Dennis on VH1 Big 06' Award - December 3rd

[gr8dane]

Nice.
Is Jenna Jameson the lady who walked from New York to LA ,backwards.?
I think I read that somewhere.

mb she went from NY to LA bent over.

Jenna is a porn star.

PWOOOAR.
Is she going to 'perform'.

[Ash]

NEWS FLASH............. 99.9% of America doesn't know the name Dennis DeYoung

The name STYX is world wide!

and here we go again .....SHOW ME THE NUMBERS!!! DDY can play in Canada all he wants...in fact I think he should stay there since he is such a superstar over there! btw How's that Hunchback thing working out?

You keep telling yourself that. Dennis is the one on network television. Not DFB. How is THAT working out?

[brywool]

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Michael Bolton was on the same show. Is he hip? NO!
Randy Travis was on the same show. Is he hip? NO!
Barry Manilow was on American Idol, the NUMBER ONE show in America. Is he hip? NO.
Being on a show, especially a FOX show, means nothing unless you're on "24" or "House" or "Family Guy".
Being on the show means NOTHING as to how relevant these people are.

The ONLY singer on that show that was a true timeless entertainer was Smokey Fuckin' Robinson. PERIOD.

JESUS, Bruce Jenner was on that Fox show where they were dancing that was huge, so was Alphonso from The Fresh Prince. Are they hip? NO.
In your opinion, I guess they are. Not mine.

As far as Canada, that's totally cool. I'm glad for him. I'm not dogging him so much as just saying he should try to be a bit more hip. I actually DO think Styx is more in step than Dennis. You look at that band and they look cool onstage. You look at Dennis and it's a huge generation gap. He looks like Tony Bennet! I'm 44 years old and I think he totally looks out of step with the times. It'd be interesting to know how the Styx albums with Gowan are doing in Canada. I have no idea.

As far as quality being better, I never said that Dennis was untalented, nor Styx, nor Gowan. I'm saying that they're using him and "Mr. Roboto" (a stupid song!) in America as the kind of "corny old dude" that they used to roll out on Johnny Carson. He's becoming the Englebert Whatshisdink of our generation.

I'm not sure why you say Styx is nowhere, oh yeah, because you haven't gotten over that they replaced the guy in the band who didn't want to work. Get over it. They've toured through my area more times than with Dennis ever. They've played a ton of shows. They're everywhere. Dennis has done a handful of shows this year and all the sudden, people don't remember that he's been away since the 90s. Granted they're playing smaller venues. All classic rock bands are. Times change, so does the preferred music.

Cyclorama, though it didn't have any hits (what classic rock band does other than Aerosmith and even their last album didn't ) was leaps and bounds above Kilroy Was Here, Brave New World and Edge of the Century. That's 20 years of music that the current lineup blew away with their last original studio release.

I didn't hear them laughing at Dennis for the symphony thing, I must've missed that, though I can see JY doing it. He wasn't really happy with the new CYO deal either. Honestly, JY should shut the F up. Doesn't mean that his band sucks, means he's a loudmouth and he's making himself look stupid. So what? JY was never a favorite player of mine. Note to Styx- stop letting JY sing lead.

How is it that Styx was "Reduced" to doing a Symphony album?? I think that they should've released the recordings of the symphony show they did with Dennis. If they would've done that, you'd not have said "Reduced". You'd have pissed yourself saying how great it was. I don't think that's a step down for them at all. Metalica did it. The Moodys did it. Lots of bands have done it. They did ONE cover album. Many people have. Lennon did it. Mccartney did it (TWICE). Leppard did it. Aerosmith did it. Everyone does it. I'd rather have that than the friggin' "Hunchback" CD any day of the week. I bought that after everyone raved how great it was. There's maybe 2 good songs there and it sounds like it was made in his kitchen. By the way, I'd rather hear Gowan sing "I Don't Need No Doctor" or "Salty Dog" than ANYTHING on Hunchback.

As far as 'songs they don't play'- I heard them play a snippet of Roboto during "Edge of the Century", I heard them play "Lady", I heard them play "Come Sail Away". Thankfully, I have not heard them play "Babe" or "First Time" or "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" (the WORST Styx song since "Plexiglass Toilet" and "Mr. Roboto"). What songs are they using that you're not hearing live? Oh yeah, didn't they have a hit single with "I Am the Walrus" a few years back? What was Dennis' last hit? Might not've been their tune, but they did a great job of it (this coming from a monster Beatles fan). Rather than say "It's not Dennis, so I'm going to hate them forever and ever" why not be thankful that there are two teams from the same camp producing more music and doing more tours than they ever did and listen (or not) to both? I don't understand why so many people piss and moan about how "it's a Styx cover band cuz Dennis ain't there". Grow the hell up.

I think both camps are doing well. I'm just saying that Dennis needs to do another ROCK album and get in step a bit more. I cannot hear the keyboard based love songs that scream Babe, First Time, Paradise, etc. Hopefully, Glen will work with him on a solo album and kick him in the Ass a bit. Glen's the best thing to happen to Styx since the Grand Illusion. Too bad Styx messed up and didn't treat him as an equal.

Also, aren't you tired of Dennis AND Styx being mocked because they brought us "Mr. Roboto"? Styx was ALWAYS hated by the critics. I NEVER read a good review of them in the rock press. I was ALWAYS sticking up for them when people would slag them. Then 1983 happened and Mr. Roboto was released. I had no ammo to fight with. They proved all of their critics right with that song and that poorly produced album. It's the worst sounding Styx album next to BNW.

