Gowan's Notes to You :: 2008

December 18, 2008
Ho Ho Yo
,I had a splendid time at the Andy Kim Christmas show belting out Ring The Metal Bells ( a new version ) and You're A Strange Animal ( same classic version ). We were joined by a young 16 year old drummer with amazing hair and his own drum-sticks ! Alex Lifeson from Rush also played in that way that only he can, just as he did years ago on Lost Brotherhood... ( available on the iTunes Gowan Best Of... ). I'm busy re-learning Run Run Rudolph for John McDermott's Christmas Spectacular on Dec.22 at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. I think I'll bring the Sparkle Jet to that one ( it's a Gretsch guitar ) and I'll likely knock the piano out of tune on a couple of other numbers. Then it's back to Styxworld. Keep watching the skies. Gowan

December 4, 2008
Salutations All,
Firstly, please allow me to thank everyone for their birthday greetings and generosity. I had an unusual 22nd of November this year which involved :
1. Bringing a massive cake-candle fire under control.
2. Reading, laughing and then sobbing uncontrollably at all your witty remarks regarding the passage of time.
3. Performing an impromptu concert at a restaurant called Hava Nagila and being delightfully accompanied by a young lady with impeccable musical taste, named Annette... ( lovely voice ).
4. Blasting my Les Paul guitar through my gigantuan Orange amp in a sacrificial homage to all things Metal.
5. I forget...
6. Having a cup of warm cocoa , turning down the heat, knitting myself some wooly undies in my rocking-chair and falling asleep in a cute little puddle of drool... all before 8:30pm
My my, what a day it was !
Please don't forget to call me sometime.
Love, The Dark-Lord of your nightmares; Gowan

ps I shall be making an appearance at the Andy Kim Christmas Show on Dec.10 at the Mod Club in Toronto
( please dress in something " Mod " ... baby )

Sepbember 27, 2008
Hello to all,
A brief diary from a September I will try to remember...
We played in Montgomery Alabama last night for a very enthusiastic Tommy-Shaw's-Home-Town crowd. It was great to see their pride in the man as they sang along to his many hit tunes with delight in their voices and on their faces. I kept whistling "Dixie" all day long...
Todd Sucherman, our drummer, returned to us after his triumphant weekend in New York where he played solo for the Modern Drummer convention. At that show he received a standing ovation and unbridled peer acclamation, causing quite a sensation on this momentous occasion. Todd is also on the cover of the Modern Drummer magazine this month ( he's also the centerfold ) and we are very proud of his accomplishments. Kenny Aronoff filled Todd's spot for two shows and did a fine job indeed. JY's wife Susie continues to make great strides on her road to full recovery which is tremendous on two fronts: 1. She's on the comeback trail, and 2. James Young is performing with renewed vigor.
 Earlier this year our Canadian tour with Def Leppard had to be postponed due to illness to three of their members, ( they got better ) , so it is with even more anticipation that I look forward to Styx coming to Niagara Falls next week.
 So get your horns up, Gowan

August 31, 2008
To the boys and girls of summer,
This is the final day of August 2008 and I'd like to tell you that our Styx summer tour extraordinaire was a rockfest-deluxe.
It was indeed. We closed out the season with a performance at one of my favourite venues: The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa.
Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper played their swan-song gig right on that very stage, mere hours before fate and subsequently history stepped in and raised them up to that Great Gig In The Sky ( as Pink Floyd might say... ). We are always aware that we stand on the shoulders of giants when we play The Surf.
 Our summer was not without it's fateful interceding . Thank you all for your notes of support for our dear traveling companion and JY's wife, Susie Young.
We miss her delightful presence on our tour bus and our lives at present. But that is not to say that this situation will not be righted again because I assure you, she shall return !
On to a lighter note ... I hope you enjoyed the little Hockey Night In Canada entries I submitted to their judgement. I had fun composing them and reflecting on what a great game it is when skates and sticks and hard rubber and of course, human endeavour intertwine . It caused me to dig out my fantasy hockey career and act out
( alone in my hotel room )1. Scoring an impossible over-time goal ( slap shot , top hand corner ) 2.  Being involved in a bench clearing brawl ( every one of my punches landed, I came away with an attractive black-eye ) and 3.  Ultimately raising the Stanley Cup above my sweat-drenched head with every one of you cheering wildly for my team. Did you think that writing music was easy ?... You should see the state of the hotel rooms I've left in my wake ! Keith Moon would be proud. I should have posted these antics on You Tube...
See you in September when I come back into the fold under the Gods Of Rock. Yours on a spinning piano... L.Gowan

