Oliver Tuthill talks Styx memories

[Rockwriter]

I ran across this really interesting piece on the web site of Oliver Tuthill, a singer/songwriter who used to open for Styx in the very early days. I found these comments very, very interesting.


Opening for Styx

For two years, you were the opening act for Styx, the biggest touring rock group in the world in the early 80s. What was it like working with Dennis DeYoung and James Young?

It was an incredible experience. They were huge in Chicago and the Midwest and had a big following at the time I opened for them in the early 70s. They had released several albums on the Wooden Nickel record label, and Bill Traut, President of Wooden Nickel, liked my songs and put me in touch with their manager, Vince DePaul. Vince liked my stuff and became my manager also and had me open for Styx fairly regularly. When I first met Vince, Styx was going by the name TW4.



How did you get along with the members of Styx?

Well, with the exception of Dennis DeYoung, not that well. It was a little tense at times because I was an acoustic artist and they were hard rockers. I did play a couple of hard rock songs, but I did them on my Martin D-35 acoustic guitar. Also, I was from the north side of Chicago and they were from the south side, so it was that Cubs vs. White Sox kind of mentality.



You mean you guys didn't like each other?

Well, Dennis DeYoung, their lead singer, was always a gentleman to me. I would be in my dressing room and he would always come in and ask me to join them. But with the exception of Dennis, they pretty much ignored me. Dennis always told me I looked like Barry Gibb and was very kind and gracious to me. James Young always seemed tense and uptight, but I think it was because he was getting geared up to perform. I think the drummer, John Panozzo, was a little upset with me because I sat on his stool while I performed, but he never complained to me. In hindsight, I should have acted with more consideration. I was very saddened when I learned he died.



I understand that you were asked to join Styx as a singer/guitarist.

Yes, I had decided to move to Los Angeles in 1973 to pursue a recording contract because Bill Traut of Wooden Nickel (Styx's label at the time) would not sign me, so Vince asked me to join Styx. I said no, which I did without thinking, but I wanted my own solo record. I was actually offered the opportunity to join several groups, but I turned them down. Now, I can see that was a mistake. Later I learned Styx fired Vince as their manager and took on Tommy Shaw as a guitarist/singer. I always said that Tommy Shaw took my job.


Here's the link http://www.olivertuthill.com/Oliver-Tut ... mories.asp


Thanks, I hope all is well.

Sterling

[Toph]

I ran across this really interesting piece on the web site of Oliver Tuthill, a singer/songwriter who used to open for Styx in the very early days. I found these comments very, very interesting.


Opening for Styx

For two years, you were the opening act for Styx, the biggest touring rock group in the world in the early 80s. What was it like working with Dennis DeYoung and James Young?

It was an incredible experience. They were huge in Chicago and the Midwest and had a big following at the time I opened for them in the early 70s. They had released several albums on the Wooden Nickel record label, and Bill Traut, President of Wooden Nickel, liked my songs and put me in touch with their manager, Vince DePaul. Vince liked my stuff and became my manager also and had me open for Styx fairly regularly. When I first met Vince, Styx was going by the name TW4.



How did you get along with the members of Styx?

Well, with the exception of Dennis DeYoung, not that well. It was a little tense at times because I was an acoustic artist and they were hard rockers. I did play a couple of hard rock songs, but I did them on my Martin D-35 acoustic guitar. Also, I was from the north side of Chicago and they were from the south side, so it was that Cubs vs. White Sox kind of mentality.



You mean you guys didn't like each other?

Well, Dennis DeYoung, their lead singer, was always a gentleman to me. I would be in my dressing room and he would always come in and ask me to join them. But with the exception of Dennis, they pretty much ignored me. Dennis always told me I looked like Barry Gibb and was very kind and gracious to me. James Young always seemed tense and uptight, but I think it was because he was getting geared up to perform. I think the drummer, John Panozzo, was a little upset with me because I sat on his stool while I performed, but he never complained to me. In hindsight, I should have acted with more consideration. I was very saddened when I learned he died.



I understand that you were asked to join Styx as a singer/guitarist.

Yes, I had decided to move to Los Angeles in 1973 to pursue a recording contract because Bill Traut of Wooden Nickel (Styx's label at the time) would not sign me, so Vince asked me to join Styx. I said no, which I did without thinking, but I wanted my own solo record. I was actually offered the opportunity to join several groups, but I turned them down. Now, I can see that was a mistake. Later I learned Styx fired Vince as their manager and took on Tommy Shaw as a guitarist/singer. I always said that Tommy Shaw took my job.


Here's the link http://www.olivertuthill.com/Oliver-Tut ... mories.asp


Thanks, I hope all is well.

Sterling

Uh oh... this doesn't help the Dennis haters "he's an asshole" storyline.......

[masque]

be friendly or courteous to an opening act in the early 70's aint got jack squat to do with with the relationships or tensions that existed within his own business years later.

i aint no dennis hater at all....in fact, i still love dennis and wish they were all together......styx will always be stronger together than apart. with that said, even dennis himself has said that he saw styx as being his band and that he felt he usually knew what was best for the band. he may have been right abotu all of that but it may not have been what others wanted.

and i think the final straw was th ewhole kilroy fiasco which i think dennis himself now regrets......if they had just followed up paradise theatre with a "normal" non concept album they may have been able to survive it all for several more years together.....but we'll never know now.