[Ash]

Also, aren't you tired of Dennis AND Styx being mocked because they brought us "Mr. Roboto"? Styx was ALWAYS hated by the critics. I NEVER read a good review of them in the rock press. I was ALWAYS sticking up for them when people would slag them. Then 1983 happened and Mr. Roboto was released. I had no ammo to fight with. They proved all of their critics right with that song and that poorly produced album. It's the worst sounding Styx album next to BNW.

Frankly - I couldn't give 2 shits less what a band is thought about by critics. The same people who hated Styx are the same ones who thought Milli Vanilli deserved a Grammy (and Vanilla Ice for that matter) not to mention thinking talentless hacks like Brittany Spears and Christine Aguilerra are anything more than stuffed shirts (if you get what I mean). Mr. Roboto may be all of those things - TO YOU - but they do not represent what everyone thinks or feels about a particular song.

You still have no answer as to why JY thought Kilroy Was Here was such an awful album, but his Out on a Day Pass, and also Tommy Shaw's "What If" record are what they left the band to make. Have you EVER asked yourself that? Likely not - because it's all in what you choose to look at.

I don't base my opinion on what critics or anyone else say. If I like music, then I like music. If I don't then I don't.

You can dislike it for any reason you like just like I can like it for any reason I like - but failing to realistically compare what was done by Styx togerhte versus what was done separately isn't being intellectually honest. Granted I've not heard you stick up for the musical beauty of "Out on a Day Pass".... but one would think being out from under the oppression of such a zealous dictator would have allowed for creativity to blossom - when in fact it just allowed JY to be what he would have been without Dennis - a talentless nobody - utterly forgettable.

[brywool]

Also, aren't you tired of Dennis AND Styx being mocked because they brought us "Mr. Roboto"? Styx was ALWAYS hated by the critics. I NEVER read a good review of them in the rock press. I was ALWAYS sticking up for them when people would slag them. Then 1983 happened and Mr. Roboto was released. I had no ammo to fight with. They proved all of their critics right with that song and that poorly produced album. It's the worst sounding Styx album next to BNW.

Frankly - I couldn't give 2 shits less what a band is thought about by critics. The same people who hated Styx are the same ones who thought Milli Vanilli deserved a Grammy (and Vanilla Ice for that matter) not to mention thinking talentless hacks like Brittany Spears and Christine Aguilerra are anything more than stuffed shirts (if you get what I mean). Mr. Roboto may be all of those things - TO YOU - but they do not represent what everyone thinks or feels about a particular song.

You still have no answer as to why JY thought Kilroy Was Here was such a fucking awful album, but his Out on a Day Pass, and also Tommy Shaw's "What If" record are what they left the band to make. Have you EVER asked yourself that? Likely not - because it's all in what you choose to look at.

I don't base my opinion on what critics or anyone else say. If I like music, then I like music. If I don't then I don't.

You can dislike it for any reason you like just like I can like it for any reason I like - but failing to realistically compare what was done by Styx togerhte versus what was done separately isn't being intellectually honest. Granted I've not heard you stick up for the musical beauty of "Out on a Day Pass".... but one would think being out from under the oppression of such a zealous dictator would have allowed for creativity to blossom - when in fact it just allowed JY to be what he would have been without Dennis - a talentless nobody - utterly forgettable.

Christine Agulera a hack? NO WAY. She's one of THE best female singers on the planet. She's technically brilliant. The others you mentioned, yeah, good points, however, it doesn't fit with your other logic. That of "well, if he's on a huge show like "Duets" he must be good". Well, if Spears and company are all over the radio and Mtv, they must be good too, right? WRONG.
As for Day Pass, I've ALWAYS said JY shouldn't be allowed to sing lead. He sucks with a capital S. Day Pass is an Unlistenable record. "What If" was a good record. I have no problem with it other than the electronic drums and the production could've been better. I think any of Shaws solo outings outdo any of Dennis'. Dennis was stuck in ONE vein. At least Shaw experimented a bit. The What if songs were fine. I have never said JY was the end all be all of Styx. I think that as a BACKGROUND SINGER and a lead guitarist, he's great. But as a lead singer, he's awful. As a mouthpiece for Styx, he also should leave that to Shaw.

[Ash]

As a mouthpiece for Styx, he also should leave that to Shaw.

Well - we agree on this. Perhaps it's best to just find the common ground and move on

[bugsymalone]

Just to add a bit more fuel to this fire. OK, maybe something from another perspective, at least.

Dennis will be 60 years old in 2007. When his band left him, after they had risen again to some heady heights with tours and record sales, he thought his life as a singer/musician who could make a living doing it was over.

Many factors combined to help him out and put him back on the musical map. He found a way to make his music relevant again. (Performing with an orchestra songs that naturally lent themselves to an orchestra.). And some of it found him. (Use of Styx music in movies, TV, commercials. Getting it in front of the public eye again. Soundstage. PBS.)

As to what is deemed “cool” or not cool? VERY much in the eye of the beholder. One of the undisputed coolest rockers ever, Rod Stewart, has found a way to make himself relevant again. Using his smoky voice and natural stage presence to record American standards and now covering 60’s music. Oh, and he was on American Idol AND Dancing with the Stars. Didn’t seem to phase him or affect the public perception of him at all. He, like Dennis, loves to perform, and has found a way to do it yet again.

Dennis has been treated with great respect on Jimmy Kimmell, on Star Academie, as a rock icon and legend on Canadian Idol and Celebrity Duets. All of these shows brought the gift he has to offer, and made people stand up and listen, and that was his amazing voice.

