Styx 4/2/76 Winterland Ballroom San Francisco - complete

Styx 1976 Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco
4/2/76

[@joeguerra8435]

Suite Madame Blue has stood the test of time. Styx’ best song. Now, more than ever.

[@Billn1959]

This was Styx's first trip to San Francisco. They were the opening act for Wishbone Ash and BTO. They had just hired Tommy for this tour.

[@mdanderson1114]

I love Wishbone Ash. I did not know they opened for them.

[@kentmessmacher3239]

I was at this concert. Winterland was the best. Music can take you back to great places

[@pegpountney1923]

I first discovered STYX in 1978. Been a STYX fanatic ever since!!! So to find ANY vintage STYX is truly a sweet treat... They should have been in The Rock Hall of Fame aA LONG TIME AGO🎉

[@ericlevy]

You Need Love- one of my styx faves!

[@Jessica_Roth]

0:11 -Born for Adventure 5:57 -22 Years 10:58 -Lorelei 17:04 -You Need Love 21:10- Suite Madame Blue 29:42 -Lady 34:01 -Midnight Ride 42:38 -Light Up

[@ADSO_21]

thxs

[@donaldellis-wt6xl]

See here the proof I neeeded I saw Styx a few months before Tommy had joined. They did Lights Up for the encore. My friends were yeah right that’s more of a set opener. Matter of fact that night they played 3 or 4 songs from Equinox a full month before the album was released

[@kubacks]

The best touring band of this period. Their performance was always exceptional and their sound was mind-numbingly powerful. AKA Fucking awesome.

[@TheeRocker]

This is great,,, They sure improved with every gig, kickin the arena's ass for eternity... love this band!

[@chelseafn104]

Man what a great Show!! Listen to how raw they were. I remember this Tour. I saw it in Michigan. Been a Fan since Lady!! I still think Equinox is their Best Album!

[@travis1572]

Wow great memories I'm 60 and still remember this what a great time for music we were blessed with the best not this shit now

[@herbiecactus6687]

There's plenty of great music being still being made Travis.

[@dongtingwong]

Saw them 7 months later in Beaumont, Texas on their Crystal Ball tour. They kicked ass then. Wouldn't see them for free today without Dennis.

[@waltersimmons946]

I saw them in Columbia, South Carolina, at the "Carolina Colessium" in 1983. I agree, I wouldn't see them WITHOUT Deyoung.

[@rogermasa]

Yeah, don’t care for the spinning keyboard antics and 12 extra band members.

[@Billn1959]

I wouldn't go see them in 1990 for the same reason. No Tommy. Did get to see then twice in 1996.

[@PikesvilleAl]

@@rogermasa the lyrics and songs wrote by Dennis are personal. LIberace of the keyboard can sing about childhood friends and dreams they had, but they were no this, just empty words

[@armandourso1526]

Great Band ! Hugs from Brazil 🎉

[@MrPhotoman75]

Saw them on this tour Thanksgiving night, Fayetteville, NC. Opened for KISS! Awesome show! 🤘❤️

[@brianhammer5107]

The awesome "Equinox" album - their best all-around - needs some sort of video released from the vaults - from here it started to tilt downhill, although "Crystal" and "Grand" had good tracks here and there ... Saw them before this at Myrtle Beach during the Wooden Nickle period

[@GreggMolnar]

Love this! Thanks! Saw them in ‘76, on this tour. *Note* Suite Madam Blue outro - 25:10 - 26:50; DDY is having big problems with the synth flute sound cutting out and not working right. After struggling with it, he gives up and seamlessly switches to organ around 26:04 to finish the part. He’s a damn good player and he handles the faulty gear like a champ! Impressive. Ahh, the joys of live music😅

[@jwfcp]

This is how I first heard the song, now everything else sounds wrong. 21:02

[@knightrdrx]

I fwlt bad. I wanted to hear what was probably an oberheim 2 voice at the time? And it crapped out as i guess it wasn't reliable. Same thing happened to him when i saw him at Westbury in 2005. He had to play something else along side the other keyboard player for Castle Walls

[@n8goulet]

