Zino,
If you read through the threads on this site you'll get a pretty good idea about the state of the band. Skip over the ones that have nothing to do about Styx, you can usually tell by the title or first post.
Here's a brief update for you, but you would do better by reading through the threads. I'll be corrected if I am too far off base. (Usually on a lline by line basis) Also, you should talk to Froy about our issues with spelling
Classic Styx (With Dennis) split during the making of BNW. During that album's tour, Chuck took a reduced roll due to his continuing battle with HIV. He continues to play at many of the shows, but only plays on 4 songs or so. He was replaced by Glen Burtnik. Dennis also was fighting a battle with a virus that made him sensitive to light (Epstein Barr Syndrome) and was replaced with Lawrence Gowan. - It is now known that Dennis was forced out of the band due to band dynamics and a falling out between him and the other members.
Larry's spinning keyboard is his gimmick. It happens because of his high use of technology that allows him to control his keyboard sounds through the use of midi. Technology no longer requires him to be locked behind a pile of keyboards like in the old days. It also makes it easier to move around the stage and be more interactive with the fans than having to be running behind a keyboard stack. It's easy to accept and easy to make fun of, but Tommy and JY clearly wanted a keyboard player that was more active than Dennis was in the past. Larry also takes criticism if for no other reason than he replaced Dennis. Also because, his voice is different than Dennis' and some have issues that he is ruining Dennis' songs.
Two years ago, Glen left Styx to be at home with his family and because he just didn't want to tour 150 days a year. Welcome former Baby's bassist Ricky Phillips, setting the current Styx lineup of JY, Tommy, Todd, Ricky & Larry with Chuck being at many of the shows.
To further complicate matters, Dennis is better and touring playing the Styx music he wrote. Glen has decided to return to do some touring and is playing with Dennis at select shows.
Both Styx and DDY/Glen are great shows. Styx plays the harder edge of Styx music and DDY/Glen are playing Dennis' and Glen's music. Together you could get a 4 hour concert with little duplication of songs.
Currently there are several camps of fans: Dennis is Styx - Tommy/JY/Chuck are Styx - & hey I'm tired of the politics, lets enjoy the music whil we can.
The Boycot Styx threads you are seeing is Froy's attempt to bring STyx to their knees by getting people that have not backed the current Styx lineup and feel that they are about to recreate the STYX universe by not going to their shows.
Quick synopsis, but there it is. Read the back posts, they are entertaining and informative...
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:44 am
