Styx In Chicago

[bugsymalone]

As for the Baron, Im in over my head !! What in the name of god does that mean. Have I started posting into a secret society ? I thought this was a message board about Styx. Froys posts dont bother me, I do have a life, I just dont get the constant bad mouthing. Please enlighten me, am I missing something from the dim and distant past of this board.

Contention is the only thing that keeps this particular board running. I certainly input my share in years' past, but I am sort of over it. I still do get a bit pissed off at some of the current band's shenanigans, but they have their reasons, so not much one can do about it other than protest to deaf ears.

Of the many, many nostalgia bands that are currently touring with replacement members, I feel that Styx gets the least respect. I honestly think Dennis gets a smidgen more respect as a solo artist than his former band does carrying the band name, but not a whole hell of a lot. Both are very lucky to still have their chops and to be able to go out and play for a living, or just because it is in their DNA.

Bugsy

[Boomchild]

All I have done is post my opinion just as every one else has done. My main point is that yes this is a Styx forum, but so many of the posts are used to completely put down Tommy Shaw and James Young. As a long standing fan I was gutted when DDY was no longer in the band but was prepared to give the new line up a chance. Im so glad I did. Listen Im a big fan of bands that have gone through major changes. e.g Toto, Uriah Heep, Foreigner and I see no difference with Styx. I loved all these bands in their original incarnations and was always dissapointed when someone left or passed away, but by continuing they keep the legacy alive and kicking. I just dont see the point in constantly going after some of the band members, we are Styx fans, right ?

It's more a matter of the tone I got from your post. It came off to me as if you were saying that because Froy's posts are consistently against the current line up that he should not be posting that here. I too am a long, long time Styx fan. To some it's not so much the actual split that is the issue but more so the way in which TS, JY and CP did it. Dennis was such a huge part of what Styx was that without out him it's more like a tribute band. At the start I gave this version of Styx a chance. I went to see them and purchased the carrot album. They really did nothing for me. I came away with the feeling that the "magic smoke" had been left out of the box. They have a singer that cannot pull off material that were staple songs so they avoid them all together. What's the point of that. I do not disagree that some bands have had line up changes that were successful. I just don't feel that way with Styx. In my opinion Styx and Dennis DeYoung go hand in hand and you can't separate them and still consider it Styx.

[Archetype]

Froy, I very rarely post on this forum but you have forced me into a response. Why do you bother posting on here ? If you hate the band so much would you not be better placed being positive about a band you do like. Why the negativity, why the hatred ? Ive not had the opportunity to see the band very often as I live in Scotland but have been a fan since 1978. I loved the line up then and I love the line up now.
I cannot think of any other band that has been around for such a long time, that hasnt had personality issues and different line ups. I still support the bands that decided to continue without original members, why ? because it still gives me the opportunity to listen to and see live these bands. The current line up is very relevant and kicks ass live regardless of your sad outpourings. Thank god they did decide to continue and didnt wait for DDY to decide he was well enough to tour with them again becasue we would still be waiting. Without doubt their best recording days are behind them, but what a rich history of material they have to play live, so thank goodness they are still out there entertaining fans with their music.
Do yourself a favour and channel your energies into something you like rather than rambling on like a bitter and twisted individual who obviously has a major beef with the band.
I cant wait to get my hands on the live DVD, coupling the live shows of The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight should be quality and hopefully banish the shadow of a band who made the Kilroy Was Here recording.

Why would they still be waiting? Dennis has been touring every year since 2001 and his band is amazing.

[Everett]

Hmm when did bloomington become chicago????? I know your not that smart froy but you at least know geography right? RIGHT

Who is talking Bloomington? You stoned again.

Joilet is still a couple 100 miles away from chicago. Even i know that much.

[froy]

Hmm when did bloomington become chicago????? I know your not that smart froy but you at least know geography right? RIGHT

Who is talking Bloomington? You stoned again.

Joilet is still a couple 100 miles away from chicago. Even i know that much.