@@knightrdrx It was an ARP Pro Soloist. It could have been just a bad 1/4" instrument cable from the synth to the mixing board, not necessarily a problem with the synth. A real shame, because this is the only footage of him using the Pro Soloist I've seen. This instrument was made famous about the time he started using it by Tony Banks of Genesis, as the main synth used in Genesis music between 1973 - 1977. It was also used by Steve Walsh in Kansas. I owned an original, and had Dennis sign it for me on stage in front of his audience which was really cool. His eyes popped out when he saw it like a flash back just hit hard. Tom Oberheim who developed the Oberheim was an ARP dealer. Some say he even had the schematics. The Oberheim had a similar sound to the ARP but it was much more advanced. It was a natural transition for Dennis, who used it starting 1977's Grand Illusion album. On Facebook I posted an article I wrote called "Styx synthesizer history" where I explained each of the synths used on the records.

[@jarredgeroux8279]

@@n8goulet where can I read this article? I'd be interested in reading this

[@sjjjvideo1]

A little DeoxIt D5 on those pots 'll do ya.

[@joeylyons4549]

Man this was good. And to think what was just ahead from here from this band man !!

[@chuckavigliano7140]

Amazing, wish there were more early Styx shows out there. Thanks!!!

[@ZiggyTheAdventurer]

so good it's discouraging for a young musician that i was at that time

[@miraclehands9040]

Yea whats up with that??

[@bradfordpauler2538]

He means that when we're young or beginner musicians, we can usually only play the simpler stuff,,which is also good music. When musicians we're listening to are highly technical, think Yes, and Styx, it can be discouraging because they're so technically impressive, and we can't play like that... hell for me, it's over 30 years since i picked up a guitar and i still can't ​@miraclehands9040

[@dogchaser8656]

This good stuff ,saw them in 74.

[@brucejones299]

My wife and I were there. This was a great show. Listen closely to the lyric at around 12:50 😉

[@lionheartroar3104]

lol..is it really that time?

[@scarborosasquatchstation1403]

Time for pocket pool ! lol

[@davel7791]

That might be why Tommy and JY can't work with Dennis anymore - he was always "celebrating" at inappropriate times. (Or maybe not.)

[@jim6025]

Never noticed that lol 😂

[@robertnobody]

That shirt Dennis is wearing looks like Norman Bates dressed as his mother...lol.

[@debrapotter2657]

thank you for putting this up god bless

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

This was Tommy's first tour with them. I didn't know he could play slide.

[@stevengoodman3498]

Thanks for posting this gem! 😊

[@chrisswenson8927]

This awesome for sure, but as I watch this I think of the incredible music from them that follows this.

[@daleywood]

Like an early Pink Floyd. Styx were great from the off, and still great.

[@darylsmioth1904]

Sweet sweet sounds will fill the air!

[@TheGunther2112]

Loving this! This is great!

[@Clyde_Lewis]

Many thanks for posting this! Did Winterland tape all of their concerts, in house? Lots of people forget that DDY was and is a king on the Hammond. This is great... also, check out "Young Man" and "Witch Wolf" for more Hammond bliss! 🙂

[@catfish957]

Great historic clip, but. I think the Sound Engineer finally wakes up at 3:20 to turn up the drum track inputs. Saw them a few months before this. They were the back up band for Foghat.

[@dogchaser8656]

Think they were with Foghat @Hirsh Memorial in Shreveport

[@togue777]

I’ve been a fan of Styx since 75 and I’m guessing by the wardrobe this was around the time that Dennis was expecting his first child 😂

[@nancyloomis3046]

Ha ha!

[@keithkoenig5320]

Dumb...

[@sherriz3265]

He definitely had some weird clothes

[@honved1]

I've never really listened to these before, its really good stuff. Im a huge fan of Queen,Deep Purple and AC/DC, these sound a bit like all three .

[@honved1]

@Christopher Bingham Thanks for the info,i've really gotten into them since my initial comment. They are one of the bands who at first seem to have patchy albums, but when you go back , you relaise that its all good. Of course theres some "fillers" there, but you really can tell that this was the era where albums were intended to be listened to linearly, and not skipped through after the first 7 seconds doesnt hit you straight away. James young is my guitar hero (after 45 years of not knowing these guys) Miss america is one of the tightest riffs there is!

[@davel7791]

@@honved1 Now that you've entered the world of Styx fandom, you have to choose a side in the endless Dennis vs Tommy & JY battle. Just kidding. But almost every Styx discussion devolves into that topic. I just choose to love them all and continue to listen to the great music they made and continue to make. (Both the recent 2021 Styx and Dennis DeYoung albums are excellent.)

