Back in 1996, Todd Sucherman began his journey with classic rock legends Styx. Twenty-nine years later, he is still manning the kit, as Styx is continuing to tour and record new albums. He is also the touring drummer for Styx’ keyboardist and vocalist, Lawrence Gowan on his upcoming solo tour in Canada.
FULL INTERVIEW
Sucherman joined Let’s Rock for a chat about the upcoming Gowan tour, but began by discussing his recent missed Styx show in Grand Ronde, Oregon on March 7, 2025.
“It was kind of a scary event,” he explained. “I’ve never had to be hospitalized or go to the hospital for anything, certainly emergency room style situation, but I guess the food poisoning was so bad that the paramedics were called and I passed out. My heart rate dipped down to 30 and they rushed me to the hospital, where they found nothing wrong with me. But it was clear that I was probably not in the condition to play rock and roll drums that evening.”
Luckily, the band’s production manager, Jeff Heintz, was able to fill in for him.
“In his other life, he (Heintz) went to Berkeley College of Music, where I did, and studied drums and studied music. So, even though his occupation took a different turn, he’s watched the show from stage right for almost 20 years and he he leapt in to to save the evening and did an incredible job from all reports.”
Thankfully, all is well in Sucherland, and Todd is feeling better, as he prepares for his tour with Lawrence.As a long time drummer for one of the longest lasting classic rock bands out there, it is sometimes easy to forget that Sucherman also plied his trade with perhaps the greatest, and loudest, bands of all time…The mighty Spinal Tap. He appeared with the legends on the Tonight Show in 2000, but was not, for some reason, invited to participate in the upcoming movie.
“CJ Vanston, the musical director, is a dear friend of mine and he called me early on and said, “Look, there’s a whole storyline with a female drummer, so….sorry.”
Spinal Tap is well known for having drummers die on them, either by choking on vomit, dying in bizarre gardening accidents or exploding. Asked if he was also killed off, he replied:
“They didn’t kill me off, they just let me go. I’m curious as much as everyone to see what they’re going to do, cuz you know it’s going to be great. It’s going to be hilarious. It’s going to be done to a tee and I I can’t wait, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed that they didn’t at least have me be one of the mimes or a waiter in a scene.”
Let’s Rock is a Canadian website, and since Lawrence Gowan is a born and raised Canuck, (Well, kind of. Gowan was born in Scotland but emigrated to Toronto at a young age) and Styx plays many shows each year in the Great White North, Canada is always a topic of conversation. When the topic of fan reaction arose, and whether crowds in Canada responded differently due to the inclusion of Lawrence, and now his brother, Terry, Sucherman had this to say:
“When I say no, I don’t mean thatto be disparaging towards my dear friend Lawrence at all. The crowds are always happy and excited and very animated, so it’s just a continuation of the the general excitement of the music fans that come to see the band and come to it and enjoy the show. So it’s it’s always been just that, and it continues to be, which is a great thing.”
And did Lawrence introduce the band to any Canadian customs or traditions when he joined the band?
“Let me hit the most obvious one. I had never been charmed by hockey before. I was baseball, football, basketball and it wasn’t until I was in the band with a Canadian that I got to ask him questions because he’d be standing up, all excited, looking at the TV. You know, I’m just seeing guys skate around. I mean, what’s icing? Let’s start with that, right? He was able to explain things and then he said watch this guy. This guy is going to move over here and so he was able to teach me some of the ins and outs of the game, and one of the things I’m most grateful for that he taught me was to deeply appreciate, on a pretty serious emotional level, the hoisting of the (Stanley) Cup for the winning teams. He would say to me, “Every one of those guys has practiced that a million times, in their driveway and in their bedrooms, when they are six and seven years old. Many of these guys are feeling what it weighs for the first time. And now I find myself getting emotional whenever I see that ceremony. It might be the greatest ceremony in all of sports. I’ll leave you with with that spectacular Canadian tradition.”
Moving back to Styx, and the rumours of a new album coming out this year, Todd confirmed the rumours but could not reveal the exact release date for the record. He did however, speak of how proud he is with the recent creative output of the band, starting with the release of 2017’s The Mission, continuing with 2021’s Crash of the Crown, and now, 2025(?)’s new album:
“It’s recorded. It’s mixed. I can only assume it’ll be out before the summer tour and that’s all I can really say at this point. But yeah, we’re really excited about it. And for me personally, I’m really proud that, I can’t think of another band this late in their career that has put out three records like we have. The Mission in 2017, Crash of the Crown in 21 and here now, that are this good. This good of songwriting. This good of melodies, this good of lyrics. I’m really, really proud of the work that we did and and excited to get the music in the hands of those who care to add it to the soundtrack of their lives.”
