Their distinctive sound made up of core frontmen Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw, backed by James Young and the Panozzo brothers, has been a staple on classic rock radio for decades.

“Renegade,” “Come Sail Away,” “Babe,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Blue Collar Man”... the list goes on and on. Styx has sold over 54 million records and boast a run of 4 consecutive multi-platinum albums from The Grand Illusion through Paradise Theatre– a remarkable run in rock retrospect. Their catalog also includes eight Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including the No. 1 “Babe.”

The facts are clear, so why are Styx neglected from even a nomination?

Well, Styx themselves have conflicting views on the matter. Lead vocalist and keyboardist, Dennis DeYoung, has been blunt about his thoughts on the Rock Hall. In 2020 he told Rolling Stone, “I want to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because we deserve to be.” On the contrary, other lead vocalist and guitarist, Tommy Shaw comedically stated, “I certainly don't lose any sleep over it.”

Both, however, agree that the standard for inductions is incredibly inconsistent. A large majority of artists in the past few years haven’t really fit the “rock” genre, or maybe an artist that gets inducted just has one or two anthems that qualifies them.

Styx has remained a consistent cornerstone in the classic rock world with about a dozen major hits spanning two decades, yet neglect remains their middle name. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is not the be-all and end-all of a rock group accolades, but it certainly seems that Styx continues to receive the short end of the stick, with neither an induction nor a nomination in their 28th straight eligible year.