[@miraclehands9040]

Also he sounds a lot like Uriah Heep.

[@franklinlegolas441]

Old Styx is worth listening to, Styx II has some awesome tracks. Earl of Roseland, Lady. Man of miracles has some too. Rock and roll feeling, havin a ball, and of course the last track. I would heavily advised giving them a listen.

[@NickDurst]

Bingo!

[@dongtingwong]

Wonder if Suzanne knew Dennis borrowed her blouse?

[@fredjeannieschultz1251]

And her boots: )

[@gregb8565]

Ha My thoughts exactly ;) how many months ?

[@steveosterberg4191]

It's pretty bad....gutsy.....

[@pamelagileno5483]

I think I read she used to make some of his shirts

[@Diostillrocks]

It was the 70s.

[@garynelson9345]

Saw these guys back in 1975 in Landover, Md at the Capitol Centre, spent the the day at a house party not far away, and it was festival seating, In order it was Mott The Hopple then Styx then KISS, was tripping my ass off, was about 15 feet from the stage and how I was not crushed to death is amazing (no floor seats) and they say acid gives you flash backs, well yes they do for this is a constant flashback, God just let me do it one more time

[@impalaman9707]

At 2:16, Dennis De Young playing "air guitar" with the microphone!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@flakmag]

Suite Madame Blue 💙 🇺🇸

[@flakmag]

Side note... that outfit! 😂 I could wear that and still not look as good as him, as a woman! Lol

[@FF-uu4uf]

12:53, time to masterbate? But she’s moving in and “the way she moves” (ooo,ooo,ooo). Whatever! The guys were spectacular. It’s great to see these diamonds in the rough because we can see the early greatness of what they would do. Fantastic! Thank you for sharing this time capsule from I time I was too young to enjoy or access.

[@pewsterbaby]

Sweet. Lots of good earlier Styx, especially Lorelei, Suite: Madame Blue, and Lady. Plus Light Up as an encore? Okay. Same song, after all. "The weather's just divine, so pass me 'round your wine, lovely one." Styx Equinox Tour pro shot? I'll take it! Too bad Curlewski isn't there to see his complete 5 album period in full bloom.

[@cindycampbell8722]

I liked Curlewski's songs.

[@jvandoren69]

Curulewski

[@laurenzgraffilpenstein8117]

Full of heavy guitar tons, prog lines and interesting breaks

[@davidwadsworth6292]

I was there, up front

[@pamelagileno5483]

DDY was totally hot in the mid 70s. Don’t care what people say. I’m referring to their prog period mostly. In this clip, he’s the only one whose voice sounds the same live as on the album. Quite a feat. JY sounds bad (voice). And….I just caught that word substitution in Lorelei🤣

[@johnnygyno3361]

Great stuff! Some audio drift later on in the video with video and audio not syncing, but this is a minor thing.

[@billg7602]

Was there, leaning on the camera podium

[@brendafrehley2509]

Awesome as usual!!

[@justogalindo]

Styx 2024!!!!

[@oldengineer1519]

I remember seeing them at high school concerts in the Chicago area in the early 70's.

[@terrencereardon6374]

Pete Pardo's interview with Dennis brought me here and he was not far off the mark saying the sound was awful and he cringes at his appearance here. The only band in prog who didn't wear outfits or platforms or bell bottoms were Pink Floyd, they went on stage in jeans and T-shirts and sneakers from 1973 forward.

[@waltersimmons946]

Dennis said in a 1979 interview "People want to see a show, not 4 guys in jeans jamming" . I still remember he said that but it was in a magazine. They were in almost every Magazine on the shelf back then because they were voted the most popular band in America with teenage girls taken by a poll.

[@nancyloomis3046]

My comment has nothing to do with the musicianship of STYX. I’m just discovering how great they really were…and are. I was only familiar with their popular radio hits. But OMGee…where did Dennis get that “blouse?” I guess he didn’t have time to pick out a more masculine version of whatever look he was going for..so on the way to the show, he popped into maybe Kmart? …the blouse, the boots and the choker pendant necklace…all such a classic 70s rocker/cool chick/dude in a hurry look. 😂😂😂😂 (Sorry Dennis, I just kept looking at your “top.”)

