When did you become a Styx fan?

[bugsymalone]

but can someone please explain to me how "the way he became no longer a member of Styx" has anything to do with your decision. Are you telling me that if he left willingly and gave Tommy, JY and Chuck his blessing that it would still be Styx to you?

The way all of this came about has an enormous influence on my thinking in the whole matter. I can ONLY speak for myself. No one else.

If Dennis had left willingly, there would have been a completely different denoument to all of this. A lot of the bitterness and nastiness would not have been there. No lawsuit. I am of the belief that different song choices might have been made for the first album out by the New Styx.

Would I have been more open minded about listening to them? Maybe. Would I have LIKED the new lineup? One without Dennis? Probably not. I don't like how they sound without him. That would not have changed.

I do not "own" Cyclorama as such, but have heard it enough to know it is a competent album. No more. No less. I find the enthusiasm for it very overstated. MY OPINION.

Too many "what ifs" to even ponder had things gone down differently in 1999.

Lastly. If ALL the factors had remained as they are now, but the group had made a name change to reflect they were not the same Styx as before, I might also have been less antagonistic towards this group.

The ugliness of it all created "divisions" and "sides" and that is going on right as I type this.

Bugsy

[Guest]

This whole thing just baffles me. How can anyone say that Dennis is Styx. If that were the case there would be no need for any other members. Dennis was part of Styx.

Dennis DeYoung was the signature sound of Styx... he was an original member... wrote their first hit... wrote most of their hits... produced their albums. Dennis was a key ingredient. Not the only ingredient but a key one.

Certain guys are replaceable in bands... certain guys are not... John Lennon and Paul McCartney wouldn't have been replaceable in The Beatles... Ringo Starr could have been replaced. No it wouldn't have been exactly the same without Mr. Starkey but they wouldn't be attempting to replace their primary creative forces either. That's what Styx has done with Dennis.




As much as it makes us all feel good to say that every member has equal importance, that's not the truth. Chuck and John didn't write songs so they weren't as important. That's just the way it is.

Styx is still alive and well without him and to me they are just as good now as they were in the 70s and better now then they were in the 90s.

Puhleeze... just as good now as in the 70s? With one average at best album under their belts... umpteen live albums and compilations and now a covers album? C'mon at least acknowledge reality when making an argument. The not opinion, that's idiocy.

Of course as always that is my own opinion. It’s too bad that some of you can’t enjoy the new Styx CD’s they really are good and sound more like Styx then anything that was recorded by Styx in the 90’s.

Nothing without Dennis is more Styx-like than something with Dennis. That's impossible. A good forgery is still a forgery.

do any of the people on this board who are anti current Styx own a copy of Cyclorama?

Didn't buy it, but I've heard it.

I own every CD that Dennis has put out including his newest live CD and will buy whatever he puts out next. I do like a lot of the live CD but I'm not crazy about the 3 new songs on the CD but I will keep an open mind when listening to his next CD if and when it ever comes out.

I like the new songs on Dennis CD. They give me hope that he's interested in putting his heart and soul into writing a great album. That's one way to shut up the naysayers and prove to everyone how important a member Dennis was to Styx.

I have no doubt at all that if Dennis really really wanted to he could put out an album that would make Cyclorama look silly.

[ek88]

I have no doubt at all that if Dennis really really wanted to he could put out an album that would make Cyclorama look silly.

Well, apparently he hasn't really wanted to do this since Paradise Theatre, because nothing he's written since then stands out like when he wrote stuff that actually had the "signature" Styx sound.

[Guest]

There are great songs on KWH. Dennis definitely has the strongest material on that album.

Dennis' voice is the "signature sound". It's on EOTC but not in abundance.

If you ask me it's Tommy that didn't show up on KWH for the most part...

I'm not sure why Dennis hasn't really gotten it together during his solo career... I think he wanted to do something different from Styx and "mature" a bit for one reason or another.

I think maybe he realizes that that is not where his oates are sown and it's time to get back to doing what he does best... writing great pop songs. Let's all hope anyhow... the guy definitely was the most talented songwriter in Styx.

[ChicagoSTYX]

[quote="ItsMyLife"]I think Dennis has the strongest material on "Kilroy Was Here".

Does Tommy even have a good song on that album?

Yea, Tommy was too busy snorting the white stuff around that time and then bailing on the band after the tour.[/quote]

Tommy has said he was told he had to write songs about robots for that album. I don't think he or anyone else in the band was too happy about it. I think that is the weakest of all the A&M albums.

[Guest]

Tommy has said he was told he had to write songs about robots for that album. I don't think he or anyone else in the band was too happy about it. I think that is the weakest of all the A&M albums.

I don't think it's as strong as Paradise but I still think it's a good album.

I think the one thing missing is a great Tommy rock song. "Haven't We Been Here Before" is a great tune though.

"Roboto" gets slagged but that's a tune I've always loved... and a classic.

"It's high time for us to start a revolution!"

[Guest]

Tommy has said he was told he had to write songs about robots for that album. I don't think he or anyone else in the band was too happy about it. I think that is the weakest of all the A&M albums.

