Both Journey and Styx faced similar situations in the late-'90s, with frontmen Steve Perry and Dennis DeYoung forcing their respective band-members into a situation to either wait for their return or break away from them. Journey replaced Perry after he refused to undergo hip replacement surgery, and similarly, Styx carried on after DeYoung was forced to pare back his road dates due to a chronic fatigue syndrome.

To guitarist J.Y. Young, separating from DeYoung in 1999 and hiring Lawrence Gowan as their frontman, was a liberating experience for him and co-leader Tommy Shaw: "Dennis, unfortunately, y'know, he was still far more into his musical theatre thing than he was in being a member of Styx. And the second year around, he limited us to 40 shows, which if you're gonna mount a big production, you don't break even until the 25th or 30th show. So it was just all about. . . Dennis wanted to do what he wanted to do, and we were no longer a democracy. And then ultimately when he wouldn't leave the house in '99, we just went on without him and he thought we'd fall flat on our faces, and we're into our 15th concert season and I think our star is still rising from that moment."

Styx tour dates (subject to change):
August 22 - Newport, RI - Newport Yachting Center
August 23 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion (with REO Speedwagon)
August 24 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
August 25 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Fairgrounds
August 29 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
August 30 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa / Music Box
September 19 - Snoqualmie, WA - Snoqualmie Ballroom
September 20 - Richmond, BC - River Rock Casino Resort
September 21 - Yakima, WA - Central Washington State Fair at State Fair Park
September 27 - Hot Springs, AR - Legends Balloon Rally at Hot Springs Memorial Field
September 28 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Live Biloxi
October 17 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre
October 18 - Williamsport, PA - Community Arts Center
October 19 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
October 20 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
October 25, 26 - Lincoln City, OR - Chinook Winds Casino Resort
November 12 - Moncton, NB - The Centre at Casino New Brunswick
November 15, 16 - Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre At Westbury
November 17 - Montreal, QC - Olympia de Montreal
December 28 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza Theatre
December 29 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theatre

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