[@nancyloomis3046]

@@terrencesclassicrockcorner Thanks. I figured. Whoever actually picked out the blouse must have not noticed that it was made for a woman's chest and not a man's.

[@Diostillrocks]

It was the 70s.

[@Jessica_Roth]

Decades later (2014?) , Dennis played a gig with his band, and introduced "Born for Adventure" by saying, "the last time sang this song, I was wearing leather pants…and a woman's blouse". Apparently it was the look he decided on for the tour. 1976, everybody!

[@mggilbert425]

Is DDY wearing Kramer's pirate shirt?

[@mggilbert425]

@@terrencesclassicrockcorner not disputing that, since I haven't heard about it, but I think it's mildly ironic that Dennis thought something might be too "showy." Not hating. Just noting that DDY was, by most accounts, the far more theatrical.

[@lasergms]

Tammy Shaw tapping with his pick at 41:00

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

That ending to _22 Years_ was a train wreck of epic proportions.

[@brywool]

Ha! Tommy committed to that solo, didn't he? ;). Live music can be fun. And, of course, it's always when shows get filmed that things suddenly head south.

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

@@brywool The solo was fine; it was the part starting at about 10:30 that was awful.

[@brywool]

@@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel I meant that end solo that Tommy’s playing right after he and Dennis do the kick thing. We were talking about the same spot.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

Shaw was only 22 1/2 here. He joined the tour 4 months earlier.

[@catherineferguson7646]

Tommy said in an interview he was hired, sent home with thirteen songs to learn. Called back for tour had one rehearsal with the band. Away they went.

[@free1982]

Peter balakan colewa hamaluze

[@johnuruski3525]

So no haters please…. Just watched Supposedly the best KISS performance from this same year and then this performance and it just hit me for the first time in my 56 years that when it comes to music, then or today…. It is what it is. There will always be better technical bands vs the lame 4 chord bands and both are just as popular for some reason and thats just history and what registers into the brains of individuals. I was going to totally dis KISS for being such a lesser more experienced and more technical band but i decided to not go there. I’ve learned that as i get older to give the benefit of the doubt, KISS had a following, stage presence and bombs and flame’s that STYX didn’t, Styx had better musicianship and technical playing abilities that KISS didn’t…… Whatever!! Its all music and I’m faded and going to bed!! Cheers!!

[@eljodon]

James Young always had a great guitar tone as well as Tommy Shaw. But I like JY guitar better specially when he used his vintage Strat.

[@catherineferguson7646]

I coul really do without some of those guitar solos. The tape makes them sound a bit share.

[@chebrneck]

is Dennis wearing a maternity blouse? lol

[@edwardabbey1998]

Why is early Styx live footage so rare? And why so many videos in B&W? Was it recorded before color film was invented?

[@Billn1959]

Bill Graham Recorded most of his shows back then in B&W video. By doing so, he recorded many special concerts.

[@daviduribe3111]

The live b&w video feed was shown on a screen above the stage. It was state of the art back then...

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

Before fancy-boy made them a joke.

[@kevanrice1496]

SEAN IF YOUR WARCHING THIS IS YOUR MOMAS FAVORITE BAND SHE LOVED CRYSTALLBALL

[@PikesvilleAl]

Dennis says this is not a good set

[@SiobhanIraFernweh]

Holly crap what’s up with JY’s singing here? That must be awfully distracting to a perfectionist like DeYoung. 😬

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

He rarely seems to sound as good live as on the albums. His voice really sticks out.

[@marks1994]

Saw Styx in CO last month - JY can still jam, but he's a pass on vocals for me.

[@paulgeorge1138]

What do people want color!

[@DrZohm]

Yikes. I mixed for Styx for two years preceding this time (not here) and if I never hear DDY's excessive vibrato it would be too soon.

[@stiffrichard2816]

It's an acquired taste but he's an amazing singer. JY is awful. High harmonies only for him. This is trrrible mix. I would hope it sounded better in the room.

[@catherineferguson7646]

Why doesn't anybody hear how bad this is. Two guitarist playing too loud and doing their kown thing. I don't think this suits Dennis' voice. He even slips off key. It sounds like that's the same song time after time. Sweet Madame Blue, perfect. The guitars are playing two complimentary sounds and Dennis was perfect.