I suppose everyone could see this stuff as just Dennis the Clown being exploited, but I think many see it differently. Reaction in the blogosphere and on websites to his appearance on Celebrity Duets was nothing but positive. People loved the songs (especially Lady) and they were very impressed with Dennis. It brought an awareness to him a zillion sold-out shows could not do, in one single night.

Of COURSE he is not as well known as just Dennis DeYoung. But his name, unconnected with Styx, has been on Saturday Night Live. And each and every appearance he makes in a national forum brings more awareness of who he is.

I think he is finding ways to continue doing what he loves, sing and perform on HIS terms, as well as having his profile raised higher and higher with each appearance he makes.

Much of this is in the eye of the beholder. Some think Current Styx is cool, relevant and the best incarnation of the group, ever. I find them silly, pompous and often sounding nothing short of awful when they get away from the Tommy-led songs.
And the ones who find Current Styx cool think of Dennis as completely uncool. There are those who beg to differ on that, finding just the opposite.

I am very glad Dennis has found a way to stay in the spotlight. I absolutely do NOT believe he is making a fool of himself, nor is he being made fun of. All in all, I read a bit of jealousy in some of the comments from those who believe this is so.

Bugsy

[brywool]

You had me till the jealousy comment

[bugsymalone]

You had me till the jealousy comment

Maybe I need to edit!

Actually, I was referring to....uh.....other people.

Bugsy

[sadie65]

http://www.vh1.com/shows/events/big_in/2006/index.jhtml

November 29, 2006
Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Dennis DeYoung

by VH1

Dennis DeYoung, the former singer with a band we cannot mention for legal reasons, is set to perform on December 3rd's Big in 2006 show. We frankly have no idea what the silver-haired siren is going to do, but we do know DeYoung was last spotted performing with Best Week Ever mainstay Hal Sparks on Celebrity Duets. Will they reprise "Mr. Roboto"?

Download Dennis and XXXX's greatest hits on Urge!
You know the man. You know his music. All hail his genius. Pay tribute. Leave a comment!

GOD- PUHLEAZE no Mr. Roboto! I've spent so many years trying to forget that stupid song...
How can the guy expect to be taken seriously with that?
Didn't JY sue himself by accident?

Oh, aren't we the stuck up music critic?!?!

Face it, America loves that song whether you like it or not.

Uh, yeah... they like it as COMEDY. That's why it was great in the VW commercial. That's why it was great on South Park. It's a campy piece of trivia and now he and the song are being paraded around like friggin' Charles Nelson Reilly on a 1970's episode of "Match Game". Embarrassing.

As a piece of music or art, it's lame and embarrassing for a guy of Dennis' stature. The guy that wrote "Suite Madame Blue" and "Come Sail Away" wrote "Mr. Roboto"?? Geez... It's like when McCartney wrote "Silly Love Songs"- God I hated him for that.

America loves a lot of things, doesn't mean diddly sqwat. By your definition, I guess "Oh Baby You Got What I Need" by BizMarkie and "Yummy Yummy Yummy I've Got Love In My Tummy" rank right up there with "Come Sail Away" and "Stairway to Heaven". Yeah, Americans are really smart - 2 words: "George Bush".

I will never understand why some Styx fans embrace that song. It killed the band. Oh well. I hope to God that Dennis doesn't do that and plays a song of merit.

Ah yes...the classic...it killed the band. It also gave the band a whole slew of new fans. Something even JY acknowledges.

I don't see it as comedy, but I do see it as a ditty that did much better than anyone, including Dennis ever thought it would. Not too shabby when you think about it. It became part of the lexicon in America...something that happens when you have some success...not death...at least not as a rule.

Peace

[sadie65]

Well, if he gets an American Idol night, I would almost expect to see a lawsuit from JY. Talk about exposure! Like Idol or not, the amount of people that watch it is amazing. And how ridiculous would it be if he couldn't even say "formerly of Styx" on that. JY will look like a fool.

I'm sure there's a lawsuit at Dennis' door this morning regarding him being on VH1 this weekend - LOL I wonder how many he was served for the month of November? LOL I'll have to check the VH1 site and see if the XXXX is changed yet. I still think it's funny how VH1 wrote that because it was so ridiculous what Dennis has to be shown as!!

I think it would be great if he made a cameo on tv, like he did in the movie The Perfect Man!! I'm sure it would be on the Fox network since they love him on there! How fun!

OMG, wouldn't that be so totally sweet after his new cd is released that he's the musical guest on SNL????? Wow!!! How fricken cool!!

How about Regis coming up soon for Christmas?

I think he'd be AWESOME on saturday night live. And he has the sense of humor and camera presence for it. Perhaps we can get Will Ferrel to get out his cowbell during DDY singing "Mr. Roboto"

I can see it now…DDY walking around in a Roboto mask as everyone makes fun of him and then he sings My God! I’m sure he’ll knock um dead! All he needs to do is start throwing confetti around.

You mean like the confetti popping off during the Cyclorama tour?

[sadie65]

Yeah, as great as Dennis was, today he's clearly unhip and would probably be brutalized on SNL. Now, because Dennis is funny, it could turn out like the Shatner roast which was hilarious. Shatner poking fun at himself (sulu poking everybody else!) and that'd be cool actually if done in the right spirit. Unfortunately, in today's market, if he got on and played Mr. Roboto or something good like Come Sail Away or Pieces of Eight, I think it'd go over everyone's head.

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Stick that up their asses and smoke it.

