Former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung is using his time at home during the COVID-19 Pandemic to help people stay positive during this tumultuous period.  Over the weekend Dennis took to his piano and played the Styx classic “The Best Of Times.”

Dennis DeYoung is back with a new original solo album, 26 East, Vol. 1.  The album will be released May 22 via Frontiers Music Srl. Listen to the song, "To The Good Old Days" featuring Julian Lennon, below.

Of the song, DeYoung says, “It was written specifically for Jules and I to sing together. He nailed the vocal and I harmonized. Harmony baby, I love it. It’s the final song on my album and it’s a simple farewell from me as I recall the sweetest days of my past with my fans, friends, family and forgiveness.”

Pre-order the album here

Tracklisting:

"East Of Midnight"
"With All Due Respect"
"A Kingdom Ablaze"
"You My Love"
"Run For The Roses"
"Damn That Dream"
"Unbroken"
"The Promise Of This Land"
"To The Good Old Days" (duet with Julian Lennon)
"A.D. 2020"

"East Of Midnight":

DeYoung previously announced this will be his last album but added an update: "This was supposed to be my final album but there were so many songs written that Serafino Perugino, CEO of Frontiers, suggested dividing it into two albums rather than one. So be it. This is Volume 1, which sounds pretentious to me, but the marketing folks wanted you to know there are going to be two of them, so hey kids, there are two of them; this is Volume 1."

It all started when Jim Peterik, a fellow Chicagoan and nearby neighbor, sent a song demo to Dennis.

"If not for Jim Peterik’s encouragement, talent and prodding I would not have recorded this music", said DeYoung. "He once told me that the world needed my music; to which I replied 'have the world text me for verification.' We collaborated from the get go, happily and seamlessly and at this time we have written 9 songs together of which five will be on Volume 1. Just two Chicago guys doing what they do best, making music and having a laugh.”

The collaboration with Julian Lennon came about when DeYoung wrote a verse and chorus of a song with Lennon in mind. Lennon heard the demo and said he would be honored to participate. Lennon's vocals were recorded in October at Mission Sound in Brooklyn, NY.

DeYoung shares: "The moment we sang together in the studio it felt magical. I wrote the song specifically for our two voices. I had never met Julian previously but I have been an admirer since Valotte."

The album title 26 East represents the birthplace of Styx. 26 E 101st Place was the address where DeYoung grew up in Roseland, on the south side of Chicago. Across the street at 39 E 101st Place lived the Panozzo twins, Chuck and John, whom would go on to form Trade Winds in 1962, which a decade later would become the core of Styx. The cover artwork of 26 East features three locomotives, representing the three original members of Styx leaving the Chicago train yard dreaming of bigger and better things.

In support of the release of 26 East, DeYoung will tour heavily throughout 2020. To kick-off the release of the album, DeYoung will appear at the House of Blues Chicago on April 3, with a live concert and sneak preview of the album. A CD of 26 East is included with the price of admission. In addition, the album will be played in its entirety on the house PA, followed by a Q&A session with DeYoung and Jim Peterik to discuss the new music. It will be followed by the live performance of The Music of Styx. Attendees can expect to hear a few songs from the new album, also performed live.

DeYoung's tour schedule is as follows:

March
13 - MGM Park Center Stage - Northfield, OH
14 - The Midland Theatre - Newark, OH
20 - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR
21 - Admiral Theatre - Bremerton, WA

April
3 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
4 - The Clyde Theatre - Fort Wayne, IN
17 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY
18 - Mayo Performing Arts Center - Morristown, NJ
24 - Resorts Superstar Theater - Atlantic City, NJ
25 - The Wind Creek Event Center - Bethlehem, PA

May
1 - Le Grand Theatre - Quebec City, QC
2 - Theatre St. Denis - Montreal, QC
8 - Island Casino Showroom - Harris, MI
9 - Island Casino Showroom - Harris, MI

June
4 - Paramount Arts Center - Ashland, KY
5 - Belterra Casino CenterStage - Florence, IN

July
10 - Verizon Theatre - Grand Prairie, TX
11 - Austin City Limits Live Moody Theatre - Austin, TX