Book Thoughts

[Bearded Clam]

Coming out from under my bridge for a few thoughts.

The Book was fantastic, very well written and entertaining.

I feel so bad for the following: John, JC, Chuck, Vince.

I think Glen and Todd are hilarious. Their insights were remarkable.

I think Dennis is incredibly talented, possibly one of the top 100 songwriters of our times. He's also delusional, schizophrenic, and likely sociopathic. Is there a bigger A-hole in the business?

I think JY ( who I used to respect) is also delusional. He scoffs at Dennis's songs as if they didn't provide him with millions of dollars. For a guy who is only good for posing on stage, he's got a lot of nerve. Hey JY, tell us again the intro to Snowblind, I didn't hear it the first 4000 times.

I think Tommy is a very talented musician. I also think he can't write a decent song without the neccessary input from a 2nd party.( Dennis, Jack)

I think us fans should be happy that we have so many great albums from the past to enjoy and that we had the 96 tour and video to provide a coda.

I think Lawrence is a blast, he's so entertaining during a concert, a great showman. But he's no Dennis, but I guess he's really not trying to be and that's cool to me.

Ricky has long hair.

Wait, I've got more.... 'Kiss Your Ass Goodbye' , 'More Love for the Money' and 'One With Everything' were the best songs on that album.

I would love to hear Lawrence and JY sing ' 22 Years' live.

I think Dennis should re-record " Winner Take All"

I actually would love to see them re-record several of those older songs from the WN days. The production was horrible. My CD Player keeps making faces at me and spitting the CD's out when I try to play them.

Ok, I'm done, let me just get the Burn Gel out and ready.

[stmonkeys]

i'm only halfway through the Crystal Ball chapter.... so give me a bit more time! LOL!
its a GREAT READ so far, sterling! much more in depth than i imagined. kudos!!

[Bearded Clam]

Sorry, I hope I didn't spoil anything for you.

By the way, where was that photo of Glen taken? It looks familiar.

[LordofDaRing]

ARgghhhhh. Well I read the online chapter on Melodic rock (Chrystal Ball), which I swore I would not do, since my book is due any day now. One quick myth from BTM jumped out at me. Didn't JY stress in BTM that Dennis and his conrol over the band, was the reason JC left the group. Sterling's chapter seems to dismiss that from all the comments made my the inner circle including JY himself. Being a father myself, I can sympathize with JC and Dennis both, I would not want to make a living that kept me away from my kids most of the time. I went on a bus trip last week for three nights and was pretty miserable without them. Waiting on UPS.......

[stmonkeys]

Sorry, I hope I didn't spoil anything for you.

By the way, where was that photo of Glen taken? It looks familiar.

that was taken 2/24/07 at the tin angel in philly. we had such a great time at that show. i think glen is doing something at the stone pony in june. dont know the details yet.

[styxmike]

YEA just got my copy of the book..........in England.....delivered on the 27th..........well organised sterling!!!!!!.....can't wait to read it.unfortunatly i'm on a very intensive career changing course this week so wont get to look at it till next week

[Rockwriter]

[quote="Bearded Clam"]Coming out from under my bridge for a few thoughts.

The Book was fantastic, very well written and entertaining.


Thanks! I appreciate that.


I think Glen and Todd are hilarious. Their insights were remarkable.


Both of those interviews were really great, enjoyable interviews for me.


I actually would love to see them re-record several of those older songs from the WN days. The production was horrible. My CD Player keeps making faces at me and spitting the CD's out when I try to play them.


LOL, the production on those records really did leave a lot to be desired in some ways. But there were certain moments where you could see what the band was eventually going to become. I thought 'Styx II' was the only one of those albums that was a real Styx-sounding record . . . . since it was the first record where they wrote the songs, I guess you could say it's the first real Styx record, and it's the only one I like for the most part from that period. The others seem spotty and incomplete to me.

I hope all is well.