And where did this newfound creative spark come from?
“Well, you know, I’ve got to say a big part of the impetus for that was was working with Will Evankovich, who’s been a band member for several years now. I’ll always be a little angry at him that I’m no longer the youngest man in the band, but what he does is, he brings this youthful drive, and is able to inspire some of the other guys in the band, “yeah let’s work on that. That’s a cool idea! What are you playing over there? What if I did this?” He’ll start playing something, and someone else will start playing an idea… Instead of having this doom and gloom, “well, what’s a record? what’s the record business? Who even is going to care, or buy it?” At a certain point, you know, we’re put on this Earth to be musicians and and if you are able to create, create. It’s very easy to go, “Ah, what is this for?” and then you have a a guy like Will, who says, “no, no, no, let’s work on this idea.” and then all of a sudden, you’ve got a bunch of ideas. “Wait a second, could have the beginnings of the embryonic stages of a record here?” And then that gets exciting, just that, in and of itself. So it’s nice to have that youthful energy to push forward.”
Beginning on April 16th in Guelph, Ontario, Gowan will be hitting the road to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his Strange Animal album, a Canadian classic, which contains A Criminal Mind, a song that Styx also performs live. Since Styx just recently finished their own tour, does the Gowan band have a chance to rehearse before the tour?
“No, we have no rehearsal. I have the pieces of music and, it’s funny, I’ve been listening to it the last couple of days, and although I never tell myself, “oh this is going to be easy,” I always review and I’m always wildly prepared. But I’m listening to it, and ” yep got it, got it.” I see everything around every corner, so it’s fun to do. I’ve played this music in how I don’t know how many shows with Lawrence. 40?! Maybe. That’s a lot of shows. Once I learn everything, I’m kind of like an elephant, I know it forever. So I’m excited to play with the guys again and to help us celebrate this amazing music.”
And finally, with Styx, Lawrence is a band member. With Gowan, Lawrence is the main attraction. Is there a difference between Styx Lawrence and Gowan Lawrence?
“Well, he’s the boss for his his own show where as he’s my bandmate in Styx, So I’ll razz him a little bit. He’ll have his star dressing room and I’ll be down with the other guys and you know, “yes, boss” and just kind of wink at him. But, look that is the dynamic. It’s his show. He had all these hit records and when you’re a drummer, you’re generally a side man in the service industry, right? Even in Styx, I don’t call the shots. I might have an opinion. I might raise my hand and have a suggestion, but I don’t have executive say there. But at Lawrence’s show, that’s where he has executive say, so I respect that.”
You can listen to the full interview at the top of this page for these quotes and much more.
You can catch the Gowan tour, with Todd Sucherman, in the following Canadian cities.
| April 16, 2025 | Guelph, Ontario, Canada | River Run Centre | Tickets |
| April 17, 2025 | St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada | FirstOntarioPAC Partridge Hall | Tickets |
| April 18, 2025 | Huntsville, Ontario, Canada | Algonquin Theatre | Tickets |
| April 19, 2025 | Belleville, Ontario, Canada | Empire Theatre | Tickets |
| April 20, 2025 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Bronson Centre Theatre | Tickets |
| April 21, 2025 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Bronson Centre Theatre | Tickets |
| May 13, 2025 | Meaford, Ontario, Canada | Meaford Hall | Tickets |
| May 14, 2025 | Oakville, Ontario, Canada | Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts | Tickets |
| May 15, 2025 | Oshawa, Ontario, Canada | Regent Theatre | Tickets |
| May 16, 2025 | Brantford, Ontario, Canada | Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts | Tickets |
| May 17, 2025 | Milton, Ontario, Canada | FirstOntario Arts Centre – Mattamy Theatre | Tickets |
| May 18, 2025 | Oshawa, Ontario, Canada | Regent Theatre |
Todd Sucherman
Official site: https://www.toddsucherman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toddsuchermanmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddsucherman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnbQuKWTjiK2HnUk4bKgofQ
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