DDY Review/Short Interview

[sadie65]

http://www.courant.com/entertainment/mu ... 7255.story

DENNIS DeYOUNG
One Hundred Years From Now
Rounder


If a full-on Styx reunion ends up a real hell-freezes-over event, then the latest solo album from founding front man Dennis DeYoung might be as close as we get. After achieving massive success north of the border the past two years, the disc has finally gotten an American release, returning DeYoung to the heartland with a sound reminiscent of Styx's late-'70s and early-'80s platinum AOR.

That re-creation demands the familiar, glossy blend of guitars and proggy synths, as well as DeYoung reigning in the theatrical streak he recently indulged by adapting "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." But most remarkable is that the piercing tenor which sent hits like "Come Sail Away" and "The Best of Times" into the stratosphere still effortlessly scales the same heights.

Luckily, DeYoung applies it to winning solo material, including the ballads "Save Me" and "There Was A Time," which summon Styx's majestic mix of pop and pomp for a new generation. There are the usual missteps of the geriatric rocker -- the bluesy-but-moldy trip-hop "I Don't Believe In Anything" -- but for the many raised on Styx, "One Hundred Years From Now" likely can't come soon enough.

Essential download: "There Was A Time"

-- Dan LeRoy





http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles ... o_the_man/

A few years back Dennis DeYoung had it all: a band, Styx, capable of selling out arenas; a voice made famous by such AOR classics as "Babe"; and, of course, that hair. It's been a decade since DeYoung was replaced by the band. But he continues to record. Rounder Records is now releasing "One Hundred Years From Now," a solo album that came out in Canada in 2007.

Q. This is an old album, right?

A. I started recording this after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It was quite a blow tous.

Q. Why are you so big in Canada?

A. Platform shoes. I still wear them up there.If I could answer that question, I'd be that big everywhere.

Q. This record sounds like Dennis DeYoung.You had strayed from that in recent years.

A. It's done purposely that way. When I wentout and started making solo records, I wasdetermined not to, I guess, put my name on an album that sounded like Styx. I wanted to carve my own niche, so quite frankly I went in adifferent direction. I can't not sound like myself when I'm singing, but at least the kinds of songs I went to were purposely not to sound like Iwas just doing the band with my name. Jumpto now. I get a memo I'm no longer in theband.

Q. Look, tell me you and Styx are never going to play together again?

A. I don't have any idea about that. It's been their decision that I'm not in the band so that really is something that's out of my control.

Q. Isn't it like Journey without Steve Perry? Come on.

A. I think it's more like the Partridge Family without Danny Bonaduce.

Q. "Kilroy Was Here." Can you do it legally?

A. I can do anything onstage. Here's the misconception: You could record an album called "The Best of Styx." And all you would have to do is pay the individual songwriters a mechanical royalty.

Q. So here's my idea. Do "Kilroy." Just cut out Styx. Bring in Steve Perry. Robert Plant doesn't want to tour with Zeppelin. Cast him.

A. I'm going to cut you in for 10 percent on the back end. You put it together. I'm not charging you for coffee, doughnuts, nothing. I could see right now, Plant as Roboto. Who saw that coming? Alison Krauss can be Dr. Righteous. What do I care? Here's what I'll do for Alison. I'll come up with a female role. Kilroy had a girlfriend. And she's Alison Krauss.

Q. It could work. They're also on Rounder.

A. You've got 10 percent of the back end on my share.

[stmonkeys]

lmao @ robert plant as robotto. i'd pay to see that. come on dennis! get busy!

[LtVanish]

OMG, I just got off the floor from laughing over that Robert Plant Roboto comment, that was great.

[lights1961]

just read this... way too hilarious... the allison Krause and Robert Plant bit... priceless...