Yea about 25 miles

[Boomchild]

Froy, I very rarely post on this forum but you have forced me into a response. Why do you bother posting on here ? If you hate the band so much would you not be better placed being positive about a band you do like. Why the negativity, why the hatred ? Ive not had the opportunity to see the band very often as I live in Scotland but have been a fan since 1978. I loved the line up then and I love the line up now.
I cannot think of any other band that has been around for such a long time, that hasnt had personality issues and different line ups. I still support the bands that decided to continue without original members, why ? because it still gives me the opportunity to listen to and see live these bands. The current line up is very relevant and kicks ass live regardless of your sad outpourings. Thank god they did decide to continue and didnt wait for DDY to decide he was well enough to tour with them again becasue we would still be waiting. Without doubt their best recording days are behind them, but what a rich history of material they have to play live, so thank goodness they are still out there entertaining fans with their music.
Do yourself a favour and channel your energies into something you like rather than rambling on like a bitter and twisted individual who obviously has a major beef with the band.
I cant wait to get my hands on the live DVD, coupling the live shows of The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight should be quality and hopefully banish the shadow of a band who made the Kilroy Was Here recording.

Why would they still be waiting? Dennis has been touring every year since 2001 and his band is amazing.

I don't think they would have. But that's all speculation at this point. I will say this, if Dennis had no interest in touring then why would he go out and do all the solo appearances he has since the split? If you took the notion that "Dennis doesn't want to tour" then he would have just stayed home since the split. Maybe if JY, TS and CP gave Dennis the time he asked for and then went on without him because he went way past what he asked for maybe some people would see things differently.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Hmm when did bloomington become chicago????? I know your not that smart froy but you at least know geography right? RIGHT

Who is talking Bloomington? You stoned again.

Joilet is still a couple 100 miles away from chicago. Even i know that much.

Yea about 25 miles

Joliet is about 40 miles away from downtown Chicago (45 minutes to an hour's drive down I-55). From where I live, I can make it to downtown in less than half an hour from I-57 which goes into the Dan Ryan (1-94)

[pinkfloyd1973]

And FWIW....Bloomington is 135 miles away from Chicago, which is about 2 1/2 hours.

[ChicagoSTYX]

This is what happens when you tour yourself into the ground. I mean Styx comes around 2-3 times a year it seems.

It's what the current fan base wants? Every one of them goes every time right?

Yes we do and this will be #3 for me. And its not the last time for me.

So that's like fifty people then. Wow that sure puts butts in the seats.

51

[Everett]

This is what happens when you tour yourself into the ground. I mean Styx comes around 2-3 times a year it seems.

It's what the current fan base wants? Every one of them goes every time right?

Yes we do and this will be #3 for me. And its not the last time for me.

So that's like fifty people then. Wow that sure puts butts in the seats.

51

52

[totobob]

bottom line, in my opinion is that they could not work together again, which is a great pity. Mistakes made by both camps but as I fan I really dont want to take sides. All I can say is that Ive seen the current line up three times and was blown away by their performances each time as was the audience. I try not to let personality issues cloud my appreciation of what the band is doing live or in the studio. If you applied the I dont like scenario to many bands out there you wouldnt go and see many. Look at the way JSS was handled by Journey. Ozzy Osbourne being booted out of Sabbath way back as was David Byron by Uriah Heep. Only a few examples and my main point is why be consistently negative about a band if you are a fan, there are surely more deserving cases out there.

[Monker]

bottom line, in my opinion is that they could not work together again, which is a great pity. Mistakes made by both camps but as I fan I really dont want to take sides. All I can say is that Ive seen the current line up three times and was blown away by their performances each time as was the audience. I try not to let personality issues cloud my appreciation of what the band is doing live or in the studio. If you applied the I dont like scenario to many bands out there you wouldnt go and see many. Look at the way JSS was handled by Journey. Ozzy Osbourne being booted out of Sabbath way back as was David Byron by Uriah Heep. Only a few examples and my main point is why be consistently negative about a band if you are a fan, there are surely more deserving cases out there.

