Provo, UT and STYX - Do You Know The History?
It's a moment that could easily go unnoticed amid the tension-building cacophony of Styx's current concert-opening intro chorus.
But discerning fans should take note when guitarist James "JY" Young stoically strolls to the center of a mostly darkened stage Wednesday night near the tail end of the introductory video sequence and purposefully points to the nether regions of the sold-out Covey Center. The gesture is Young's homage to Babe Ruth famously calling his shot in the 1932 World Series -- but the real historical accomplishment is that the moment will mark the first time the "Godfather of Styx," as fellow guitarist Tommy Shaw often refers to him, has stepped on a stage in Provo in nearly 39 years.
That fact would not necessarily be of import were it not for the somewhat umbilical relationship between the one-time Chicago-based rock band and the hub of Utah County specifically, and the Beehive State in general.
That's because before Styx went on to chart 14 Top 30 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and sell millions of albums during a magical run in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the band had a hit tune in exactly three towns, with Provo being one of them. Not only that, but several years before they graced sold-out concert stages at arenas from coast to coast, flying between cities and showing up to gigs in limousines, the members of Styx traveled 1,300 miles in a rented motor home to play their first -- and only to date -- show in Provo proper.
Styx performed at a local venue called the Ice House on Dec. 1, 1973. It's not often that an eventual bona fide star act travels cross country to play in a little local concert hall in a place like Provo -- and Styx's Ice House appearance has lived on in local concert lore throughout the intervening years.
While Styx has not played in Provo since then, the band has been to just about every other corner of the state, from St. George to Logan and Wendover to neighboring Orem. In fact, it's a safe bet to say that Styx has played more different venues in Utah than any other national touring band.
It's no stretch to say that despite the band's worldwide travels and an extensive turnover in members between then and now -- Young and part-time bass player Chuck Panozzo are the only originals -- Provo still holds a soft spot in Styx history.
"Oh, tremendously," said Young in a recent phone interview. "I mean, the first time, I can even remember back in my teenage years when myself as a musician got recognized in any way shape or form, those things sort of stay with you. The band that I had with my brother that was sort of a precursor to Styx, all those things, every little milestone that we had, are the kind of things that you'll never forget. And particularly Utah, which just is a unique place unto itself for a variety of reasons, yeah, and the trips back and forth that were filled with drama -- all those things just kind of will always be with me."
In light of Styx's return to Provo on Wednesday, which just happens to also mark Young's 63rd birthday, we thought it would be enlightening to revisit the band's legendary Ice House concert and the events that led to it.
Read the entire story HERE!
Read an expanded Q&A between Doug and JY HERE!
