The Band Styx Is From Chicago and Played Prom Nights in the 70s

Styx, the classic rock band with such hits as Come Sail Away and Mr. Roboto, sold over 20 million records from 1975 to 1984, and continues to be a fixture in American rock history (though for anyone attending Whaddayaknow? Karaoke nights, we’d recommend against choosing Come Sail Away, unless you’re comfortable with sitting through 96 bars of instrumentals).

At a Whaddayaknow? General trivia night, we often include Music questions, and a fun but relatively well-known fact is that the band formed in Chicago. But their early career has some crazy trivia you wouldn’t believe!

First of all, the band was initially founded by 12-year-old twins and their 14-year-old neighbor in the Roseland, Chicago area. Chuck and John Ponozzo played guitar and drums respectively. Dennis DeYoung sang and played checks notes *wait seriously* the accordion (he soon switched to the keyboard).

Together they formed the Tradewinds, which later changed their name to TW4 (short for There Were 4). They were spotted in 1971 by a talent scout while performing at St. John of the Cross Parish in Western Springs, Illinois and were signed to their first label, where they changed their name to Styx.

According to the band, they tossed out dozens of names, but chose Styx as the final option because “it was the only one we never hated.”

They had some success and a few songs that made the Billboard charts, but the 1975 release of Equinox started them on a trajectory to superstardom, which exploded in the 1980s and made them one of the most famous rock bands in the world.

It also afforded many graduates of Chicago and Chicago Suburb high schools something to brag about. Getting to see Styx before they went international.

While they were TW4 they played any venue that would take them. Churches. Schools. And also…proms. But after Styx officially formed, for a few years they still played proms in the Chicagoland area.

New Trier? Styx played their prom (I would know, my dad was there). They also played at St. Frances DeSales in 1973. From 1972 to 1975, while releasing albums, they paid the bills continuing to take any gig they could get. And yes, that involved a lot of proms.

That is, until their 1975 hit “Lady” was released. As the Daily Illini reported at the time, that was enough to make them “leave high schools” behind.

Their 1977 album The Grand Illusion was their big breakthrough, reaching number six on the US charts, which was also the case for their 1978 follow-up Pieces of Eight. Off the strength of their single “Babe” their album Cornerstone reached number two on the charts, and in 1981, Paradise Theater was their first number one album.

Obviously, Styx made a name for themselves, and took the hard road to get there. They hustled, and that hustle involved a lot of small events you wouldn’t expect to see a band who would go on to get seven top-40 singles throughout their career.

Possible future trivia questions you might encounter at your next Whaddayaknow? Event:

Q: In South Park, Cartman says he must finish singing a song if someone starts singing the lyrics. What song, by a Chicago-based rock band, does Kyle make him sing twice.

A: Sailing Away

Q: Styx has released 39 singles. Of those singles, how many reached the Top 40 on the Billboard chart?

A: 16 (8 have reached the top 10)

Q: Styx had a single number 1 hit. What was the song?

A: Babe (Show Me the Way and The Best of Times peaked at 3. Come Sail Away peaked at 8.)

Are you the next Styx? Do you have what it takes to play a future-parent’s prom? You can test your mettle out at our karaoke nights from Whaddayaknow? trivia!

Looking for more music trivia? Check out our Whaddayaknow? Trivia events, with general trivia music questions, dedicated music trivia, music bingo and karaoke every week!