MR

Here's a message I posted on Styxworld, what do you all think?

Hi All,

Never shy of controversy, I'd like to run this past all members........I've been a little bored the past few days and I've been in and out of Styx forums.....It amazes me how many DDY hangers on there are at these places. DDY did this and DDY is the best and Styx are no more without him, on and on it goes...Melodic Rock is a DDY heaven, nobody dare speak out of turn about the guy!

I appreciate this site is all things Styx but does it have to include DDY......You see Styx are Young, Shaw, Gowan, Phillips, Panozzo and Sucherman in no particular order as they all contribute 100% to the band, Dennis is long gone, he's out of here period.

This is what I think...It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it, some of you may not like it but hey, that's my freedom of speech...........................

First of all Styx is associated with Dennis Deyoung a founding member, like all bands who ditch a particular member along the way. The guy contributed an awful lot to the Styx bandwagon.....but that was way back in the 70's, 80's and a little trickle in the 90's. Cyclorama was the first serious attempt to shake off the DDY influence and h*ll did it do that........a magnificent album, when we look back at their back catalogue this album will feature high on their list, we just don't give it enough credit, then followed a covers album which the band pulled off admirably ....it's a covers album and is not to be taken that seriously in the overall picture of things, but it Rocks big time.

Now here's the punch line............I think Styx should ditch the band name..........Holy Sh*t I imagine some of you are thinking now but there's a good reason for this, Dennis is wanting his share from a band that is keeping the songs rollin'.......songs perhaps we've grown tired of, I for one would love a concert full of BBT and Cyclorama, I'd leave happy. Over here in the UK the vast majority of 'I Remember Styx.....Babe' people would pick there ears up at a new and dynamic band from the states......let's all agree on this, the band are with it totally now and the new teenage group of fans think they're cool dudes.

Play a few of the old hit's, except the DDY songs, he'll cover these on his Canadian Tour, cut him out totally........those that miss these songs, play them on vinyl at home! Styx albeit a great name for a band........get rid of the name and think of a new one for the band.......... Young/Shaw project or SZ2, I'd bet this change would generate 10 fold the interest in the band and make them the new U2 of the States.

Lets' take a vote, get off the fence on this one and let Styxworld know where you stand..........DDY follower or new band convert, There's close on 1000 members so let's put this one to bed on a vote....Yes or No to DDY getting a say on Styxworld, those of you who think a new name would be good post your ideas now!

Move on, he's no longer a member and the new line up is A1.........show your true colours Styx fans!

Ian

Nice thoughts all of them, I just dont think a band playing Classic Rock today can make it big....no Santana moments out there to be had.

But, I wouldnt mind seeing them try......it is the only way they'll shake free from Babe, Best of Times etc.

Lets see........a name ?

Nostalstyx
NotStyx
Revival
Rock-n-cockroaches
The Survivors
Larry and the vocalists
A real good drummer and the Oldguys
Granparock

Of course I am kidding ( in case the Journey guys stop by to read this )
Dont know what a good name would be.....maybe The Phoenix....with a photo like that on Styx I, with the boys rising from the flames ????

Hey Ian

Never shy of controversy, I'd like to run this past all members........I've been a little bored the past few days and I've been in and out of Styx forums.....It amazes me how many DDY hangers on there are at these places. DDY did this and DDY is the best and Styx are no more without him, on and on it goes...Melodic Rock is a DDY heaven, nobody dare speak out of turn about the guy!

Melodic Rock is a DDY heaven - LOL That's one of the cutest things that I read

Oh there's a LOT of people on this forum that totally speak "out of turn" about the guy and then some of "us" DeYoungians stick up for him, no biggie. He had a lot of faults when he was in the group, just read over the old posts about it. Same goes for the other members that have been bashed on here and people stuck up for them too. Everyone has a right to their opinion and how they feel about current and former members of any band.

I don't know if they'd make it without the name. Fans old and new would want to hear the hits that made Styx famous. This is the same for all the bands that no longer have their original members, none of them changed their names.

Yeh, I know the Styx name has history but it's a bit tarnished, it's time for a move. Listen I'm not having a go a DDY but he's history and you all know that, but as long as the Styx name remains, they'll never shake him....will they?

Given their ages, name recognition is something they need. They became popular at a time when bands were "faceless". They are simply put, a nostalgia band. Nothing wrong with that.