Tommy has said a lot of things to make himself look better after the fact. I still remember seeing "Damn Yankees" and watching Tommy make fun of "Babe".

I was embarrassed for Tommy witnessing that.

[yogi]

Thats BIG of you to be embarrassed for Tommy. Speaking for Tommy I will say thank you. I will continue speaking on behalf of Tommy. ' It was a huge mistake on my part' I should of realized that when the Bad Company & Damn Yankee crowds that came to see us all booed and got up and left'. I know none of you who visit Melodicrock.com have ever done something that you regret. If you ever have made a mistake, I am now embarrassed for you too'.

All My Best,

T.S.

[styxfanNH]

I have no doubt at all that if Dennis really really wanted to he could put out an album that would make Cyclorama look silly.

Then what is he waiting for?

[Guest]

Then what is he waiting for?

I don't know... ask him.

[Guest]

I should of realized that when the Bad Company & Damn Yankee crowds that came to see us all booed and got up and left'. I know none of you who visit Melodicrock.com have ever done something they regret. If you ever have made a mistake, I am now embarrassed for you too'.

Yea, the same mistake night in and night out. That just speaks volumes about Tommy's character. Then him and J.Y. had no problem ripping Dennis in the "Behind The Music". Nice guy.

Where's Booboo?

[yogi]

They should not of been allowed to do that. Wheres the MMM when you need em. Have a nice day Tipper or should we call you Dr. Rightous??

Later in the day if you find yourself getting bored may I suggest a good book or CD burning party. Invite the neighbors!!!!!!

I feel embarrassed for you right now!!!!!!!

[Guest]

They should not of been allowed to do that. Wheres the MMM when you need em. Have a nice day Tipper or should we call you Dr. Rightous??

Later in the day if you find yourself getting bored may I suggest a good book or CD burning party. Invite the neighbors!!!!!!

I feel embarrassed for you right now!!!!!!!

Heavy Metal Poisoning.

[Zan]

They should not of been allowed to do that. Wheres the MMM when you need em. Have a nice day Tipper or should we call you Dr. Rightous??

Later in the day if you find yourself getting bored may I suggest a good book or CD burning party. Invite the neighbors!!!!!!

I feel embarrassed for you right now!!!!!!!

Heavy Metal Poisoning.

Yes, another gem spawned from the DeYoung concept contingency. Posioned by heavy metal! Addicted to rock 'n roll! We're going to adjust his thinking! We're going to twist his little pea-brained mind! Ha! ahahaha!

Down with rock 'n roll!!!!

Thank you for re-affirming my faith in the ability for people to think rationally, yogi.

[evileyes]

It was in the late 70's (early 80's?), I was a devout Country music fan, but finally caved to peer pressure. I started listening to the, heaven forbid, rock stations, who played these songs "Babe" and "Come Sail Away" by some group called "Branches" or "Twigs" or something like that. It took me a while to find out their name was Styx (NOT Sticks), but by that time I was hooked. Then came the Paradise Theater tour and I couldn't believe it, but they were coming to my town!!! I was so excited, then reality came crashing in, my PARENTS would NOT let me go! I was unhappy to say the least, but being a good girl, dealing with it. The final blow came when I found out my YOUNGER brother was going to go with friends from down the street! I was LIVID!!! Did it do me any good? Well, of course not! I was after all a young (teenage) girl, and everyone knows that a rock concert is no place for a young girl! He got to go see what would be the LAST concert "classic" Styx would perform in our town. Me? I got to go watch a local department store burn down. Some trade off! (Especially considering he grew up to be a fireman!)

Over the next several years, I bought most of the band's records (but only the "Best Of" from the Wooden Nickel releases). I soon discovered that, while I liked much of the music, I was really drawn to the songs sung by DeYoung. So much so that, when I found DeYoung was not performing with the band on the "Brave New World" tour due to illness, I opted not to go to the show. Even before news of the official split and lawsuit, I knew that, for me, it wouldn't be the same.

Then I heard more of the details of the split, followed by the lawsuit, and yes, I made a conscious decision not to support the remaining band members through concert & future release purchases. Yes, I was outraged at the way I perceived DeYoung had been mistreated by the other bandmembers. Had things not fallen out the way they did, I would have likely been at least a little supportive of them, after all there are a number of Tommy Shaw and James Young (back when he sang, not screamed) songs that I liked, but at the time I had no desire to see or hear them.

I have found my attitude toward them has mellowed somewhat. I still don't own Cyclorama, nor any of the Styx releases since BNW. I've not seen them in concert & therefore you won't see me commenting on how bad they sound. However, I did actually try to win tickets to their last tour through our town, so I guess some of you could say there's hope for me yet. I guess time is truly the healer of all ills.

Do I think "Dennis is Styx"? No, but by the same token, I don't think Styx is "Styx" without DeYoung. This is, of course, just this fan's opinion.

[bugsymalone]

Thanks for getting us back on the topic, EE. I loved your story and Darren's....everyone's.

We all come at our appreciation of Styx in many, many different ways.

Bugsy

[Guest]

Great story EE... it's good to hear you put the music ahead of Tommy's tushy.