Styx Takes Over The White House Briefing Room

Shortly after Robert Gibbs ended his daily briefing on Monday, the White House press corps was treated to an unexpected guest appearance.

The members of the '80s band, Styx, suddenly took the podium to snap a couple pictures behind the famous lectern. The press, naturally, went crazy, with photographers gathering around the foursome and correspondents chatting like their youth had been restored.

The band happened to be in town for a gig. And as the long-haired musicians took questions and posed for pictures, a few members of the media could be heard chanting the lyrics to "Mr. Roboto" and "Come Sail Away." One member of the Obama communications team, laughing at the spectacle, whispered: "This is why I love working in the White House."

It was keyboardist Lawrence Gowan's first time in the place. "I'm a Canadian," he said. "I voted for [Obama] but my vote was rescinded."

Asked how the thought the president was doing, drummer Todd Sucherman responded with a thumbs up. Did he know if Obama was a fan?

"Someone had mentioned that we are in his iPod," he replied, "but I can't substantiate that claim."

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Comments

[SecretWeapon625]

Um, interesting item, but Styx is an '80's band? That's news to me. If all I knew about them was what VH1 spoonfeeds the public on "nostalgia" bands, I would assume that too. However, even a casual check on their history reveals NINE albums recorded in the 1970's and only two in the 1980's. That doesn't sound like an "'80's band" to me.

[JimR]

Eh, that's nitpicking, I think. Their bigger hits didn't come until toward the end of that stretch, so 80s band seems fine.

[AMR71]

No, they really weren't an '80s band. Their first hit came in '75, and their first #1 in '79. They only had two big albums right at the start of the 1980s before they fizzled out. Three of their five platinum albums were in the '70s, as well as three of their four gold albums. I know all of this because I used to be a big fan, and also I have no life.

Funny there would be people singing "Mr. Roboto," when its writer is no longer in the band, and the guys who remain won't go near that song anymore.

[VicDaring]

Hello friends!

I'll be seeing Styx in concert in a couple weeks.

And you won't catch this Styx fan getting all caught up in the DeYoung, Shaw, JY, debates.

I don't think Styx is as good without Dennis, and I don't think Dennis is as good without Styx.

As a group, I think they were better than the sum of their parts. Now, I root for them all to succeed, so I can enjoy the DeYoungless Styx as well as Dennis' solo material.

In that vein, classic Styx fans might want to check out the new Dennis DeYoung solo effort. "100 Years From Now." The first five tracks or so sound more like Styx than anything we've heard from either camp in quite some time.

These are the Best of Times...

[melindamoore]

President Obama's Secret Service code name? RENEGADE!

Styx is still Styx, and they still rock.

[MajorKong]

I'm very embarrassed to admit that I once liked these guys back in the 1970s.

[ladycubsfan]

You're embarrassed to admit that you were once cool? Okayyyyyy......
We get it.

I loved Styx. They were an important part of my growing up. Every song evokes a special memory, to this day. Are you sure you aren't thinking of Disco? Now, THAT would be embarrassing!

[bingvangorden]

I think the real question to the President is, DeYoung or Shaw? If he says DeYoung, he's a communist.

[PatA]

Styx almost ruined me in the middle 70s by not appearing for a concert. They pulled out about 3 hours before the show was to open.
I stood at the front door and refunded every cent that I had taken in for tickets. I had not thought of them in years and years........(you can't buy class)

On the other hand, Willie Nelson always shows up and I've never lost a cent on him.
(you are born with class)

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

oh no, not stynx.

[melindamoore]

Oh man...that is SO original! I mean, WOW! Calling them Stynx instead of Styx. I'm so impressed that you can add a letter. I am overwhelmed that you can use a lame criticism that a pathetic excuse for a critic used back in 1977. I bow down to your brilliance.

[ManwithaParachute]

FYI Styx is a Chicago band there may be a slight connection.

[NoSillyName]

This has to be a JOKE. Freakin' STYX? How incredibly dreadful.

Where's BREAD?

[ladycubsfan]

One can like STYX AND BREAD, you know. They're not mutually exclusive. Some of us have eclectic musical tastes. :)

[BlueFloyd]

my favorite all-star band is BREADSTYX.

They snap!

[smchp]

where is the change!
{/sarcasm off}

[underoath]

This is a strange white house thats for sure

[NoSillyName]

LOL, Gibbs may have engineered this; I can't believe BHO is a STYX fan.

And if he is, I don't want to know.

[SweetBabu]

My class song (MHS Class of 1984) was Come Sail Away. Wow, the memories this brought back . . .

[apoyo]

Love this band!

[KnowzyRowzy]

Babe I Love You!

[ckfan]

UGGGGGGGGG­GGGGGGGGGG­GGGGGGGGGG­GGH. Prom song. UGHHHHHHHHH.

[hapiday]

This awesome how President Obama is joining all kinds of people together. As bad as everything is in this country right now. Don't you just feel alive???!!! The White house is a live with hope and anticipation of what's next. Everyone is not going to have all their dreams come true. At least you know President Obama is not going to sleep through this presidency. We couldn't stop the Bush administration so a lot of people just gave up and decided to sleep through his presidency.