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Author Announces Styx Bio ‘The Grand Delusion’

Nashville-based music writer Sterling Whitaker has announced his next project, an unauthorized biography of the superstar rock group Styx entitled 'The Grand Delusion'. He expects to complete the book by the end of 2004.

“I have been working on this for several years already,” Whitaker states, “and I’m close enough to completion now to talk about it.” The author was recently featured on the VH1 program ‘True Spin’, in an episode featuring the story behind Styx’ campy classic “Mr. Roboto”.

“It was great that VH1 asked me to do that,” Whitaker said. “They came to my house and shot for an hour and a half a few months ago. I wound up in the final edit for about nine seconds,” he added with a laugh. “But they spelled my name and the title of the book correctly, and that’s all I can really ask for.”

Drawn from archival interviews and footage, as well as the author’s personal interviews with band members, business associates, friends and family, 'The Grand Delusion' will be the first biography written about Styx, one of the best-selling rock acts of the past thirty years. The group has sold more than 35 million records since its inception in 1972, and is the only rock group to earn four consecutive Triple Platinum albums in four consecutive years. Styx’ Top Ten hits include “Lady”, “Come Sail Away”, “Too Much Time On My Hands” and “Babe”, which won Song of the Year in the 1979 People’s Choice Awards.

“'The Grand Delusion' is more than just some lurid tell-all book about a rock group,” Whitaker said. “It’s the story of a band that started in a Chicago basement and became one of the biggest bands in the world. It’s really about the hard work and sacrifice it takes to make it. It provides a glimpse inside the music business and what it’s really like, the high price that performers pay for success.”

The author shrugs off critics who dismissed Styx, giving the group largely negative reviews throughout its career. “I know there are some detractors who will think, ‘What we really need is a book about a band that we think is terrible,’” Whitaker said, laughing. “But I disagree with the critical assessment of Styx. It had as much to do with business politics as the actual quality of the music. That’s why the band has never been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is absolutely ridiculous when you consider some of the acts that have been nominated. I believe 'The Grand Delusion' could change some people’s minds about Styx.”


For More Information Contact:
Sterling Whitaker
Sterlingwit (at) aol.com
(615) 650-5064 (Phone/Fax)