There is nothing really like the original Styx. Their music was kind of a cross between prog and heavy metal with a ballad thrown in there once in a while. The first time I heard The Serpent Is Rising I immediately related it to the sound of Deep Purple. Great stuff.
"It was really a beautiful scene... everybody was there getting high on the music and whatever else they might have brought with them.." LOL this was the 70's!
My first Styx LP was "Best Of Styx" (bought for "Lady" and a great introduction to the band) so I know this song well.
Awesome footage, shows how these guys paid their dues before super-stardom. And their musicianship was just as tight in the beginning!
At 2;56 till 3;10 sounds like black sabbath's first album, 3;10 to 3;13 is unmistakable iommi lick from black Sabbaths first album. Wish there was more.. Good shit! Looks like james young? Who are the guitarist playing in this?
Not Summerfest. This was at the "Alternate Site,' a park across Lincoln Memorial Drive from Lake Michigan that hosted free public concerts on Sunday afternoons in the summer.
This is from the former great show Underground News, which was on WSNS-UHF in Chicago in the early 70s. That ad...I remember it word for word...the late Chuck Collins hosted!
I worked the light crew for Styx on & off in '74. They played mostly high schools & colleges in the Chicago area, & some out of state shows. I didn't know who they were prior to that. I remember that I liked some of the songs, but at the time I didn't pay too much attention. Today I wish I had, they were pretty darn good. Styx II is one of my all time favorite albums. This early stuff is all I ever knew, WOW to see it again. I'm sure glad I had the opportunity!
@7188181 ok dipshit, so much for a typos. For the mentally challenged like yourself, I left out the word this between the words "is" and "the", and I used the wrong term earlier, I meant "earliest". Now go f yourself.
This was the song that my "first love" and I called "our song". Wonderful that you posted this, I've been looking for it. I had all the Styx albums on Nickleback Label, but the basement flooded and I LOST THEM ALL! :-(
This confirms what I've heard about the early period of Styx. James Young was the frontman back then. This was the only song from the first album that Dennis wrote by himself, and in performance he always stayed shyly behind his keyboard, often awkwardly holding his ears to nail the harmony.. It would take him a few years to get comfortable with the audience.
People I know say they love Styx,but only know 1 song from their early years! That song is Lady. The early Styx has so much to offer! The 1st 4 albums are their best records by far! I do like some of the later stuff,but nothing like the 1st 4 to me! You people out there say you are Styx fans. Get out and get the 1st 4 Styx albums! You won't be dissapointed! God bless
This is amazing, I have never seen any footage from this era, I stop at 1974 when listening to Styx, this is raw, it's real and it's rock, no BS! All 4 Wooden Nickel LP's are awesome! Some of the best music of that time! Damn, I would love to see this whole show, too bad it's probably not out there! Or it's in the hands of Band members and we will never see it! Because they cherish the A&M years so much, the commercial stuff, phooey! Never to release their roots, that is sad!
@dkopack71 The best: Movement for the Common Man ("Did your parents tell you to go...doity?" LOL) What Has Come Between Us Best Thing Lady A Day Earl of Roseland The Grove of Eglantine As Bad as This Jonas Psalter Golden Lark Christopher Mr. Christopher Download those songs, and you have "Best of the Wooden Nickel Years."
They were a lot more adventurous back then. There are a lot of great songs they just stopped playing after about 1975. Does your copy of Man of Miracles have "Unfinished Song"? I love that one, but it's only on some reissues.
I am looking for the Styx live video from the '70s which had the original singer of "Babe" actually singing just that..."Babe"...can't find it online...had it at one time about 5 years ago...please help...
Damn styx is good! Who's holding all the old styx footage? Theres this, then all the other videos of styx are from late 70,s onward? There must be more out there!!!!!
I belive this was at the 'alterante site' on Milwaukee's East Side . There were free concerts every Sunday for a few years. Drugs, sex, & rock n' roll prevailed until the cops shut it down
This clip came from a local cable access show in Chicago and I believe the host simply referred to it as "concert in the park" and didn't say Summerfest. Maybe the Summerfest has been around all this time but wasn't always called Summerfest.
This is really cool stuff! The oldest Styx show ever to be filmed, I believe. I know the rest of the concert exists as well (somewhere). Anybody who has it?
