charts more than 40 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard Top 200 album success.  Streams of FOREIGNER’s hits are approaching 15 million per week.

Multi-Platinum rockers STYX –James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals), Will Evankovich (mandolin, guitars)— released their 17 th studio album, CRASH OF THE CROWN , on June 18, 2021 on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe , which was hailed by critics as their second “masterpiece” album in a row. The first being 2017’s THE MISSION , their first new studio album in 14 years at the time. CRASH OF THE CROWN was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of the pandemic. It’s available as clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD on digital platforms . They released more new music on September 17, 2021, THE SAME STARDUST EP, originally sold as part of Record Store Day (June 12, 2021). Available on blue 180-gram 12-inch vinyl only, featuring two brand-new songs on side one (“The Same Stardust” and “Age of Entropia”), as well as five live performances on side two of some of Styx’s classic hits previously heard during their “Styx Fix” livestreams that kept fans company during the pandemic on their official YouTube page, including “Mr. Roboto,” “Man In The Wilderness,” “Miss America,” “Radio Silence,” and “Renegade.” It’s available worldwide on all digital platforms . The seven men comprising STYX have committed to rocking the Paradise together with audiences far and wide by entering their second decade of averaging over 100 shows a year, and each one of them is committed to making the next show better than the last. Styx draws from over four decades of barn burning chart hits, joyous singalongs, and hard-driving deep cuts. Like a symphony that builds to a satisfying crescendo, a STYX set covers a wide range of stylistic cornerstones. From the progressively sweeping splendor that is “The Grand Illusion” to the hunker-down fortitude of all that is the “Blue Collar Man,” from the majestic spiritual love for a special “Lady” to the seething indictment of preening, primping pageantry for pageantry’s sake of “Miss America,” from an individual yearning for true connection as a “Man in the Wilderness,” to a soul-deep quest to achieve what’s at the heart of one’s personal vision in “Crystal Ball,” from the regal reach-for-the-stars bravado of “Come Sail Away” to the grainy all-in gallop of that rugged “Renegade” who had it made, the band draws on an unlimited cache of ways to immerse one’s mind and body in their signature sound. STYX hit its stride with guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw’s first LP with the band, 1976’s CRYSTAL BALL , and then they become the first group to score four triple-Platinum albums in a row: THE GRAND ILLUSION (1977), PIECES OF EIGHT (1978), CORNERSTONE (1979), and PARADISE THEATER (1981).

John Waite has been touring the U.S. for the past years, performing his catalog of hits from his 40-year career as a solo artist, with The Babys and Bad English. Those hits include some of the most loved songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s. The #1 worldwide hit “Missing You,” The Babys’ “Isn’t It Time” and Bad English’s “When I See You Smile” rank amongst some of his biggest international hits and are still heard on radio today.  Others include “Tears,” “Change” and “These Times Are Hard For Lovers,” while “Every Step Of The Way” and “If Anybody Had A Heart” appeared on the soundtrack to the 1986 Demi Moore film About Last Night , and “Deal for Life”–penned by Martin Page and Bernie Taupin–was featured in the Days Of Thunder soundtrack. He even reached top country charts with his duet of “Missing You” with country singer, Alison Krauss. As a solo artist and as the lead singer of The Babys and Bad English, John Waite has been a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations throughout the decades with his talent for power ballads and driving arena rock. His latest music, WOODEN HEART ACOUSTIC ANTHOLOGY THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS VOLUMES 1 2 3 , was released in 2021 In December 2022, his documentary, John Waite — The Hard Way, was released on streaming and as a DVD and Blu-ray on Amazon and features candid interviews with Waite, which were shot during the COVID-19 shutdown. It looks at his whole career, from his years fronting The Babys, to his successful solo career, to his work with Bad English and beyond. And it includes rare archival footage and photos, as well as interviews with award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, guitarist Neil Giraldo and many others. The movie also features footage of Waite touring with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band.

Check out “Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” at any of the following stops: 

DATE             CITY                         VENUE                                  CLOSER

Tue 6/11       Grand Rapids, MI      Van Andel Arena                         Styx

Wed 6/12      Cuyahoga Falls, OH      Blossom Music Center                 Foreigner

Fri 6/14         Toronto, ONT.           Budweiser Stage                         Styx

Sat 6/15        Clarkston, MI                 Pine Knob Music Theatre            Foreigner

Tue 6/18       Maryland Heights, MO   Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL Styx

Wed 6/19      Rogers, AR               Walmart AMP                               Foreigner

Fri 6/21         Dallas, TX                 Dos Equis Pavilion                       Foreigner

Sat 6/22        Woodlands, TX              The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Styx

Tue 6/25       Denver, CO                  Ball Arena                                     Foreigner

Wed 6/26          West Valley City, UT       USANA Amphitheatre                   Styx

Fri 6/28         Anaheim, CA             Honda Center                               Foreigner

Sat 6/29        Concord, CA             Toyota Pavilion at Concord           Styx

Sun 6/30       Bend, OR                  Hayden Homes Amphitheater       Foreigner

Fri 7/12         Nashville, TN             Ascend Amphitheater                    Styx

