Get Styx fix with DeYoung album

It's no secret that my favorite band of all time is the original and classic lineups of Styx.

I consider 1980's "Paradise Theatre" my favorite, although my favorite Styx song is "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" from the 1978 disc "Pieces of Eight," which, incidentally, was the band's eighth album.

I remember the first Styx concert I went to was the "Paradise Theatre" tour in 1981.

The show — big on theatrics — was the perfect balance between hard-rocking anthems and sentimental ballads. In 1983, one of my dreams came true. I met guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw in Wichita, Kan., after the lackluster "Killroy" concert at the Kansas Coliseum.

However, it would be 13 years before I would get to meet anyone else from the band. During that time, the band broke up and a few solo albums by Dennis DeYoung, Shaw and guitarist/vocalist James Young hit the market.

Then in 1996, another one of my dreams came true. The band reunited, albeit without original drummer John Panozzo, who died from years of alcohol abuse.

I was able to meet DeYoung, Shaw, Young, Chuck Panozzo (bassist and John's brother) and new drummer Todd Sucherman. It wasn't a let-down.

Now, after lawsuits and disagreements, the classic lineup has splintered.

DeYoung is no longer in the band; it is now helmed by Shaw and Young, with special appearances by Chuck Panozzo.

Speaking of Chuck, I just read his autobiography — "The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies and My Life With Styx" — which he wrote with Michele Skettino.

The book, which was released in 2007 through AMACOM Publishing, chronicles Panozzo's childhood, his study for the ministry, the formation of Styx, the success and breakup of the band, the death of his brother John and, finally, coming to terms with his homosexuality and fight with AIDS.

It's a well-written book that doesn't dig into the exploitations that other biographies are apt to do, "The Grand Illusion" gives readers a full-picture of the situations, rather than delving into the grit.

Being a Styx fan, I read the book in less than 12 hours and came away wanting to hear new music from Styx.

That fix was purged with the domestic release of DeYoung's "One Hundred Years From Now" on April 14. (The CD was released in Canada last year and went to No. 1 on the Canadian charts.)

The opening title track is on par with Styx's heyday — driving arrangements, guitars, keyboards and harmonies.