Since breaking onto the scene in 1972 with their self-titled album, Styx has been one of the most successful bands in history. With 15 studio albums, and iconic hits such as Come Sail Away, and Mr. Roboto.
In the late 90’s, after many years of stop and go, the band reunited with a new lead singer, Lawrence Gowan, with a focus on touring.
They haven’t slowed down yet.
After successful tours with the likes of Def Leppard, Foreigner, and Journey, the group has solidified a strong following that spans generations. Pulling footage from a Las Vegas concert in 2014, and adding interviews of band members and crew, Styx has released a live concert DVD, Styx – Live at the Orleans Arena. At the top of their game, and clearly showing a cohesiveness and appreciation to still be doing what they love, the DVD is an absolute joy for fans or newcomers alike.
With an upcoming show at Red Rocks, with the Colorado Symphony Choir, I had a chance to speak with Lawrence Gowan:
Lawrence Gowan: How ya doin’?
Side Stage Magazine: Doing good how is your day going?
We’re in Omaha Neb, and I’m looking at this spectacular mural out the window! I love seeing things like this on the road.
Lots of flat landscape in Nebraska…
You know we have this saying in Saskatchewan, that one of the main pastimes is watching your dog run away for three days.
That boring?
Well it depends on the dog I guess!
And how fast he is!
(Laughs)
So let’s talk about your recently released DVD, Styx – Live at Orleans Arena. It’s obvious to me that you guys are still having a blast at every show…
You know, Stephen, I’m glad you picked up on that because that was what I hoped people would see is that although there are lots of challenges to this that it’s really a very fun thing to be a part of. Since [the DVD] was recorded we’ve kindof augmented that show and added a bunch of footage of the crew, and a general behind-the-scenes, backstage look at how a band like Styx performs over a hundred shows a year. It’s a pretty fascinating life for people that don’t quite understand how it all comes together. There are a lot of days where being in a band you kinda take for granted that the gear is all set up and ready to go even though you are hundreds and hundreds of miles away from where you were last night. When you’re, I’ll use the term, “just the musician”, it’s amazing just the challenges of just getting your stuff, all the gear on the stage and having it all working. There have been days where we’re playing in subzero temperatures and the very next we’ve flown across the country and we’re playing in a place that’s over eighty degrees and you’ve got to make these instruments make that trip, first of all, then acclimate them to different settings, and have them all set up to go in a timely manner that fits everything in a two-hour show. So yes, there’s a lot to that. It’s like an education and a fun thing to see unfold.
Absolutely! And it also seems like there are plenty of musicians or bands that have gotten bored with it all, or are doing it for a paycheck, but every single one of you guys are having so much fun, and wanting to do what you are doing, you can’t fake that…
I’m glad you feel that way. That is a very accurate appraisal. A lot of where that comes from though comes down to the fact that these audiences show up in such great numbers, and you’re looking at a few thousand faces with smiles on them and at the end of the day that makes everything so great. It really raises the fun factor.
You were touring with, at least on that particular night of the concert DVD, Foreigner?
L – Yes. There are about a dozen bands from the classic rock era that are still touring on this level with Styx, and we team up with them on various tours. A few months ago we did a bunch of shows with Def Leppard, great guys! We also did a triple bill just a few years ago with Foreigner and Journey.
SS – Thinking back to when you joined Styx in ‘99, how has your experience playing in front of these great big audiences changed from then to now? Any differences?
Yeah, I mean for the most part we are playing a lot of the same songs now that we were playing then and yet the subtleties and nuances of the meanings behind the songs and how they connect with the audiences now has shifted over the years. You know, just through life. And yet they still kind of, moving through, have some new significance they’ve taken on through the years, and we haven’t lost sight of that. I think what’s different for the most part is that we’ve just gotten better. I’m so glad we’ve made DVD’s and videos of the live show over the years because we kinda get to take stock of where it was in that era, you know? The great thing about this band is that we are always looking for ways, both collectively and individually, of elevating the experience for the audience and ourselves. I can see growth in that way. That’s the most obvious thing to me is just how the show has elevated over the years and the Orleans DVD is an example of that and here we are eighteen months later even better. That’s the great thing to me, the collective evolution of the band, and finding a way to elevate every single year.