Sat 7/13        Charlotte, NC            PNC Music Pavilion                       Foreigner

Mon 7/15      Charleston, SC          Credit One Stadium                       Foreigner

Wed 7/17      Alpharetta, GA          Ameris Bank Amphitheatre            Styx

Fri 7/19         West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre      Foreigner

Sat 7/20        Tampa, FL                MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Styx

Tue 7/23       Holmdel, NJ              PNC Bank Arts Center                    Foreigner

Wed 7/24      Bristow, VA               Jiffy Lube Live                                 Styx

Fri 7/26         Noblesville, IN           Ruoff Music Center                         Styx

Sun 7/28       Camden, NJ              Freedom Mortgage Pavilion            Foreigner

Tue 7/30       Saratoga Springs, NY Broadview Stage at SPAC               Foreigner

Wed 7/31      Burgettstown, PA      The Pavilion at Star Lake                 Styx

Fri 8/2           Mansfield, MA           Xfinity Center                                   Styx

Sat 8/3          Bangor, ME               Maine Savings Amphitheater           Foreigner

Sun 8/4         Gilford, NH                BankNH Pavilion                              Styx

Fri 8/16         Orange Beach, AL     The Wharf Amphitheater                  Foreigner

Sat 8/17        Huntsville, AL            Orion Amphitheater                          Styx

Tue 8/20       Virginia Beach, VA    Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at VB Foreigner

Wed 8/21      Raleigh, NC              Coastal Credit Union Music Park      Styx

Fri 8/23         Cincinnati, OH           Riverbend Music Center                   Foreigner

Sat 8/24        Tinley Park, IL           Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre             Styx

Mon 8/26      Omaha, NE               CHI Health Center Omaha                Foreigner

Wed 8/28      Sioux Falls, SD         Denny Sanford PREMIER Center     Styx

www.styxworld.com

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www.facebook.com/styxtheband

www.x.com/styxtheband

www.instagram.com/styxtheband   

www.youtube.com/styxtheband

www.foreigneronline.com

www.facebook.com/Foreigner

www.x.com/ForeignerMusic

www.instagram.com/foreignerlive

www.youtube.com/user/FWebTeam

www.johnwaiteworldwide.com

www.facebook.com/johnwaiteworldwide

About Live Nation Entertainment:

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

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[email protected]

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John Waite:

Live Nation:

Monique Sowinski/Nadine Pena

Photo download links/credits:

Styx : Jason Powell

Foreigner : Krishta Abruzzini

John Waite : Jay Gilbert

“Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” tour trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjLdeJrdr1s

“Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” admat download links:

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Read more about

Since the 1990s, GRAND ILLUSION has been stunning local and regional audiences with their impossibly accurate performances of STYX tunes. Playing shows from northern Quebec, Canada to southern Pennsylvania, USA, and just about everywhere in between, GRAND ILLUSION continues to play to “fire-code-breaking” crowds, faithfully recreating the feel of arena concert events of the 1970s and 80s, earning them multiple prestigious awards in just their first 3 years together!

By associations through their booking agency at the time, a GRAND ILLUSION demo cassette tape found its way into the hands of STYX band members backstage during their "Edge of the Century" tour and they were blown away.

During their first listen, an uneasy tension was felt by STYX members as if they were more than flattered by the tribute. Later, STYX guitarist James Young spoke of their  trepidation confiding in the boys that GRAND ILLUSION sounded so hauntingly genuine to the original versions, for a few seconds after their first listening to the demo, JY and Dennis De Young among others thought the tape was an unauthorized bootleg recording of their own performance.

When they realized they were hearing a tribute band,  they just HAD to meet these guys! Backstage VIP invites soon followed, and a couple of weeks later, GRAND ILLUSION was backstage partying with STYX. Ultimately, STYX was flattered beyond words and immediate friendships were forged.

After a lengthy hiatus, with RIC STAVE on bass guitar, Taurus bass pedals, keys & vocals, and the addition of world class  virtuoso lead guitarist JOHN DANIELS, and the highly acclaimed  performing guitarist/vocalist SCOTT HELFRICH, while working tirelessly on other projects, this power trio still had room on their plates to answer the call when lead singer/keyboard player and GRAND ILLUSION founding-father RICK ALLEN posed the question, “Ya wanna?”

Fortunately for Rick and fans of STYX music everywhere, the unanimous reply was a resounding “YES!!” 

With the added ingredient of nationally endorsed drummer/percussionist MICHAEL TANTILLO, this new and dynamic 5-piece lineup set out to do more than merely "cover the old covers", they breathe new life and energy into the mix that must be seen to be believed!

GRAND ILLUSION has been and continues to be a perennial favorite at large concert venues, performing for thousands every year in large theatres and venues, and at outdoor rock festivals.

They have been the opening act for HONEYMOON SUITE and CHEAP TRICK, and are as comfortable on stage in front of arena sized crowds as they are in more intimate venues performing for only a couple of hundred guests.

Now, live the illusion for yourself as GRAND ILLUSION performs all of your favorite STYX classics, from the earlier days, through the STYX multi-platinum album years, presenting the audience with a spectacle that must be more than seen and heard, it has to be experienced!