NEWS FLASH............. 99.9% of America doesn't know the name Dennis DeYoung

The name STYX is world wide!

and here we go again .....SHOW ME THE NUMBERS!!! DDY can play in Canada all he wants...in fact I think he should stay there since he is such a superstar over there! btw How's that Hunchback thing working out?

Ah the numbers game. Getting old...and quite cute considering you are quick to point out the fallacy to that when it involves the band.

As for Hunchback...about as well as the last 3 albums by the band...

[brywool]

Ah yes...the classic...it killed the band. It also gave the band a whole slew of new fans. Something even JY acknowledges.

I don't see it as comedy, but I do see it as a ditty that did much better than anyone, including Dennis ever thought it would. Not too shabby when you think about it. It became part of the lexicon in America...something that happens when you have some success...not death...at least not as a rule.

Peace

I have to disagree that it did better than they thought. They had come off of the huge success of Paradise Theatre and Roboto was the first single off of Kilroy. That album did significantly worse than PT.

[brywool]

As for Hunchback...about as well as the last 3 albums by the band...

and the source for this stat is...?

[ChicagoSTYX]

Yeah, as great as Dennis was, today he's clearly unhip and would probably be brutalized on SNL. Now, because Dennis is funny, it could turn out like the Shatner roast which was hilarious. Shatner poking fun at himself (sulu poking everybody else!) and that'd be cool actually if done in the right spirit. Unfortunately, in today's market, if he got on and played Mr. Roboto or something good like Come Sail Away or Pieces of Eight, I think it'd go over everyone's head.

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Stick that up their asses and smoke it.

NEWS FLASH............. 99.9% of America doesn't know the name Dennis DeYoung

The name STYX is world wide!

and here we go again .....SHOW ME THE NUMBERS!!! DDY can play in Canada all he wants...in fact I think he should stay there since he is such a superstar over there! btw How's that Hunchback thing working out?

Ah the numbers game. Getting old...and quite cute considering you are quick to point out the fallacy to that when it involves the band.

As for Hunchback...about as well as the last 3 albums by the band...

Hunchback was a total flop and anyone who tries to say different is Grand Delusional or just plane lying. The show opened and closed the same weekend in some small theater in Nashville and the CD was never released. DDY sells copies on his website and at his shows. I have heard the excuses about Disney and bad timing. That’s crap. If it were good, it would have benefited from the Disney hype. It just goes to show the direction DDY was, and still is going in. Lame! (imo) I’ll wait for the new CD but I’m not expecting much. Prove me wrong DDY.

[DerriD]

My question is...When will JY sue Dennis for appearing as Dennis DeYoung, since the man 'Dennis DeYoung' was credited as writing most of the hit songs 'Styx' had and since he isn't in Styx, he must clearly be an imposter?

[Ash]

Quoted For Truth:

Hunchback was a total flop and anyone who tries to say different is Grand Delusional or just plane lying. The show opened and closed the same weekend in some small theater in Nashville and the CD was never released. DDY sells copies on his website and at his shows. I have heard the excuses about Disney and bad timing. That’s crap. If it were good, it would have benefited from the Disney hype. It just goes to show the direction DDY was, and still is going in. Lame! (imo) I’ll wait for the new CD but I’m not expecting much. Prove me wrong DDY.

Dude - what is your source for this? I live in Nashville and was here when Dennis was doing his media campaign for Hunchback. In fact, I worked at one of the radio stations that was part of his marketing campaign and met Dennis when he was here along with Michael Eldred (who actually worked for me at one point as a session vocalist when I was a demo producer) to interview on the largest and most listened to 50,000 watt FM station in the city (at the time). It's where I made the control room tape of the interview that I had posted on the web for a long time.

Hunchback was performed in Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center which holds about 2500 people and is the largest theater-type stage in the state of Tennessee. It was used by the Nashville Symphony and other broadway productions such as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Annie and countless others and is still in use today. It is one of premiere venues in the city and is the third largest in the city (outside LP Field (where the Titans Play), The Gaylord Entertainment Center, and Memorial Hall). I'm not sure if it's still there as I've not been to TPAC in about a year - but the have a picture of Dennis and the cast of the musical hanging on the wall inside the auditorium alongside legendary actors and actresses who have appeared at TPAC.

Here is a link to the venue. Perhaps you shouldn't besmurch places where people live and talk about them in a negative fashion:

http://www.tpac.org/about/index.asp

I'm also pretty sure it ran the entire summer. I'll double check the dates and get back to you. You're turning into a propagandist where what you are saying is just not based in reality. Just like your A&M comment - it's obvious that you haven't a clue as to what the facts are and like to make them up as you see fit because that is what your agenda is. Or perhaps you weren't counting on someone working in the media at the time (myself) being on this forum - who knows. I will contact TPAC as I have a friend there and get the exact open and close dates for the show.

You need to stop making a fool of yourself here dude. It's pretty clear who's agenda has gotten the better part of their emotions when you need to consistently and relentlessly lie about facts that are easily proven.

I'm actually starting to wonder if you are JY. Because the way you talk and the lies you tell are right out of the JY-Kool-Aid.



(I edited this a few times to remove un-needed profanity and commentary)

[bugsymalone]

May I just add a bit to this discussion. (But of course, Bugsy! ) The Hunchback CD is a DEMO. Dennis recorded all the voice parts and used the synthesizer to simulate the orchestral parts. It had nothing to do with something he was releasing to make money at the outset. It was simply a vehicle to get the music for this production out there.

