Styx was a rock and prog band from Chicago that racked up an impressive string of hits in the 70s and 80s that have earned them the ranking of #156 in the most successful charting artists of all-time. Most of their hits were written and/or sung by Dennis DeYoung or Tommy Shaw, both of whom had modest success as solo artists after the band broke up in 1984. The band reunited in 1989 with guitarist Glen Burtnik replacing Tommy Shaw, who was busy with a new supergroup called Damn Yankees. Styx found themselves back in the Top Ten with the ballad "Show Me The Way," which reached #3 in 1991. The follow-up single, "Love At First Sight," (#25) became the band's final chart appearance. Shaw came back into the fold by 1995, and by 1999 Styx released a new album called "Brave New World." This time out, though, Shaw's proclivity for gritty rock clashed vehemently with DeYoung's passion for keyboards and operatic rock, resulting in a confusing record and forcing the latter out of the band. It may sound hard to believe, but one of their classic songs, "The Grand Illusion," the title track from their landmark 1977 record, never charted. The album produced two other chart hits instead: "Come Sail Away" (#8) and "Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man)" (#29). Styx managed to hit the top of the chart once in their career. That was in 1979 with the ballad "Babe."
After leaving the legendary band Styx, Dennis DeYoung struck out for a promising solo career. He hit it big out of the gate with "Desert Moon" in 1984, but it would prove to be his only top 40 hit as a solo artist (it went to #10). The follow-up single, "Don't Wait For Heroes" fumbled at #83. For his second solo outing, he released the song "Call Me" (not a Blondie cover), but it hung up at #54. His career on the singles chart ended in 1986 with "This Is The Time", which couldn't rise past #93 even after being featured in Karate Kid Part II. "Boomchild" is a great AOR track from his third album of the same name. Remarkably, this album didn't even hit the Top 200 - it should have been a comeback for DeYoung, who proved with this record that he still had excellent songwriting chops. Check out "Harry's Hands" and "Beneath The Moon" too.
"Kilroy Was Here" sealed the fate of the original lineup of the legendary AOR band Styx in 1983. Tommy Shaw left to pursue a solo career and ultimately form the supergroup Damn Yankees. Dennis DeYoung also released several solo albums through the rest of the decade. Meanwhile, a singer/songwriter from New Jersey was rocking his way onto the music scene. Glen Burtnik (who also went by Glen Burtnick at times) made his first chart appearance (and only one as a solo artist) in 1987 with the excellent "Follow You" from his sophomore album, "Heroes & Zeros". The single only went to #65 on the Billboard Top 100 but brought him attention that led to songwriting opportunities, including the huge smash "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough", which Patty Smyth and Don Henley took all the way to #2 in 1992. And it brought him a great opportunity to bring Styx back. Styx reformed in 1989, but with Burtnik as their lead guitarist instead of Tommy Shaw. They released "Edge Of The Century" in 1990, which muscled its way to #63 on the album chart. The album also contained several tunes written by Burtnik, most notably the single "Love Is A Ritual", which originally appeared on his debut album. "Love Is A Ritual" did not chart in 1986, but Styx took it to #80 in 1990. Burtnik stayed with Styx until 2003 and then returned to his solo career.
