MR

When you are young and looking for success, you can put up with crap to get there. This can take a tremendous toll on a person especially when you are working as hard as this band did from 1975-1983. Dennis had his issues in 1977 with needing to see a doctor and finally deciding to take his family on the road. This reminds me of the part in Spinal Tap when David St. Hubbins girlfriend shows up on the road and suddenly the seams start to tear between David and Nigel. Dennis as his nature would be to write ballads decides to present Babe to the band in 1979. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the others heard this song and I hope this is covered in Sterlings book. JY and Tommy no doubt had to bend over to allow this song to be on the record along with First Time. Why they let this happen, who knows and I would be curious what kind of arrangement the band had at the time. Obviously all five members had a say in band decisions. Dennis must have been really persuasive. You can't argue with the success that did come as Babe became a #1 song and made a ton of money for these guys. At some point in '79 when they all got together at the Holiday Inn to toss Dennis out of the band, they decided the alternatives were not going to bring them where they wanted to go. Tommy at this point says Dennis came back angry and basically took control of the band. So through PT and KWH Dennis has the lead and they make a ton of money. JY was for sure playing a role in this band that he never envisioned by this time and same with Tommy but when you are making a ton of money you put up with it. I liken it to a job that I have where you are getting paid great but you stuggle daily with doing it. There comes a point when you say enough of this BS and go on to something else, money or not. JY has stated when he was younger, he was willing to put up with contstant crap. Now at his age and in this day where these guys are not going to sell millions of CD's or be a headline act, why bother putting up with this shit. The opportunity to go out and play music which is what he loves to do and record once in awhile without all the hassle would be attractive to me to. He busted his tail all of those years and I think deserves a chance to be happy.

Not saying he doesn't deserve a chance to be happy. Why isn't he? Dennis isn't in the band anymore. You make your own happiness. It's in his nature to be a bittter old man. I wish him well though and hope he finds what he's looking for.

[Tommy at this point says Dennis came back angry and basically took control of the band.]

Yeah. I guess he should have been doing friggin' cartwheels that he got fired. Who wouldn't be angry? Anyone would be angry. Tommy was only in the band for 4 years at that point and starts bitching about Dennis and his slow songs. "Why'd they let that happen"? What was the reason that "Never Say Never" and "Boat on the river" were on that album?! They were far from rocking. As for J.Y. "working his ass off for Styx" I think Dennis worked just as hard if not harder (he did write and sing more songs and therefore had to sing more in concert).
I think we all work with people we don't like. But at the end of the day you don't have to go home with them.

Dunk wrote:[Tommy at this point says Dennis came back angry and basically took control of the band.]

Yeah. I guess he should have been doing friggin' cartwheels that he got fired. Who wouldn't be angry? Anyone would be angry. Tommy was only in the band for 4 years at that point and starts bitching about Dennis and his slow songs. "Why'd they let that happen"? What was the reason that "Never Say Never" and "Boat on the river" were on that album?! They were far from rocking. As for J.Y. "working his ass off for Styx" I think Dennis worked just as hard if not harder (he did write and sing more songs and therefore had to sing more in concert).
I think we all work with people we don't like. But at the end of the day you don't have to go home with them.

Excellent first post! Bravo!

Thanks piecesofeight! I've been lurking here for a while and pretty much felt compelled to get that out. Who knows maybe Dennis was a prick to work with. As a fan that wasn't my concern, and I could have cared less. I liked his songs, his voice and his keyboard work. I liked Styx because of the various styles of music. They had it all under 1 roof. You could go from a rock song, to a ballad, to a folk-rock song and back again being assured you're gonna get something everyone likesand you wouldn't get bored I love Boat on the river. But honestly it doesn't rock. One could argue that at least Babe and First time have guitar solos in them.

Dunk wrote:[Tommy at this point says Dennis came back angry and basically took control of the band.]

Yeah. I guess he should have been doing friggin' cartwheels that he got fired. Who wouldn't be angry? Anyone would be angry. Tommy was only in the band for 4 years at that point and starts bitching about Dennis and his slow songs. "Why'd they let that happen"? What was the reason that "Never Say Never" and "Boat on the river" were on that album?! They were far from rocking. As for J.Y. "working his ass off for Styx" I think Dennis worked just as hard if not harder (he did write and sing more songs and therefore had to sing more in concert).
I think we all work with people we don't like. But at the end of the day you don't have to go home with them.