I grew up on the older Styx music, and I agree Equinox is their best album. I still have it on vinyl and play in every now and then except when Light Up comes on I can't light up anymore, I don't want my kids picking up on the old mans bad habits.Saw them at the Uptown theater for their Equinox tour witch was one of the best concerts I went too, and I went to alot of them and saw some of the greatest bands of the 60's and 70's. What a great time to be young!!!!
I was at a Scout camp recently. The people in the Dining Hall also liked Equinox, but they didn't listen too closely to the songs. All of the little Scouts got to Light Up and be happy
JY sang way too much in early styx. Much better when they limit him to one song per album. Shaw and DeYoung are two of the best vocalists in pop/rock music. Much more melodic also. BTW, new DDY album is very good.
okay - we'll separate the really old Styx fans from those who are not -- this video would have been right after their name change from TW4 - as they played my prom under. And I'd also love those Wooden Nickel hits -- especially " You Need Love' - Saw them play for a long time before they 'made it' - when they really did rock
damn, i love this. if styx were to do a show with all the wooden nickel hits, i'd pay $200.00 for that. c'mon, witch wolf, a day, man of miracles,mr. christopher, southern woman. that s--t rocks and roll BIG TIME !!!
wow..this is by far the earliest styx video on youtube (that ive seen). too bad JC and John Panozzo are dead, and Dennis is out, and Chuck is a "sometimes guy", leaving JY the only guy left full time in styx, but they
still rule today. this early stuff is the real STYX! real treasure here
So many of you people are right. EARLY Styx was great, and hardly anybody seems to know there was a band that made records BEFORE the Grand Illusion! Listen to Styx I, Styx II, Serpent is Rising, Man of Miracles, Equinox, and Crystal Ball! Nobody even knows who John Curulewski is, or thinks Tommy Shaw wasn't always in the band. Man, Equinox is their BEST album, for crissakes!
This was STYX at their very, very best!! From 1978 - present they sold their souls to POP music. They may have become famous but they forgot how to ROCK!
It would be great to see more videos of Styx with John Curulewski. He was a fantastic guitarist and songwriter. Nothing against Tommy Shaw but Curulewski was the original guitarist for the band and it would be great to have that early footage !!
It was their first year as Styx, when they recorded their first, and self-titled, album. They had been playing since the 60s (with a few line-up changes) under some different names.
This is great! I always liked "Best Thing", as well as alot of their other earlier stuff, most of which has been overlooked. Never thought I would see video of them performing it live. I also wish there was more of Styx live out there from the 70's.
Thanks for posting this improved quality version. I have been wanting to see this song live for so many years. YouTube rocks. I saw a tiny clip of this back in 1987 and longed to find it ever since. I wish there was more early Styx live. Not many fans of the old stuff left, but for those few of us, this is a treasure. Thanks again.
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Styx Live and In Concert 1976 - 1978 2DVD set available at Tommygun Video please see our youtube channel for link to web site/video clips.
Rare footage filmed from the Winterland ballroom during the beginning of Styx prime era! Bonus footage included
ClassicRockDVD 1 month ago
wow never saw the original band b4. thanx
troutmask1970 3 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
This has been flagged as spam show
Styx Live and In Concert 1976 - 1978 2DVD set available at Tommygun Video please see our youtube channel for link to web site/video clips.
Rare footage filmed from the Winterland ballroom during the beginning of Styx prime era! Bonus footage included
Tommygun1028 3 months ago
There is nothing really like the original Styx. Their music was kind of a cross between prog and heavy metal with a ballad thrown in there once in a while. The first time I heard The Serpent Is Rising I immediately related it to the sound of Deep Purple. Great stuff.
CaptNemo100 4 months ago
"It was really a beautiful scene... everybody was there getting high on the music and whatever else they might have brought with them.." LOL this was the 70's!
My first Styx LP was "Best Of Styx" (bought for "Lady" and a great introduction to the band) so I know this song well.
Awesome footage, shows how these guys paid their dues before super-stardom. And their musicianship was just as tight in the beginning!
wildbilltexas 4 months ago
Holy Crap. Styx footage with JC! I never thought I'd see it!
solidfoamsoul 4 months ago
Wow! I thought there would never be footage of styx with JC in it. The original lineup made some really incredible shit back then.
groundhog713 5 months ago
This is freaking AWESOME!!!!! Do you have more early, live, Styx??!!!
