Dennis in Midsouth News

[sadie65]

http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 30321/1024

Styx hits to fill TPAC
By CINDY WATTS
cwatts@dnj.com


According to Greek mythology, a trip across the river Styx is usually a one-way journey, but recording artist Dennis DeYoung managed to find his way back across and now has a successful solo career.

For more than four decades, DeYoung has been a singer, songwriter, keyboardist and founding member of the rock band Styx, named for the mythological river that encircles Hell, preventing people from escape.

DeYoung penned Styx's best-known hits, and after collecting four consecutive triple-platinum albums, members of Styx decided to replace DeYoung and continue the band without him.

Today, while DeYoung no longer performs with Styx, he still has the enormous catalog of music he penned for the group, and this weekend he plans to bring all those songs to Nashville.

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center will present Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Andrew Jackson Hall.

"It's a variety show, really," says DeYoung from his Chicago home during a recent telephone interview with The Daily News Journal. "It's a retrospective on the music I wrote with Styx. Some titles are 'Lady,' 'Babe,' 'Best of Times,' 'Show Me the Way,' stuff from my solo work. Need I go on?"

DeYoung's show also features Nashville's Mike Eldred, a full symphony, a rock band and a children's choir.

"This is twice the work of a regular show," says DeYoung of the production. "We have rehearsal all afternoon and sometimes we use children's choirs. That's a lot of people on stage. We rehearse with the orchestra 3 1/2 hours, then with the kids for an hour, and it's an undertaking, but it's so worthwhile for me and the audience. At its heart, it's still a rock show."

And rock shows are something with which DeYoung is familiar. The former Styx singer founded the band when he was 16 years old. That was in 1964, and he's been making music ever since. However, when asked what it was about the band that made the songs so timeless and infectious, DeYoung says he hasn't a clue.

"If I had known (the songs) were going to be so long-lived, I would have been impossible to live with," admits the singer/songwriter. "I'm the guy who wrote 'Grand Illusion,' 'Babe' and 'Mr. Roboto.' I just made it up as I went along. I just wanted to pick the best song and make the best record. I would be in the thick of something like I am this tour, then I would make a record. I try and think back and remember, but it's a blur. Some of them have interesting stories, but I can't remember most of them. I always say to the band, 'I write 'em, I don't remember 'em.' I just do what's instinctive and then tend to move on."

Today, more than 20 years later, DeYoung characterizes his current orchestra tour as "one little tip of the hat" to the theatrical side of Styx he fought so ardently to create and preserve.

"This is just an orchestra and me standing there singing," he explains. "But the theatrics in Styx was something that at that time was meant to join the elements of theater and rock, and I think we took it as far as anybody did when we did 'Kilroy.' I did it because I needed something to challenge me. I used to say I played Madison Square Garden five times, and I just don't want to go back there again. I was never happy doing something over and over.

"For me, it's not just about playing, but also about the creative process. At that time, it wasn't about innovation but regurgitation. We played the best songs we could, but to do it every night? The real thrill is at the end of the process when I know it's good. That's why I do it."

And DeYoung is still making musical strides. He stars in his own public-access television show, introducing Styx music to a whole new generation. In the beginning, he didn't think people would care, he admits. But now, he says he's happy to keep playing love songs for all those who want to listen.

"Over the last 10 years it seems people have gotten afraid to play ballads," says the singer. "I don't know why, but I think it's a shame. It seems singers in bands are uncomfortable singing them, but I know it can be done. I don't think what makes a great song has changed, rap aside. If I knew for sure, I could retire. I think it's like what they said about porn: you know it when you see it."

[bugsymalone]

Thanks for finding and posting that one, Sadie.

The only thing I will take Mr. DeYoung to task on is his statement that :

"Over the last 10 years it seems people have gotten afraid to play ballads," says the singer. "I don't know why, but I think it's a shame. It seems singers in bands are uncomfortable singing them, but I know it can be done"

There are a lot of ballad singers and ballad songs out there right now, some quite popular. I have seen music sort of trending back to some nice ballads. "When September Ends" by Green Day comes to mind, and the new Nickelback song, "Photograph" is pretty much a ballad, or power ballad. Very popular songs, both.

Bugsy