15-Aug-96
We love LA... It is the day after the first show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The show was incredible. It was the first time the band had ever performed there. Tommy and Dennis both commented on how beautiful the setting was. DeYoung spoke first. "To think of all the famous people who have graced this stage--Plato, Socrates..." Shaw said he had been to many shows there, but had never seen the view from on stage. "I highly recommend it!" he joked... The day before, friends of Tommy and Jeanne had arranged for members of the band and their families as well as management to meet President Ronald Reagan at his office in Century City. After a brief visit and photo session with the President, most of the party continued on to Santa Monica Airport, where the same friends had a private helicopter waiting to shuttle them out to a 141' boat anchored off Catalina Island. The rest of the day was spent on wave runners, gourmet dining on board, strumming guitars, and ending with a midnight cruise back to the former Newport Beach home of John Wayne. Charlie, STYX's manager observed, "I love this town--from 'The Gipper' this morning to 'The Duke' tonight!"
No Sleep 'Til San Bernardino... To make life even a little more sleepless for STYX, after not getting back to the hotel from the after-show party at the Greek until 2:00 am, there was a 6:00 am wake-up call to get up and appear on KTLA Morning News with entertainment editor, Sam Rubin. Troopers 'til the end, the boys sang their hearts out during two segments and had a great impromptu interview with Rubin. It went so well, that once the live show was over, the band taped an extra segment so that the same performance could be re-broadcast tomorrow on the Chicago affiliate, WGN. From KTLA studios in Hollywood, the band was driven by limos over the hill to NBC studios in Burbank to tape a segment for the local NBC affiliate in Phoenix, promoting the concert there this coming Saturday night. Due to a miscommunication there was only a set-up for one band member. Dennis stepped up to the plate as the sleepy remainder of the party immediately marched out the door to the waiting cars. Tommy, who had brought along an acoustic guitar, broke it out in the NBC parking lot and began belting out his worst country and western versions of STYX hits, punctuated by ear-piercing "YEE-HAA's" and "WOO-WHOO's" to the chagrin of some other band mates. "Hay weer STIX and weer playin at thuh Greek tunite!!!" Todd captured it all on tape. "They'll think it was funny later when we've all gotten some rest," Tommy said sleepily. "After all, we came here to NBC to promote STYX, and I mean to do it one way or another!" Show #2 at The Greek Theatre tonight