As of last night in Akron, Ohio, STYX is officially back on the road. Now entering our final tour of the millennium! Last night was show number 55 and it feels like we are just getting warmed up. The theater in Akron was absolutely beautiful and sounded even better acoustically. The audience? Well, what can I tell you? We were in Ohio! The place where Rock originated. Did they know how to deal with a smokin' show from this band? You better believe it.

It is nice to be back. We had a good time getting to sleep in our own beds for a few nights, to air out the suitcases and change out the contents thereof, but each of us felt the calling of the fall tour. If you have seen us, you know how much fun the show is, right? Well, it is even more fun for us to get to perform night after night. As I have mentioned before, we are in many ways a baby band and as good as the show has grown to be, it just keeps getting better. There are so many more places to play and so many more chances to get it right, that we, as players are a bit adduced to the calling. Reminds me of the lyrics to our classic song "Lights." Just as true today as it was in 1979 when we recorded it for the Cornerstone album.

When I left home yesterday I made the classic mistake of thinking just because I live in California and it is in the mid 90's temperature-wise, that it is like that everywhere else, so while we were doing our sound check yesterday, Jeanne and Suzie were at the mall getting me something warm to wear! What am I--NEW? Lol...

Saw lots of Listee folks there last night and I hope you guys keep up with us as we work our way down to the end of 1999 and hop over to the next century. You thought the last millennium was good for STYX? HA! Just wait until 2000! You ain't seen nuttin' yet!

By the way, in the past few days, Todd Sucherman had a #1 hit in the Jazz charts with a song he wrote with Brian Culbertson called "Outta The Blue," and "The Best of Gowan," Lawrence's greatest hits CD went gold in Canada. This band never stops!