‘A Return to Paradise’

Keyboardist talks about playing with Styx; group to appear in Bristol

For Lawrence Gowan, the last 11 years have been like a return to paradise.
The keyboardist, 52, enjoyed a 14-year career as a solo artist in Canada, earning a string of gold and platinum records in the 1980s.
Today, Gowan plays keyboards for Styx, the long-running rock band known for hits like “Lady” and “Show Me the Way.”
Since joining the band in 1999, Gowan has performed on a couple of studio albums and a recent DVD. He replaced original member Dennis DeYoung, who brought theatrics to the band in its heyday in 1983 with “Kilroy Was Here,” a concept album that spawned the techno-pop hit “Mr. Roboto.”
But that song, “Mr. Roboto,” has since gone “on vacation,” Gowan said during a recent telephone interview.
Now, the band has focused its shows on more hard-rocking material like “Renegade” and “Fooling Yourself” under the leadership of Tommy Show (guitar and vocals) and James Young (guitar and vocals).

‘LIKE PINNACLE SONGS’
Styx makes a stop at Bristol’s Viking Hall Civic Center on Nov. 13.
It’s part of a tour the band has mounted with REO Speedwagon, another mainstream rock act that, too, began releasing records in the early 1970s and posted many of its biggest successes in the early 1980s.
Gowan calls Styx “a pretty straightforward progressive rock band of the ’70s that falls squarely in the classic rock vein.”
Songs like “Come Sail Away” and “Blue Collar Man” have become staples of classic rock radio.
“And those are like pinnacle songs in a lot of people’s lives,” Gowan said.
‘CLASSIC ROCK’
Over the last 11 years, Gowan has performed 1,200 shows with Styx.
Styx’s current drummer is Todd Sucherman, who joined the band in 1995. Bass duties are handled by Ricky Phillips, though original bass player Chuck Panozzo comes out to play some shows, if his health allows, Gowan said.
“It’s an unapologetic, pompous, classic rock band,” Gowan said. “That’s kind of what we are.”
The musician laughed.
“Having said that, there’s always a touch of humor in there,” Gowan added.
“As a band, we take ourselves dead seriously. Where the humor comes in is, as individuals, we celebrate our little flaws. I think that’s what’s kept us together.”

IF YOU GO
What: Concert featuring Styx, REO Speedwagon and Night Ranger
Where: Viking Hall Civic Center, Bristol, Tenn.
When: Nov. 13, 7 p.m.
How much: $28 to $68
Info: (423) 764-0188