Styx artist picimg 2 . akamaized . netiu 25224 f 67 d 0 a 833347 b 0 bafd 7406 c 6413931 . png Styx is an American rock band , and the first musical act to ever have four consecutive multiplatinum albums . The group originally formed in the Chicago , Illinois , area in 1961 as The Tradewinds . This earliest lineup of the group included vocalist , pianist , keyboardist , and accordion player Dennis DeYoung , and a rhythm section comprising brothers Chuck Panozzo and John Panozzo on bass and drums , respectively . Changing their name briefly to TW 4 , the band added guitaristsvocalists James Young J . Y . and John Curulewski . The band members decided to choose a new name when they signed to Wooden Nickel Records several suggestions were made and , says DeYoung , Styx was chosen because it was the only one that none of us hated . Guitarist Tommy Shaw joined the group in 1975 following the departure of Curelewski . Tommy Shaw left in 1983 and returned again in 1995 . In the mid 1990 s , as Styx was about to embark on its first tour with the classic lineup since 1983 , John Panozzo fell seriously ill and began battling cirrhosis of the liver , eventually dying of gastrointestinal hemorrhaging he was 47 years old . John ' s brother Chuck left the band shortly thereafter , though he has since rejoined the band parttime and tours with Styx on a regular basis . In 2001 , Panozzo announced he was gay and living with HIV and he has been involved in campaigning for AIDS awareness and gay rights . In 2006 , he spoke with Frontiers for the first time about his decision to come out . The following year he released his autobiography The Grand Illusion Love , Lies , and My Life With Styx . Glen Burtnik played guitar , vocals in 9091 and bass guitar , vocals from 1999 to 2004 . Dennis DeYoung was removed from the band due to a viral ailment that left him sensitive to light in 1999 and was replaced with Lawrence GowanKeyboards , Vocals The present lineup includes new members Todd Sucherman drums , percussion , Lawrence Gowan vocals , keyboards , guitar and Ricky Phillips bass guitar , vocals . Read more on Last . fm . 825 , 993 listeners , 8 , 643 , 297 plays tags classic rock , Progressive rock , 80 s , hard rock Please downvote if incorrect ! Selfdeletes if score is 0 .