Backing Tapes

[RumTumJM]

I put this on the Noticeboard, but I figured I would put it here, as well.

Plain and simply, do Styx use backing tapes for the harmonies/vocals, or are they 100% LIVE?

And what about Foreigner?

[Everett]

Live as live can be my friend. Can't help you with foreigner though.

[Liam]

That's one thing I won't ever take away from them....they are purely live. I love DDY in that slot, but even with Larry...they are most definitely live.

[PianoMan1986]

For any of the shows I've been to and footage watched, I would say Foreigner's harmonies are live as well; especially if you check out some of their acoustic performances. I would also say that Styx are live too. REO's are too for that matter -- the only issue I notice with them in that regard is it's hit or miss depending on how their sound mix is set up at the show.

[Don]

I think Journey is the only one going totally for the tape.

The last time I saw Moody Blues and Boz Scaggs, they had female back up singers to help carry the load. No problem with them trying to keep it real.

[PianoMan1986]

My guess on Journey is that Jon and Deen (tough call on Ross and Neal to me personally) probably sing parts, but the big sound is definitely backing tracks -- best example is to just listen to the choruses on Separate Ways.

[Don]

My guess on Journey is that Jon and Deen (tough call on Ross and Neal to me personally) probably sing parts, but the big sound is definitely backing tracks -- best example is to just listen to the choruses on Separate Ways.

Frontiers, ROR and forward are so vocally stacked, they almost have to go to tape if they want to sound exactly like the recordings. Arnel is so much of a note for note guy (he doesn't ad-lib at all) that it's hard for them to arrange the songs any other ways I would guess.

[FormerDJMike]

In 1991 when I saw REO and made it in time for the warm up and sound check Neal had some vocals programmed into his keyboard. In 1996 on the RTP tour Styx used Lou D'Pasqua from JYG on backing vocals and back up keyboards.

[Toph]

I put this on the Noticeboard, but I figured I would put it here, as well.

Plain and simply, do Styx use backing tapes for the harmonies/vocals, or are they 100% LIVE?

And what about Foreigner?

There was certainly taped backing vocals and instrumentation on Kilroy. But that was part of the grander show.
Roboto and HWBHB both had backing music and vocals (Roboto).

[brywool]

My guess on Journey is that Jon and Deen (tough call on Ross and Neal to me personally) probably sing parts, but the big sound is definitely backing tracks -- best example is to just listen to the choruses on Separate Ways.

There's a performance out there where their vocal backing tracks weren't on. Not great. I THINK that was prior to Arnel.

[swwskj]

At the Myrtle Beach show, Tommy made a point out of showing that there were no tapes playing on stage.

[PianoMan1986]

Separate Ways backing vocals (amongst other things )

http://youtu.be/NUfh6ZfUpIU

[kansas666]

Interesting to read that about REO. I haven't thought their backing vocals were live for years. Just a little (lot) too perfect.

As for STYX, they have admitted that while touring with REO there were some "backstage" additions to the harmonies. So if Kevin Cronin has a microphone backstage, I guess it's still live.

[RumTumJM]

Interesting to read that about REO. I haven't thought their backing vocals were live for years. Just a little (lot) too perfect.

As for STYX, they have admitted that while touring with REO there were some "backstage" additions to the harmonies. So if Kevin Cronin has a microphone backstage, I guess it's still live.

Where did you hear about that with Styx?

Plus, if they had another PERSON backstage in 1996, why would it not be a person this time?

[FormerDJMike]

REO was just my my observation. I saw the on the Earth and A Chicken or whatever it was tour. First with Dave and Bryan. Way before the show Neal was messing with his keyboards and I heard several "keys" that were Kevin's voice.

I think also in 96 Dennis didn't want to play keyboards at all and wanted to use Lou (much like he doesn't play them much on his solo shows) but the rest of the band wanted him to play. Again that was a long time ago so I might not be remembering it right. Hard to believe 1996 was a long time ago lol!

[Everett]

REO was just my my observation. I saw the on the Earth and A Chicken or whatever it was tour. First with Dave and Bryan. Way before the show Neal was messing with his keyboards and I heard several "keys" that were Kevin's voice.

It was "The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and a chicken". Are you sure it was neal?
They had an extra guy that tour to play keys. Neal played the organ.

[styxfansite]

REO was just my my observation. I saw the on the Earth and A Chicken or whatever it was tour. First with Dave and Bryan. Way before the show Neal was messing with his keyboards and I heard several "keys" that were Kevin's voice.

