Lawrence Gowan Is Infinite Times Better Then Dennis DeYoung

[piecesofeight]

The show is more energetic with Gowan out there..that there is no denying. Dennis acts like a goofy boomer on stage who can barely keep his obvious rug on. He is happy with where he is and so are the other guys. Why can't you be happy?

There's more energy at the circus... why don't you hang out there.

You'd probably fit right in.

When i go to a show, I go to hear SINGING, if I want energy, I will go to a sporting event.
I am blown away that this ENERGY thing keeps coming up. The energy must make you tone deaf.
i am seriously floored that energy keeps coming up over being able to sing.
There must be so much energy going on to be able to listen to a chipmunk.

[DarwinNebraska]

As a fan of music that's infinitely harder than Styx, it's hilarious to hear some of the people act like this line-up is nothing short of some sort of death-metal assault on the senses.

[Grotelul]

The show is more energetic with Gowan out there..that there is no denying. Dennis acts like a goofy boomer on stage who can barely keep his obvious rug on. He is happy with where he is and so are the other guys. Why can't you be happy?

There's more energy at the circus... why don't you hang out there.

You'd probably fit right in.

I would rather hang at the circus than go to a Dennis concert and fall asleep.

[Grotelul]

The show is more energetic with Gowan out there..that there is no denying. Dennis acts like a goofy boomer on stage who can barely keep his obvious rug on. He is happy with where he is and so are the other guys. Why can't you be happy?

There's more energy at the circus... why don't you hang out there.

You'd probably fit right in.

When i go to a show, I go to hear SINGING, if I want energy, I will go to a sporting event.
I am blown away that this ENERGY thing keeps coming up. The energy must make you tone deaf.
i am seriously floored that energy keeps coming up over being able to sing.
There must be so much energy going on to be able to listen to a chipmunk.

I listen to the MUSIC. For me, vocals are important but not the main thing. This band kicks ass on stage because they are good musicians, play tight and play with energy. I DO know that Dennis has a much better voice for Styx music than Gowan so don't peg me as otherwise. If you want to hear singing, go to an opera.

[Grotelul]

As a fan of music that's infinitely harder than Styx, it's hilarious to hear some of the people act like this line-up is nothing short of some sort of death-metal assault on the senses.

Yeah...that's it.

[Zan]

When i go to a show, I go to hear SINGING, if I want energy, I will go to a sporting event.
I am blown away that this ENERGY thing keeps coming up. The energy must make you tone deaf.
i am seriously floored that energy keeps coming up over being able to sing.
There must be so much energy going on to be able to listen to a chipmunk.

I go to hear MUSIC. To me the music, energy and feel is much more important than vocals or lyrics. I DO know that Dennis has a much better voice for Styx music than Gowan. If you want to hear singing, go to an opera.

I go to see a SHOW - as in ALL THE ELEMENTS that make a good show. If it's a show of mostly fantastic singing ala Simon and Garfunkel (by far, the best live show I have ever seen to date), that works for me. If it's filled with generally great music & a lot of energy and fun, that works for me too. To me, Styx shows are about good times, good music, and a lot of fun. I've seen shows with great vocals that weren't very good performance-wise and vise-versa. To me, Styx doesn't fall into either of those catagories, with or without Dennis. And Dennis' show, for me was pretty good in spite of the cheesiness, mainly because I am still quite impressed with how good he sounds (and Castle Walls - BOO-YA!). But given the choice between the two, I prefer the fast-paced energetic fun of the Styx show (I know, I know...EVERYONEALREADYHADTHATFIGUREDOUTBECAUSENOBODYTAKESMESERIOUSLYBLAHBLAHBLAHFUCKINGBLAH).

What blows ME away is how many people can't accept that some people go to concerts for other things besides to just sit there and listen to a voice. It all goes back to the taste thing and what it is about Styx fans that they can't emotionally grasp when someone doesn't feel *exactly* the way they do about the music. Some so much so that they are ANGRY and resentful. It's one of those great mysteries of the world, I guess.