[bugsymalone]

I also think there was a real difference between the "professional perfectionist" that Dennis was (and aspired to be) that may have been off-putting to those who worked with him and "regular guy" Dennis, who seemed (and still seems) to be funny, self-deprecating, approachable, and very much a gentleman.


Bugsy

[masque]

I also think there was a real difference between the "professional perfectionist" that Dennis was (and aspired to be) that may have been off-putting to those who worked with him and "regular guy" Dennis, who seemed (and still seems) to be funny, self-deprecating, approachable, and very much a gentleman.


Bugsy

perfectly said....and listen it doesnt mean dennis was wrong with what he wanted for the band aside from kilroy.....his track record for the most part DOES indicate he did a good job of leading the band......i just think from the interviews that dennis himself has given you could see how he could be difficult to work with or for. thats all.

bobby knight was an incredible basketball coach....for sure knew what he was doing and ran a successful program.....lots of his players loved playing for him and some hated it.....same thing in looking at the dennis/tommy and jy situation except as they became more and more famous and successful each of those guys probably felt they were playing a larger individual role in that success than what they really were.

[cittadeeno23]

Thanks Sterling!

[Boomchild]

I also think there was a real difference between the "professional perfectionist" that Dennis was (and aspired to be) that may have been off-putting to those who worked with him and "regular guy" Dennis, who seemed (and still seems) to be funny, self-deprecating, approachable, and very much a gentleman.


Bugsy

same thing in looking at the dennis/tommy and jy situation except as they became more and more famous and successful each of those guys probably felt they were playing a larger individual role in that success than what they really were.

Or that someone felt frustrated that their individual role was not playing a larger part to that success. I believe that even if Kilroy never came to be they still would have had some kind of conflict between them and ended up the same way. It seems to me more about the personalities then other things.

[masque]

I also think there was a real difference between the "professional perfectionist" that Dennis was (and aspired to be) that may have been off-putting to those who worked with him and "regular guy" Dennis, who seemed (and still seems) to be funny, self-deprecating, approachable, and very much a gentleman.


Bugsy

same thing in looking at the dennis/tommy and jy situation except as they became more and more famous and successful each of those guys probably felt they were playing a larger individual role in that success than what they really were.

Or that someone felt frustrated that their individual role was not playing a larger part to that success. I believe that even if Kilroy never came to be they still would have had some kind of conflict between them and ended up the same way. It seems to me more about the personalities then other things.

fair statement.

[masque]

back to oliver........i went and checked out some of his music because i was not familiar with him and all I can say is THANK GOD he didnt get the job of being a styx member........this guy sucks ass or at least what i heard did.

[gr8dane]

I ran across this really interesting piece on the web site of Oliver Tuthill, a singer/songwriter who used to open for Styx in the very early days. I found these comments very, very interesting.


Opening for Styx

For two years, you were the opening act for Styx, the biggest touring rock group in the world in the early 80s. What was it like working with Dennis DeYoung and James Young?

It was an incredible experience. They were huge in Chicago and the Midwest and had a big following at the time I opened for them in the early 70s. They had released several albums on the Wooden Nickel record label, and Bill Traut, President of Wooden Nickel, liked my songs and put me in touch with their manager, Vince DePaul. Vince liked my stuff and became my manager also and had me open for Styx fairly regularly. When I first met Vince, Styx was going by the name TW4.



How did you get along with the members of Styx?

Well, with the exception of Dennis DeYoung, not that well. It was a little tense at times because I was an acoustic artist and they were hard rockers. I did play a couple of hard rock songs, but I did them on my Martin D-35 acoustic guitar. Also, I was from the north side of Chicago and they were from the south side, so it was that Cubs vs. White Sox kind of mentality.



You mean you guys didn't like each other?

Well, Dennis DeYoung, their lead singer, was always a gentleman to me. I would be in my dressing room and he would always come in and ask me to join them. But with the exception of Dennis, they pretty much ignored me. Dennis always told me I looked like Barry Gibb and was very kind and gracious to me. James Young always seemed tense and uptight, but I think it was because he was getting geared up to perform. I think the drummer, John Panozzo, was a little upset with me because I sat on his stool while I performed, but he never complained to me. In hindsight, I should have acted with more consideration. I was very saddened when I learned he died.



I understand that you were asked to join Styx as a singer/guitarist.

Yes, I had decided to move to Los Angeles in 1973 to pursue a recording contract because Bill Traut of Wooden Nickel (Styx's label at the time) would not sign me, so Vince asked me to join Styx. I said no, which I did without thinking, but I wanted my own solo record. I was actually offered the opportunity to join several groups, but I turned them down. Now, I can see that was a mistake. Later I learned Styx fired Vince as their manager and took on Tommy Shaw as a guitarist/singer. I always said that Tommy Shaw took my job.


Here's the link http://www.olivertuthill.com/Oliver-Tut ... mories.asp


Thanks, I hope all is well.

Sterling

Uh oh... this doesn't help the Dennis haters "he's an asshole" storyline.......

Uh oh indeed,and credit where credit is due.It was a long time ago,
but at least Dennis was nice at some point a long time ago in the early 70ies.

Thanks Sterling .