Page 1 of 2
Glen vs. Dennis

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 12:41 am
by kansas666
If Dennis or Glen were to rejoin STYX, which one would you prefer?
I would rather see Glen. He is a great entertainer. Dennis is a dork.


Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 12:53 am
by classicstyxfan
Dave,
You my friend are nuggin futs ! I'd take Dennis over Glen in a heartbeat.....and I like Glen !
The classic lineup was magical together...the harmonies were better, and you get Dennis signing Dennis songs, a huge improvement over the present situation.
That said, I'd only prefer Dennis if he and TS/JY could kiss and make up....for real, not just for the money.
Good topic though...

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 2:05 am
by yogi
I may be nuts too, but because of Welcome To Hollywood, what he brought to Edge Of The Century, Cyclorama and what Glen brings to a live performance I would probably take Glen over Dennis, IF Tommy & JY would let him take center stage ALOT more. Dennis and Styx of 1991 allowed Glen much more of a chance to shine then the current Styx does.
Based on what Glen has done particulary Welcome To Hollywood he is now one of my favorite performers of all time. Currently, I rank him ahead of Tommy. What would be best would be Glen opening up for Styx, or Glen opening up for Dennis. How about this for a concert?? Glen, Night Ranger, Damn Yankees, and Styx!!!!!!!!!

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 3:03 am
by ek88
I'd pick Dennis IF he and the other songwriters would be able to collaborate on new material (with the added stipulation of no more than one or two ballad-like songs per new album) AND if he would agree to keep the setlist up tempo AND if he would be willing to tour a little more extensively AND if . . . . come to think of it, I'd pick Glen


Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:45 am
by classicstyxfan
I see I am clearly outnumbered on this one......oh well, doesnt matter, cus either one coming back is about as likely as a Beatles reunion.......
Here's an interesting question though....is there enough bad blood between Dennis and Glen to prevent them from doing a double bill
at some future date ?
They both want to stay close to family, and not be on the road all the time.....if they dont hate each other, it could work, at least for a couple of dates.....
I'd go just to hear "All in a day's work" as one of the encores !

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:55 am
by SuiteMadameBlue
FYI: There is no bad blood between Dennis and Glen. Glen has
RECENTLY said positive things about
Dennis, no more negative remarks. Glen moved on. Tommy has stopped the negative remarks, recently.
I'd pick Dennis, my opinion.
Classic says:
The classic lineup was magical together...the harmonies were better, and you get Dennis signing Dennis songs, a huge improvement over the present situation.
I totally agree!!


Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 7:09 am
by sadie65
Now see, I would pick Glen. I think the direction the band is currently going, he would be a better fit. I think Dennis is much better off doing what he's doing.
While they all made terrific harmonies in their heyday, They have differing ideas of what the band is. Really doesn't matter who is saying what about whom. It's the different ideas of what Styx should be that makes me say Glen would work out better.
Peace,
Sadie
glen

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:25 am
by gr8dane
Why did Glen leave in the first place???
gr8dane

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:52 am
by SuiteMadameBlue
Hi gr8dane,
He stated he left the band Styx to be with his family more and work on solo work. I'll find the article.
I know I read a few comments from Glen's letters of why he left. Here's one:
The thing is, I realized I was the only one in the band who didn't feel comfortable about constantly being away from home. After four and a half years, you get to know the players, the priorities and the outcome of the efforts. Between that and my own personal dramas, it was obviously time to walk.
Thanks for the kind words,
Glen
Here's another answer to a question. I know for a
FACT that Dennis had "Love Is a Ritual" released first off the album.
Determining which songs to be released as singles is usually decided by a combination of the artist, the management and the record label. It is a decision that has always made me nuts - so much rides on the first choice. In the case of Cyclorama, if I'm not mistaken it was Tommy & JY's decision. No marketing research. Usually friends, relatives and radio programmers are asked for opinions. And it ain't about fairness, it's about wanting to be as effective as possible.
It's a tough decision to make. I personally think the stand out track on many an album goes unheard by radio listeners. Cyclorama is one of those records, if you ask me.
"Love Is the Ritual" was JY & Dennis' call, as I recall. It was a disappointment to me that the song didn't do as well as I'd hoped. I think it had a lot to do with it NOT sounding like Styx.
In which case that's a good argument for not releasing 'Kiss Your Ass Goodbye' as a Styx single. But not to worry, I have recorded a version of the song for my own album and although a solo Glen Burtnik album might not get the attention one by Styx would, my version is slamming.
Thanks for your kind letter,
Glen