[Grotelul]

When i go to a show, I go to hear SINGING, if I want energy, I will go to a sporting event.
I am blown away that this ENERGY thing keeps coming up. The energy must make you tone deaf.
i am seriously floored that energy keeps coming up over being able to sing.
There must be so much energy going on to be able to listen to a chipmunk.

I go to hear MUSIC. To me the music, energy and feel is much more important than vocals or lyrics. I DO know that Dennis has a much better voice for Styx music than Gowan. If you want to hear singing, go to an opera.

I go to see a SHOW - as in ALL THE ELEMENTS that make a good show. If it's a show of mostly fantastic singing ala Simon and Garfunkel (by far, the best live show I have ever seen to date), that works for me. If it's filled with generally great music & a lot of energy and fun, that works for me too. To me, Styx shows are about good times, good music, and a lot of fun. I've seen shows with great vocals that weren't very good performance-wise and vise-versa. To me, Styx doesn't fall into either of those catagories, with or without Dennis. And Dennis' show, for me was pretty good in spite of the cheesiness, mainly because I am still quite impressed with how good he sounds (and Castle Walls - BOO-YA!). But given the choice between the two, I prefer the fast-paced energetic fun of the Styx show (I know, I know...EVERYONEALREADYHADTHATFIGUREDOUTBECAUSENOBODYTAKESMESERIOUSLYBLAHBLAHBLAHFUCKINGBLAH).

What blows ME away is how many people can't accept that some people go to concerts for other things besides to just sit there and listen to a voice. It all goes back to the taste thing and what it is about Styx fans that they can't emotionally grasp when someone doesn't feel *exactly* the way they do about the music. Some so much so that they are ANGRY and resentful. It's one of those great mysteries of the world, I guess.[/quote


Zan....you always know how to say it just right.

[styxfanNH]

I am with Zan and Grotelul. I go to a concert to be entertained by all elements of a show. The singing, the playing, the interacting with the crowd.

When I go to Dennis' shows, I get jokes that are aimed at my parents. But while not stationary at the microphone, he is not tremendously mobile, nor are the other musicians on stage. Yes he can sing like there is no tomorrow, no questions, not one. I really enjoy his show for what it is. It has always been what I expected from his shows.

When I go to a Styx show, I know the ballads won't be there. The songs are the heavier songs associated with Styx. And it is an all out rock n roll assault. Not Heavy Metal, just the heavier side. All of the musicians move freely on the stage and they interact with the audience like no other band I have seen. I don't expect Larry to sing Dennis' parts like Dennis, no one can. But have become accustomed to the current versions of the songs that are credited to Dennis.

THe energy comes from the song selection and the interaction with the audience. Styx learned well when Dennis was with them with the theatrics they use, whether it is the entrance onto the stage, the fan interaction, or even the way they leave the stage. The balance of the show's song selection has something to be desired, as the ballads tend to give the audience a chance to catch its breath, but it is definitely a high powered/ high energy show.

Dennis has the song selection, his set list really doesn't vary that much. But full of energy is not what I would say it has.

Zan is right, it really is about ones musical tastes. A problem that has plagued the band since its conception.

[yogi]

My brother E-mailed me pictures of the Jack In The Box Styx promo T shirts. They actually look pretty cool.

On the of the Front of the Tshirt (Black) below the Styx logo, Tommy is coming out of a jack in the box in the middle of the shirt. It's pertty big and Tommy sure looks the part of a Rock star.

On the Back of the T To the far left JY is holding Jacks Head in his hands. It is a TOTAL ripoff of Dennis holding up the robot head. Then coming up through the Sirlon Cheader Wrappers are the Heads of Todd, Ricky, Lawerence & Chuck. Music Time anyone????


The shirts are cool. My brother bought me one and when he gets back from LA he will mail it to me.

It's all about to allign!!!!!!