Actually, if you applied "I don't like the band because of replacement singers", you wouldn't like Styx after Tommy replaced JC. The entire argument is a big hypocrisy.

[Babyblue]

This is what happens when you tour yourself into the ground. I mean Styx comes around 2-3 times a year it seems.

]


They look at cities as ATMS stop in get a deposit and leave,

So you going to see them Fred??????????????????

Not going to see this embarrassment ever, These shows are meaningless . Low budget cover band.

Not bad at all i enjoy it. So you will not ever go with me to see them?????????????

Not unless Dennis is in the drivers seat,

Well never say i did not try and get you to go with me

[Babyblue]

As for the Baron, Im in over my head !! What in the name of god does that mean. Have I started posting into a secret society ? I thought this was a message board about Styx. Froys posts dont bother me, I do have a life, I just dont get the constant bad mouthing. Please enlighten me, am I missing something from the dim and distant past of this board.

You are not missing anything what you see is what you get here. Glad you like the new Styx. I can't wait for the DVD myself.

[froy]

And FWIW....Bloomington is 135 miles away from Chicago, which is about 2 1/2 hours.

Who cares about Bloomington?

[froy]

"Monker"

Actually, if you applied "I don't like the band because of replacement singers",

No it's the I don't like the band because of replacement chipmunks..

[Babyblue]

"Monker"

Actually, if you applied "I don't like the band because of replacement singers",

No it's the I don't like the band because of replacement chipmunks..

I am just shaking my head at you fred.

[Baron Von Bielski]

As for the Baron, Im in over my head !! What in the name of god does that mean. Have I started posting into a secret society ? I thought this was a message board about Styx. Froys posts dont bother me, I do have a life, I just dont get the constant bad mouthing. Please enlighten me, am I missing something from the dim and distant past of this board.

As for me? Oh and God should be capitalized. My point was that if you're gonna "battle" with Froy, you better bring a lunch. He is relentless and it's pointless to call him out. If you don't "get" the constant bad mouthing as you so put it... then don't read it. We're all entitled to our opinion whether people agree or not. And the message board is about Styx... thank you so much for reminding us. Some of us prefer DDY over Gowan. Some of us can't enjoy a DDY penned song performed by someone who sings in the wrong key. It wouldn't bother me if he sang his own stuff or even his songs off of Big Bang Theory. He's also fine as a background vocalist, but that's it. DDY is simply irreplaceable.

[gr8dane]

"Monker"

Actually, if you applied "I don't like the band because of replacement singers",

No it's the I don't like the band because of replacement chipmunks..

So Dennis is a chipmunk too?

[Monker]

As for the Baron, Im in over my head !! What in the name of god does that mean. Have I started posting into a secret society ? I thought this was a message board about Styx. Froys posts dont bother me, I do have a life, I just dont get the constant bad mouthing. Please enlighten me, am I missing something from the dim and distant past of this board.

As for me? Oh and God should be capitalized. My point was that if you're gonna "battle" with Froy, you better bring a lunch. He is relentless and it's pointless to call him out. If you don't "get" the constant bad mouthing as you so put it... then don't read it. We're all entitled to our opinion whether people agree or not. And the message board is about Styx... thank you so much for reminding us. Some of us prefer DDY over Gowan. Some of us can't enjoy a DDY penned song performed by someone who sings in the wrong key. It wouldn't bother me if he sang his own stuff or even his songs off of Big Bang Theory. He's also fine as a background vocalist, but that's it. DDY is simply irreplaceable.

First of all, as others have said, he is not singing "off key". You just don't like his voice. Whatever.

Second....DDY HAS been replaced. He may be irreplaceable to YOU, in YOUR opinion....but the fact is he HAS been replaced, whether you like it or not.

People agreeing or disagreeing about the above is not the problem. The problem is some people just can't get over the fact that DDY will never be a part of Styx again and have to bitch and moan about it relentlessly. THAT is what is going on.