Putting on a play is a huge undertaking. A musical? Even bigger. Seed money would be at least $7 to 10 million to get something like this Hunchback musical produced as a major Broadway production. NO one is much interested in investing in that kind of thing no matter how wonderful it is. Trust me. The biggest names in Broadway musicals have entire productions ready and waiting for a green light that may never happen. Dennis is part of a long tradition with that.

I realize that the type of music Dennis has written and sung for The Hunchback is not for everyone. But I think there is no denying is a stunning piece of work, musically, lyrically and vocally. My admiration for this guy, already high, went through the roof the first time I heard this recording.

Bugsy

[Ash]

May I just add a bit to this discussion. (But of course, Bugsy! ) The Hunchback CD is a DEMO. Dennis recorded all the voice parts and used the synthesizer to simulate the orchestral parts. It had nothing to do with something he was releasing to make money at the outset. It was simply a vehicle to get the music for this production out there.

Putting on a play is a huge undertaking. A musical? Even bigger. Seed money would be at least $7 to 10 million to get something like this Hunchback musical produced as a major Broadway production. NO one is much interested in investing in that kind of thing no matter how wonderful it is. Trust me. The biggest names in Broadway musicals have entire productions ready and waiting for a green light that may never happen. Dennis is part of a long tradition with that.

I realize that the type of music Dennis has written and sung for The Hunchback is not for everyone. But I think there is no denying is a stunning piece of work, musically, lyrically and vocally. My admiration for this guy, already high, went through the roof the first time I heard this recording.

Bugsy

My daughter is downstairs singing along to it right now. "whoooooo will loooooove this child...." that is a great song. I used to sing it to Laura as a baby to try and get her to go to sleep. Different people, different priorities.

[sadie65]

Yeah, as great as Dennis was, today he's clearly unhip and would probably be brutalized on SNL. Now, because Dennis is funny, it could turn out like the Shatner roast which was hilarious. Shatner poking fun at himself (sulu poking everybody else!) and that'd be cool actually if done in the right spirit. Unfortunately, in today's market, if he got on and played Mr. Roboto or something good like Come Sail Away or Pieces of Eight, I think it'd go over everyone's head.

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Stick that up their asses and smoke it.

NEWS FLASH............. 99.9% of America doesn't know the name Dennis DeYoung

The name STYX is world wide!

and here we go again .....SHOW ME THE NUMBERS!!! DDY can play in Canada all he wants...in fact I think he should stay there since he is such a superstar over there! btw How's that Hunchback thing working out?

Ah the numbers game. Getting old...and quite cute considering you are quick to point out the fallacy to that when it involves the band.

As for Hunchback...about as well as the last 3 albums by the band...

Hunchback was a total flop and anyone who tries to say different is Grand Delusional or just plane lying. The show opened and closed the same weekend in some small theater in Nashville and the CD was never released. DDY sells copies on his website and at his shows. I have heard the excuses about Disney and bad timing. That’s crap. If it were good, it would have benefited from the Disney hype. It just goes to show the direction DDY was, and still is going in. Lame! (imo) I’ll wait for the new CD but I’m not expecting much. Prove me wrong DDY.

Then you don't know how Disney operates. I am neither delusional or a liar. Thanks for the insult. Feel better?

As others have said, it was a workshop. While it ran for only 2 weeks (not the entire summer), it was to go ahead to other theaters and work it's way to Broadway. Having had some experience in this area, I can attest to the amount of money required to stage a musical of any scope. Disney played a major role in this not occuring. Dennis may have benefitted had it been allowed...but Disney made their intent quite clear.

Using your yardstick, selling cd's on a website somehow constitutes it as not being valid. And yet, there is concrete proof (at least in terms of Canada) that he outsold his former bandmates...who do indeed sell their cd's via your accepted outlets.

I fully respect, always have, that you have a different point of view. I would appreciate in the future you displaying the same kind of courtesy. If you would like me to insult you and call you a liar and delusional...I can certainly accomodate you.

[sadie65]

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Michael Bolton was on the same show. Is he hip? NO!
Randy Travis was on the same show. Is he hip? NO!
Barry Manilow was on American Idol, the NUMBER ONE show in America. Is he hip? NO.
Being on a show, especially a FOX show, means nothing unless you're on "24" or "House" or "Family Guy".
Being on the show means NOTHING as to how relevant these people are.

The ONLY singer on that show that was a true timeless entertainer was Smokey Fuckin' Robinson. PERIOD.

JESUS, Bruce Jenner was on that Fox show where they were dancing that was huge, so was Alphonso from The Fresh Prince. Are they hip? NO.
In your opinion, I guess they are. Not mine.

As far as Canada, that's totally cool. I'm glad for him. I'm not dogging him so much as just saying he should try to be a bit more hip. I actually DO think Styx is more in step than Dennis. You look at that band and they look cool onstage. You look at Dennis and it's a huge generation gap. He looks like Tony Bennet! I'm 44 years old and I think he totally looks out of step with the times. It'd be interesting to know how the Styx albums with Gowan are doing in Canada. I have no idea.

As far as quality being better, I never said that Dennis was untalented, nor Styx, nor Gowan. I'm saying that they're using him and "Mr. Roboto" (a stupid song!) in America as the kind of "corny old dude" that they used to roll out on Johnny Carson. He's becoming the Englebert Whatshisdink of our generation.

I'm not sure why you say Styx is nowhere, oh yeah, because you haven't gotten over that they replaced the guy in the band who didn't want to work. Get over it. They've toured through my area more times than with Dennis ever. They've played a ton of shows. They're everywhere. Dennis has done a handful of shows this year and all the sudden, people don't remember that he's been away since the 90s. Granted they're playing smaller venues. All classic rock bands are. Times change, so does the preferred music.

