Interview – Lawrence Gowan of Styx (BLOG)
Here’s a Concert Blast interview with Lawrence Gowan of Styx that Mike Arnold conducted in November, 2009. Many Styx fans continue to ask about Dennis DeYoung, not knowing that Dennis hadn’t been in the band for over 10 years. Canada’s Lawrence Gowan has stepped in and has done an excellent job!
On November 15 2009, the Can’t Stop Rocking Tour made its stop in Nashville, TN. Mike Arnold had been communicating with Styx’s publicists and management about a possible interview with their keyboardist/lead singer, Lawrence Gowan. On the day of the show, their schedule became much tighter as Styx was invited to sing the National Anthem before the Tennessee Titans football game. Since they were under such time restraints, Mike and Lawrence decided to conduct their interview through email.
For those who aren’t familiar with the rocker, enjoying learning a little about Lawrence.
LAWRENCE GOWAN INTERVIEW
CB: How long have you been a member of Styx?
LG: I am in my 11th year and nearly 1200 shows as a member ( in good standing ) of Styx.
CB: How did you become a member of Styx?
LG: My solo career as “Gowan” in Canada ( 4 platinum, 3 gold, 1 gold single ) lead me- was it fate ?- to playing a show with Styx at the new Montreal Forum in 1997.
Two years later JY and Tommy Shaw called to ask if I’d be interested in joining the band. I was.
CB: Who are your musical influences?
LG: The Beatles are number 1 in my musical life, as they likely are in everyone else’s. Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Queen, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Stravinsky, Gershwin, Scott Joplin…
and the list, as they say…
CB: Who (or what) inspired you to Follow a musical career?
LG: All of the above.
CB: If it weren’t for music, what would you do for a living?
LG: I’d be in the NHL ( obviously ) or dancing for the Kirov Ballet ( not so obviously ).
CB: What music are you currently listening to?
LG: Black metal bands mostly, CHILDREN OF BODOM, DIMMU BORGIR. Also, KEANE, MUSE, RADIOHEAD, BLACK SABBATH
CB: Since you were a part of singing the Nat’l Anthem at the Titans Football game, are you a sports fan or ever participated in sports?
LG: I love sports, particularly the World Junior Hockey tournament.
CB: How do you prepare yourself for a tour?
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LG: Yoga and scales.
CB: How do you prepare yourself for a show?
LG: The above.
CB: Do you have a favorite song you like to play or sing in concert?
LG: Renegade. I enjoy singing the Styx version of “A Criminal Mind” – that’s a great song.
CB: “A Criminal Mind” Isn’t that one of your songs?
LG: It was a number one song from my solo days in Canada.
CB: With such a sucessful solo career in Canada, why would you consider joining Styx?
LG: I had released 6 studio albums, 2 live albums and a Greatest Hits as a solo artist and I felt that a new and more international experience was offered with Styx.
CB: What type of musical training have you had?
LG: I achieved an ARCT in classical piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
CB: Have you ever misjudged your keyboard stage while it spins and caused an onstage mishap?
LG: During an unprecedented leap of faith, I left a piece of my tailbone embedded in the stand… the keyboard exited head over keys and smashed into the audience… much to their delight.
CB: I know you have toured with REO several time in the past. Do you guys all share a friendship off the stage?
LG: We can’t stand each other… but then again, we Can’t Stop Rockin’. So it’s a dilemma that both bands face with great courage.
CB: Do you have any Crazy / Embarrasing Experiences in concert, either that you’ve seen in the crowd or something that has happened to you?
LG: I have many… but I’m told the internet has limited space. Therefore, I can’t fully relate to you the incident regarding the Lion, the Cougar and the Chimp. Perhaps at some future date we shall cry over it together.
CB: What are you most Thankful for?
LG: Life.
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