None of you whiners wants to talk about the music of Styx, or even Dennis. You whiners start a thread about "Paradise" and it lasts about 5 posts. You start a "Lets bitch about Styx ticket sales" and it goes on forever because you can't shut the fuck up about the Styx bitching.

[Boomchild]

bottom line, in my opinion is that they could not work together again, which is a great pity. Mistakes made by both camps but as I fan I really dont want to take sides. All I can say is that Ive seen the current line up three times and was blown away by their performances each time as was the audience. I try not to let personality issues cloud my appreciation of what the band is doing live or in the studio. If you applied the I dont like scenario to many bands out there you wouldnt go and see many. Look at the way JSS was handled by Journey. Ozzy Osbourne being booted out of Sabbath way back as was David Byron by Uriah Heep. Only a few examples and my main point is why be consistently negative about a band if you are a fan, there are surely more deserving cases out there.

The point that I think you are missing is that it is possible that some may not care for this incarnation of the band regardless of the personalities and politics surrounding it all. In my case, I started out with an open mind towards the new line up and after giving it a go I found the band that was Styx was now just a shell. The icing on the cake so to speak was the attitude Dennis' former band mates have had that drove me even further away. They could take the position Dennis has which is, if you don't have something good to say then don't say anything at all. He has focused on the positive things about working together instead of character assassination as some of his former band mates have. I am consistently negative toward the current line up because I am not a fan of it. That doesn't mean that as a whole I am not a fan. I'm a fan of what truly was Styx which included Dennis. Not all bands with replacements can be looked at the same way. For me it's simply that there was a very unique chemistry between the three of them that made Styx what it was and anything short of that loses the magic.

[pinkfloyd1973]

And FWIW....Bloomington is 135 miles away from Chicago, which is about 2 1/2 hours.

Who cares about Bloomington?

[totobob]

Baron, your sarcasm is marvellous. Your use of dramatic comments ridiculous. "In over your head" "do battle with" for goodness sake, its a notice board. Your comment that DDY is irreplacable is factually incorrect. He IS replaceable and thousands upon thousands of fans that have seen the current line up would share that opinion. Someone else posted that the DDY motto is "if you dont have something good to say then you shouldnt say anything at all". Well that statement certainly has not been endorsed on this board.

One final comment I would make is that I have been a fan, as I said since 1978 but many of my friends didnt like the band , because of DDY. They felt he was too refined and that he should be on broadway not fronting a rock band. For years I defended him as I thought the guy was superb, but the fact is some of these friends now love the band because he is not in it. Now I would be happy with either line up of the band, because to me its still Styx. The point I would make though is, are they wrong and misguided, or are they just giving their opinion which they are perfectly entitled to.

[Archetype]

Baron, your sarcasm is marvellous. Your use of dramatic comments ridiculous. "In over your head" "do battle with" for goodness sake, its a notice board. Your comment that DDY is irreplacable is factually incorrect. He IS replaceable and thousands upon thousands of fans that have seen the current line up would share that opinion. Someone else posted that the DDY motto is "if you dont have something good to say then you shouldnt say anything at all". Well that statement certainly has not been endorsed on this board.

One final comment I would make is that I have been a fan, as I said since 1978 but many of my friends didnt like the band , because of DDY. They felt he was too refined and that he should be on broadway not fronting a rock band. For years I defended him as I thought the guy was superb, but the fact is some of these friends now love the band because he is not in it. Now I would be happy with either line up of the band, because to me its still Styx. The point I would make though is, are they wrong and misguided, or are they just giving their opinion which they are perfectly entitled to.

I love the refined dynamics of Dennis. But then again, I'm also the same person who won't drink beer when a nice merlot is available.