Cyclorama, though it didn't have any hits (what classic rock band does other than Aerosmith and even their last album didn't ) was leaps and bounds above Kilroy Was Here, Brave New World and Edge of the Century. That's 20 years of music that the current lineup blew away with their last original studio release.

I didn't hear them laughing at Dennis for the symphony thing, I must've missed that, though I can see JY doing it. He wasn't really happy with the new CYO deal either. Honestly, JY should shut the F up. Doesn't mean that his band sucks, means he's a loudmouth and he's making himself look stupid. So what? JY was never a favorite player of mine. Note to Styx- stop letting JY sing lead.

How is it that Styx was "Reduced" to doing a Symphony album?? I think that they should've released the recordings of the symphony show they did with Dennis. If they would've done that, you'd not have said "Reduced". You'd have pissed yourself saying how great it was. I don't think that's a step down for them at all. Metalica did it. The Moodys did it. Lots of bands have done it. They did ONE cover album. Many people have. Lennon did it. Mccartney did it (TWICE). Leppard did it. Aerosmith did it. Everyone does it. I'd rather have that than the friggin' "Hunchback" CD any day of the week. I bought that after everyone raved how great it was. There's maybe 2 good songs there and it sounds like it was made in his kitchen. By the way, I'd rather hear Gowan sing "I Don't Need No Doctor" or "Salty Dog" than ANYTHING on Hunchback.

As far as 'songs they don't play'- I heard them play a snippet of Roboto during "Edge of the Century", I heard them play "Lady", I heard them play "Come Sail Away". Thankfully, I have not heard them play "Babe" or "First Time" or "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" (the WORST Styx song since "Plexiglass Toilet" and "Mr. Roboto"). What songs are they using that you're not hearing live? Oh yeah, didn't they have a hit single with "I Am the Walrus" a few years back? What was Dennis' last hit? Might not've been their tune, but they did a great job of it (this coming from a monster Beatles fan). Rather than say "It's not Dennis, so I'm going to hate them forever and ever" why not be thankful that there are two teams from the same camp producing more music and doing more tours than they ever did and listen (or not) to both? I don't understand why so many people piss and moan about how "it's a Styx cover band cuz Dennis ain't there". Grow the hell up.

I think both camps are doing well. I'm just saying that Dennis needs to do another ROCK album and get in step a bit more. I cannot hear the keyboard based love songs that scream Babe, First Time, Paradise, etc. Hopefully, Glen will work with him on a solo album and kick him in the Ass a bit. Glen's the best thing to happen to Styx since the Grand Illusion. Too bad Styx messed up and didn't treat him as an equal.

Also, aren't you tired of Dennis AND Styx being mocked because they brought us "Mr. Roboto"? Styx was ALWAYS hated by the critics. I NEVER read a good review of them in the rock press. I was ALWAYS sticking up for them when people would slag them. Then 1983 happened and Mr. Roboto was released. I had no ammo to fight with. They proved all of their critics right with that song and that poorly produced album. It's the worst sounding Styx album next to BNW.

And I respect your opinion. It is just that. An opinion. One that others don't share. How you define hip is your choice. That ANYONE from that era can land on network television (and lets include Styx for their Regis and Kelly and Today show appearances in this) is a really good accomplishment.

As for Kilroy, I'll agree it sold less than PT, however, it also gave them many new fans. It was an attempt to keep up wth the times. Something the band always did, and continues to do. I don't agree Dennis comes across as a buffoon being used, but then, I also see the arm pinwheels being done by JY and Tommy as being a step closer to becoming Spinal Tap. All in perspective.

Peace

[shaka]

Hmmmm, seems to me that the current Styx has been on several TV shows. Let's not forget that they performed in the middle of a NYC street in the middle of the morning while on one of them. Then there's the Superbowl. To me that's a huge forum. With this said I think comparisons between Dennis and Styx as far as TV time goes, are stupid.

While I agree JY should maybe turn over PR duties to TS I think his musical abilities are demeaned by some out of bitterness. Let's not forget that JY sang These are the Times and Captain America off Cyclo which along with Killing the Thing That You Love and One With Everything are some of the better Styx songs since Paradise Theatre.

Sheesh, watching some of you argue an outsider would think it impossible for anyone to like both the current Styx lineup and Dennis. I like both and hope they each have success.

Styx proved they are still a great band with Cyclo. To me Dennis still has something to prove, at least as far as being a rock artist. I certainly hope he gets out of the show tunes and ballads mode for his next effort. I would love to hear a rock record from Dennis.

[Ash]

While I agree JY should maybe turn over PR duties to TS I think his musical abilities are demeaned by some out of bitterness. Let's not forget that JY sang These are the Times and Captain America off Cyclo which along with Killing the Thing That You Love and One With Everything are some of the better Styx songs since Paradise Theatre.

WOW - talk about the pot calling the kettle black here. How many times have we had to endure insults about Dennis being a showtune guy, or a side show, or some kind of 70's review show. Heck, there was one just the other day. That works both ways bud... Your opinions of Cyclo are just that - your opinions and I won't argue them since honestly - I don't own Cyclorama save for two songs. But to imply that attacks on JY are done only out of bitterness is a bit disingenous since JY himself has been doing that to Dennis for almost 8 years now in a public way.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Yeah, as great as Dennis was, today he's clearly unhip and would probably be brutalized on SNL. Now, because Dennis is funny, it could turn out like the Shatner roast which was hilarious. Shatner poking fun at himself (sulu poking everybody else!) and that'd be cool actually if done in the right spirit. Unfortunately, in today's market, if he got on and played Mr. Roboto or something good like Come Sail Away or Pieces of Eight, I think it'd go over everyone's head.

