Interview by Paul Salfen
In the sweltering heat of a Phoenix stage clocking in at 109 degrees, Lawrence Gowan—keyboardist, vocalist, and perpetual motion machine for the legendary rock outfit Styx—sweats it out with the kind of grin that says he’s exactly where he belongs. It’s been over 50 years since Styx first emerged from the Chicago prog-rock scene, churning out anthems like “Come Sail Away” and “Renegade” that have soundtracked generations. But don’t call this a nostalgia act. With their 18th studio album, Circling From Above, out now on Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, the band is proving they’re not just circling the wagons—they’re launching into orbit.
I caught up with Gowan ahead of a headlining gig, fresh off the summer’s “Brotherhood of Rock” tour with The Kevin Cronin Band (that’s REO Speedwagon to you and me) and special guest Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles. The album, a 41-minute sonic journey through technology, nature, and the human mess in between, dropped on July 18, and it’s already earning raves. VintageRock.com called it a “solid, full-circle effort,” while TheRockPit.net hailed it as “STYX at their best: nostalgic yet forward-looking.” Gowan, ever the animated storyteller with his Canadian lilt, dives right in, his enthusiasm as infectious as a killer hook.
“We’re really proud of the album because we felt we were on a creative roll, starting from The Mission in 2017 and then Crash of the Crown in 2021,” Gowan tells me, referencing the band’s recent streak of critically acclaimed releases. “The ideas were bouncing around in such an effortless way that we felt compelled to finish this one, even though it’s been an extremely busy year.” Busy is an understatement—Styx clocks about 100 shows annually, a grind that keeps the creative sparks flying. “Because we still play so much live, we’re in each other’s company an awful lot. The creative spark is kind of present in the room.”
Circling From Above features contributions from the full lineup: founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young (the “Godfather of Styx”), guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, drummer Todd Sucherman, Gowan himself, guitarist/vocalist Will Evankovich (who produced the record and joined officially in 2022), and bassist Terry Gowan. The songwriting triumvirate of Shaw, Evankovich, and Lawrence Gowan penned all 13 tracks in a “strange three-way democracy,” as Evankovich puts it. Gowan echoes that sentiment: “There’s creative friction, but everybody gets a go around the table. We all get a swing at the tree.”
Lead single “Build and Destroy” sets the tone with its kinetic energy, a track Gowan takes lead on. “That little melody, I kept singing ‘Build and Destroy,'” he explains. “Even though we don’t sing over that part, I kept thinking that would be a good title. It’s thematic. The melody feels like a little ‘Star Trek’ or ‘Twilight Zone’ thing—just a small tag that reinforces the title.” Shaw and Evankovich fleshed it out in a day and a half, and the AI-conceptual video (directed by Jay Ziebarth) has racked up over 111k views on YouTube. It’s muscular prog-rock with introspective edges, balancing the band’s progressive leanings with deeper messages. As Shaw says, “A good song is like a straight road—it’ll get you to the next place.”
But it’s not all studio polish; Styx lives for the stage. Gowan lights up talking about weaving new tracks into setlists packed with classics. “We played ‘Build and Destroy’ on the summer tour, and it went over so well—it gave us the confidence to keep going.” Tonight’s show might debut “Forgive,” inspired by fan comments on its video. Choosing favorites? Impossible. “It’s like choosing a favorite child,” Gowan laughs. But “Renegade” always gets a nod: “I’ve seen it have a profound effect on audiences around the world. I can really take in the moment.”
The band’s longevity—53 years and counting—fuels their fire. “All the members, from the beginning to now, have given amazing creative input,” Gowan says. “We’re still extremely excited about making music and what it does to people.” That excitement translates to the crowd, a mix of die-hards and fresh faces under 30 mouthing lyrics to the new stuff. “They love the fact that we’re still doing it,” he notes. And yeah, those outdoor summer scorchers? “We hit 100 degrees on stage in several cities. It’s like a sauna. But we feel more for the audience—they’ve endured a lot to get to showtime. That’s inspiring.”
Gowan’s path to Styx wasn’t overnight. From his solo days in Canada—where a No. 1 hit packed Toronto’s Ontario Place with 9,000 fans—to joining the band in 1999, he’s got stories. A pivotal moment? His dad’s quiet approval after a Holiday Inn gig in the disco era. “He said, ‘I knew you were good, but I didn’t know you were really, really good.’ That gave me a boost.” Advice for aspiring rockers? “If you write a great song, good things are going to happen. Fall in love with music for the right reason—it’s its own reward. And try not to let the music business destroy your love of music.”
With three members in their 70s showing no signs of slowing, the future’s wide open. “We have no intention of stopping,” Gowan says. “If ideas percolate, we’ll get into the studio.” Next up: wrapping the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour, then headlining “Rockin’ in Paradise: STYX + Friends” in Miramar Beach, Florida, October 9-11, with Gowan’s solo band, Collective Soul, Loverboy, Cheap Trick, and more. It’s a three-day bash featuring The Grand Illusion in full—one last time in 2025—plus a Q&A with Eddie Trunk.
Catch Styx on the road—tickets at LiveNation.com, VIP packages via StyxWorld.com. As Gowan puts it, “We’re still willing to break a sweat.” And after Circling From Above, it’s clear: Styx isn’t just surviving; they’re soaring.
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 7/18 | Gilford, NH | BankNH Pavilion |
| Sat 7/19 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center |
| Sun 7/20 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| Fri 8/8 | Camden, NJ | Freedom Mortgage Pavilion |
| Sun 8/10 | Burgettstown, PA | The Pavilion at Star Lake |
| Tue 8/12 | Saratoga Springs, NY | Broadview Stage at SPAC |
| Wed 8/13 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage |
| Fri 8/15 | Noblesville, IN | Ruoff Music Center |
| Sat 8/16 | Clarkston, MI | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| Tue 8/19 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center |
| Wed 8/20 | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Blossom Music Center |
| Fri 8/22 | St. Louis, MO | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre |
| Sat 8/23 | Tinley Park, IL | Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre |
| Sun 8/24 | Milwaukee, WI | American Family Insurance Amphitheater |
| Wed 9/10 | Decatur, IL | Devon Lakeshore Amphitheatre |
| Thu 9/11 | Evansville, IN | Aiken Theatre in The Centre |
| Fri 9/12 | Knoxville, TN | Tennessee Valley Fair |
| Sun 9/14 | Peachtree City, GA | Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater |
| Fri 9/26 | Bloomsburg, PA | Bloomsburg Fairground |
| Sat 9/27 | Durham, CT | Durham Fair |
| 10/9 – 10/11 | Miramar Beach, FL | Rockin’ in Paradise: STYX + Friends |
| Fri 10/24 | Bossier City, LA | Live! Casino + Hotel Louisiana |
| Thu 11/6 | Bozeman, MT | Montana State Univ. – Brick Breeden Fieldhouse (w/ Loverboy) |
| Fri 11/7 | Nampa, ID | Ford Idaho Center – Arena (w/ Loverboy) |
| Sat 11/8 | Idaho Falls, ID | Mountain America Center – Hero Arena (w/ Loverboy) |
| Tue 11/11 | Grand Forks, ID | Alerus Center (w/ Loverboy) |
| Thu 11/13 | Mankato, MN | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (w/ Loverboy) |
| Sat 11/15 | Charleston, WV | Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center (w/ Loverboy) |
Photos By Paul Salfen for AMFM Magazine