Did I say he should have been happy with being fired? Maybe he could have gotten the hint that there were FIVE members in Styx and not ONE that tells the rest what to do. Dennis' actions I believe ruined what could have been something really special that lasted for years. A group of guys that could have produced many more great songs together instead of being forced to break up and do their own thing. Oh I'm sure Tommy and JY were not always the easiest to work with either but one man took control and it was that person that brought down a great band in the early '80's.

Some people here just refuse to try and understand what the rest of the band may have gone through. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter because they did make some wonderful music together. I just think there was a missed opportunity mainly due to one person being selfish.

You know, a lot of people say that the success of Styx was the culmination of all 5 guys and not just Dennis. Well, it was the same for what ruined them. No one but those 5 guys really knows what went on behind the scenes. If they were able to all rally together and fire Dennis in 1979. How in the hell was he able to come back after being re-hired and take control of the band?? Seems to me he would have been kept on a very short leash if he were indeed that difficult. Really what were Tommy and J.Y. bringing to the table between 79-80? Dennis came back and out sprang the concept for Paradise Theater, one of their highest charting and biggest records as well their largest tour. What exactly were Tommy and J.Y. offering up? Better yet how hard were they trying to prevent it? If they never let Dennis back in 79 what would have been the outcome from that? How far would Styx have gone and who would people be blaming today for what ruined them? [/quote]

Grotelul wrote:Some people here just refuse to try and understand what the rest of the band may have gone through. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter because they did make some wonderful music together. I just think there was a missed opportunity mainly due to one person being selfish.

Oh, Grotelul...lol

I feel the pain of which you are about to endure.

Grotelul wrote:When you are young and looking for success, you can put up with crap to get there. This can take a tremendous toll on a person especially when you are working as hard as this band did from 1975-1983. Dennis had his issues in 1977 with needing to see a doctor and finally deciding to take his family on the road. This reminds me of the part in Spinal Tap when David St. Hubbins girlfriend shows up on the road and suddenly the seams start to tear between David and Nigel. Dennis as his nature would be to write ballads decides to present Babe to the band in 1979. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when the others heard this song and I hope this is covered in Sterlings book. JY and Tommy no doubt had to bend over to allow this song to be on the record along with First Time. Why they let this happen, who knows and I would be curious what kind of arrangement the band had at the time. Obviously all five members had a say in band decisions. Dennis must have been really persuasive. You can't argue with the success that did come as Babe became a #1 song and made a ton of money for these guys. At some point in '79 when they all got together at the Holiday Inn to toss Dennis out of the band, they decided the alternatives were not going to bring them where they wanted to go. Tommy at this point says Dennis came back angry and basically took control of the band. So through PT and KWH Dennis has the lead and they make a ton of money. JY was for sure playing a role in this band that he never envisioned by this time and same with Tommy but when you are making a ton of money you put up with it. I liken it to a job that I have where you are getting paid great but you stuggle daily with doing it. There comes a point when you say enough of this BS and go on to something else, money or not. JY has stated when he was younger, he was willing to put up with contstant crap. Now at his age and in this day where these guys are not going to sell millions of CD's or be a headline act, why bother putting up with this shit. The opportunity to go out and play music which is what he loves to do and record once in awhile without all the hassle would be attractive to me to. He busted his tail all of those years and I think deserves a chance to be happy.

Great post.

Dunk wrote:You know, a lot of people say that the success of Styx was the culmination of all 5 guys and not just Dennis. Well, it was the same for what ruined them. No one but those 5 guys really knows what went on behind the scenes. If they were able to all rally together and fire Dennis in 1979. How in the hell was he able to come back after being re-hired and take control of the band?? Seems to me he would have been kept on a very short leash if he were indeed that difficult. Really what were Tommy and J.Y. bringing to the table between 79-80? Dennis came back and out sprang the concept for Paradise Theater, one of their highest charting and biggest records as well their largest tour. What exactly were Tommy and J.Y. offering up? Better yet how hard were they trying to prevent it? If they never let Dennis back in 79 what would have been the outcome from that? How far would Styx have gone and who would people be blaming today for what ruined them?

What did JY offer up? Well, you can't really count that as far as his songs go. They aren't great songs and he doesn't sing them well. However, he's a hell of a background singer and was an integral part in Styx's sound not to mention his guitar playing. Also Half Penny Two Penny was a killer track.

