When Gowan has keys, he goes for spin
THERE was a time when a keyboardist would not be the frontman in a rock band. Jerry Lee Lewis helped change that attitude. So did Little Richard, Elton John and Fats Domino, among myriad other prominent piano practitioners.
Today, Lawrence Gowan of Styx has put his own spin, spiritually and in fact, on keyboard showmanship.
Gowan and the band are in the middle of their extended engagement at the Venetian Theatre, running Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Gowan has been a Styx staple since 1999, integral to the group’s studio work and a veritable whirling dervish on stage.
His signature effect is a keyboard that rotates 360 degrees, while he stands, grooves and spins himself. The stage piece dates to 1990, and oddly involves legendary Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.
While using just his surname, Gowan had issued the album “Lost Brotherhood” during his solo days, recording the LP in Toronto.
The video for “Lost Brotherhood” was an homage to George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” Lifeson emerged from a burning barn during his requisite guitar solo.
“I’m the most boring thing in this video,” Gowan said. “I’m sitting behind some pianos. Meanwhile, all this other mayhem is going on.”
He had an epiphany, appropriately while talking to the lighting crew on the shoot.
“It suddenly dawned on me, what if we made a stand that could spin, somehow, on my keyboard — my piano would actually spin!” Gowan said. “We looked at the one Keith Emerson (of the supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer) had in the ’70s, which went end over end. I said, ‘Yeah, no, not that.’ We wanted one that would horizontally spin, so that I can move around. Not as a guitar player, but kind of turn and address different parts of the barn, you know?”
Gowan is a naturally charismatic performer anyway, and one of Styx’s lead singers.
Who inspired him to branch out, originally, as a rock keyboardist?
“This is going to sound weird, but the first piano player I ever saw on stage that was flamboyant was Liberace,” Gowan said. “I was 14 years old. I took the afternoon off from school because he was doing a matinee at a place in Toronto called the O’keefe Centre (now Meridian Hall). I was in the standing-room-only section and watched Liberace drive on stage in this crystal-encrusted Rolls-royce limousine … I was like, OK,
I’m definitely going to work on my piano playing properly, because I really dig this.”
Crazy on him
Ann Wilson of Heart has been added to the free rock ’n’ roll spectacular headlined by The Jim Irsay Band on March 4 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The show runs from 6 to 11 p.m. and is also a means to exhibit some of
Irsay’s famous rock memorabilia collection and several other cultural pieces. Though the event is free and open to the public, a ticket is required for entrance. To reserve one, go to jimirsaycollection.com or Eventbrite.com.
Irsay, who owns and operates the Indianapolis Colts in his spare time, is the band’s frontman. Billy F. Gibbons and Stephen Stills will join the fray, and a tribute to the late David Crosby is planned.
Around the horn, we have Kenny Wayne Shepherd on guitar and vocals, Kenny Aronoff (Paul Mccartney, John Mellencamp, the Rolling Stones, Sting and Bob Dylan) on drums, Tom Bukovac (who has played on more than 700 albums with major artists) on guitar, Mike Mills (co-founder of R.E.M.) on bass and vocals, Danny Nucci (musician and actor from “Titanic” and “The Rock”) on guitar and sax, Michael Ramos (Mellencamp, Patti Griffin, Paul Simon )on keyboards, Carmella Ramsey (Reba Mcentire, John Hiatt, Olivia Newton-john) on violin and mandolin, and Mike Wanchic (Mellencamp) on guitar.
Angel’s wish list
Planet Hollywood Resort headliner Criss Angel’s $1 million donation highlighted a charity event and birthday party Dec. 19 at the House of
Blues at Mandalay Bay. Angel celebrated his 55th birthday that night; the results of the event and accompanying concert were announced this week.
A total of $1.3 million was raised over the course of the event, supporting Make-awish Southern Nevada, Cure 4 the Kids Foundation and the Johnny Crisstopher Foundation. The latter is named for Angel’s son, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia shortly after birth and was treated at Cure 4 the Kids.
Iconic rockers Paul Stanley of Kiss; Robin Zander of Cheap Trick; Stephen Pearcy, late of Ratt; Sebastian Bach, late of Skid Row; and ’70s pop superstar Tony Orlando performed in a private concert and were among the stars and celebs taking part. All of the funds raised were donated directly to the local charities.
Cool Hang Alert
Venerable Vegas vocalist and host Dennis Bono celebrates the 23rd anniversary of his eponymous simulcast variety show at 2 p.m. Thursday at the South Point Showroom. Legendary impressionist Rich Little, Frankie Scinta, Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie, Vinny Adinolfi of Bronx Wanderers, Lorena Peril of “Fantasy,” comic-songwriter Dennis Blair, ex-“jersey Boys” and “Bat Out of Hell” cast member Travis Cloer, pop opera vocalist Giada Valenti, and the great Lorraine Hunt Bono (who opened, and closed, the Landmark) are all on the bill. Corrie Sachs is the singing sidekick. Tickets are available at the South Point box office; call 702-797-8055 for intel. As we say, that’s amore.