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Styx plots tours with Kansas, REO Speedwagon

Fresh off of its pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXVII, Styx tours the U.S. with Kansas and John Waite , followed by a round of dates with REO Speedwagon .

Styx's current run with Kansas and Waite precedes the Feb. 18 release of the group's new album, "Cyclorama." The album's first single, "Waiting for Our Time," is available as an MP3 download at Styx's official website, as are album tracks "One With Everything" and "These are the Times."

Special guests appearing on "Cyclorama" include Tenacious D, Brian Wilson, Billy Bob Thornton, Waite and Jude Cole, according to Sanctuary Records.

Kansas is supporting last October's "Device Voice Drum," a two-disc live set that was recorded last June in Atlanta. A DVD version of the release is also available, which features archive footage, interviews with the band and behind-the-scenes footage that the band filmed with hand-held cameras, according to Kansas' official website.

REO Speedwagon's most-recent release is 2001's "Live: Plus." That same year, Styx and REO Speedwagon--who have toured together frequently in recent years--co-released the live set "Arch Allies."

Founding member Kevin Cronin, in a recent message posted at REO Speedwagon's official website, said that he and the band's other members got together earlier this month to begin rehearsals and make some changes to its stage show.

"Along with working up some new arrangements, and dusting off some songs that we plan on adding to our set this year, there was a lot of busy work to be done," Cronin said. "Making decisions on this year's production, (we are upgrading our lighting rig in a big way), getting all of the tech stuff up to speed, new wardrobe, etc. All to bring you guys the best possible show for the upcoming 2003 tour."

Waite--who is not scheduled to appear on the bill during Styx's co-headlining dates with REO Speedwagon, but will open during Styx's string of dates with Kansas--released "Figure in a Landscape" in 2001.