As for Tommy- It's interesting to note that on Cornerstone, Paradise Theatre and Kilroy- those were probably some of Tommy's weakest songs with the exception of "Too Much Time" and "Lights". Who's inspired when when inspiration and band policy and direction are being dictated to the band? If someone came in and said "hey, I've got this song about Robots that fans will only get if they read the concept of our album" I would've laughed his ass out of the room. At THAT point, JY and Tommy should've taken Dennis to a shrink. However, there were also record contracts and tour schedules to consider. Tommy and Jy just couldn't bail at the time (could they?- not sure) and also, you try to make the best out of something when you put your heart and soul into it and sure they all did that.

As for Dennis- I think that Cornerstone and Kilroy were his weakest efforts by a mile. First Time is a piece of garbage. I'd rather have Plexiglass Toilet than that piece of shit. He dedicated it to McCartney. Geez... Even Mr. Silly Love Songs would've gone "Gee Dennis, if you're going to do a tribute, at least make it good!". Paradise Theatre, on the other hand was a great album with the exception of "Nothing Ever Goes" as Planned and probably "She Cares". To my ears, after Pieces of 8 until Cyclorama, there was never a consistantly good Styx album. If Glen wasn't on "Edge", that album would've found the cutout bin in a week.

Too bad the band couldn't have worked harder at being a unit. However, without that there'd be no Cyclo and that album was worth the sacrifice. Brilliant record.

You do realize that I wasn't trying to turn this into a DDY vs. T.S. and J.Y. thing. What I'm trying to say is they all need to shoulder their share of the blame. Dennis isn't solely responsible for what killed Styx.

I was also trying to point out that Tommy and J.Y. weren't bringing much to the table as far as the direction the band needed to go in. J.Y. obviously was quite content to sit back and watch someone else come up with the ideas. He seemed content to have his 1 song per record. And really....did anyone want more than that?

They both have bitched about it enough, although Tommy's less vocal about it these days. Whereas J.Y. loves to remind anyone that will listen. But what did they do about it at the time? They hired him back. Couldn't have been too bad.
But again. None of us as fans were there.
Does anyone really think it was Yoko or Linda that broke up the Beatles? I don't. Those 4 personalities were what broke them up.

Dunk wrote:You do realize that I wasn't trying to turn this into a DDY vs. T.S. and J.Y. thing. What I'm trying to say is they all need to shoulder their share of the blame. Dennis isn't solely responsible for what killed Styx.

I was also trying to point out that Tommy and J.Y. weren't bringing much to the table as far as the direction the band needed to go in. J.Y. obviously was quite content to sit back and watch someone else come up with the ideas. He seemed content to have his 1 song per record. And really....did anyone want more than that?

They both have bitched about it enough, although Tommy's less vocal about it these days. Whereas J.Y. loves to remind anyone that will listen. But what did they do about it at the time? They hired him back. Couldn't have been too bad.
But again. None of us as fans were there.
Does anyone really think it was Yoko or Linda that broke up the Beatles? I don't. Those 4 personalities were what broke them up.

Great to have some new blood on board. If it's one thing Styx taught us, don't back down. Looking forward to reading your post keeping up with these people.

I'd rather have Plexiglass Toilet than that piece of shit.

LOL...too funny.

Some people here just refuse to try and understand what the rest of the band may have gone through. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter because they did make some wonderful music together. I just think there was a missed opportunity mainly due to one person being selfish.

I've always believed that regardless of what anyone thinks of Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre, if Dennis hadn't pushed the band in that direction - Styx would have disappeared shortly after Pieces of Eight and gone down in history as a one dimensional band. There's only so many times you can put out the same material over and over without expanding your horizons before the fickle public moves on.

Only my opinion of course.

Cinj

ya know... even *I* am tired of talking about this

ISn't it amazing that the new peeps say they have been lurking for a while and then get surprised when someone responds to their post?

Ash wrote:ya know... even *I* am tired of talking about this

And I'm tired of people saying stuff like this, then still clicking on, and then yet, still commenting. The title is pretty clear on this one.

ISn't it amazing that the new peeps say they have been lurking for a while and then get surprised when someone responds to their post?

