In Roman/Greek Mythology Styx is The river that divided earth from Hades (The land of the living from the land of the dead)
2007-03-25 06:49:04 · 6 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Well, you would have to ask the guys in the band for sure. But I can think of some reasons.
They were a very theatrical, larger than life, high imagery type of band. Their music is really "big" you know? Grand and whatever else. This is a characteristic of most bands that get labelled progressive...and Styx was one of those bands. So as a prog band it would make sense to want a pretty dramatic name.
Plus, a common theme of progressive music is life and death, heaven and hell, the whole crossing over thing. Kansas wrote a lot about this stuff and it's no wonder, Kerry Livegren is a born again Christian who ended up going solo on a gospel label. The Wall is one of my fav songs by Kansas...check the lyrics sometime, they are just HUGE and the music to match, is very "grand". There are many many themes from folk tales and mythology in prog rock as well. Prog bands used to borrow ideas like the pied piper, Robin Hood, King Arthur, chariots and knights, woodland faeries, hobbits and goblins, and all kinds of renaissance and middle ages kind of things...different worlds and different times, even into the future. Yes (another prog band, my personal fav) cover art was mostly created by Roger Dean, who created landscapes that weren't quite science fiction and weren't really here either, they look futuristic. Rick Wakeman (Yes keyboards) did solo work with themes of Middle Earth as well as of all things...an instrumental score to be played underneath readings of the Gospels in the New Testament.
Aside from all these kinds of themes, sometimes the lyrics can be deliberately mysterious, you can apply them to whatever you want. You might see a song as a worship song, while someone else thinks of it as a love song, it could be earthly or otherworldly. So...it dances a very fine line between one thing and something very different..like a river might...like the Styx.
So all these things are just part of the progressive element. Since the name wasn't taken, I guess they figured what's better than the river between heaven and hell?
2007-03-25 07:13:09 · answer #1 · answered by musicimprovedme 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The height of Metal Rock came in the late 70's and early 80's when their was, also, a large Christian revival. Young suburban teens were rebelling against their parents while listening to to hard rock music that knowingly chose controversial dark Christian images for their band names and lyrics.
Plus "Styx" is a great rock and roll pun: Styx/(drum) sticks.
2007-03-25 07:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because Styx was a dark and evil river and bands like to give themselves names like that. Think of Disturbed or Godsmack, they give themselves names that describe the type of music they play.
2007-03-25 07:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by Matt Zero 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They were and still are my fav rocknroll band of all times, so I'd have to say that they are on the other side (land of living) with their inspiration and their talents thru music. I believe they represent the other side of the underworld.
2007-03-25 06:56:06 · answer #4 · answered by element_op 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because listening to Styx is alot like crossing into Hades
2007-03-25 06:53:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because the lead singer was born with silver coins over his eyes instead of eyelids.
2007-03-25 06:57:24 · answer #6 · answered by Philo42 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