It's a dead horse argument. Some, like you say, kill the DDY songs and play mostly new material. Others say keep the songs they are Styx songs. Some say Gowan does them justice, others say not a chance. Here we go round the mulberry bush.

I say they keep the name. I say if they changed it they would lose more of an already dwindling fan base. Not taking anything away from their sizable collective talents. It's my perception of reality. Neither DDY nor Styx can make it without relying on their tried and true hits, though it would be nice to have each incorporate more new music into their set lists.

As always, go see who you like. Far too quickly we won't be able to see any of them.

try a bit harder classic, they're bad attempts at a name and you know it!

styxman wrote:Yeh, I know the Styx name has history but it's a bit tarnished, it's time for a move. Listen I'm not having a go a DDY but he's history and you all know that, but as long as the Styx name remains, they'll never shake him....will they?

And he won't shake them. That's reality. You take what you can live with and you make lemonade out of lemons.

Styxman says:

Yeh, I know the Styx name has history but it's a bit tarnished, it's time for a move. Listen I'm not having a go a DDY but he's history and you all know that, but as long as the Styx name remains, they'll never shake him....will they?

All they need to do is take a break from touring and start out fresh. Add a few new songs, change the setlist, bring out a few "gems" of the past, promote the hell out of the "new" concert and they'll be on a roll.

I'm pretty sure the current line-up has shook him with the Styx name. The latest interviews have been a lot better, no bashing and promoting BBT and their concerts.

A lot of people on this board have the best of both worlds, well actually all the worlds - LOL They get to see/hear Styx, Dennis and even Glen in concerts.

mind you I like notstyx........because that's what I'm trying to get over, move on, get rid of the past!

Performing for the first time it's Notstyx..........to an audience of 50,000, 48,000 of them turning up to see just who they are!
Now that's a new U2!

Actually, I kind of Liked "The Phoenix"........fits them to a tee. that was the only serious suggestion.

how about "One with Everything" that's a cool name

styxman wrote:mind you I like notstyx........because that's what I'm trying to get over, move on, get rid of the past!

Performing for the first time it's Notstyx..........to an audience of 50,000, 48,000 of them turning up to see just who they are!
Now that's a new U2!

That's a cool fantasy. Totally implausible, but a cool fantasy nonetheless.

Sadie,

I don't think they've got a dwindling fan base, look at Toto, megga small in the overall picture but look at their European fan base, this is where Styx or the new name could start a fresh......Blades/Shaw have a good reputation in Europe so why not Young/Shaw project......is Styx cool or is it old hat, that's the question! You've answered it by saying a dwindling fan base, so hell why not change?

Suite, they got a two month break from touring, so let's see what happens!

styxman wrote:Sadie,

I don't think they've got a dwindling fan base, look at Toto, megga small in the overall picture but look at their European fan base, this is where Styx or the new name could start a fresh......Blades/Shaw have a good reputation in Europe so why not Young/Shaw project......is Styx cool or is it old hat, that's the question! You've answered it by saying a dwindling fan base, so hell why not change?

By continuing on the never ending tour, trust me...they have a dwindling fan base...especially here in the States. The name may be a hindrance now, but if they lose that...what would draw a crowd of any size in? What could they promote themselves as? Seriously. Let them use the assets they have.

IN most peoples eyes...Styx is a representation of their youth. Whether that's cool or not remains to be seen

styxman says:

I don't think they've got a dwindling fan base, look at Toto, megga small in the overall picture but look at their European fan base, this is where Styx or the new name could start a fresh......Blades/Shaw have a good reputation in Europe so why not Young/Shaw project......is Styx cool or is it old hat, that's the question! You've answered it by saying a dwindling fan base, so hell why not change?

Styxman, Styx has dwindled BIG time in the UK. The promoter had to have lost over $200,000 for the 5 shows out there. The ticket sales for those 5 shows are terrible, I actually feel bad, I sincerely do.

I'll give you one example: Colston Hall/Bristol, England Capacity 1,200, tickets sold 519 @ 26.00 each (?) don't know if that's dollars or pounds.

I don't know if the name changed would have mattered in 1999 or if will matter now.

I'm looking forward to the Shaw/Blades cd, I hope they promote their cd and go on the road for a little tour

styxman says:

Suite, they got a two month break from touring, so let's see what happens!

Yes, hopefully they'll revamp the set list and add new songs. I think it would be a win-win situation for them, fans and promoters. Just my opinion.