StyxfanNH. Who said I was surprised? Obviously if I've been lurking here, then I knew what to expect. I thought my posts were clear that I was ponting out that they are all to blame. Honestly. Songs like Babe don't do anything for me and I could care less if I never hear it again. But do I think it ruined Styx? No. I think at the time it did quite well for them, and I get tired of people bashing Dennis for coming out with it and other songs, when Tommy was offering up things like: Never Say Never, Boat on the River, or She Cares.

Cinj. I'm in agreement with you. I think they would have died an earlier death. Like I said, had they continued without Dennis, everyone would have found someone else to pin the blame on.

I did not mean for this to come off as the same old arguement. But honestly, the intial post begged to be replied to.

The problem with the original poat is that it is unclear as to where JY's quote (If that is what it is) and your opinion are separate from one another. You wrote it as if it all came from JY, and while I have seen the first couple of sentences in an interview before, it is not all from him.

Babe was a song Dennis already had written for Suzanne. When they were writing the album, they needed one more song and no one had one readily available or close to completion. Even Dennis hesitantly introduced it to the band and had some apprehensions about it.

If you believe what you read, even whith a grain of salt, the band had problems as they entered the A& M years. The addition of Tommy actually delayed the inevitable. OF the three major personalities in the band, one thing is clear, only two of them can clearly get along together at any one time for any length of time.

Bashing on this board goes both ways. It's cut pretty much down the middle.

The initial post I'm refering to was the one Groteful wrote. All I was attempting to do was point out that J.Y. is not some innocent bystander or some saint. Does anybody believe that if Tommy never came back in 95, that J.Y. would be ragging on Dennis? I believe he'd be hanging on to him for all he was worth. They all made their choices at one time or another. Once they finally made the choice to once and for all get rid of Dennis what do they do? They record 1 record of new material, tour way too constantly. And release a barrage of live albums. J.Y. can't stop stomping on Dennis in just about every interview, and how this is the best lineup of Styx ever. I wonder what Chuck thinks about that comment? That's pretty much an insult to him and John. Why wasn't he trying to oust the Panozzos back then as well? He should be singing praises for that lineup, cause he wouldn't have the best lineup now to brag about. What do they do to top it off???....a album full of covers. I'm not saying Dennis is setting the world on fire, but exactly how was he holding them back? When do the creative juices start flowing? He's been gone since 99 for cripesakes!! How long ago was Cyclorama?

Zan wrote:

Grotelul wrote:Some people here just refuse to try and understand what the rest of the band may have gone through. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter because they did make some wonderful music together. I just think there was a missed opportunity mainly due to one person being selfish.

Oh, Grotelul...lol

I feel the pain of which you are about to endure.

Pain? Nah...I enjoy it...especially after a crap week of work

I was really just hoping it would generate a response from Sterling for some accurate info

No offense but from a musicianship perspective this is the best lineup Styx has ever had. I think Chuck would agree with that. Both Todd and Ricky were top flight session guys before Styx. From a musicianship standpoint they are certainly better players than John and Chuck. I do not say this to take anything away from John and Chuck as I've always enjoyed their playing.

I doubt Chuck is offended at all when JY says that. Besides, they consider Chuck a part of the lineup.

shaka wrote:No offense but from a musicianship perspective this is the best lineup Styx has ever had. I think Chuck would agree with that. Both Todd and Ricky were top flight session guys before Styx. From a musicianship standpoint they are certainly better players than John and Chuck. I do not say this to take anything away from John and Chuck as I've always enjoyed their playing.

I doubt Chuck is offended at all when JY says that. Besides, they consider Chuck a part of the lineup.

I agree. Todd and Ricky are outstanding technical players but it doesn't mean they are a better fit for Styx. I compare it to Van Halen and Michael Anthony. He may not be as technical a player as Eddie's son Wolfgang is but he fit that band perfectly just as Chuck and John did.

Grotelul wrote:

Zan wrote:

Grotelul wrote:Some people here just refuse to try and understand what the rest of the band may have gone through. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter because they did make some wonderful music together. I just think there was a missed opportunity mainly due to one person being selfish.

Oh, Grotelul...lol

I feel the pain of which you are about to endure.

Pain? Nah...I enjoy it...especially after a crap week of work

I was really just hoping it would generate a response from Sterling for some accurate info

Well, not that I'm the final word on Styx or anything, but for what it's worth, I think there is merit to both sides. Sure, Dennis has absolutely done some selfish things that have caused the other band members to resent him. No doubt about it. But as has been very aptly pointed out, they went along when they had a formalized voting process in which they could have out-voted him at any time. They stayed with his vision for the band when they didn't always share it because the money was rolling in, and his songs were responsible for most of it. It's pretty disingenuous to look back almost thirty years later and try to re-write that. There is credit and blame all around.