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Stick that up their asses and smoke it.

NEWS FLASH............. 99.9% of America doesn't know the name Dennis DeYoung

The name STYX is world wide!

and here we go again .....SHOW ME THE NUMBERS!!! DDY can play in Canada all he wants...in fact I think he should stay there since he is such a superstar over there! btw How's that Hunchback thing working out?

Ah the numbers game. Getting old...and quite cute considering you are quick to point out the fallacy to that when it involves the band.

As for Hunchback...about as well as the last 3 albums by the band...

Hunchback was a total flop and anyone who tries to say different is Grand Delusional or just plane lying. The show opened and closed the same weekend in some small theater in Nashville and the CD was never released. DDY sells copies on his website and at his shows. I have heard the excuses about Disney and bad timing. That’s crap. If it were good, it would have benefited from the Disney hype. It just goes to show the direction DDY was, and still is going in. Lame! (imo) I’ll wait for the new CD but I’m not expecting much. Prove me wrong DDY.

Then you don't know how Disney operates. I am neither delusional or a liar. Thanks for the insult. Feel better?

As others have said, it was a workshop. While it ran for only 2 weeks (not the entire summer), it was to go ahead to other theaters and work it's way to Broadway. Having had some experience in this area, I can attest to the amount of money required to stage a musical of any scope. Disney played a major role in this not occuring. Dennis may have benefitted had it been allowed...but Disney made their intent quite clear.

Using your yardstick, selling cd's on a website somehow constitutes it as not being valid. And yet, there is concrete proof (at least in terms of Canada) that he outsold his former bandmates...who do indeed sell their cd's via your accepted outlets.

I fully respect, always have, that you have a different point of view. I would appreciate in the future you displaying the same kind of courtesy. If you would like me to insult you and call you a liar and delusional...I can certainly accomodate you.

I am sorry I did not mean to insult you. I just don’t see where you’re getting this info that Hunchback has been more successful then Everything Styx had done without DDY. I don’t see it. If Hunchback was so good then why have we never seen or heard another word about it going into production? If it were that good, why wouldn’t someone want to run with it and make a fortune? In this case, he is solely relying on the body of work and not the name DDY or Styx. It’s just about the show. I’m sure there are tons of plays that make it to Broadway that stink. I have a feeling many saw it as a play by the person who gave us Roboto!

[sadie65]

Yeah, as great as Dennis was, today he's clearly unhip and would probably be brutalized on SNL. Now, because Dennis is funny, it could turn out like the Shatner roast which was hilarious. Shatner poking fun at himself (sulu poking everybody else!) and that'd be cool actually if done in the right spirit. Unfortunately, in today's market, if he got on and played Mr. Roboto or something good like Come Sail Away or Pieces of Eight, I think it'd go over everyone's head.

Yeah he's so unhip he's been on national television shows, selling tripple platinum in Canada and likely making more money a year than DFB. Not to mention what he has planned in the next 12 months.

Tell me - how relevant is Styx that they're..... NOWHERE. They're reduced to making COVER albums and doing Symphonies (something they laughed at Dennis for doing once). They screw over their customers by advertising songs they don't play and then sue the guy who DOES play them because he's clearly more successful than they are.

perhaps they'll learn that Quality is better than Quantity. Dennis has one album that has sold more than Cyclorama, Big Bang, and CYO combined when you consider US and Canada.

Stick that up their asses and smoke it.

NEWS FLASH............. 99.9% of America doesn't know the name Dennis DeYoung

The name STYX is world wide!

and here we go again .....SHOW ME THE NUMBERS!!! DDY can play in Canada all he wants...in fact I think he should stay there since he is such a superstar over there! btw How's that Hunchback thing working out?

Ah the numbers game. Getting old...and quite cute considering you are quick to point out the fallacy to that when it involves the band.

As for Hunchback...about as well as the last 3 albums by the band...

Hunchback was a total flop and anyone who tries to say different is Grand Delusional or just plane lying. The show opened and closed the same weekend in some small theater in Nashville and the CD was never released. DDY sells copies on his website and at his shows. I have heard the excuses about Disney and bad timing. That’s crap. If it were good, it would have benefited from the Disney hype. It just goes to show the direction DDY was, and still is going in. Lame! (imo) I’ll wait for the new CD but I’m not expecting much. Prove me wrong DDY.

Then you don't know how Disney operates. I am neither delusional or a liar. Thanks for the insult. Feel better?

As others have said, it was a workshop. While it ran for only 2 weeks (not the entire summer), it was to go ahead to other theaters and work it's way to Broadway. Having had some experience in this area, I can attest to the amount of money required to stage a musical of any scope. Disney played a major role in this not occuring. Dennis may have benefitted had it been allowed...but Disney made their intent quite clear.

Using your yardstick, selling cd's on a website somehow constitutes it as not being valid. And yet, there is concrete proof (at least in terms of Canada) that he outsold his former bandmates...who do indeed sell their cd's via your accepted outlets.

I fully respect, always have, that you have a different point of view. I would appreciate in the future you displaying the same kind of courtesy. If you would like me to insult you and call you a liar and delusional...I can certainly accomodate you.

