JY-Erie Pennsylvania

[sadie65]

http://www.goerie.com/

The Thrilla at the Tullia
Styx and REO were rivals back in the day. 'Now it's like Ali walking with Joe Frazier,' says 'JY' Young of their touring together.


by Dave Richards
Staff writer

They've been called old dogs, dinosaurs, war horses, and worse. But on its next CD, Styx assumes a new role: walrus.

Singer-guitarist James "JY" Young said Styx will include its cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" — currently streaming on the band's Web site — on its next CD, "The Big Bang Theory."

In fact, the entire CD — due out May 10 — will feature covers. Styx also presents its versions of the Who's "I Can See for Miles," Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath," Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog," and Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home."

They also cover themselves. "Big Bang" began not by design but innocently when Styx recast "Blue Collar Man" in a swamp-blues mold with help from legendary blues vocalist Koko Taylor and Johnny Johnson, Chuck Berry's piano player.

As a nod to its hometown — and to help Willie Dixon's charity — Styx recorded the track in Chicago at 2120 Michigan Ave., the original home of Chess Records where Muddy Waters, the Rolling Stones, and major blues artists recorded.

"Because of us being there," said Young, "we got invited to play at Eric Clapton's Crossroads guitar festival in Dallas. And because we had just played in Dallas three weeks before — for our own concert — we decided when we went back to do the Clapton thing, which was a charity event, we had to change our set.

"I said, Why don't we do something completely different that no one else would think of doing at this guitar-slinging crossroads? Let's do 'I Am the Walrus.'"

He chose that partly because Styx keyboard player Lawrence Gowan, a major Beatles fan, had fooled around on "Walrus" in rehearsals. When Styx unleashed it in Dallas, the reaction was so positive that Styx later posted the song on its Web site. Then, radio stations in Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles began playing it.

"The whole thing spawned an idea on our record company's part to have Styx interpret a number of other songs that influenced us early in our career, or prior to our career," Young said.



WHEN THEY TEAM UP with REO Speedwagon on Friday at Tullio Arena, Styx will tease fans with a couple "Big Bang" cuts — "Walrus" and Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression." Young grew up on Chicago's South Side a major fan of the blues and Hendrix.

"I've always been sort of a heavy-rock guy, less of a pop guy," Young said. "I was into guitar heroes, and the blues — that was my narrow frame of reference, though I do have classical training to a small degree on piano and clarinet. But Hendrix was my biggest influence, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I liked what they did."

Young said Styx — partly as a joke — almost covered the Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You" for "Big Bang." After they reunited with Dennis DeYoung for 1999's "Brand New World" — the first Styx album with DeYoung, Young, and Tommy Shaw since 1983 — DeYoung declined to tour, saying he was too ill. The band tired of waiting for him and parted ways.

"I felt he should have made a little effort to get out, and do some work. He chose to do none, and we felt obligated to go on without him," Young said.

Young said a confluence of factors made it critical for Styx to hit the road then. Adam Sandler included Styx songs in "Big Daddy" and talked up the band. Volkswagen used "Mr. Roboto" in a commercial. PBS began airing a 1996 Styx reunion concert as a fund-raising special. "South Park" featured "Come Sail Away" in an episode. K-Tel released a Styx compilation.

Momentum for Styx was mounting, and the actual band might as well be involved, Young figured.

"We felt there was an opportunity that must be capitalized on," he said.

Some bands struggle when a familiar voice exits, but Styx had a couple advantages. Both Young and Shaw — one of the band's most popular members — also sang their fair share of Styx songs. Gowan also fit well with the protean Styx vocal blend.



IN 1999, STYX HIT THE ROAD HARD AND never stopped, winning back old fans and pleasing younger ones who knew them from classic-rock stations.

"We've done more shows in the last six years with this incarnation than we did in the previous 20 years," Young said.

One of their most successful tours was a 2000 trek with REO Speedwagon that resulted in a double live CD. They're back on the road together, co-headlining. Styx will close the Erie show. The bands — both from Illinois, both heavyweights — are on good terms.

"We were rivals for a time — particularly in 1981, when both bands were vying for No. 1 on the chart — us with 'Paradise Theater' and them with 'Hi Infidelity,'" Young said. "But now it's like Ali walking with Joe Frazier. Those guys achieved a unique vantage point in the world that few others get to see — being heavyweight champion of the world."

REO and Styx were former chart heavyweights.

"To have a No. 1 album on the Billboard is a unique accomplishment," Young said. "I think we've recognized when these two bands play together, it's like one, and one makes three or four or five, in terms of size of audience we can draw. It makes for a great night."