JY has a right to be happy, but does he seem happy to you in his interviews? He seems angrier now, to me, than before. He seems to want the new lineup to be accepted by the world at large as the best version of Styx ever, which is simply never going to happen, and the less success the band has, the more he insists that it is better than the band that had all the success. It comes off a bit self-serving, a bit delusional, and a bit insulting to the fans who supported the old band in record numbers. I can't tell you how much correspondence I get about this from Styx fans that have been alienated. Yes, the new band is the best lineup of instrumentalists ever to appear with Styx . . .but is that what Styx is known for? I think not. It's a band most people know for its songs and its vocal blend.

If I took Keith Emerson, Eddie Van Halen, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart and stuck them together with Tom Petty as their singer/songwriter, would that be the best instrumental lineup of the Heartbreakers ever to take the stage? Yes, no doubt about it. Would it be a group capable of going out and playing those familiar songs in a way that would make most fans happy? I kinda doubt that, LOL. Then what if they went out and said, "Hey, thanks for coming, thanks for your money and support, but we don't play shit like 'Refugee' or 'Breakdown' any more. Those songs blow. Instead, here's one from Pink Floyd." Would that make fans happy? Probably not. Styx is in a weird place right now, with a portion of its fan base very adamant in its support of the current band, but several other elements of the fan base alienated by the unusual and somewhat self-defeating choices the band has made since 1999. It is up to the band to correct its course and address the tastes of the fans, or lose them forever.

One last thing; it kinda fell to JY to do the interviews for Styx when Tommy started to withdraw a few years ago, and he has become the public spokesman and face of Styx by default. In my opinion, JY is the wrong guy for that job, as he simply does not come across as well in public as Tommy does. Tommy is so much warmer and more relatable to the average person. I have been very gratified to see Tommy out doing promo in support of the Shaw Blades record, and being his old self. I sincerely hope that after that's over, he will return to granting a lot more interviews and re-assume his duties in actively promoting Styx. It would be a major step in getting some of the fans back on board, in my view. JY is great at behind-the-scenes business and would serve the band's best interest better by doing that and letting Tommy do what Tommy does well, in my opinion.


I hope all is well.


Sterling

Rockwriter wrote: JY has a right to be happy, but does he seem happy to you in his interviews? He seems angrier now, to me, than before. Sterling

Exactly!

I tend to agree with Sterling here. JY is the wrong public face of Styx and quite frankly despite what I feel was a decent interview with him, it was light years away from the ones I've done with both DDY and TS. I've tried to get a TS interview for S/B, but to no avail. I think an updated Tommy interview is in order. (Side note: I'm excited to see them here in Boston on Thursday.)

I mean, it's a basic thing that only you know what makes you happy. I think it's taken DDY awhile, and he's hit his groove and isn't necessarily trying to compare A to B. JY always as Sterling says is trying to say this is the best version of Styx - ever. You don't have to shit on your past to enjoy the present. I've said many times that some changes to the set list would really help some fans out. So what if Gowan can't sing "The Best of Times"? Have Tommy do it. Big deal. Sure, you'd have to pay DDY royalties on it, but you may also make some folks very happy. I'm not going to go out on a limb and say play "Babe" as we all know they'll avoid that one like the plague.

StyxCollector wrote:I tend to agree with Sterling here. JY is the wrong public face of Styx and quite frankly despite what I feel was a decent interview with him, it was light years away from the ones I've done with both DDY and TS. I've tried to get a TS interview for S/B, but to no avail. I think an updated Tommy interview is in order. (Side note: I'm excited to see them here in Boston on Thursday.)

I mean, it's a basic thing that only you know what makes you happy. I think it's taken DDY awhile, and he's hit his groove and isn't necessarily trying to compare A to B. JY always as Sterling says is trying to say this is the best version of Styx - ever. You don't have to shit on your past to enjoy the present. I've said many times that some changes to the set list would really help some fans out. So what if Gowan can't sing "The Best of Times"? Have Tommy do it. Big deal. Sure, you'd have to pay DDY royalties on it, but you may also make some folks very happy. I'm not going to go out on a limb and say play "Babe" as we all know they'll avoid that one like the plague.

