Last week, I mentioned Tommy Shaw of the rock group, Styx, which believe it or not, is still together and still rocking, albeit without Dennis DeYoung and the Panozzo brothers (one died, the other retired) and mostly, without Shaw, though he pops back in from time to time. In the new incarnation, I like their music, but not like I did in the band’s hey day. I was a certifiable Styx…well, not groupie! Too young for that. But I loved their music to utter distraction.
I know, I know…I should be too young for Styx as their “hey day” was in the 70s and my era is really the 80s. But I have an older brother and his musical tastes influenced mine.
Besides, Tommy Shaw was hot.
He was entirely not my “type.” He’s not tall. He’s blond. But for some reason, he appealed to me on many levels. But I think as a creative soul, his music really got me. (And those hypnotic blue eyes…I do have a thing for blue eyes.) And man, can that boy move on stage!
The whole group’s music “got” to me. Unlike much of the music during the disco era (which had a great beat and was fabulous to dance to…and we all know I love to dance!), the music of the seventies had stories. I love stories–even back then, before I had any inkling that I was supposed to be a writer. See, I’d written three books in the sixth grade, but after that, I let my writing go by the wayside. I discovered Styx around the 8th grade, which was when my mother forbade me from attending a concert with my older brother. (And wouldn’t you know it…my brother ended up meeting the band after the show? Talk about heartbroken!)
The lyrics really grabbed me. The music, too, but I think it was the way the lyrics seeped into my brain and got the mechanisms churning that really held on tight to me. Songs like “The Angry Young Man” spoke to my teenage angsty soul in a way that reminded me that your future is what you make it. “Too Much Time on My Hands” was a brilliant look at how insanity can be caused by sheer boredom, something I’ve always had trouble dealing with (boredom, not insanity!)
But while I was a crazy Styx fan for a long time, nothing seized my imagination better than the album that likely brought the group down. That would be Kilroy Was Here. 
I know, I know…a lot of people hated that album. They hated the concept. The reviews were merciless. But when I saw it live–yes, I finally made it to a concert my freshman year in college!–I was mesmerized.
It was the blending of theater and rock opera. The costumes, the story, the music, Tommy in sexy leather pants, playing the role of the hero.
Amazing.
I have a video of that concert, but I’ve never been able to get myself to play it. It’s over 20 years old now. It probably doesn’t even work. But while part of me wants to relive that magic, part of me doesn’t want to ruin the memory.
Now, let’s be honest. I don’t write in any way resembling the larger than life concepts that Styx had in their music. But I love theater and showmanship and grand performances. Their music snuck into my brain and inspired a lot of writing that I hardly even remembered until I started really thinking about the influence of this band on me. Fantasy stories mostly, but the prelude to my first historical novels. The romanticism in their music fed my soul. Don’t Let It End? Come Sail Away? Babe? Oh, yeah!
I could tell you a million Styx stories, but I think I’ve made the point. Some music speaks to us in long-lasting ways. I still get goosebumps when one of the songs comes on the radio.
In Monday’s comments, I mentioned my leather wardrobe. The red leather skirt with the black and white leopard skin spandex top got me noticed at that 1983 Styx concert. Tommy told me he liked the skirt. I told him I loved his music. I got a kiss on the cheek. The entire exchange took all of five seconds, but I still remember it to this day. I could have happily died that day, but I still hadn’t met Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker). (That happened a year later…no kiss, but an autograph!)
Anyway, memory lane trips are always fun for me. So, what groups and music was your teenage soundtrack? What songs do you still crank up when you hear them on the radio?
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
80′s metal bands! There was the ultimate – Bon Jovi! Still rockin’ today and I still love them. (l)
Then you had Warrant, Cinderella, White Lion, Skid Row, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Firehouse, Dokken, Great White (there was a lot of white back then LOL) They all had better hair than me.
Comment
The b52′s (Love Shack) now that’s dance music!
Comment
How funny. Last night I watched THE PERFECT MAN. New Hillary Duff movie. Her Mom, played by Heather Locklear, went to a Styx concert. But, when she saw the band she said “this isn’t Styx”. It was a cover band I believe. It was funny.
Hmm….this question gives away our age. :d 80′s music for me, too! I love it still! (note)
Comment
80′s Hair bands did it for me!!! All time favorite concert…………….
AEROSMITH the PUMP tour! I still have a thing for Joe Perry!!!!!!!
