Styx began as a progressive rock band that became quickly known for fusing hard rock guitar, strong ballads and acoustic guitar. However, they also embraced pop music and softer rock at the behest of Dennis DeYoung in the early 1980s.

Styx formed in August 1961 and was originally called “The Tradewinds.” The name was shortened to “TW4” in 1965. It was not until 1972 when the band signed to Wooden Nickel Records that it officially became “Styx.”

Styx was formed as “The Tradewinds” in Roseland, Chicago, Illinois.

Throughout their career, Styx released eight singles that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in the United States, but only “Babe,” released in September 1979, reached the top spot.

The band was started by 12 year old twin brothers Chuck and John Panozz along with their 14 year old neighbor Dennis DeYoung in 1961 as “The Tradewinds”. However, when the band signed with Wood Nikel Records in 1972, the lineup included:

• Dennis DeYoung on vocals and keyboards
• James “JY” Young on guitar and vocals
• John Curulewski on guitar, vocals, and keyboards
• Chuck Panozzo on bass and backing vocals
• John Panozzo on drums and percussion

Tommy Shaw joined Styx as a new guitarist in 1975 and made his recording debut with the band in 1976 with the release of Crystal Ball.

Throughout the late 1970s and early ‘80s, DeYoung began taking more control over the band and pushing its members to shift toward a more pop-heavy sound. Shaw and other band members became dissatisfied stating that a shift from the progressive rock for which they had become well-known would alienate their fan base. Nonetheless, the band continued in that direction, releasing the overtly pop rock opera Kilroy Was Here in 1983. After Styx completed touring for the album in 1984, Shaw and other members left the band, causing it to break up for the first time.

After disbanding in 1984, Styx reunited between 1990 and 1991 and then again in 1995. But just like in the early 1980s, the band mates soon began to clash over which direction to take the band. These disagreements worsened after Brave New World, released in 1999, received only moderate reviews and managed to rank at only 175 on The Billboard 200 chart.

When DeYoung contracted an illness that affected his ability to see, he requested the band postpone the Brave New World, but they decided to simply move forward with the tour as planned. DeYoung ultimately left the band.

When DeYoung left Styx in 1999, he was replaced by Lawrence Gowan.

Styx broke up in 1984 because of disagreements between the band mates. They reunited in 1990, but after they were dumped from their record label in 1991, they disbanded a second time. After reuniting again in 1995, original band mates seemed to tolerate each other for a few years before DeYoung left in 1999 when the band decided to tour without him instead of pausing the show or allowing themselves to break up a third time.

Styx has had 3,193 concerts.

Styx is most often considered to be Rock, United States, Pop Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, Soft Rock, Album Oriented Rock (AOR), Mellow Gold, Art Rock, Glam Metal, Symphonic Rock, Melodic, Fantasy, Rock Opera, Anthemic, and Illinois.

The next Styx concert is on June 11, 2024 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. The bands performing are: Styx / Foreigner / John Waite.

The last Styx concert was on May 21, 2024 at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The bands that performed were: Styx / David Myles.

The songs that Styx performs live vary, but here's the latest setlist that we have from the May 21, 2024 concert at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada:

1. The Grand Illusion
2. Too Much Time on My Hands
3. Lady
4. Lorelei
5. Miss America
6. Crash of the Crown
7. Suite Madame Blue
8. Rockin' the Paradise
9. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
10. A Criminal Mind
11. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
12. The Best of Times
13. Khedive
14. Lost at Sea
15. Come Sail Away
16. Mr. Roboto
17. Renegade