At last: Styx, Journey, REO Speedwagon are on tour together

The idea for Styx to tour with fellow '70s rock stalwarts Journey and REO Speedwagon has been cooking since 1999.

"Rob Light, who now organizes the Dixie Chicks productions, had the idea back then," said Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw. "We were able to get REO on the tour back then but had the hardest time getting our schedules set with Journey.

"It's like, having two kids is manageable, but having three kids seems like you have 10. And it's hard getting everything together."

But 2003 was the magic number. The three bands will hit the Delta Center stage on Wednesday.

"I've known the guys in Journey and REO for ages," Shaw said during a telephone interview from Gulfport, Miss. "When I lived in Michigan back in the mid-'90s, I would hook up with the Journey and REO guys when they came to town."

The three bands have worked together here and there, as when all three performed during benefit concerts for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "It was amazing," said Shaw. "I was backstage with REO's singer, Kevin Cronin, singing every Journey song they played. By the time the set was done, I had lost my voice."

With the tour coming up, Shaw, who still keeps in touch with his Damn Yankees bandmates Ted Nugent, Jack Blades and Michael Cartellone, said he's looking forward to coming to Salt Lake City. "We always have a great time coming there. I mean, Salt Lake is one of the hot spots for Styx."

In 1975, three years after the album "Styx II" was released, Salt Lake radio began playing the album's single "Lady," which eventually went gold. "We've had a great relationship with Utah. And we're happy to bring some of our friends along this time."

Adding to Shaw's excitement is the fact that Styx released a new album earlier this year. "Cyclorama" is the first studio album for the band since 1997's "Brave New World." It is also the first studio effort for the band's current line-up — drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, bassist Glen Burtnik, guitarist James "JY" Young and Shaw.

"All of us have a favorite Styx era," said Shaw. " 'Cyclorama' was a way of connecting all the dots and bringing the band to the present."

For the first time in Styx history, the songs on the album were all co-written by the band, not by individuals.