Sterling

[brywool]

Yeah, I'm digging the book. They just released Man of Miracles and it flopped and the guy is saying Dennis is a Sociopath.
Could be. It also could be that he KNEW what he wanted out of his craft and his band. At the time, it WAS Dennis' band, that's pretty clear.
Again, I'm only up to the almost close of the wooden nickel period.

Regarding what someone said about More Love For the Money, Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, and One with Everything being the best songs on Cyclo, I would agree, but I think that Fields of the Brave is SO Dennis (circa 81). I think the songs are great with the exception of JYs tracks. It's some of the best work the band EVER did.

Personally, I think Gowan with Styx is wonderful. His contributions have been awesome to the band. I prefer ALL of Gowan's Styx tracks to anything Dennis has done with them since the Paradise Theatre album. If THAT Dennis was in the band, it'd be great, but post 1982 Dennis is lame.

[Bearded Clam]

Regarding what someone said about More Love For the Money, Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, and One with Everything being the best songs on Cyclo, I would agree, but I think that Fields of the Brave is SO Dennis (circa 81). I think the songs are great with the exception of JYs tracks. It's some of the best work the band EVER did.

.

Oops... I totally agree about 'Fields of the Brave', it is an awesome track. I was surprised about the similarities of 'More Love For the Money''s lyrics and some of Dennis' songs. The same kind of theme is there.

And I know a lot of people love " these are the times' but geez, I can't even sit through that whole song. And I LOVE ' Miss America' and ' Half Penny'. Oh, and ' Midnight Ride'.

[stabbim]

And I know a lot of people love " these are the times' but geez, I can't even sit through that whole song. And I LOVE ' Miss America' and ' Half Penny'. Oh, and ' Midnight Ride'.

See, and I get goosebumps from "These Are The Times," but I despise everything about "Fields Of The Brave" except the drumming.

Funny old world.

[cittadeeno23]

I love "These are the Times". I got through on Rockline and talked to JY about it.
He said it was partly about his brother. I already knew that, but It was cool to talk to him!
One with Everything is my other favorite on that album.

[Bearded Clam]

See, and I get goosebumps from "These Are The Times," but I despise everything about "Fields Of The Brave" except the drumming.

Funny old world.

Todd is an incredible drummer, isn't he? It's too bad that he's not as widely known as other Rock drummers.

[brywool]

Regarding what someone said about More Love For the Money, Kiss Your Ass Goodbye, and One with Everything being the best songs on Cyclo, I would agree, but I think that Fields of the Brave is SO Dennis (circa 81). I think the songs are great with the exception of JYs tracks. It's some of the best work the band EVER did.

.

Oops... I totally agree about 'Fields of the Brave', it is an awesome track. I was surprised about the similarities of 'More Love For the Money''s lyrics and some of Dennis' songs. The same kind of theme is there.

And I know a lot of people love " these are the times' but geez, I can't even sit through that whole song. And I LOVE ' Miss America' and ' Half Penny'. Oh, and ' Midnight Ride'.

I feel the same way about These are the Times. If someone else sang it, it would've been good, but Young's cowardly lion vibrato just wrecks it. Same with Heavy Water from BNW. he's a great backup singer and a horrible lead singer.
Interestingly enough, his voice wasn't that annoying on the Wooden Nickel stuff all the way until about Cornerstone, Eddie being a terrible track.

[jimmy19029]

Just received it yesterday. Very nice forward from Glen!

[Bearded Clam]

I'm surprised there aren't a lot of reactions here yet. Perhaps a lot of what was covered was common knowledge ( not to me).

It's weird how the book changed my perception of the members. moreso for Dennis. It's made me respect his songwriting ability and vision more, but lose respect for his self-centered approach to the rest of the band.







HypnoToad quote of the day: BZZZZZZRPHHHHBZZZZZZRPHHHH.

[Rockwriter]

I'm surprised there aren't a lot of reactions here yet. Perhaps a lot of what was covered was common knowledge ( not to me).

