Styx paid tribute to Prince and David Bowie with their tour kick of show in Pensacola, Florida last night.

Keyboardist/singer Lawrence Gowan played the Prince tune "1999" and the Bowie tune "Changes."

Styx are currently on tour with Def Leppard, and later will be joined by Tesla, before eventually embarking on a solo trek with appearances from .38 Special and Don Felder.

Styx's Tommy Shaw says that the previous tour with Def Lep have been a hit with members of both groups.

"From day one when we met them, they put our minds at ease and their dressing room doors were always open.

They were in our dressing rooms and it was just a very funny, happy place, but very professionally run.

Then there was the music, good God, they are so f-king good!"