Formed in Chicago in 1972, the progressive-rock band Styx scored their first U.S. Top 40 hit with “Lady.” It wouldn’t be their last, as songs like “Come Sail Away” and “Renegade” still receive significant airplay today. Still touring more than 50 years later, the band’s members have certainly had to learn to roll with the punches. And they did just that when drummer Todd Sucherman fell ill ahead of a recent show.
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Styx Drummer Suffers From Food Poisoning
First filling in for drummer John Panozzo, Todd Sucherman became a permanent fixture in the Styx lineup following Panozzo’s death in 1996. The Chicago-born drummer, 55, has appeared on five studio albums, starting with 1995’s Brave New World.
However, fans may have noticed that Sucherman was not onstage for the band’s Friday (March 7) show in Grand Ronde, Oregon. That’s because a nasty bout of food poisoning landed him in the hospital.
Still, the show must go on. And fortunately, Jeff Heintz, Styx’s longtime co-production manager and keyboard tech, plays a little drums himself.
In a Facebook post Saturday (March 8), Sucherman explained the unexpected lineup change.
“Jeff has always been an excellent drummer and he’s watched the show for nearly 20 years now from stage right,” Sucherman wrote. “Thanks to Jeff for saving the night, my bandmates and crew, and the audience who was understanding and still saw a great show.”
In May, Styx will hit the road with ex-REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin and former Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder on the Brotherhood of Rock tour, which wraps Aug. 24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Last month, the band concluded a five-show residency at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.
Jeff Heintz Is Working With His Heroes
Jeff Heintz began playing the drums as a high school student in Minnesota. After attending music school in Boston, he set out for Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. Twenty years ago, Styx brought him aboard as the supergroup’s live production manager.
“Being with Styx is great because I grew up in the 80s and, of course, Styx was a huge band in the 80s, but in the summer we do a lot of package tours where we’ll go out with Def Leppard, Styx, Tesla, Journey, REO Speedwagon,” Heintz told KEYC in March 2022. “So I get to meet all of these folks from the other bands as well. I have a guitar from Neil Shawn of Journey and I have my KISS mementos, [including a] bass that belonged to Gene [Simmons].”
We bet he never imagined one day sharing a stage with the “Mr. Roboto” hitmakers.
Featured image by R. Diamond/Getty Images
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