MR

I thought Dave Harris came off like a tool at the end of the book when he was talking about JY. I believe he completely underestimates JY's contributions and musicianship. Dave did not come off like an independent third party observer he came off like a schill for Dennis. He ruined his credibility with statements like:

"He can't carry it."
"He can't back it up.
""He was sort of a third wheel."
"He got a free pass."
"He has to say things for shock value otherwise they are nothing."
"The guy's nothing."
"He can't sing."
"He can play guitar a little bit."
"I don't think he can write songs worth a crap."

It didn't help that Dave said the following about himself:

"Even as a kid I didn't give him a lot of validity, because I'm pretty sharp. I could tell this guy was just blowing smoke."

I liked Retro-Rewind but those particular statements proved to me that Dave isn't quite as sharp as he thinks.

shaka wrote:I thought Dave Harris came off like a tool at the end of the book when he was talking about JY. I believe he completely underestimates JY's contributions and musicianship. Dave did not come off like an independent third party observer he came off like a schill for Dennis. He ruined his credibility with statements like:

"He can't carry it."
"He can't back it up.
""He was sort of a third wheel."
"He got a free pass."
"He has to say things for shock value otherwise they are nothing."
"The guy's nothing."
"He can't sing."
"He can play guitar a little bit."
"I don't think he can write songs worth a crap."

It didn't help that Dave said the following about himself:

"Even as a kid I didn't give him a lot of validity, because I'm pretty sharp. I could tell this guy was just blowing smoke."

I liked Retro-Rewind but those particular statements proved to me that Dave isn't quite as sharp as he thinks.

Ya know, musically, I don't *mind* JY. He certainly contributed to the Styx SOUND that I like so much (and is, in many ways, missing with the current lineup)... but I have to admit, that some of those remarks don't ring as entirely untrue to me. (As "Out on a day pass, out out out out out out out out out out out out out out out out out out out I'm hoping it's a-gonna last" echoes through my head...)

He might be over the top, but you know JY dishes it out pretty good himself.

I'll say this. JY didn't contribute much in the way of great songs... but he was a big part of the Styx sound. No he's not Pete Townshend, Brian May or Jimi Page - but the guy could definitely play. I was listening to Pieces of Eight over and over again the other day and I'm sitting there saying "This guitar work is really incredible!"... now I'll admit, I can't pick out what is Tommy and what is JY, but there is just no denying that JY was a big part in what make the Styx sound. It's not fair to say he had no ability. I'd put the solo in renegade and the solo at the end of queen of spades up against anything done by any of those guys I mentioned at the top of this post.

In terms of songwriting, he had some shining moments - but he is just NOT a gifted songwriter. He's much more of a musician than a songwriter... and both are important in any band. Dennis and Tommy are a rare breed of artists who are gifted song writers and gifted musicians.

I no longer feel or believe that JY was just "along for the ride" in the early days. He helped make the band sounds what it was - which in some ways only puzzles me more how he can just so easily discount the efforts of another truly gifted person. I will say that I think a lot of his anger comes from jealousy and selfishness - which is sadly too prevalent in music and in bands.

I'm personally a fan of JY's songs and his guitar playing. I guess that's the hard rock side of me comin out.

One thing the book did for me was point out how valuable JY's contributions behind the scenes were to the success of Styx.

Ash:

I agree with your entire post. Well said.

The guitar pull that JY does in break in Renegade is worth the price of him being in the band as far as I'm concerned. That is a killer solo, I still haven't been able to figure it out after all these years. Nugent didn't even hit that right when DY played it.
Also, though JY's songs aren't great, his voice in the backup vocals are a big part of the Styx sound. I can't stand his lead voice, but his harmony vocals bring a lot to the party.

JY is a huge part of the Styx sound. His guitar work is fantastic, and his background vocals are irreplaceable. I happen to like his voice when he sings lead, but his background vocals are much more important to the classic Styx sound. I thought JY brought out the best in Dennis and Tommy. They were a perfect trio I always thought.

Jimmy

shaka wrote:I thought Dave Harris came off like a tool at the end of the book when he was talking about JY.

Oh my stars, yes.

shaka wrote:I believe he completely underestimates JY's contributions and musicianship.

Worse, he seems to equate his subjective opinion of JY's musicianship/singing/songwriting skills to JY's status within the band's organization and his worth as a person. And he's not the only one in the book to do so.

The spirit of Murry Wilson is alive and well...

I always loved Miss America but that was about it -- then after all the solo albums came out and FINALLY "Raised By Wolves" I realized how much JY contributed to Styx. Out of all the "solo" albums "Raised By Wolves" was the only one that remotely sounded like Styx. That is my fave of the solos and now I pretty much enjoy all of JY's songs.

Mike