Styx coming to Ribfest 2011

[doctorwho]

Okay, for those of you who are locals this may be a big deal as it is for me. It's kind of a full-circle event for me as I grew up watching this band ( now sans Dennis DeYoung) - play everywhere on the South Side from one of the bandmembers cousin's garage practice session on Claremont Ave.near the Old St Rita high school- to a senior prom in 1971-( likely saw them 30+ times at least in this period) however then still being called TW4 before 'Lady' took off nationally in 1972 and they became Styx. One dollar admission to batlle of the bands featuring them and other locals like the American Breed / Ides of March / New Colony Six etc.
TW4 was actually their 2nd name after being the Tradewinds ( started in 1960 btw) -JY didn't join until about 1970-- when they were a regular at the Nickel Bag on Cicero Ave and played a lot in closeby Indiana

Now they come calling to Naperville. They are fine without DeYoung who yes has a recognizable voice and I tip my hat to him because yes he was damn good, but for me went far too theatrical near the end of their big run. Early on they were a hard rockin' band led by JY and they are again today.

I like this signing a lot - especially since a vacation this year likely not on tap for summer - a fat masked man from Springfield stole my vacation fund a few days ago

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napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/3293803-418/ribfest-styx-club-2011-abuse.html

Styx coming to Ribfest 2011

The Exchange Club of Naperville and the 2011 Ribfest Committee announced that Styx will be performing some of its greatest hits during a July 2 appearance at Ribfest.

The 24th Ribfest will be held July 1 to 4, at Knoch Park, Naperville. Ribfest consists of family activities throughout the event, 16 rib vendors from across the country and music on two stages. All the proceeds support the elimination of child abuse and domestic violence.

The band Styx consists of Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips (along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo), and has performed more live concerts since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined.

The band has made two Super Bowl appearances, tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Bad Company, and two more studio albums and no end in sight.

Spawned from a suburban Chicago basement in the early ’70s, Styx would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late ’70s and early ’80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads.

Ribfest is put on yearly by the Exchange Club of Naperville, a national group of men and women working to make our community a better place through its primary mission, the prevention of child abuse, and through local community service projects. The club organizes fundraising activities such as Ribfest over the Fourth of July to provide financial assistance and to promote Americanism, community service, youth activities and to prevent child abuse and domestic violence.

The Exchange Club is also partnering with the Riverwalk Foundation to sell commemorative bricks and stones for Fredenhagen Park. Call 630-585-8881 or visit www.exchangeclub.org.

[doctorwho]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSGeVx2XmSs&feature=related

you've got to live thru some really bad video here but remember video was not common in 1972 - another of the 'early' Wooden Nickel label songs along with "You need Love'- really showcase more what the early band sounded like

scoured the crowd a bit because depending on what's days show this was I might have been there ( looks like my crew-LOL !)- rolling the mighty Trans Am up I94 to Milwaukee

one more early one ( can you tell I'm excited ?) -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0nCnTAVcDU

R.I.P John P - hell of a drummer who left us in 1996. - had some influence on another punk drummer in a band not quite this good :-)


John Anthony Panozzo (September 20, 1948 – July 16, 1996) was the drummer for the American rock band Styx.

Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois with his fraternal twin brother, Chuck (born 90 minutes apart). At age 7, the twins took musical lessons from their uncle in which John took an interest in drums and percussion. They attended Catholic school and eventually they were part of a 3-piece accordion band in which John played drums and Chuck played guitar. They would play weddings at age 12 and were paid $15 apiece.

Then, in 1961, John, Chuck, and their neighbor, Dennis DeYoung, formed a band called the Tradewinds in which John played drums, Chuck played guitar, and Dennis played the accordion and sang. They played local rock and roll gigs at bars and began gaining popularity as a garage band on the south side. In 1968, Chuck switched to bass and they added guitarists/vocalists James "J.Y." Young and John Curulewski, changing their name to TW4. The band signed to Wooden Nickel Records and changed their name to Styx.

Years of partying with Styx and excessive drinking began to take a toll on his liver. In the mid-1990s, as Styx was about to embark on its first tour with the classic line-up since 1983, John fell seriously ill and began battling cirrhosis of the liver, eventually dying of gastrointestinal hemorrhaging; he was 47 years old.

The band dedicated their 1996 Return to Paradise tour to him, and Tommy Shaw, who had earlier replaced Curulewski, wrote the song "Dear John" as the band's final tribute to their drummer and friend.

Not much is known about the drum gear he had used, but he was believed to have first used various drum brands such as Ludwig and Premier and then eventually Tama drums for the rest of his career. He also used Zildjian cymbals"


I can tell you he had a set of black pearl Ludwig's if my memory is not faulty

"