1SpankyKid 5 months ago
Whatever else they might have brought with them?
dannyhood66 6 months ago
At 2;56 till 3;10 sounds like black sabbath's first album, 3;10 to 3;13 is unmistakable iommi lick from black Sabbaths first album. Wish there was more.. Good shit! Looks like james young? Who are the guitarist playing in this?
dannyhood66 6 months ago
Not Summerfest. This was at the "Alternate Site,' a park across Lincoln Memorial Drive from Lake Michigan that hosted free public concerts on Sunday afternoons in the summer.
triveraguy 8 months ago
whoever shot this footage is a god of rocknroll.....loveyouman.....rock on!!! and this is not even the beginning of it!!!! bahaahaaa!!!
monkiejane 8 months ago
"You Better Ask" which I believe is written and sung by original guitarist John Curlewski, is a great tune. Check it out!
Smedley61 9 months ago
This is from the former great show Underground News, which was on WSNS-UHF in Chicago in the early 70s. That ad...I remember it word for word...the late Chuck Collins hosted!
susantyrellfans 1 year ago
This way better than BABE and the pussy crap they put out later
heyazzhole 1 year ago
These guys always played The Wild Goose in Scherriville, Indiana on Sundays
NetworkES335 1 year ago
Wow I wonder how old Dennis was when this video was filmed
ambersalcove 1 year ago
I worked the light crew for Styx on & off in '74. They played mostly high schools & colleges in the Chicago area, & some out of state shows. I didn't know who they were prior to that. I remember that I liked some of the songs, but at the time I didn't pay too much attention. Today I wish I had, they were pretty darn good. Styx II is one of my all time favorite albums. This early stuff is all I ever knew, WOW to see it again. I'm sure glad I had the opportunity!
bit50s 1 year ago
looks like ray manarek is hosting..
arbshredder 1 year ago
Is the earlier known footage of Styx?
catfish957 1 year ago
@catfish957 Your question makes no sense. It's so sad that people are so illiterate that they can't even type one sentence and get it right.
7188181 1 year ago
@7188181 ok dipshit, so much for a typos. For the mentally challenged like yourself, I left out the word this between the words "is" and "the", and I used the wrong term earlier, I meant "earliest". Now go f yourself.
catfish957 1 year ago
I get Woodstock Vibes when I see this...but I know it is Brew Town early 70's !!!!!!!!
cwwmediadude 1 year ago
LOL I was 10 years old then. The only musician I knew back then was Elvis hahahaha.
ericfromkokomo 1 year ago
This was the song that my "first love" and I called "our song". Wonderful that you posted this, I've been looking for it. I had all the Styx albums on Nickleback Label, but the basement flooded and I LOST THEM ALL! :-(
remfanbeforu 1 year ago
Holy shit, I've never heard either of the Johns play like that before. Thanks for sharing this!
scabbarae 2 years ago
This confirms what I've heard about the early period of Styx. James Young was the frontman back then. This was the only song from the first album that Dennis wrote by himself, and in performance he always stayed shyly behind his keyboard, often awkwardly holding his ears to nail the harmony.. It would take him a few years to get comfortable with the audience.
KLanz123 2 years ago
People I know say they love Styx,but only know 1 song from their early years! That song is Lady. The early Styx has so much to offer! The 1st 4 albums are their best records by far! I do like some of the later stuff,but nothing like the 1st 4 to me! You people out there say you are Styx fans. Get out and get the 1st 4 Styx albums! You won't be dissapointed! God bless
rockindarren 2 years ago 4
This is archaeology at its finest.
John Panozzo in his Keith Moon days toward the end there. Awesome bit of history.
brazenhubris 2 years ago
This is amazing, I have never seen any footage from this era, I stop at 1974 when listening to Styx, this is raw, it's real and it's rock, no BS! All 4 Wooden Nickel LP's are awesome! Some of the best music of that time! Damn, I would love to see this whole show, too bad it's probably not out there! Or it's in the hands of Band members and we will never see it! Because they cherish the A&M years so much, the commercial stuff, phooey! Never to release their roots, that is sad!
dkopack71 2 years ago 4
gspendlove 1 year ago
@dkopack71 You dont like Mr roboto? The best song Styx ever wrote.. You know they were way better in 80s of course.. I mean you didnt know that? ha!
dannyhood66 6 months ago
What about the Pieces Of Eight album?