I am sorry I did not mean to insult you. I just don’t see where you’re getting this info that Hunchback has been more successful then Everything Styx had done without DDY. I don’t see it. If Hunchback was so good then why have we never seen or heard another word about it going into production? If it were that good, why wouldn’t someone want to run with it and make a fortune? In this case, he is solely relying on the body of work and not the name DDY or Styx. It’s just about the show. I’m sure there are tons of plays that make it to Broadway that stink. I have a feeling many saw it as a play by the person who gave us Roboto!

I didn't say it was more successful. I said it was as successful as their last three studio albums. There is a difference. I believe you read something that was never said. I do not recall anyone saying that it was more successful than anything Styx has done without DDY. If they did, then seriously, I think they are not being fair and true. I also don't think enough fans have enough respect for how hard it actually is to write let alone mount a musical of a large scope. There are plenty of articles out there that speak to how hard it is...both from a creative and certainly from a financial perspective. And the house of mouse truly did clamp down. They were in the process of staging their own version. Given their success with Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Aida...very few are going to fight the oppression. As a tidbit...Disney staged their Hunchback...in of all places...Hamburg Germany. They are now planning it as a tv musical for next year.

That being said...Disney has very deep pockets and connections. Very hard to fight the mouse. The musical is good. Needs work to be sure...which was the intent to continue staging it and tweaking it so it would be ready for Broadway. But when Disney clamps down and insists that theirs be the only version to try to go to Broadway...most people back down.

Choose to view how you wish...just please refrain from insulting people who hold different opinions than yours. Thanks.

[sadie65]

Hmmmm, seems to me that the current Styx has been on several TV shows. Let's not forget that they performed in the middle of a NYC street in the middle of the morning while on one of them. Then there's the Superbowl. To me that's a huge forum. With this said I think comparisons between Dennis and Styx as far as TV time goes, are stupid.

While I agree JY should maybe turn over PR duties to TS I think his musical abilities are demeaned by some out of bitterness. Let's not forget that JY sang These are the Times and Captain America off Cyclo which along with Killing the Thing That You Love and One With Everything are some of the better Styx songs since Paradise Theatre.

Sheesh, watching some of you argue an outsider would think it impossible for anyone to like both the current Styx lineup and Dennis. I like both and hope they each have success.

Styx proved they are still a great band with Cyclo. To me Dennis still has something to prove, at least as far as being a rock artist. I certainly hope he gets out of the show tunes and ballads mode for his next effort. I would love to hear a rock record from Dennis.

I believe I said Styx was on television and also said that I thought any entertainer from that era who could be on national television should be happy. I didn't count the Superbowl only because unfortunately, they didn't get air time...just as Dennis didn't get airtime singing at the All Star Game.

I have no problem with anyone liking both current and former. Far from it. I have problems with labels. I think Styx could have done better with Cyclo, but I also don't view Dennis as "show tunes and ballads". And I am always confused as to why someone who rocks cannot do those as well. And before anyone suggests that it isn't said that he can't....it is nearly always implied or stated that he can't. Personally, I think he doesn't have to prove anything...if he wants to be "Engelbert Humperdinck" he can. They have all given the fans more than enough. Let them all do what they enjoy and like it or don't.

Peace

[Cooper420]

I think he'd be AWESOME on Saturday night live. And he has the sense of humour and camera presence for it. Perhaps we can get Will Ferrell to get out his cowbell during DDY singing "Mr. Roboto"

Actually, Dennis has already been played BY Will Ferrell on SNL.

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/97hsongs.phtml

It was actually what started my Styx experience. I saw that, and then I saw the South Park where cartman can't stop singing Come Sail Away.

After that I spent almost 6 months listening to Styx Greatest Hits from an online jukebox, and then I finally bought the album.

I now own every CD, almost every record (Pieces of Eight I have 6 copies of) and I've been able to see them 5 times (soon to be 6 in May)

I've never seen them perform with Dennis, and I think that's a shame.

Let's see where things go for him!

[styxfansite]

Update on Vh1 site with an interview with Dennis.


http://vh1.blogs.com/big_in/2006/12/big ... the_d.html

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Update on Vh1 site with an interview with Dennis.


http://vh1.blogs.com/big_in/2006/12/big ... the_d.html

You beat me to it - LOL

I'm going to cry and cry! I love that song "Lady" and I think it will be played on a white baby grand piano.

The rehearsals went great today!! The show will be taped tonight. He'll be sitting in the front row in front of Weird Al, The Killers and The Fray when it airs tomorrow or is taped tonight, you know what I mean - LOL

[shaka]

While I agree JY should maybe turn over PR duties to TS I think his musical abilities are demeaned by some out of bitterness. Let's not forget that JY sang These are the Times and Captain America off Cyclo which along with Killing the Thing That You Love and One With Everything are some of the better Styx songs since Paradise Theatre.

WOW - talk about the pot calling the kettle black here. How many times have we had to endure insults about Dennis being a showtune guy, or a side show, or some kind of 70's review show. Heck, there was one just the other day. That works both ways bud... Your opinions of Cyclo are just that - your opinions and I won't argue them since honestly - I don't own Cyclorama save for two songs. But to imply that attacks on JY are done only out of bitterness is a bit disingenous since JY himself has been doing that to Dennis for almost 8 years now in a public way.

If you look at DDY's body of work since 1991 it's pretty easy to argue that DDY's focus hasn't been on rock music. In MY OPINION he hasnt done a single thing that even remotely relates to what he did in Styx. There's nothing wrong with this, he should have the freedom to do what he wants. I think the difference between you and I is that I like Dennis and hope he has a great career while hoping he moves in more of a rock direction. I also like the current Styx and want them to do well. On the other hand you love Dennis and it sure seems like you don't like the current Styx much.