[kipthekid]

Seriously, IMHO, Gowan IS a better keyboardist/piano player than Dennis - and Dennis would be the first to acknowledge this. In every other musical aspect, Gowan isn't really in Dennis' league. Gowan is, by a wide margin, the weakest of Styx' lead vocalists - think Gregg Rollie or Paul Anka - and he's an "ok" song writer who doesn't have the book of rock standards to his name that Dennis has.

Again, IMHO, JY and Tommie like LG "better" because LG isn't going to "make waves." He's going to play his arse off on stage (Gowan and Todd are the two musicians in Styx who could easily step into a true prog rock band like Dream Theater, Rush, Yes, etc) and essentially do what he's told.

[cittadeeno23]

No, not gonna happen! Larry would be looking for a job if Dennis ever came back. But that is not going to happen as long as JY is alive, unfortunately, so there really is no need to discuss it. When the river Styx Freezes over, lets talk about it!

And as far as Larry being better than Dennis, that is a matter of each ones opinion. My opinion is this:

Was Larry resonsible for 35 million record sales? Did Larry Produce 4 consecutive triple platnum albums? Was Larry in the band in 1980 when a gallop poll announced that Styx was the most popular band in America? Did Larry write 8 top ten Billboard singles? Did Larry write epic songs like Castle Walls, I'm OK, Born For Adventure, The Grand Illusion and Queen of Spades?
The answers to those questions are: NO, Dennis Did!

Did Larry write the 3rd most ALL-TIME popular classic rock song in his home country of Canada, Suite Madam Blue???
NO, Dennis did.

Larry is a nice little hired-gun keyboard player. (Although his singing voice leaves a lot to be desired).
But he is NOT better than Dennis in my opinion.

And no! I am NOT Suzanne, Matthew or Carrie Ann!!
I AM a life long STYX fan who loves Dennis, Tommy, JY, Chuck and John!!

[DarwinNebraska]

Preach it, brotha!

[gr8dane]

Isn't that something.

[cittadeeno23]

You like that, huh??!!

And "TheNightBull", no hard feelings, OK?? I just love Dennis. And last time I checked this was a STYX forum!!

[styxfanNH]

You like that, huh??!!

And "TheNightBull", no hard feelings, OK?? I just love Dennis. And last time I checked this was a STYX forum!!

Some think this is a Dennis Forum

[stabbim]

And last time I checked this was a STYX forum!!

Some think this is a Dennis Forum

Some think there's no difference between the two. Awful lot of conflict could be avoided, were it otherwise.

[cittadeeno23]

Nah, this is fun!!

Hey, we all love Tommy, though, don't we???!!

[rajah2165]

You like that, huh??!!

And "TheNightBull", no hard feelings, OK?? I just love Dennis. And last time I checked this was a STYX forum!!

Some think this is a Dennis Forum

Well he is the reason for their success..

Are you saying we are now not allowed to talk about Dennis?

[kansas666]

Gowan IS a better keyboardist/piano player than Dennis - and Dennis would be the first to acknowledge this. In every other musical aspect, Gowan isn't really in Dennis' league

Gowan may not have Denny's pipes. But he sure has the rock and roll feel that the preening fop is sorely lacking.

[styxfanNH]

You like that, huh??!!

And "TheNightBull", no hard feelings, OK?? I just love Dennis. And last time I checked this was a STYX forum!!

Some think this is a Dennis Forum

Well he is the reason for their success..

Are you saying we are now not allowed to talk about Dennis?

Not at all. Talk about whoever you want. I just tend to think there success was from the combined contributions of all members and not the contributions of one member. But to each their own.

[DarwinNebraska]

Not at all. Talk about whoever you want. I just tend to think there success was from the combined contributions of all members and not the contributions of one member. But to each their own.

Yes, they all contributed equally... exactly 20%.

[Abitaman]

I am with Zan and Grotelul. I go to a concert to be entertained by all elements of a show. The singing, the playing, the interacting with the crowd.

When I go to Dennis' shows, I get jokes that are aimed at my parents. But while not stationary at the microphone, he is not tremendously mobile, nor are the other musicians on stage. Yes he can sing like there is no tomorrow, no questions, not one. I really enjoy his show for what it is. It has always been what I expected from his shows.

