The Boomer REport - Music Fun Facts

Styx - 10 Fun Facts

  1. Their name came from Greek mythology – The band named themselves after the River Styx, which separates Earth from the underworld. They liked the name because it was short and memorable.
  2. They were the first band to have four consecutive multi-platinum albums – The Grand Illusion (1977), Pieces of Eight (1978), Cornerstone (1979), and Paradise Theatre (1981) all went platinum or more.
  3. “Lady” was a sleeper hit – Originally released in 1973, it flopped until a Chicago DJ gave it heavy rotation in 1975, sending it into the national Top 10 two years after its debut.
  4. “Come Sail Away” mixes genres in one song – It starts as a piano ballad, shifts into progressive rock, then ends with a synthesizer-driven crescendo that became a fan favorite.
  5. Dennis DeYoung wrote most of their biggest hits – Including Lady, Babe, Come Sail Away, and The Best of Times. He also played keyboards and provided the theatrical flair.
  6. They were pioneers of rock concept albums – Albums like Paradise Theatre and Kilroy Was Here featured characters, themes, and theatrical stage shows, blurring the line between concert and rock opera.
  7. They broke up due to creative differences, not sales – In 1984, despite massive success, the band split mainly over artistic direction and the theatrical influence of DeYoung.
  8. DeYoung and the band still don’t speak – A long-running feud has kept DeYoung from rejoining the band despite fans’ frequent requests.
  9. Their current lineup still tours heavily – Styx remains a touring juggernaut, playing over 100 shows a year.
  10. They've sold over 54 million records – With a mix of hard rock and ballads, Styx quietly became one of the best-selling bands of the late 20th century.