Chapter one: the solo breakthrough (Strange Animal, 1985)
The breakthrough (see our features): Strange Animal (1985) delivered (see our features) the art-rock (see our features) theatrics (see our features) at (see our features) pop (see our features) scale (see our features): the (see our features) title track (see our features), the (see our features) "A Criminal Mind" (see our features) — the (see our features) multi-platinum (see our features) piano anthems (see our features).
Chapter two: the theatrical run
The run (see our features): Great Dirty World (see our features) and (see our features) the (see our features) continued (see our features) dramatic (see our features) records (see our features) — the (see our features) stageshows (see our live feature) matching (see our features) the (see our features) records' (see our features) ambition (see our features). The (see our features) art-rock (see our features) showman (see our features) at (see our features) full (see our features) theatre (see our features).
Chapter three: the Styx years and beyond
The Styx years (see our second-acts feature): the call (see our features) from (see our features) the American (see our features) arena band (see our features) — the decades (see our features) behind (see our features) the American keys (see our features), the Canadian catalog (see our features) patiently (see our features) waiting (see our features). The (see our features) Strange Animal (see our features) still (see our features) prowls (see our features) the (see our features) nostalgia (see our features) circuit (see our reunion feature). The (see our features) Criminal Mind (see our features) still (see our features) justifies (see our features) itself (see our features).
Frequently asked questions
What is Gowan’s best album?
Strange Animal (1985) — the multi-platinum art-rock theatrics peak.
Did Gowan join Styx?
Yes — decades behind the American band’s keyboards, alongside his Canadian catalog.
What made Gowan unique?
Piano virtuosity, concept-album ambition, and stage drama — art-rock theatrics at pop scale.