August 16, 2008
Hello you beautiful people,
Last night Styx were a four piece band due to James Young's unavoidable absence. A family medical emergency needed his undivided attention and showbiz had to take a rare back-seat. This will be the case for the next coming days and we send him all the best that the universe can rally in this situation. We reluctantly, but upon his insistence, played the show after explaining the situation to the audience. They were gracious with their acceptance and gave us the support we badly needed to play on without James. We strongly hope that this will resolve favorably and he will triumphantly return to us soon. My thanks to all of you who attended last nights show in Virginia. You were great.
Lawrence Gowan 

July 14, 2008
Dearest Creatures of Earth,
Last evening Styx played on a planet known as " Red Rocks "  ( which is glued to the state of Colorado ). Although the city of Denver hold the exclusive rights, it is a place unto it's own which bestows an other-worldly experience upon those who make the climb. What a stage to perform on . Time seems to stop and the universe sings with you in 3D... and you don't even need the glasses ! I should mention that it is at an extreme altitude that Red Rocks sits and the thin oxygen can have it's way with your mind, as I believe it is having with mine at present. This was a first for Styx and we dug it deep.  Remarkably, for myself it was my second journey to this place. Twenty-Three years ago I opened for Tears For Fears on their US tour and made it to this spot, hoping to return. Today I am grateful to have had that pleasure . My thanks to all of you who shared . L Gowan

July 5, 2008
Hello Americans, Styx had a wonderful 4th of July in Utah with a very intense audience in attendance .
We enjoyed your show as much as you did ours. Thanks for putting a Big Bang to our Theory of Rock Evolution and Happy Birthday to the USA ! Gowan... ( now available on iTunes )

July 1, 2008
Oh Canada, and other inhabitants of the globe... It is July 1st and Styx are playing in Los Angeles at the Universal ( now Gibson ) Amphitheatre tonight . There is an excitement in the air for many a good Hollywood reason but I can't help but feel that the arrival on iTunes of a few Gowan discs from days of yore has stirred the pot. Our tour with " Boston" has been going rather well indeed and it will be a wonderful summer gigging with these folks. I hope you're all doing well and rocking hard and keeping your sun-screen handy. To all Canadians at home or away... Happy Canada Day Ole. Gowan, eh

May 17, 2008
Hello Strangers, ( though some are simply strange ) It is with a smile upon my face that I hereby announce the coming of Strange Animal to itunes. Yes friends, I am told that next month the 80's classic beyond all classics shall be available for download on something called " a computer ". If you don't have one of these devices yet, I suggest you obtain one immediately... I hear they are the future.Details to follow. Your rockin' servant, Gowan

March 20, 2008
It's good to be Alberta bound. Gordon Lightfoot sure got that right as the last three nights will attest. Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary all made me feel that great sensation that only comes from rocking it down Alberta -style. Thank you all for giving me that and
may the experience be repeated sometime up the road. I raise a toast to you all. Gowan

March 3, 2008
I had the great fortune to share the stage with Jeff Healey on a few memorable occasions. 
It was such a joy to witness Jeff perform up close, particularly the live dvd we did together along with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Band at Massey Hall for Ronnie Hawkins 60th. His Christmas shows were always fun as well. What a great man and what a musician!  The guys in Styx were thrilled and sincerely impressed when Jeff once came to one of our shows. He was the true example of the rarest of humans "The Unique Individual."   His talent , his musicianship, his unrelenting will, all were expressed in his incredibly unique manner. And don't forget his sense of humour as well . But still, for all the great sound he generated , it's his uniquely pitched voice I'll miss hearing most.
Lawrence Gowan

February 1, 2008
It's February One And I'm having so much fun Just soakin' up the sun After my snow-shoveling is done... ( I'm obviously not feeling as inspired as I'd hoped today ) But 2008 has started out pretty sweet with our Styx shows so far, and there's much more to come for your every rockin' need. Indeed. We gonna make yo' ear-drums bleed... ( still not the finding that inspiration , WTF ) . On to other matters. Have you noticed this weather ? No ?...me neither. Toronto is currently experiencing blizzard conditions. And I don't mean Dairy Queen. It's quite a scene. Where dat house effect of green ? Gettin' down on my spleen !.. ( oh god, it's hopeless ) I'm going to return to my practice immediately and I'll let you know when something emerges that's worthy of your time. Cheers for now, Your soon to be inspired artist: Gowan

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