[masque]

they are all a bunch of damn old men enjoying the ability to jam a bit towards the end of their careers.......if DDY were back with styx and they could sell 6000 to 8000 tickets per night instead of 1500-3000 what difference does it make now??? they will never again be able to headline the enormodomes like they did in their heyday and thats OK people.

if DDY were back they would still be opening for def lep and journey on package tours......that is just the industry these days.......so would that make us all feel better if they had the middle slot instead of the first slot?

is everyone pissed when they co-headline with Yes and other bands too?

i have never understood how a band's popularity somehow validates your love for that band......stand on your own and either love em or hate em....I guess it just doesnt matter to me as one of my faves of all time is king's x.......best band you have never heard of and HIGHLY respected but never made it big.....but in no way lessens their appeal to me....so i dont get the "how embarassing it is for styx to open for foreigner" or "styx cant sell out in their home town" bullshit. so freaking what. they are obviously selling enough tickets for some promoter somewhere to make money off of it....plain and simple.

[brywool]

i have never understood how a band's popularity somehow validates your love for that band..

Wow, a voice of reason. Dude, u sure you're in the right place???

Yes, KingsX rocks. They should be bigger than they are.

[Baron Von Bielski]

As for the Baron, Im in over my head !! What in the name of god does that mean. Have I started posting into a secret society ? I thought this was a message board about Styx. Froys posts dont bother me, I do have a life, I just dont get the constant bad mouthing. Please enlighten me, am I missing something from the dim and distant past of this board.

As for me? Oh and God should be capitalized. My point was that if you're gonna "battle" with Froy, you better bring a lunch. He is relentless and it's pointless to call him out. If you don't "get" the constant bad mouthing as you so put it... then don't read it. We're all entitled to our opinion whether people agree or not. And the message board is about Styx... thank you so much for reminding us. Some of us prefer DDY over Gowan. Some of us can't enjoy a DDY penned song performed by someone who sings in the wrong key. It wouldn't bother me if he sang his own stuff or even his songs off of Big Bang Theory. He's also fine as a background vocalist, but that's it. DDY is simply irreplaceable.

First of all, as others have said, he is not singing "off key". You just don't like his voice. Whatever.

Second....DDY HAS been replaced. He may be irreplaceable to YOU, in YOUR opinion....but the fact is he HAS been replaced, whether you like it or not.

People agreeing or disagreeing about the above is not the problem. The problem is some people just can't get over the fact that DDY will never be a part of Styx again and have to bitch and moan about it relentlessly. THAT is what is going on.

None of you whiners wants to talk about the music of Styx, or even Dennis. You whiners start a thread about "Paradise" and it lasts about 5 posts. You start a "Lets bitch about Styx ticket sales" and it goes on forever because you can't shut the fuck up about the Styx bitching.

Well, thanks for responding totobob... I didn't realize it was you. I said wrong key, not off key. He is singing in a key, just not the right one for the song and Styx apparently doesn't now how to change the key they play in to complement his voice. Instead they drop songs from the setlist... my advice, drop the rest. The songs will never work. It would make more sense if Tommy sang the DDY songs in the setlist. He already sings most of them anyways.

Oh, and we'll bitch and whine to our hearts content. It's funny though that it pisses you off and kinda sad. We talk about the music of Styx plenty. If we do start a thread dealing with DDY or his time in Styx then we have people like yourself come in and do some of your own bitching and whining. It goes both ways and it has. Hey Pot, I'm Kettle... how ya doin'?

[gr8dane]

As for the Baron, Im in over my head !! What in the name of god does that mean. Have I started posting into a secret society ? I thought this was a message board about Styx. Froys posts dont bother me, I do have a life, I just dont get the constant bad mouthing. Please enlighten me, am I missing something from the dim and distant past of this board.

As for me? Oh and God should be capitalized. My point was that if you're gonna "battle" with Froy, you better bring a lunch. He is relentless and it's pointless to call him out. If you don't "get" the constant bad mouthing as you so put it... then don't read it. We're all entitled to our opinion whether people agree or not. And the message board is about Styx... thank you so much for reminding us. Some of us prefer DDY over Gowan. Some of us can't enjoy a DDY penned song performed by someone who sings in the wrong key. It wouldn't bother me if he sang his own stuff or even his songs off of Big Bang Theory. He's also fine as a background vocalist, but that's it. DDY is simply irreplaceable.