When I go to a Styx show, I know the ballads won't be there. The songs are the heavier songs associated with Styx. And it is an all out rock n roll assault. Not Heavy Metal, just the heavier side. All of the musicians move freely on the stage and they interact with the audience like no other band I have seen. I don't expect Larry to sing Dennis' parts like Dennis, no one can. But have become accustomed to the current versions of the songs that are credited to Dennis.

THe energy comes from the song selection and the interaction with the audience. Styx learned well when Dennis was with them with the theatrics they use, whether it is the entrance onto the stage, the fan interaction, or even the way they leave the stage. The balance of the show's song selection has something to be desired, as the ballads tend to give the audience a chance to catch its breath, but it is definitely a high powered/ high energy show.

Dennis has the song selection, his set list really doesn't vary that much. But full of energy is not what I would say it has.

Zan is right, it really is about ones musical tastes. A problem that has plagued the band since its conception.

Well said-ERIC

[Zan]

Are you saying we are now not allowed to talk about Dennis?

Another brilliant interpretation of the written language, Rajah.

[stabbim]

Not at all. Talk about whoever you want. I just tend to think there success was from the combined contributions of all members and not the contributions of one member. But to each their own.

Yes, they all contributed equally... exactly 20%.

Right, that's exactly what NH meant.

Band chemistry and the creation of music is a strange and unpredictable thing, and even if you could honestly suss it out in mathematical terms (you can't; at least not with this band) then it's still only part of the story. If we're gonna sit around and debate who gets what percentage of credit for the commercial achievements of Styx, I'd say Cahill, Sutton and Vose are as at least as responsible as anyone in the band.

[styxfanNH]

Not at all. Talk about whoever you want. I just tend to think there success was from the combined contributions of all members and not the contributions of one member. But to each their own.

Yes, they all contributed equally... exactly 20%.

Does anyone else in here besides Darwin see where I said in this quote they all had equal contributions?

[stabbim]

Does anyone else in here besides Darwin see where I said in this quote they all had equal contributions?

It makes perfect sense to me. It's just like when you mentioned that some folks see this as merely a DDY forum when what you really meant was that no one should be allowed to talk about DDY, and in fact you have the power to make it so merely through expressing your opinion.

Oh, you may try to deny it, but your insidious doublespeak simply can't repel reading comprehension of that magnitude.

[Zan]

Oh, you may try to deny it, but your insidious doublespeak simply can't repel reading comprehension of that magnitude.

DON'T.

STOP.

[rajah2165]

Are you saying we are now not allowed to talk about Dennis?

Another brilliant interpretation of the written language, Rajah.

Andrew, I guess this falls under your definition of harassment? Then lets have a warning here too.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I am just reporting facts.

Shit, My brother goes out to LA for an accounting seminar sees a line of about 75 standing outside of a Jack In the Box and he gets curious.

I get ugly PM's because I write this??

Someone has to stand up to the Zans & Froys of the world.

I dont give a shit if they(either DDY or Styx) play under a man whole cover or at a Century Twenty One house warming.

As long as they are out there they ARE relevant.

I am happy that Styx got the Jack In The Box Steak & Cheeder gig. I am also glad that they were on that night.

PLEASE stop PM'ing me with your Styx is Better with Gowan beliefs. I like Gowan, I LOVE DDY. Both are GREAT. Lets ALL be happy.

In the mean time......... pass the curly fries JY!!!!!!

Don't forget McDonalds too a few years ago.................. (LOL)

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Screw it all. Dennis better never go back to Styx. He can perform and hang with Tommy and Glen all he wants - but if he ever shares a stage with JY again, I'll likely lose respect for him.

I thought I'd lose respect for him too, BUT as time goes on I feel that he is the better person and would be the one to extend a handshake or hug to him, IMO.

Life seems to be flying by SO fast, I feel that there's just not going to be much time left for a reunion with Dennis, JY, Tommy and Chuck. It has to be now (within 2 years) or never.