From the press release:
STYX and REO
SPEEDWAGON launched “The Midwest Rock ‘n Roll
Express” tour along with Ted Nugent earlier this month, and they’re
landing in Detroit, MI on Thursday, June 28 at the DTE Energy Music
Theatre
“Forget all those TV
shows with glee clubs singing Rock songs,” exclaims STYX guitarist/singer James
“JY” Young. “It’s time for mega-Platinum Illinois bands STYX and REO
Speedwagon in a battle to the end of the Mayan Calendar with the Motor City
Madman!”
"I am a Midwest boy,
born and raised with Midwest values,” continues REO Speedwagon singer/guitarist
Kevin Cronin. “In the Midwest we work hard, play hard, and rock
hard. I am proud to join my brothers in STYX and Ted Nugent to celebrate
Midwest rock 'n roll and represent the greatest rock fans in the world. I
am ready to climb aboard the ‘Midwest Rock 'n Roll Express!’ Rock On
baby!"
As STYX
singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw proclaims, “It's gonna be a Twang Fest of screaming
guitars and big, sing-along choruses that continue to be the soundtrack for the
misbehavior of our collective fan base. In other words, a real good
time.”
Detroit’s own Ted
Nugent couldn’t agree more. “The heart and soul of American
R&B&R&R has always gushed forth from the heartland of America.
REO, STYX and The Nuge have always celebrated the power of our special music and
on the mighty ‘Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express,’
the energy, attitude and spirit is more intense than ever. This is
the soundtrack for the hardcore.”
STYX is Tommy Shaw
(vocals, guitars), James “JY” Young (vocals, guitars), Lawrence Gowan (vocals,
keyboards), Todd Sucherman (drums) and Ricky Phillips (bass), along with the
occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo. This
year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of their self-titled
debut album. They released their double-disc REGENERATION, VOLUME I
& II on October 24, 2011 via Eagle Rock Entertainment. In addition to thirteen STYX classics and a brand new song,
“Difference In The World,” the collection also includes interpretations of “High
Enough,” and “Coming Of Age,” originally recorded by Damn Yankees, which
featured Tommy Shaw, along with Night Ranger’s Jack Blades, Ted Nugent and
drummer Michael Cartellone. The band had originally re-recorded
these acclaimed anthems to sell only at their live shows, as they continued to
tour the globe and introduce a new generation of fans to their chart-topping
hits. Now, for the first time, this music has been made commercially
available. On January 31, Eagle Rock Entertainment released Styx:
The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Live on DVD, Blu-Ray, and DVD/2CD.
This show was recorded November 9, 2010 at the historic Orpheum Theater in
Memphis, on the tour that saw them perform both these albums in their entirety
for the first time. The 20-song, two-hour and 11-minute presentation
features stunning high-definition visuals accenting the complex musical
arrangements recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1, and LPCM
Stereo. The staging of these two multi-platinum albums and the fevered
response makes this concert a must for all STYX fans. Styx: The Grand
Illusion/Pieces Of Eight Live also includes the bonus feature “Putting On
The Show,” an inside look at the people and equipment needed to stage such a
massive spectacle.
Spawned from a
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. Over the course of
their career they’ve released 15 studio albums, 7 best-of compilations, 4 live
DVDs and 4 live albums, garnering 8 Top Ten singles. STYX has sold over 30
million albums worldwide. Throughout their illustrious career, they’ve
performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its
career combined. Two Super-Bowl appearances, Pollstar box office
chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon and Bad
Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums and no end in sight, STYX
continues to conquer the planet, one venue at a time.