Hands down AMAZING!
allennnnnn91 2 years ago
Pretty cool. I love the band's first 4 albums more than their A&M stuff (I know, I'm strange).
fallspeed 2 years ago
@fallspeed
I AGREE TOTALLY! I JUST BOUGHT ALL 4 ALBUMS IN MINT CONDITION OFF EBAY. THE GUITAR AND KEYBOARDS ARE FANTASTIC - THE ALBUM COVERS RULE TOO!!!!
lancasterjr 2 years ago
They were a lot more adventurous back then. There are a lot of great songs they just stopped playing after about 1975. Does your copy of Man of Miracles have "Unfinished Song"? I love that one, but it's only on some reissues.
fallspeed 2 years ago
@fallspeed
I DON'T BELIEVE SO BUT, I HAVE IT ON MY CD "THE WOODEN NICKEL YEARS"
lancasterjr 2 years ago
No, you are not strange, it's real Rock, Raw and has Soul! Something that Styx lost during the A&M years!
dkopack71 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
bunch of filthy dope smoking hippys
heyazzhole 2 years ago
I am looking for the Styx live video from the '70s which had the original singer of "Babe" actually singing just that..."Babe"...can't find it online...had it at one time about 5 years ago...please help...
MyaPapaya74 2 years ago
Dennis is the only one that's ever sang it. Everyone else hated/hates it.
fugepoo 2 years ago
YES abit better-- damn I was 2 !
jimmywacked 2 years ago
A friend of mine told me the entire concert where this clip is from was filmed. Does anybody know anything about that?
dick667 2 years ago
Damn styx is good! Who's holding all the old styx footage? Theres this, then all the other videos of styx are from late 70,s onward? There must be more out there!!!!!
popfrend 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
stynx
BigBishop1 2 years ago
Boy that shows if you (Styx) with something you will later make it..Was that James Young on Guitar? if so he stuck withit..or styx with it,,good job
Sqigiolie 2 years ago 2
I belive this was at the 'alterante site' on Milwaukee's East Side . There were free concerts every Sunday for a few years. Drugs, sex, & rock n' roll prevailed until the cops shut it down
sneakers53 2 years ago
Do you think this Concert might be Summerfest in Milwaukee back in '72? Summerfest has been around since the late '60s.
jagagator8324 2 years ago
This clip came from a local cable access show in Chicago and I believe the host simply referred to it as "concert in the park" and didn't say Summerfest. Maybe the Summerfest has been around all this time but wasn't always called Summerfest.
spockvideo 2 years ago
This is really cool stuff! The oldest Styx show ever to be filmed, I believe. I know the rest of the concert exists as well (somewhere). Anybody who has it?
dick667 2 years ago
listen to how heavy they sound!! Too bad they became a little light in the loafers by 1977.
And those hippies look fun to hang around with.. cute 70s chicks!!
"yep.. just like Chicago with everybody getting high on the music and .. er.. anything else they might have brought with them.."
Early 70s rule!!
sirlordwhitman 3 years ago
I like both styles. There is nothing wrong with sounding commmerical.
DarkVoyuer 2 years ago
Great footage! Styx worked hard in the early days and paid a lot of dues.
Mystifier122 3 years ago
I wish I had been there.
mojo4404 3 years ago
thank you for posting this
iamyohan 3 years ago
I grew up on the older Styx music, and I agree Equinox is their best album. I still have it on vinyl and play in every now and then except when Light Up comes on I can't light up anymore, I don't want my kids picking up on the old mans bad habits.Saw them at the Uptown theater for their Equinox tour witch was one of the best concerts I went too, and I went to alot of them and saw some of the greatest bands of the 60's and 70's. What a great time to be young!!!!
BIGGERMAN47 3 years ago
I was at a Scout camp recently. The people in the Dining Hall also liked Equinox, but they didn't listen too closely to the songs. All of the little Scouts got to Light Up and be happy
classicrockforever5 3 years ago
Wow this is awesome!