It's weird how the book changed my perception of the members. moreso for Dennis. It's made me respect his songwriting ability and vision more, but lose respect for his self-centered approach to the rest of the band.







HypnoToad quote of the day: BZZZZZZRPHHHHBZZZZZZRPHHHH.

I've been getting a lot of private reactions, but I think perhaps some fans are a bit hesitant to post in public. You know, it's pretty well-known that the band members lurk here and so on. But the private response has been very, very, overwhelmingly positive so far. I have had just one negative comment out of hundreds, and that one was simply that they wish the story could have been left untold, not that they thought I did a bad job in telling it.

I knew the book would change the way some people saw some band members, pro and con. For me, hey, these people are artists; it is no surprise that they are a bit wacky, LOL. And the relationship Dennis has with the other Styx guys is just like that which every principal singer/songwriter has with their bands, from McCartney and the Beatles, to Townsend and the Who, Jon Anderson and Yes, Greg Lake and ELP, Gene and Paul and the other guys in KISS, Don Henley and the other Eagles, Steve Perry and Journey, Kevin Cronin and REO, Kerry and Steve and the other guys in Kansas, and on and on and on and on. It just seems to go that way.

The one with the strongest vision/largest ego tends to be the one who writes and/or sings most of the successful songs (because ego creates talent and vice versa), which gives them the ability to run the band to a larger degree than the other members. Which creates income opportunities for them that the others don't get, which then in turn creates enormous resentments that eventually destroy the band. We see it over and over and over. It's a really interesting thing to me, how that same scenario unfolds so predictably in so many different bands.

I'm glad you enjoyed the book. Thanks!


Sterling

[Bearded Clam]

It's pretty well-known that some band members lurk here? I didn't know that.

Hey guys! Can I come up and jam with you on " Walrus" when you play Jones Beach this summer? come on.... it'll be a blast. I'll bring snacks. Just say " We'd like Clammy to come on up". I'll come running down the aisle like a lunatic contestant on the Price is Right. We'll jam, the crowd will go crazy, Dennis will be so jealous when he hears about it.

[stmonkeys]

It's pretty well-known that some band members lurk here? I didn't know that.

Hey guys! Can I come up and jam with you on " Walrus" when you play Jones Beach this summer? come on.... it'll be a blast. I'll bring snacks. Just say " We'd like Clammy to come on up". I'll come running down the aisle like a lunatic contestant on the Price is Right. We'll jam, the crowd will go crazy, Dennis will be so jealous when he hears about it.

LMAO!!! I'll be at the Jones Beach show too. perhaps i can jam with ya as well! i'll bring cookies.

now, what key is walrus in? LOL!

[Dunk]

Sterling, I just finished the book this past weekend. I found it very interesting on a number of levels. To be honest, I've have become a bit disillusioned that the guys in Styx had the prima donna atitudes going on and still do. What amazes me even more is how a good portion of behind-the-scene guys felt they were responsible for all the successes. I guess in a small way I always thought they were a little more down to earth and in touch with reality than they obviously are, or claim to be in their songs. And once you've read this book, you realize it wasn't just Dennis. They are all dysfunctional, spoiled brats like any other rock band. Deep inside we're all the same....except where fame is concerned! But I do believe it makes you appreciate the music a little bit more. I met Dennis, J.Y. and the Panozzos back stage during Kilroy and I got to tell you, I didn't see any sign of it. They all treated me like I was royalty and went out of their way for me. Anyway, it was a great read that was well written and very balanced. Thank You!

[Bearded Clam]

LMAO!!! I'll be at the Jones Beach show too. perhaps i can jam with ya as well! i'll bring cookies.

now, what key is walrus in? LOL!

Don't worry, when they call me up I'll talk them into letting you up too. And you can pick your choice of instruments first. See, I'm a gentleman like that ...sometimes... well, not really, but I'll be so psyched to be on the stage with Styx that you can pick first.

But what if they demand an encore? How about " Shooz"?

[stabbim]

But what if they demand an encore? How about " Shooz"?