It was "The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and a chicken". Are you sure it was neal?
They had an extra guy that tour to play keys. Neal played the organ.

It might have been Joe Vannelli. They talk about him playing the keys on the XM confidential DVD. He is also listed as a producer with Kevin on "Find your own way home".

[Boomchild]

I think also in 96 Dennis didn't want to play keyboards at all and wanted to use Lou (much like he doesn't play them much on his solo shows) but the rest of the band wanted him to play. Again that was a long time ago so I might not be remembering it right. Hard to believe 1996 was a long time ago lol!

What is your source for this information? I do know that Dennis has publicly commented that he didn't play keys on his solo shows because he was the sole focus of the show and did not want to be stuck behind the keyboard.

[FormerDJMike]

REO was just my my observation. I saw the on the Earth and A Chicken or whatever it was tour. First with Dave and Bryan. Way before the show Neal was messing with his keyboards and I heard several "keys" that were Kevin's voice.

It was "The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and a chicken". Are you sure it was neal?
They had an extra guy that tour to play keys. Neal played the organ.

Yeah it was Neal because the sounds came from his organ, that much I do remember. Also, the open band for them was The Rythym Corps. Spring of 1991.

[FormerDJMike]

I think also in 96 Dennis didn't want to play keyboards at all and wanted to use Lou (much like he doesn't play them much on his solo shows) but the rest of the band wanted him to play. Again that was a long time ago so I might not be remembering it right. Hard to believe 1996 was a long time ago lol!

What is your source for this information? I do know that Dennis has publicly commented that he didn't play keys on his solo shows because he was the sole focus of the show and did not want to be stuck behind the keyboard.

I forgot her name, she worked for Water Dog Records. Used to correspond with her in the early days of the internet when I worked in radio I believe it was her who told me.

[Boomchild]

I think also in 96 Dennis didn't want to play keyboards at all and wanted to use Lou (much like he doesn't play them much on his solo shows) but the rest of the band wanted him to play. Again that was a long time ago so I might not be remembering it right. Hard to believe 1996 was a long time ago lol!

What is your source for this information? I do know that Dennis has publicly commented that he didn't play keys on his solo shows because he was the sole focus of the show and did not want to be stuck behind the keyboard.

I forgot her name, she worked for Water Dog Records. Used to correspond with her in the early days of the internet when I worked in radio I believe it was her who told me.

I was curious because on the '96 reunion tour I remember JY playing keys on the intro to Lorelei. So it made me think if they had a person on back up keys why did JY bother.

[Everett]

REO was just my my observation. I saw the on the Earth and A Chicken or whatever it was tour. First with Dave and Bryan. Way before the show Neal was messing with his keyboards and I heard several "keys" that were Kevin's voice.

It was "The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog and a chicken". Are you sure it was neal?
They had an extra guy that tour to play keys. Neal played the organ.

It might have been Joe Vannelli. They talk about him playing the keys on the XM confidential DVD. He is also listed as a producer with Kevin on "Find your own way home".

No jesse harms joined the band and played keys for that tour. He left the band after that tour ended.

[FormerDJMike]

Jesse was not there when I saw them in the spring of 91. It was the current 5 guys.

[Everett]

Jesse was not there when I saw them in the spring of 91. It was the current 5 guys.

Yeah he wasn't there that long. I have a couple shows with him in the band. I'm still
surprised his tenure in the band was so short. He probably couldn't deal with kc

[hurricane #1]

even if they aren't using tapes, they are probably using the same autotune technology everyone else is using.

[Abitaman]

I think also in 96 Dennis didn't want to play keyboards at all and wanted to use Lou (much like he doesn't play them much on his solo shows) but the rest of the band wanted him to play. Again that was a long time ago so I might not be remembering it right. Hard to believe 1996 was a long time ago lol!

Tommy talked about this in the late 90's in an interview.

[styxfanNH]

If you play keyboards and are the lead singe, the problem you have is you are stuck behind your keyboards and can't move unless you have someone off stage playing when you are running around the stage.

That's why DDY has John Blasucci playing on stage. Larry has some of the parts sequenced for when he leaves the spinny top.

[RSParker]

I think most bands nowadays are using the TC Helicon road units for backing vocals. I was watching the Grand Illusion Live and REO LIVE a few evenings ago, and could tell the vocals stayed the same even when they would back off the mics. Its not cheating....i have one that i use live, you HAVE to sing and it be on key (unless your using the Autotune Feature, i dont like that) . they provide great vocal performance background harmonies. I play in a cover band, an do "Renegade" and its spot on. in fact, it freaks most people out.