So come join GRAND ILLUSION as they take you by the hand on this guided tour through the decades of some of the most loved and highly regarded progressive classic rock music of the 1970s and 80s, as you Sail Away to return to the Paradise Theatre once again!

STYX Had To Meet Them!

Signed personal message on a GRAND ILLUSION demo cassette tape insert from then STYX lead singer/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung to GRAND ILLUSION lead singer/keyboardist Rick Allen that reads:

“To Rick, Great job, great voice

All the best

Dennis De Young”

Backstage invitations were then extended where the two bands soon met  on June 18 th , 1991 at the

I.C. Light Amphitheatre in Pittsburgh, PA.

GRAND ILLUSION Meets STYX

I.C. Light Amphitheatre, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Jun 18, 1991

From Left to Right:

Kevin Buck (former Grand Illusion Bassist)

Jim Hathaway (former Grand Illusion Drummer)

James Young (Styx Lead Guitarist)

Dennis DeYoung (former Styx Lead Singer/Keyboardist)

Rick Allen (Grand Illusion Lead Singer/Keyboardist)

Brian Scranton (former Grand Illusion Guitarist)

Time Marches On

James Young – Lead Guitarist of STYX (Left)

Rick Allen – Lead Singer/Keyboardist of GRAND ILLUSION (Right)

WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE!!

Copyright © Grand Illusion | All Rights Reserved

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• The Grand Illusion - Styx Experience

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Experience the magic of rock and roll with The Grand Illusion - Styx Experience. ConcertFix is thrilled to present this tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Styx. The Grand Illusion delivers a powerful performance that captures the energy and artistry of the original band. From the soaring vocals to the intricate keyboard solos, every aspect of a Styx concert is faithfully recreated. The band performs all of Styx's biggest hits, including "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," and "Mr. Roboto," as well as fan favorites from deep in the Styx catalog. Whether you're a lifelong Styx fan or a newcomer to their music, The Grand Illusion - Styx Experience is a must-see show. Don't miss your chance to relive the glory days of classic rock with this stunning tribute to Styx. Book your tickets through ConcertFix today!

The Grand Illusion - Styx Experience Concert Schedule

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Moscow Metro Underground Small-Group Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

Moscow metro underground small-group tour.

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Tour Information

Key Details

• Mobile Voucher Accepted
• Free Cancellation
• Duration: 3 Hrs
• Language: English
• Departure Time : 10:00 AM
• Departure Details : Karl Marks Monument on Revolution Square, metro stop: Square of Revolution
• Return Details : Metro Smolenskaya
• If you cancel at least 4 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
• If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Go beneath the streets on this tour of the spectacular, mind-bending Moscow Metro! Be awed by architecture and spot the Propaganda , then hear soviet stories from a local in the know. Finish it all up above ground, looking up to Stalins skyscrapers, and get the inside scoop on whats gone on behind those walls.

Know More about this tour

We begin our Moscow tour beneath the city, exploring the underground palace of the Moscow Metro. From the Square of Revolution station, famous for its huge statues of soviet people (an armed soldier, a farmer with a rooster, a warrior, and more), we’ll move onto some of the most significant stations, where impressive mosaics, columns, and chandeliers will boggle your eyes! Moreover, these stations reveal a big part of soviet reality — the walls depict plenty of Propaganda , with party leaders looking down from images on the walls. Your local guide will share personal stories of his/her family from USSR times, giving you insight into Russia’s complicated past and present. Then we’re coming back up to street level, where we’ll take a break and refuel with some Russian fast food: traditional pancakes, called bliny. And then, stomachs satiated, we are ready to move forward! We’ll take the eco-friendly electric trolleybus, with a route along the Moscow Garden Ring. Used mainly by Russian babushkas(grannies) during the day, the trolleybus hits peak hours in the mornings and evenings, when many locals use it going to and from their days. Our first stop will be the Aviator’s House, one of Stalin’s Seven Sisters, followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — and you’ll hear the legends of what has gone on inside the walls. Throughout your Moscow tour, you’ll learn curious facts from soviet history while seeing how Russia exists now, 25 years after the USSR.

Local English-speaking guide

Pancake snack and drink

Additional food and drinks

Tickets for public transport

Souvenirs and items of a personal nature

Tips and gratuities for the guide

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Dress standard: Please wear comfortable shoes for walking. For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people

Traveler Reviews

This tour exceeded our expectations. Nikolai (Nick), our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, thorough, and has a great personality. He didn't take shortcuts and really covered everything that was on the agenda in great detail. We saw beautiful metro stations and learned the history behind them, including many of the murals and designs.

We did the tour with Anna her knowledge and understanding of the History surrounding the metro brought the tour alive. Well done Anna!

This tour was amazing!

Anna was a great tour guide. She gave us heaps of interesting information, was very friendly, and very kindly showed us how to get to our next tour.

Amazing beauty and history.

An excellent tour helped by an absolutely amazing guide. Anna gave a great insight into the history of the metro helped by additional material she had prepared.

great tour and guide - thanks again

great will do it again, Miriam ke was very good as a guide she has lived here all here life so knew every interesting detail.a good day