The History Behind Styx’s 1981 Concept Album ‘Paradise Theatre’

Styx was formed in 1972 on the south side of Chicago. Throughout the 1970s, with a few lineup changes, Styx paired prog-rock instrumentations to songs that could fit a Broadway musical. The result makes Styx a band that caters to a vast audience; the rockers and the theater lovers can agree on this band. By 1981, Styx was among the biggest rock groups in the country. In 1977, their album, The Grand Illusion, reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200. The album contained the hit “Come Sail Away”, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Following up, the band scored two hits with Pieces Of Eight in 1978. “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” and “Renegade” became rock radio staples, showing off the band’s hard rock edge. Alternatively, their 1979 album, Cornerstone, penned the ballad “Babe”. The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the US Cashbox Top 100.

That brings us to 1981, when Styx was at its prime. They had a string of hits, and singer/keyboardist Dennis DeYoung created a concept album for the group’s next release. Their tenth studio album, Paradise Theatre, was released on January 19, 1981. The concept is about a fictionalized recollection of the Paradise Theatre in Chicago, from its opening in 1928 to its closing in 1956. DeYoung symbolically compared the theaters’ decline to the changing of times from the 1970s into the 1980s. Songs about the changing of times, paired with messages of hope and the American Dream, weren’t new to Styx. The theme is similar to their 1977 hit “The Grand Illusion”.

‘Paradise Theatre’ Becomes a Commercial Success

Dennis DeYoung, along with other members of the group, grew up in Chicago. With a passion for musical theatre, DeYoung was compelled to write about the closing of local theatres in the city. Paradise Theatre became a massive commercial success for the band. It hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and held the top spot for three weeks in 1981. The album’s lead single, “The Best Of Times”, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, “Too Much Time On My Hands,” written and sung by guitarist Tommy Shaw, peaked at No. 9. The album’s third single, “Nothing Ever Goes As Planned,” didn’t chart on the Hot 100 but was a minor hit in Canada.

The fourth and final single released was also the intro and first track of the album. “A.D. 1928 / Rockin’ The Paradise” starts with “A.D. 1928”, a short, piano-based intro to the tune of “The Best Of Times. It runs straight into an energetic album opener, “Rockin’ The Paradise.”

The original Paradise Theatre was located in West Garfield Park in Chicago. It was demolished in the 1950s, shortly after closing. Instead, the album cover was truly based on a different theatre on Chicago’s north side. Previously located in the Rogers Park neighborhood, Styx’s Paradise Theatre closely resembles the historic Granada Theatre, which was demolished in 1990.