LOS ANGELES (Universal Music) - Styx's version of the classic
Beatles song "I Am The Walrus" has hit the Top Ten on the Mediabase Classic Rock chart within two weeks of the song's (date) release. The single will debut to consumers worldwide exclusively through Apple's iTunes
Music Store beginning December 7.
When Styx was invited to participate in Eric Clapton's Crossroads benefit earlier this year, they changed up their set to include blues songs, such as their newly recorded version of their hit "Blue Collar Man," as well as "I Am The Walrus." The audience response to the Styx-styled version was overwhelming, leading to the group's decision to include the single as a staple to their set lists at future shows.
"After attending our Chicago homecoming performance at Vic Theater back in August, WLUP Program Director Greg Solk requested a live recording of Walrus to play on the air," said James "JY" Young.
"There was definitely a groundswell happening with the song. We love playing it on stage, and the audience loves it."
Tommy Shaw added, "Just as we thought our year was winding down, we find ourselves in full response mode as this rocking track keeps climbing up the charts. Jim Ladd told JY and me, 'You guys captured lightning in a bottle...' Frankly we're pleasantly stunned by how little we've had to do with its success at radio."
Styx recorded the song on September 11th in Lincoln City, Oregon and it aired on WLUP on October 8th, followed by a West Coast debut broadcast by radio host Jim Ladd on KLOS. In just three weeks, the song is being played on more than 120 stations.
Apart from WLUP and KLOS, the single has been added at KQRS in Minneapolis, WFBQ in Indianapolis, KSAN in San Francisco, KDBN in Dallas, WKLS in Atlanta, WNCX in Cleveland, KISM in Seattle, KKLZ in Las Vegas, WARW in Washington, D.C., KIHT in St. Louis, WMFO in Boston, WEGR in Memphis, and WONE in Akron, to name a few.
The song debuted at No 24 on the Mediabase Classic Rock chart and jumped to No 10 a week later.
The band is putting finishing touches on a video for the song that includes a cameo by Billy Bob Thornton.
