Styx emerged in Chicago in 1972 as a classic rock band that achieved fame through their powerful vocal harmonies and dramatic stage presence while creating enduring anthems that linked progressive rock to mainstream radio hits. The rock band Styx started with brothers Chuck and John Panozzo alongside Dennis DeYoung and James “J.Y.” Young before adding Tommy Shaw to their lineup to become one of the most successful rock bands during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The band achieved their first success through The Grand Illusion (1977) which included two of their most famous songs "Come Sail Away" and "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" that displayed the band's distinctive combination of synthesizers with guitars and multi-layered vocal arrangements. The album started a sequence of multiple platinum-selling releases.