Sure does: Two walruses for the price of one — goo goo g'joob.

[froy]

http://www.goerie.com/

The Thrilla at the Tullia
Styx and REO were rivals back in the day. 'Now it's like Ali walking with Joe Frazier,' says 'JY' Young of their touring together.


by Dave Richards
Staff writer

They've been called old dogs, dinosaurs, war horses, and worse. But on its next CD, Styx assumes a new role: walrus.

Singer-guitarist James "JY" Young said Styx will include its cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" — currently streaming on the band's Web site — on its next CD, "The Big Bang Theory."

In fact, the entire CD — due out May 10 — will feature covers. Styx also presents its versions of the Who's "I Can See for Miles," Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath," Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog," and Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home."

They also cover themselves. "Big Bang" began not by design but innocently when Styx recast "Blue Collar Man" in a swamp-blues mold with help from legendary blues vocalist Koko Taylor and Johnny Johnson, Chuck Berry's piano player.

As a nod to its hometown — and to help Willie Dixon's charity — Styx recorded the track in Chicago at 2120 Michigan Ave., the original home of Chess Records where Muddy Waters, the Rolling Stones, and major blues artists recorded.

"Because of us being there," said Young, "we got invited to play at Eric Clapton's Crossroads guitar festival in Dallas. And because we had just played in Dallas three weeks before — for our own concert — we decided when we went back to do the Clapton thing, which was a charity event, we had to change our set.

"I said, Why don't we do something completely different that no one else would think of doing at this guitar-slinging crossroads? Let's do 'I Am the Walrus.'"

He chose that partly because Styx keyboard player Lawrence Gowan, a major Beatles fan, had fooled around on "Walrus" in rehearsals. When Styx unleashed it in Dallas, the reaction was so positive that Styx later posted the song on its Web site. Then, radio stations in Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles began playing it.

"The whole thing spawned an idea on our record company's part to have Styx interpret a number of other songs that influenced us early in our career, or prior to our career," Young said.



WHEN THEY TEAM UP with REO Speedwagon on Friday at Tullio Arena, Styx will tease fans with a couple "Big Bang" cuts — "Walrus" and Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression." Young grew up on Chicago's South Side a major fan of the blues and Hendrix.

"I've always been sort of a heavy-rock guy, less of a pop guy," Young said. "I was into guitar heroes, and the blues — that was my narrow frame of reference, though I do have classical training to a small degree on piano and clarinet. But Hendrix was my biggest influence, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I liked what they did."

Young said Styx — partly as a joke — almost covered the Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You" for "Big Bang." After they reunited with Dennis DeYoung for 1999's "Brand New World" — the first Styx album with DeYoung, Young, and Tommy Shaw since 1983 — DeYoung declined to tour, saying he was too ill. The band tired of waiting for him and parted ways.

"I felt he should have made a little effort to get out, and do some work. He chose to do none, and we felt obligated to go on without him," Young said.

Young said a confluence of factors made it critical for Styx to hit the road then. Adam Sandler included Styx songs in "Big Daddy" and talked up the band. Volkswagen used "Mr. Roboto" in a commercial. PBS began airing a 1996 Styx reunion concert as a fund-raising special. "South Park" featured "Come Sail Away" in an episode. K-Tel released a Styx compilation.

Momentum for Styx was mounting, and the actual band might as well be involved, Young figured.

"We felt there was an opportunity that must be capitalized on," he said.

Some bands struggle when a familiar voice exits, but Styx had a couple advantages. Both Young and Shaw — one of the band's most popular members — also sang their fair share of Styx songs. Gowan also fit well with the protean Styx vocal blend.



IN 1999, STYX HIT THE ROAD HARD AND never stopped, winning back old fans and pleasing younger ones who knew them from classic-rock stations.

"We've done more shows in the last six years with this incarnation than we did in the previous 20 years," Young said.

One of their most successful tours was a 2000 trek with REO Speedwagon that resulted in a double live CD. They're back on the road together, co-headlining. Styx will close the Erie show. The bands — both from Illinois, both heavyweights — are on good terms.

"We were rivals for a time — particularly in 1981, when both bands were vying for No. 1 on the chart — us with 'Paradise Theater' and them with 'Hi Infidelity,'" Young said. "But now it's like Ali walking with Joe Frazier. Those guys achieved a unique vantage point in the world that few others get to see — being heavyweight champion of the world."

REO and Styx were former chart heavyweights.