“Love in an elevator”
:p Trish
Comment
I always swayed back and forth with my musical tastes…I LOVED all the metal bands, Aerosmith (they filmed the video for “Angel” at the concert I went to in Worcester), Ozzy, Def Leppard, Night Ranger, Ratt, etc. But I also loved Prince, Duran Duran and all kinds of dance music. I actually had my room wall to wall posters of John Taylor of Duran Duran…now that I look back my parents must have thought I was nuts. LOL!!!
Comment
I was a Duran Duran fan, also! I lived near the Canadian border and when I would go up there, I would head straight for the record shop (yes, I still liked records) and got anything of D squared that I could! I, too, had a TON of posters of them in my room, although, my hottie was Simon. Geez….what’s even funnier is I SWORE I would NEVER like Boy George’s music because they were in ‘competition’ with my beloved boys….Love that 80s ‘invasion’! I should have known better to worship a group with hair longer than I. LOL! I still love anything 80s….My husband can tell you all 80′s music trivia…
Comment
I absolutely believe my love of music is part of my while creative personality. Funny, I can often turn on some music and let it help me get in the mood to write a particular type of scene. For a while, I wrote all my love scenes to Meatloaf’s Paradise by the Dashboard Light.
Leslie
Comment
LOL, Leslie! I wrote PRIVATE LESSONS to George Michael’s FAITH CD. I think I even mentioned it in the book. I have a CD collection of salsa music for when I write Marisela. Not all books have a soundtrack, but some do!
Comment
I loved Aerosmith, The Who, AC/DC, Styx, Fleetwood Mac & The Eagles to name a few. The sad part is all their songs are considered Classic Rock….where did the time go!
Comment
I remember the Duran Duran, Boy George bands……my daughter who was a teenager during that time was sooo gone on them. Myself, I am more into country music, always have been. :)
Comment
Okay, you guys are making me tell my age! Which is okay I am that age!
I grew up in the 40′s & 50′s there are still songs that just make me close my eyes & smile! I loved Elvis, much to my dad’s dismay! I also liked Pat Boone, the Crew Cuts, Bill & Haley & the Comets, Frank Sinatra, he is timeless, Tony Bennett, also timeless. (l) I love music, now I mostly listen to smooth jazz which I love.
Thanks for the memories! :)
Comment
oh how cute
Comment
I loved Foreigner, ELO, 38 Special, Van Halen,Elton John, Pat Benatar.
Julies you were right about the guys being yummy back then and the songs had a meaning to them.
My mom made me and my girlfriend take my 14 year old briother to Pat’s concert so we wouldn’t get into trouble back then.
Comment
I grew up in the 40′s and 50′s listening to Pat Boone,, Perry Como , Elvis, Frank Sinatra, tony Bennett and Dean Martin.
Comment
I think it is so cool how this website bridges generations….my husband loves Elvis (my mom actually went to his concert…the jumpsuit days), what’s cool is that their music is all ‘new’ again for the next generation with artists like Rod Stewart bringing back the ‘classics’.
Have a great day, Everyone!
P.S.I also think it is so cool that writers have a ‘soundtrack’ for different characters…I am learning so much about you guys..it gives the books more meaning! Thanks!
Comment
Who doesn’t love Elvis? (Okay, I think Leslie’s husband…but who else?) The man had style. And Rod Stewart. Oh! Steven Tyler. Sex on a Stick, baby.
Thanks for all the comments!
Comment
Ah, a fellow Styx lover!!!!
Comment
I love this post !! (l) Why didn’t your mom let you go?? you must have been so upset. But How did you get to see them during your freshman year? That is so amazing. And A jiss in the cheek?? Amazing!!
This post reminds me of my favorite band and when I went to their concert, i still talk about it. And I also said “if i die now I will be happy”. My husband hates that i refer to it as one of the best days of my life.
Lui
Comment
Lui, I was only 13…no way was she letting me go to a concert with a bunch of 17 year old boys! The fact that my brother was there made no nevermind. And frankly, looking back, I don’t blame her. By the time Styx came in concert again, I was 18–freshman in college. She couldn’t stop me that time!
LOL on your hubby…they get so jealous!
Comment
My older brothers influenced my musical tastes as well.I would listen to Carol King with my eldest brother, Steve and to this day whenever “So Far Away” or “You’ve got a Friend” comes on our oldie station I think of him. I still love her voice and her music. My other brother Jess liked harder rock. He listened to Grand Funk Railroad. I just loved saying the name’cuz it sounded “raunchy”. Jess bought me my first Carpenters album, for which I will be forever grateful. My parents were always singing showtunes. I grew up with so much variety.