I call the cowbell!

[Bearded Clam]

Gene Frenkle: And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!

Bruce Dickinson: Say it, baby!

Gene Frenkle: And, Bobby, you are right - I am being selfish. But the last time I checked, we don't have a whole lot of songs that feature the cowbell.

Bruce Dickinson: I gotta have more cowbell, baby!

Gene Frenkle: ..and I'll be doing myself a disservice -- [begins to slightly laugh. Jimmy Fallon turns away and bites down on his drumstick to keep from laughing] -- and every member in this band, if I don't perform the hell out of this.

Bruce Dickinson: Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!

[stmonkeys]

LMAO!!! I'll be at the Jones Beach show too. perhaps i can jam with ya as well! i'll bring cookies.

now, what key is walrus in? LOL!

Don't worry, when they call me up I'll talk them into letting you up too. And you can pick your choice of instruments first. See, I'm a gentleman like that ...sometimes... well, not really, but I'll be so psyched to be on the stage with Styx that you can pick first.

But what if they demand an encore? How about " Shooz"?

oooh!!! i wan't tommy's 12 string taylor!!!

[stmonkeys]

Gene Frenkle: And if Bruce Dickinson wants more cowbell, we should probably give him more cowbell!

Bruce Dickinson: Say it, baby!

Gene Frenkle: And, Bobby, you are right - I am being selfish. But the last time I checked, we don't have a whole lot of songs that feature the cowbell.

Bruce Dickinson: I gotta have more cowbell, baby!

Gene Frenkle: ..and I'll be doing myself a disservice -- [begins to slightly laugh. Jimmy Fallon turns away and bites down on his drumstick to keep from laughing] -- and every member in this band, if I don't perform the hell out of this.

Bruce Dickinson: Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pBqPHJhmFHo
hehehhe...

[Bearded Clam]

my god... that kills me every time.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pBqPHJhmFHo
hehehhe...

I LOVE this one!! It's one of my favorite skits ever!!!

I laugh so hard every time I watch it!!

[bugsymalone]

Christopher Walken was one of the best SNL hosts, EVER. Loved watching this "Behind the Music" again!

Bugsy

[Rockwriter]

Sterling, I just finished the book this past weekend. I found it very interesting on a number of levels. To be honest, I've have become a bit disillusioned that the guys in Styx had the prima donna atitudes going on and still do. What amazes me even more is how a good portion of behind-the-scene guys felt they were responsible for all the successes. I guess in a small way I always thought they were a little more down to earth and in touch with reality than they obviously are, or claim to be in their songs. And once you've read this book, you realize it wasn't just Dennis. They are all dysfunctional, spoiled brats like any other rock band. Deep inside we're all the same....except where fame is concerned! But I do believe it makes you appreciate the music a little bit more. I met Dennis, J.Y. and the Panozzos back stage during Kilroy and I got to tell you, I didn't see any sign of it. They all treated me like I was royalty and went out of their way for me. Anyway, it was a great read that was well written and very balanced. Thank You!

Thanks! I'm glad you liked the book. You know, the guys in Styx are artists, which usually comes with a certain amount of built-in dysfunction. Add fame, money and differing agendas, and voila! It's a recipe for conflict every time. That's no surprise to me. Having said that, I actually think the guys in Styx are essentially good guys for the most part; they haven't behaved any differently than you or I would in the same position, I am totally convinced. We human beings have very predictable reactions to the same set of stimuli, for the most part. They were absolutely right when they said "deep inside we're all the same". LOL.

Thanks again!

Sterling

[brywool]

I LOVE Christopher Walken, but thanks go him, EVERY GIG I PLAY there's some asshole yelling "MORE COWBELL".
Totally not funny anymore.

[stmonkeys]

I LOVE Christopher Walken, but thanks go him, EVERY GIG I PLAY there's some asshole yelling "MORE COWBELL".
Totally not funny anymore.

Imagine how Blue Oyster Cult feels!!!