Styx Rocks Community Concerts at the Crown
by STEPHANIE CRIDER
went platinum after that.
Many remember Styx as a band of the 1970s
In 1981 Paradise Theater was released and
and '80s, but the reality is that Tommy Shaw,
turned out to be the group's biggest hit yet and
James "JY" Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd
the fourth consecutive triple-platinum album
Sucherman and Ricky Phillips (along with the
for Styx — a historical first for any band at that
occasional surprise appearance by original bassist
point.
Chuck Panozzo), have performed more live since
After the release of Caught in the Act in 1984,
'99 than all of the previous years of its career
the band took a break as members and tried their
combined, according to the band's website www.
hands at various solo projects. By 1996, the band
styxworld.com.
was back together — with new drummer Todd
On Jan. 19, Community Concerts is bringing
Sucherman — for a reunion tour. In 1997, they
this legendary group to the Crown for a onereleased Return to Paradise.
night event. Known for hits including "Come
With releases (including several recordings
Sail Away," "Renegade," "Blue Collar Man" and
of live performances) every year from 1999"Fooling Yourself," the band has a fan base that
2006 and another in 2009, and a tight touring
crosses generations.
schedule that would make lesser bands flinch,
Marshall Perry director of sales/booking at
Styx continues to deliver exactly what their fans
the Crown Coliseum Complex is excited about
are looking for — a rockin' good time. The band
hosting the band.
has more than half a million fans on Facebook
"This is going to be probably one of the greatest
and You Tube is filled with their music. Clearly,
shows folks in this area will have ever seen in
this is a group with staying power.
their lives. There is not a bad seat in the theater,"
Known for bringing great entertainment to
he said. "You are talking about a band that has
Fayetteville, Community Concerts is in its 77th
been around for many years and their sounds just
Community Concerts presents Styx at the Crown on Jan. 19.
season and still going strong. So far this season
gets better and better as they go along. They've
concerts have included Gladys Knight and
put together a sound that is fantastic. It is always
Martina McBride. Still to come are shows featuring Kool &
fresh."
the Gang on Saturday, Feb. 23 and Ricky Skaggs on Friday,
At the beginning of their career in the early 1970s, Styx was influenced
April 12.
by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the Moody Blues, but it was their single
Find out more about community STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COM"Lady" that first got the group national attention. In the mid-'70s, tour
concerts and all they have to offer MENTS? Editor@upandcominguitarist John Curulewski left and was replaced by Tommy Shaw. Things
at www.community-concerts.com. gweekly.com
really clicked for the band after Shaw arrived and most of their releases
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UCW JANUARY 9-15, 2013
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