Name
The name "Pyx Lax" (Greek: Πυξ Λαξ) derives from ancient Greek, meaning " Punching and Kicking", and was inspired by the title of a theatrical play which was taking place in Athens at the period in which the band was formed in 1989.History
Band formation: early years (1989–1992)
Initially the members of the band were Filippos Pliatsikas, Babis Stokas, Sakis Stamoulis, and Panayiotis Spyropoulos. Their professional recording career began with a demo cassette which they delivered to''It was the beginning of the summer of 1989. We were gathered in the office of the producer Secundus Buchayer and his then secretary Maria Parousi, when the group that later became Pyx Lax appeared.... The three who came were Bambis, Sakis "Kounoupis" (Stamoulis his surname) and Panayiotis Spyropoulos. Filippos was absent. I accepted the emocassette, and having greeted us politely, they left. Morning coffee was an opportunity for us to listen to it and I went to Manos and Secundus... I was working in Foreign Repertoire, Maria didn’t listen to Greek music, so superior criticism and nitpicking were a given... But it didn’t happen like that. We liked it; and I always remember from that first cassette an early performance of "Γιατί" Why" which much later appeared on their third album. Naturally Manos liked the cassette even more!''Marketing Director of
First success – establishment in Greek musical industry (1993–1997)
It was their third album, 1993's '' O Ilios tou Chimona me Melancholi'' (The Winter Sun Makes Me Melancholic) which firmly established their reputation in Greece. It included their first big hit, ''Asti Na Lei'', a song written by Manos Xydous which was performed on the album by the popular singer''In 1994 we released the record "Gia tous Prinkipes tis Dytikis Ochthis" dedicated to the people of western Athens, where we lived—people who laboured and were wage earners, and whom we saw as princes because they returned to their homesIn 1996, the band's first platinum album followed: ''O Baboulas Tragoudai Monos tis Nychtes'' (The Boogeyman Sings Alone at Nights), including the hits ''I Palies Agapes Pane Ston Paradiso'' and ''Na Me Thymithis''. In 1997, Pyx Lax released a live album, ''Zontani Ichografisi stin Iera Odo'' (Live Recording at the Sacred Way) and a cd-single, "Nychterinos Peripatos stin Iera Odo" (Evening Stroll on the Sacred Way) in collaboration with one of Greece's long established top singers George Dalaras. Both records were certified platinum sales. The same year the band released another live album, ''Pixe Paliatso ta Tragoudia Sou Telionoun'', including live recordings from its performances during the period 1991–1997.rom work Rom, or ROM may refer to: Biomechanics and medicine * Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient * Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac * ...and had the heart to smile. They kept up their friendships and were civil to one another. That’s how we got stuck with the title "princes of the west bank".''
Final period: Commercial and critical achievements (1998–2003)
Their biggest selling record was the album ''Stilvi'' (Shine, 1998), made up mostly of music and songs from the film by Dimitris Panagiotatos ''Monaxia Mou Ola'' (My Loneliness Everything, 1998). It includes a fine version in Greek of Bob Dylan's "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)" from his album Street-Legal, as long as the big hits: ''Monaxia Mou Ola'', ''Epapses Agapi Na Thymizis'' and ''Mia Synousia Mystiki''. ''Stilvi'' was followed in 1999 by another commercially successful release: the double album ''Yparchoun Chrysopsara Edo?'' (Are There Any Goldfish Here?), which over passed 80,000 sales and received triple platinum certification. Half of the album included new songs and the other half live recordings. In 2002, the first year of the ''Arion Music Awards'', Pyx Lax won the best ''Rock/Alternative'' Album award for ''Ta Dokaria sto Grasidi Perimenoun ta Pedia'' (The Climbing Frames on the Grass Are Waiting For the Children, 2001). The album also earned Pyx Lax the award for best group in the ''Entechno'' category. The album was a notable critical and commercial success, although rumors before its release were pointing out the dissolve of the band. It achieved platinum status and included hits like ''Pyxida'' and ''Mono Gia Kini Mi Mou Les''. The last studio album of Pyx Lax, ''Charoumeni Stin Poli Ton Trelon'' (Happy in the City of Fools, 2003) included important collaborations with worldwide famous artists, new songs, as long as the adaptation of some of the band's biggest hits in English. In spite of the important names and the experimental sound, their last album was poorly received by fans and critics. Despite that fact, in 2004 the album earned the band another double awarding in the ''Arion Awards'' for the Best Album in both ''Rock/Alternative'' and ''Entechno'' categories.Collaborations
During their career, Pyx lax have collaborated with many Greek singers and musicians such as George Dalaras, Haris Alexiou, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Katsimihas Brothers, Lavrentis Machairitsas, Miltiadis Paschalidis,Dissolution of the band, reunification and concerts
In 2004, the band announced in a television interview that it would be dissolved after two goodbye concerts. The concerts were scheduled for 18 September in Athens and 20 September in Thessaloniki. Tickets for the Athens concert were sold out within a few hours, and a second concert was arranged for 19 September. Their final album, called simply ''Telos – Live Sto Likavitto'' (End – Live at Lycabetus) is a recording of the first goodbye concert in Lykavittos, Athens. In 2010, Manos Xydous died at the age of 57. Before his death the members of Pyx Lax were in talks of a reunification for concerts during 2011. The reunification finally took place without Manos with a big tour around Greece. The most significant moment was the massive concert of the 13 July 2011 at the Athens Olympic Stadium, with a crowd of more than 75,000 spectators. The tour continued with many more concerts around Greece. In 2012, Pyx Lax went on their farewell North American Tour, with the 1st show of the tour selling out at New York City's Terminal 5 along with Brooklyn,New York Space Rock band Roy Orbit featuring Fotis Louzakos on vocals Arthur Montauk on drums and Stathis Karathanasis on bass.Tours
Pyx Lax: 30 Years Tour (2018)Legacy
In their time, Pyx Lax were considered to be one of the most popular bands in Greece. Sotiria Malfa, a Greek critic wrote that "''The stamp of Pyx Lax on Greek music of the end of the 90s and the beginning of the 00s is something more than profound.''" Another critic, Pavlos Zervas, wrote that the demise of Pyx Lax "''...leaves the Greek music scene significantly poorer, since it is losing a band which granted us unique, unbelievable moments, and which retained for all these years a character all its own—a character which was tending to become a "school" followed by many artists and groups. It is not chance that after the appearance of Pyx Lax, phrases like "Clone Pyx Lax" were used to characterise other groups and their music.''" The band has been recognized for both their longevity and the number of records they sold, as well as "''the unique feeling which was created between Pyx Lax and their beloved public.''"Discography
Albums
CD singles
Compilations and other
References
External links