Styx Sails Into Thunder Bay
by Angie Valente - The Chronicle Journal
image by Jason Powell
STYX and stones may break my bones . . . but a little rock and roll never hurt a soul. Just ask Lawrence Gowan, eccentric solo artist who's been a member of Styx for 18 years.
"I'm fortunate to play music every single day. I derive pleasure out of playing and living in the moment. A lot of gratitude goes into my daily ritual of playing in front of an audience."
Gowan, Styx's keyboardist and lead vocalist, calls in from Rama, Ont., where they're playing a double header at Casino Rama Resort. The band is rehearsing, and Gowan manages to fit yoga in between media requests. He's nothing like the strange animal with a criminal mind, like one might assume. He's engaging, charming, and light-hearted with an obvious lust for life. His stories of the industry span decades and paint a colourful work of art. He is unassuming.
He asks what year I was born. He speaks about himself not with bravado, but with obvious nostalgia and gratefulness. I am left in awe with a giant smile on my face. If only more interviews felt like long distance chats with Uncle Larry. We talk about his connection to Thunder Bay, music festivals, genres, eras of music, yoga and hair.
Read more at chorniclejournal.com!