You brought up how some songs have changed, so let’s talk about “Light Up”. In Live at the Orleans Arena you ask the audience to pull out their phones for this song, is there any other meaning to this song in light of the current climate for marijuana legalization in much of the country?
(Laughs)
I suppose so, JY (James Young) likes to make reference to that when we play in states where it’s been legalized, so when we’re in Colorado he doesn’t mind alluding to that interpretation of the song. But, you know, people personalize their interpretation of the lyrics, and their interpretation is as good or better than the original intention behind the song.
But yes, in light of the shift in the world of North America for the legalization of marijuana, it’s funny, it’s legal in some areas to light up and smoke marijuana but it’s illegal to light your lighter in the arena. So for the song you have to use your cellphone. I think the shift is interesting. Way back when pot was illegal you could light up your lighter, now you’re not allowed to do that, but you can smoke marijuana.
There’s obviously a lot going on in politics, but I’ve not seen much of that from you guys. Is that something you prefer to stay out of?
The thing about politics is that, of course in your day to day life you’re following the news, or lack thereof, or the misdirection of it and we’re all caught up in that, trying to figure out what is the right thing to do. It is such an emotionally charged arena, and it’s very divisive. If the songs your band sings are overtly political or ideological then I think it is okay that you bring that up on stage. However, Styx songs don’t strike me that way. I think they are trying to be kindof thought provoking but they aren’t necessarily trying to channel people to one avenue of ideology or another. Therefore, it is something we choose to leave out of the show because it can spread bad vibes through the audience. You want to persuade people to kindof be their better selves moving forward and make good decisions when they leave the arena but during the show we really want people to enjoy the music and let it kinda seep into their lives and affect them in ways that we’re not trying to direct them in any political agenda.
Is it accurate to maybe say your show is a chance for the audience to escape from that and come together for a common purpose, not have to worry about those things for a night?
I think that’s a very good way to put it, Stephen. I love when I look out at an audience and see just how united everyone is in their love for a song. They may be of completely opposite beliefs, but isn’t it great that they found something they completely agree on when they’re singing a song together. The vibe of that is one of the more powerful things in the world!
There was something you said that I remember from the concert DVD, and I’m paraphrasing, “The greatest gift the world can give you is to do what you do best.” Clearly that is what you are doing. Can you tell me kindof how you came into this life and career?
Well, first of all, there’s an awful lot of luck involved that you’re able to do what you love every single day. The only way I can kind of translate that to people is if you can’t do that every part of every day, at least find a few hours when you can and don’t let that go!
If you would, give your fans some insight into your personal life. Do each of you listen to very different music?
There’s crossover stuff that we all love and agree on, then there are very individual tastes. And I’ve found that it is often best to play with people that don’t have identical tastes because they’ll wind up bringing something fresh into the party that you don’t quite have. Tommy loves listening to a lot of bluegrass, I listen to a lot of classical or even ragtime music. Todd, with his jazz stuff and what he knows about all of that really contributes to what Styx does.
Let’s talk about an important upcoming show…
Yes, we will be playing at Red Rocks, Colorado, one of the greatest venues in the world. Just, spectacular! We are playing with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, getting ourselves psyched up for that. The big rehearsal is tomorrow, and the show the day after that. The orchestra of probably 80 people will at times augment our sound, and at other times will actually take over and start solely playing or transitioning into the next section. Very Neo-Classical. It is also a spectacular visual feast as well to see that many people on stage playing together. This show has been in our sights for many months now. Should be a great evening for the fans and for ourselves as well.
Going back to the DVD for a moment, it is amazing to me that you guys are able to tour in such close quarters and have managed to balance egos for this long, all while producing at such a high level…
You know what, that’s a great observation, and I’m not sure I’ve ever done an interview where someone has made that observation. When you see how in each other’s pockets we are. It’s because we keep our eyes on the bigger picture, to use a cliché maybe. It’s something going on that’s bigger than us, it involves how we connect with audiences wherever we go. So we keep that in mind so that when petty squabbles arise we squash them. I don’t know if we could have done that in our twenties or early thirties, but that is something that comes along with the gratitude of being able to keep doing this and doing it at the level that we do that keeps everyone focused on what the main goal is here. Anyone that can’t do that is left by the side of the road at some point.
