Triple-shot of ’80s rockers come to play Big Sandy Superstore Arena

HUNTINGTON — Get out the hairspray, the lighters, the skinny ties and the zipper jackets, it’s big ’ 80s night at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena as they host a trio of the best platinum-selling radio-blasters from the 1980s — Styx, Night Ranger and REO Speedwagon.

Come out and hear these bands that together have sold nearly 100 million records and that have chalked up an endless jukebox of rock radio hits like Styx’s “Too Much Time on My Hands,” REO Speedwagon’s “Keep on Loving You,” and Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian.”

Together they’re on the Can’t Stop Rockin’ Tour 2009. The tour is going to live up to the name with the third leg of the North American tour that touches down at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

Tickets are $29.75 to $69.75. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

To celebrate their trek together, REO Speedwagon and Styx teamed up to record a new single, “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” co-written by Styx’s Tommy Shaw and REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin.
“Can’t Stop Rockin’” made its radio debut in March and to celebrate the release of the single, each night of the tour, contest winners will take the stage with Styx and REO Speedwagon and sing background vocals.

“Both bands have always tried to keep our ticket prices low so that none of our fans get left out. It’s our own personal Rock ‘n’ Roll Stimulus package,” said Tommy Shaw. “It’s been nine years since the Arch Allies tour, and it just seemed like the right time to team up with our friends in REO and hit the road again.”

“The world is going through a weird phase, and everybody needs music now more than ever,” Cronin said. “We all need to join our friends, pool our resources, combine our energies, because there is power in people coming together. That spirit has brought REO and Styx together to write, record and tour together, and celebrate it all with the greatest fans in America.”

Here’s is some basic info about each of the bands:

REO Speedwagon

The REO Speedwagon band members are Kevin Cronin, lead singer and principal songwriter;keyboard player and founding member Neal Doughty; bass player Bruce Hall; lead guitarist Dave Amato; and drummer Bryan Hitt. Since the release of their first record in 1971, the band has produced 17 albums including the 10 million seller “Hi Infidelity.” They have scored 13 Top 40 singles, including the No. 1 hits “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Keep On Loving You” and “Time For Me To Fly.” Other hits include “Roll With The Changes,” “Ridin’ The Storm Out,” “Take It On The Run,” “Don’t Let Him Go” and “Keep Pushin.” Their latest album, “Find Your Own Way Home,” features “Needed To Fall” and “Smilin’ In The End.” REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums.

Styx

Styx was one of the rare bands to create four consecutive triple-platinum albums. The band is made up of Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips (along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo). Styx has performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Some of the platinum albums include 1976’s “Crystal Ball,” 1977’s “The Grand Illusion,” 1978’s “Pieces of Eight,” 1979’s “Cornerstone,” and 1981’s “Paradise Theater,” the band’s biggest hit album selling over 3 million copies in a three-year period). Hit singles include “Renegade,” “Blue Collar Man,” “Fooling Yourself” and “Too Much Time on My Hands.”

Night Ranger

Celebrating their silver anniversary, Night Ranger has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, recorded eight studio albums, and recently released their latest, “Hole In The Sun” (VH-1 Classic Records).

Known for their dynamic dueling guitars and memorable melodies, their live show includes their chart-toppers “Sister Christian,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “(You Can Still) Rock In America” and “When You Close Your Eyes.” Additionally, Broadway’s hot new musical Rock of Ages pays homage to the band by performing one of their classic hits. Their latest release “Hole In The Sun,” their first album in a decade and eighth studio album, was released July 1, 2008.