Styx and Eddie Money Rock NSAB

By Sharon Holland

Classic rock artists Styx and Eddie Money proved they are still going strong after more than 40 years. 

More than a thousand concert-goers, mostly military service members and Department of Defense civilian employees from throughout the National Capital Region, and their guests, crowded the Naval Support Activity Bethesda sports fields-turned-concert venue for “Freedom Live,” featuring the legendary performers. 

(Photo by Sharon Holland)

Money, who has sold more than 28 million records and whose songs have been featured in movies, television shows, and video games like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Guitar Hero,” sang his well-known hits “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Take Me Home Tonight,” “Baby Hold On,” “Shakin” “Think I’m In Love,” and “I Wanna Go Back,” and included a newer song, “One More Soldier Coming Home,” about combat-deployed troops.  

Styx, including early members Tommy Shaw, James Young, and co-founder Chuck Panozzo, followed suit, playing a multitude of their hits, including “Renegade,” “Crystal Ball,” “Grand Illusion,” “Fooling Yourself,” “Lorelei,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Lady,” and more. 

Fans, who ranged from teens to seniors, were up on their feet, dancing and singing along and having an overall great time at the event.

(Image Credit: Sharon Holland)

Their music transcends generations. Whether they had grown up going to Styx concerts or discovered Eddie Money on a classic rock Spotify playlist, everyone enjoyed the show. 

The band members themselves also appeared to enjoy themselves.  Money took time after his show to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.  He, and Styx guitarist James “JY” Young both mentioned ties to the military; Money’s father served in the Navy during World War II and Young’s sister is a Navy-trained nurse now working for the Veterans Administration.  Both bands said it was “an honor” to perform for the crowd. 

(Image Credit: Sharon Holland)

 “It’s an honor to perform at a military base,” Styx keyboardist and singer Lawrence Gowan said in an interview with the NSAB Journal. “Over the course of the years we do get asked to do things for services and we always enjoy playing for them. There is always a great audience… Through these kinds of shows, we’ve done some great behind the scenes tours and gotten a peek of what goes into the life that service members live. That’s really educational for us and we really enjoy it.”  Gowan’s father served in the British Royal Navy.

Money told the Journal it was a “no brainer” for him to perform. “My dad was in the Navy and when the opportunity to do something for our military comes, it is really important to me to give back.”