"To have a No. 1 album on the Billboard is a unique accomplishment," Young said. "I think we've recognized when these two bands play together, it's like one, and one makes three or four or five, in terms of size of audience we can draw. It makes for a great night."

Sure does: Two walruses for the price of one — goo goo g'joob.

No intrest

[Adam]

You know, for someone who criticizes my use of ADAM: bla blah this and FROY: bla blah that…you sure take up lots of space copying an article you have no supposed interest (or however you insist on misspelling it) in.

JY probably SHOULD give it a break, by the way. But he’s out there promoting the product, and there’s no doubt that one of the topics he’s often in the uncomfortable position to address is “Whatever happened to that Dennis guy?”, so he answers the way he does – which, by the way, reveals resentments most likely pent up over a long relationship.

Nevertheless Froy, you just reprinted the very article, reiterating the same anti-Dennis slamming. Did you mean to do this? Do you carry same deep seated anti-Dennis resentments of your own?

[ek88]

Good point and well said, Adam. By the way, froy, why bother even looking at a topic titled "JY - Erie, Pennsylvania" if you truly have no interest in the new lineup? Puzzling.

[froy]

Adam said
You know, for someone who criticizes my use of ADAM: bla blah this and FROY: bla blah that…you sure take up lots of space copying an article you have no supposed interest (or however you insist on misspelling it) in.

Froy said
Im spelling it the way I want you to hear it


Adam said
JY probably SHOULD give it a break, by the way.

Froy said
No shit


Adam blabbed
But he’s out there promoting the product, and there’s no doubt that one of the topics he’s often in the uncomfortable position to address is “Whatever happened to that Dennis guy?”

Froy said
Im sure everywhere he goes he's asked that question
Nobody cares about JY they want to know where the hell Dennis is.


Adam said
so he answers the way he does – which, by the way, reveals resentments most likely pent up over a long relationship.

Froy said
Or he;s a big baby

[Adam]

Adam: so he answers the way he does – which, by the way, reveals resentments most likely pent up over a long relationship.

Froy: Or he;s a big baby

Adam: Right. So, if we agree that public whining and/or taking shots motivated by resentments from the past is dumb behavior that should be terminated, THEN WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE TO GO ON POSTING, FROY?

[froy]

Adam said
So, if we agree that public whining and/or taking shots motivated by resentments from the past is dumb behavior that should be terminated, THEN WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE TO GO ON POSTING, FROY?[/quote]

Froy said
Im excluded from that catagory
So I can continue

[Adam]

Like all else you purvey, special treatment for you and those who you choose to deem impervious.

One of the many things I'd categorize such behavior as, Sadie, is elitism.

[sadie65]

Like all else you purvey, special treatment for you and those who you choose to deem impervious.

One of the many things I'd categorize such behavior as, Sadie, is elitism.

And I would agree. However I would not categorize all "DeYoungians" as elitist, which is what you did. I would sincerely hope that by now, you would recognize that the overwhelming majority of "DeYoungians" who frequent this board do not make such arrogant statements as that listed above.

Peace

[Adam]

sadie: I would sincerely hope that by now, you would recognize that the overwhelming majority of "DeYoungians" who frequent this board do not make such arrogant statements as that listed above.

Adam: Point taken. Okay, you've twisted my arm and I must agree. I suppose I am still prejudiced by the storm of close-minded venom from 5 or so years ago, which is still represented true to form by you know who (begins with an "F", rhymes with "Annoy")

I'll try not to lump you DeYoungians together (hard for me). Just give Floy a sloppy kiss for me at the Frogfest or whatever the heck it's called.

[Abitaman]

One of the best concerts I have been to was Styx, Reo, and Survivor in New Orleans in 99-ERIC

[ek88]

Abitaman:

One of my best was Billy Squier, Bad Company, and Styx in 2002. All three setlists were outstanding. (Borrowed Time, Lights, A Criminal Mind, Love Is The Ritual, and Sing For The Day all made an appearance).

[froy]

One of the best concerts I have been to was Styx, Reo, and Survivor in New Orleans in 99-ERIC

\

Best Concert I have been to was Paul McCartney at Soldiers Field
or The Who at Alpine Valley 3 nights in a row
Or John Fogerty at The Chicago theater a few months ago

[Abitaman]

If I had to name the best show ever, it would be Rush "Roll The Bones Tour", back in 93 I believe. Simply awesome, just blew me away.-ERIC

[froy]

If I had to name the best show ever, it would be Rush "Roll The Bones Tour", back in 93 I believe. Simply awesome, just blew me away.-ERIC

I have only seen Rush 1 time next tour I will go
They smoke ,