Cooper420 3 years ago
One of my favorite tunes from them. Thank for sharing. Made my day!
dawnmarieb 3 years ago
Is that JY? He looks like David St. Hubbins from Spinal Tap. Aka Michael McKean. I guess they looked like that back then though eh. Cool footage.
guitardaze 3 years ago
This is priceless. thanks for posting this. Almost makes me proud to be from "the region."
MichaelJDowney2 3 years ago
he died in july 1996 from alcohol problems...it took a toll on his liver and then killed him...R.I.P. John
meanstreet81 3 years ago
coooool
styxcrazy 4 years ago
Wish they would break out Grove of Eglantine of even Earl of Roseland. How's about I'm gonna make you feel it?
kenpachiman 4 years ago
JY sang way too much in early styx. Much better when they limit him to one song per album. Shaw and DeYoung are two of the best vocalists in pop/rock music. Much more melodic also. BTW, new DDY album is very good.
Desperatehog 4 years ago
okay - we'll separate the really old Styx fans from those who are not -- this video would have been right after their name change from TW4 - as they played my prom under. And I'd also love those Wooden Nickel hits -- especially " You Need Love' - Saw them play for a long time before they 'made it' - when they really did rock
VBdad55 4 years ago
you saw them under TW4??? that is " THE BEST THING" !! god bless you !!
kensamuel 4 years ago
amen!
jdlm9 3 years ago
damn, i love this. if styx were to do a show with all the wooden nickel hits, i'd pay $200.00 for that. c'mon, witch wolf, a day, man of miracles,mr. christopher, southern woman. that s--t rocks and roll BIG TIME !!!
kensamuel 4 years ago 2
Amen brother!
dkopack71 2 years ago
Yeah, they really rocked on those early albums. I like the later, more polished stuff, too, but the early albums were heavier and VERY creative.
trevorbyrne 4 years ago 3
wow..this is by far the earliest styx video on youtube (that ive seen). too bad JC and John Panozzo are dead, and Dennis is out, and Chuck is a "sometimes guy", leaving JY the only guy left full time in styx, but they
still rule today. this early stuff is the real STYX! real treasure here
meanstreet81 4 years ago 2
OMG John Panazzo is dead?? HOW?????!!!
ScarlettEnvelope 3 years ago
sclerosis of the liver
sirlordwhitman 3 years ago
this is awesome thanx for posting!
cjets5 4 years ago
Wow...rare stuff. what a trip.
TheDudeJeffLebowski 4 years ago
So many of you people are right. EARLY Styx was great, and hardly anybody seems to know there was a band that made records BEFORE the Grand Illusion! Listen to Styx I, Styx II, Serpent is Rising, Man of Miracles, Equinox, and Crystal Ball! Nobody even knows who John Curulewski is, or thinks Tommy Shaw wasn't always in the band. Man, Equinox is their BEST album, for crissakes!
pewsterbaby 4 years ago
you are 100% right...Equinox is my most favorite
meanstreet81 3 years ago
This was STYX at their very, very best!! From 1978 - present they sold their souls to POP music. They may have become famous but they forgot how to ROCK!
dlquinn9517 4 years ago 2
It would be great to see more videos of Styx with John Curulewski. He was a fantastic guitarist and songwriter. Nothing against Tommy Shaw but Curulewski was the original guitarist for the band and it would be great to have that early footage !!
bolt767 4 years ago 2
Damn, JY shredding it up
conanvette 4 years ago
is this their first year?
dudehomielea 4 years ago
It was their first year as Styx, when they recorded their first, and self-titled, album. They had been playing since the 60s (with a few line-up changes) under some different names.
CoastersNSich 4 years ago
This is great! I always liked "Best Thing", as well as alot of their other earlier stuff, most of which has been overlooked. Never thought I would see video of them performing it live. I also wish there was more of Styx live out there from the 70's.
adari2006 4 years ago 2
No duubt
MACKMAN61 4 years ago
Man I love their old stuff.....much better than that bullshit "babe" ! Love seeing all the burnouts too.
stingray1964 4 years ago
Thanks for posting this improved quality version. I have been wanting to see this song live for so many years. YouTube rocks. I saw a tiny clip of this back in 1987 and longed to find it ever since. I wish there was more early Styx live. Not many fans of the old stuff left, but for those few of us, this is a treasure. Thanks again.
bobneub 4 years ago 2