Excellent post!

StyxCollector wrote:I tend to agree with Sterling here. JY is the wrong public face of Styx and quite frankly despite what I feel was a decent interview with him, it was light years away from the ones I've done with both DDY and TS. I've tried to get a TS interview for S/B, but to no avail. I think an updated Tommy interview is in order. (Side note: I'm excited to see them here in Boston on Thursday.)

I mean, it's a basic thing that only you know what makes you happy. I think it's taken DDY awhile, and he's hit his groove and isn't necessarily trying to compare A to B. JY always as Sterling says is trying to say this is the best version of Styx - ever. You don't have to shit on your past to enjoy the present. I've said many times that some changes to the set list would really help some fans out. So what if Gowan can't sing "The Best of Times"? Have Tommy do it. Big deal. Sure, you'd have to pay DDY royalties on it, but you may also make some folks very happy. I'm not going to go out on a limb and say play "Babe" as we all know they'll avoid that one like the plague.

JY may not be the best to be the public face for Styx, but it sounds like he is stuck with it for now and so is the public. What is he supposed to say about the current lineup? Yeah...it just doesn't equal up to the lineup we had in the past. Larry can't sing like Dennis, my voice is not as good. It's just not the same. Boy...huh huh ..I don't know why anyone would come to see us play.

I don't think he means it to sound like you or anyone else is making it out to be. I think he's saying, come on out to the show, hear some great songs and some great musicianship. Nothing wrong with trying to sell your band, especially with all negativity in some circles about the current lineup.

Grotelul wrote:JY may not be the best to be the public face for Styx, but it sounds like he is stuck with it for now and so is the public. What is he supposed to say about the current lineup? Yeah...it just doesn't equal up to the lineup we had in the past. Larry can't sing like Dennis, my voice is not as good. It's just not the same. Boy...huh huh ..I don't know why anyone would come to see us play.

JY can promote the present by not slamming the past - it's the way it comes across. He has to know that by now.

Grotelul wrote:I don't think he means it to sound like you or anyone else is making it out to be. I think he's saying, come on out to the show, hear some great songs and some great musicianship. Nothing wrong with trying to sell your band, especially with all negativity in some circles about the current lineup.

I've seen Styx plenty of times post-1999. Selling it is one thing, but if he took the approach you said (come on out, have a good time, etc.), that'd be fine. Instead, he doesn't. He seems to find a way to get digs in. If he would just realize that if he took the high road, played some of the songs which helped get him where he was (such as "The Best of Times"), fans would come back more than him trying too hard to sell them on the lineup. Word of mouth is the best advertising.

StyxCollector wrote:JY can promote the present by not slamming the past - it's the way it comes across. He has to know that by now.

I've seen Styx plenty of times post-1999. Selling it is one thing, but if he took the approach you said (come on out, have a good time, etc.), that'd be fine. Instead, he doesn't. He seems to find a way to get digs in. If he would just realize that if he took the high road, played some of the songs which helped get him where he was (such as "The Best of Times"), fans would come back more than him trying too hard to sell them on the lineup. Word of mouth is the best advertising.

And alllllllllllllllllllll the die hard Styx fans who are fed-up, chagrined, or put-off by JY's remarks enough to post about them on Internet message boards, talking about how he is hurting the band's integrity equals about...not enough to fill even a high school cafeteria. All JY is doing, approve of his techniques or not, is reminding the general public that Styx, in any carnation, is still alive and well and touring. So if Joe concert goer sitting home on a Friday night, and is one of those who remember Styx's music and would love to get out and see them when they come into town, he'll know that is an option - it works just fine for what he is trying to achieve. I assure you that any opinions expressed on Melodic Rock, Indra, Styxland, Styxworld, or AOL have absolutely no bearing on JY's PR decisions. The loss of a dozen or less tickets per week doesn't phase him much. You have to know that by now.

A lot of Internet fans have stopped going to as many shows as they once did, but there are several reasons for this. I will say that this over-extending, never-ending touring has possibly caused a dwindling interest, but I'd put very little (if any) importance on what JY says in his interviews where that's concerned. In fact, I even read one article where the interviewer praised JY for being so candid and even brutally honest, saying it was "refeshing" and "entertaining." To each his own. Everyone's got an opinion, and like it or not, yours ain't all that significant in the grand scheme of Styx business right now. That's just the nature of the beast.