Sadie, I agree Styx is one h*ll of a name but I still think it's a hindrance. I for one would get use to a new name and still follow them........Foolin' yourself and BCM could still be played without royalties to DDY, so that'll do me!

styxman wrote:Sadie, I agree Styx is one h*ll of a name but I still think it's a hindrance. I for one would get use to a new name and still follow them........Foolin' yourself and BCM could still be played without royalties to DDY, so that'll do me!

Right but you aren't the average fan. Most people do remember them from their heyday. Since most of their well known songs from that day included DDY, they wouldn't be able to pull much of a draw. And before you think I am not fond of their back catalog minus DDY, trust me I am. I'm just being realistic. Without their well known songs they won't have much of an audience. Like it or not.

Suite, The UK was always going to be a loss making exercise but bigger next time....we're so thankful they came over unlike Journey and Chicago who sell well but can't be arsed to tour over here......next time they'll break even and with a new name they'd probably gain a few more!

Sadie, I go way back to '78. got a fan club letter from CA in '79, lost my way a bit after Kilroy but bounced back in on playing Cyclorama.......that's such a good album compared with some of the past stuff.

styxman says:

Suite, The UK was always going to be a loss making exercise but bigger next time....

Why is that? Seriously, why?

we're so thankful they came over unlike Journey and Chicago who sell well but can't be arsed to tour over here......next time they'll break even and with a new name they'd probably gain a few more!

Journey will be going to the UK in 2006. I thought they already had a date in Europe for next year ???

I think that Styx needs to be promoted better, probably by management or of course their record company.

Boat on ther River was penned by Shaw..right,? They go mad for that now, so still there'd be a few great old classics involved in the new set.

styxman wrote:Sadie, I go way back to '78. got a fan club letter from CA in '79, lost my way a bit after Kilroy but bounced back in on playing Cyclorama.......that's such a good album compared with some of the past stuff.

I go back to 77 myself. I'm glad you like Cyclo. Not a particular favorite of mine, however I do like a few of the songs on it

Suite,

If you'd heard the talk after the concerts in the UK, for everyone attending I'd guess this would be tripled on their return, through word of mouth.....seriously. Journey in 2006, news to me but if so great nes!

You know we always regress back to the songs we like, at times it get's to be too much, hanging on to memories and all that, but Cyclo...said hey....Styx have changed, let's look to the future......relying on back catalogue material can be oh so boring.

I go way back to 1972....................

Oh, I love "Boat on the River", yes a very popular song in Europe!!

Suite,
If you'd heard the talk after the concerts in the UK, for everyone attending I'd guess this would be tripled on their return, through word of mouth.....seriously. Journey in 2006, news to me but if so great nes!

Maybe it wasn't promoted heavy in the UK, which is too bad. I didn't see interviews or articles from the UK so I don't know how much promotion they got.

I heard about Journey in UK, it's probably just talk, but you never know. I believe my source on that one.

Suite,

Promotion.......you're totally right, what a crap....utterley crap promotion job their so called promotors did in the UK.

Suite,

Promotion.......you're totally right, what a crap....utterley crap promotion job their so called promotors did in the UK.

styxman wrote:You know we always regress back to the songs we like, at times it get's to be too much, hanging on to memories and all that, but Cyclo...said hey....Styx have changed, let's look to the future......relying on back catalogue material can be oh so boring.

It may have said that...however it didn't reach a large enough audience. I'm not arguing with your beliefs. I think it's great you want new things from them. I just don't think the majority of people who know them do.

At what point do we accept what is, from what we want?

styxman says:

You know we always regress back to the songs we like, at times it get's to be too much, hanging on to memories and all that, but Cyclo...said hey....Styx have changed, let's look to the future......relying on back catalogue material can be oh so boring.

Well for me personally, I do hang on to my memories, I love my memories. I really had a great life and I can't complain at all. I love to go back to the music that made me happy. I love going to the concerts and hearing that music live!! I love hearing new music too, but the songs that I grew up with are the best. Ask Sadie and Bugsy when I hear "Lady" at a Dennis concert - LOL

Hopefully Styx will have a new cd out for fans like you, new music, new material, new songs for the show

Promotion.......you're totally right, what a crap....utterley crap promotion job their so called promotors did in the UK.

I personally think that's the biggest problem with any of these types of bands, is the promotion. It's sad!!