First of all, as others have said, he is not singing "off key". You just don't like his voice. Whatever.

Second....DDY HAS been replaced. He may be irreplaceable to YOU, in YOUR opinion....but the fact is he HAS been replaced, whether you like it or not.

People agreeing or disagreeing about the above is not the problem. The problem is some people just can't get over the fact that DDY will never be a part of Styx again and have to bitch and moan about it relentlessly. THAT is what is going on.

None of you whiners wants to talk about the music of Styx, or even Dennis. You whiners start a thread about "Paradise" and it lasts about 5 posts. You start a "Lets bitch about Styx ticket sales" and it goes on forever because you can't shut the fuck up about the Styx bitching.

Well, thanks for responding totobob... I didn't realize it was you. I said wrong key, not off key. He is singing in a key, just not the right one for the song and Styx apparently doesn't now how to change the key they play in to complement his voice. Instead they drop songs from the setlist... my advice, drop the rest. The songs will never work. It would make more sense if Tommy sang the DDY songs in the setlist. He already sings most of them anyways.

Oh, and we'll bitch and whine to our hearts content. It's funny though that it pisses you off and kinda sad. We talk about the music of Styx plenty. If we do start a thread dealing with DDY or his time in Styx then we have people like yourself come in and do some of your own bitching and whining. It goes both ways and it has. Hey Pot, I'm Kettle... how ya doin'?

There's gotta be a few polls worth at least,in this response alone.
I only get one week of a year,maybe I should use here.
How ya doin'?

[Boomchild]

Baron, your sarcasm is marvellous. Your use of dramatic comments ridiculous. "In over your head" "do battle with" for goodness sake, its a notice board. Your comment that DDY is irreplacable is factually incorrect. He IS replaceable and thousands upon thousands of fans that have seen the current line up would share that opinion. Someone else posted that the DDY motto is "if you dont have something good to say then you shouldnt say anything at all". Well that statement certainly has not been endorsed on this board.

One final comment I would make is that I have been a fan, as I said since 1978 but many of my friends didnt like the band , because of DDY. They felt he was too refined and that he should be on broadway not fronting a rock band. For years I defended him as I thought the guy was superb, but the fact is some of these friends now love the band because he is not in it. Now I would be happy with either line up of the band, because to me its still Styx. The point I would make though is, are they wrong and misguided, or are they just giving their opinion which they are perfectly entitled to.

I just love how people take the term "irreplaceable" so literally. Sure anyone could be physically replaced in band. When speaking about Dennis being irreplaceable it's in the context of the band losing the dynamics it once had not that he physically can't be booted. For as many that like the current line up their are just as many that prefer the prior line up and I am not just speaking about just those here.

[Boomchild]

they are all a bunch of damn old men enjoying the ability to jam a bit towards the end of their careers.......if DDY were back with styx and they could sell 6000 to 8000 tickets per night instead of 1500-3000 what difference does it make now??? they will never again be able to headline the enormodomes like they did in their heyday and thats OK people.

if DDY were back they would still be opening for def lep and journey on package tours......that is just the industry these days.......so would that make us all feel better if they had the middle slot instead of the first slot?

is everyone pissed when they co-headline with Yes and other bands too?

i have never understood how a band's popularity somehow validates your love for that band......stand on your own and either love em or hate em....I guess it just doesnt matter to me as one of my faves of all time is king's x.......best band you have never heard of and HIGHLY respected but never made it big.....but in no way lessens their appeal to me....so i dont get the "how embarassing it is for styx to open for foreigner" or "styx cant sell out in their home town" bullshit. so freaking what. they are obviously selling enough tickets for some promoter somewhere to make money off of it....plain and simple.

Personally, the bands popularity never validated my love for the band. In fact, back in the day more of my friends were not into Styx as I was. It never mattered to me the size of the venue or the size of the crowd. It was and is about the music and this line up doesn't hold a candle to the Styx of the past.