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:37 am
by Ash
If they had replaced that dorkey bass keyboard rif in Love Is The Ritual with a guitar along the same melody, the song may have been seen as a bit more of a "rock" song than a "pop" song.
However, "Show Me The Way" was the second single... and went to #3.... so much for Glen's "the first single is the most important" theory.
I thought "Love At First Sight" was a weak single. From a ballad, lyrical standpoint, I'd have gone with "All In A Day's Work" which has a truly great lyric.
"World Tonite" while a great Glen song, has ZERO place on a styx record. Sorry.

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:37 am
by Ash
oh..
and I'd take Dennis too...
I'd take Dennis AND Glen and kick out Chewbacca.

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 11:16 am
by DeeJaySTYX
Interesting that in a totally different radio interview with JY on Y95 this past spring He said that Glen left because the band was touring too much and Glen felt that he was missing the important years of his kids life, putting them through school and such....
Also in this interview Dennis was mentioned to the extent as losing members along the way(unlike the interview on the rival station, the Eagle)......And Y95 played Fooling Yourself, Miss America, and These Are The Times as part of its 3:30 three fer....
And both(Dennis and Glen) are great musicians but I would pick Dennis.....
DeeJay....
Re: Glen vs. Dennis

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 1:29 pm
by froy
kansas666 wrote:If Dennis or Glen were to rejoin STYX, which one would you prefer?
I would rather see Glen. He is a great entertainer. Dennis is a dork.

WHO'S GLEN?

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 10:51 pm
by bugsymalone
Dennis is a dork.
Yo, kansas! I assume you own only one Styx album, then --- Cyclorama, 'cause the "dork" is very prominent on all the rest.
And if you do have the ones with him on them, I assume you have found a way to take all of his songs off of them and electronically removed his singing and keyboard backing on the TS/JY songs?
Bugsy
Re: Glen vs. Dennis

Posted:
Sat Oct 02, 2004 11:49 pm
by thebook
kansas666 wrote:If Dennis or Glen were to rejoin STYX, which one would you prefer?
I would rather see Glen. He is a great entertainer. Dennis is a dork.

to answer the question: Dennis
now... how about adding both, and dumping JY (reluctantly of course)

Posted:
Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:40 am
by Ash
that was my point exactly (I refer to JY as Chewbacca since he looks like him )

Posted:
Sun Oct 03, 2004 2:56 pm
by DeeJaySTYX
Aaaarrrrrr!!!!!!!

Posted:
Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:19 pm
by Adam
Styx definitely lost a potent member when Glen Burtnik left. Great songwriter, great live show man. DeYoung of course is the guy most people think of when you mention Styx.
I agree those two would sell a few more tickets. As for making records, who knows. Seems to me, judging from some of Shaw's recent songs, DeYoung and Burtnik are both better songwriters than who's left in the band, I'll say that.
But I doubt that'll ever happen. Styx appears to be determined to squeeze as many live shows as they can out of whatever career the band has left.
The clock is ticking...
Adam

Posted:
Tue Oct 05, 2004 5:22 am
by kansas666
bugsymalone wrote:Yo, kansas! I assume you own only one Styx album, then --- Cyclorama, 'cause the "dork" is very prominent on all the rest.
Bugsy
Well actually, I have all the albums including Wooden Nickel, except Edge of the Century and Brave New World. Something about those 2 just didn't trip my trigger. Interesting isn't it that Glen was on both of them.

Posted:
Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:33 am
by bugsymalone
Well actually, I have all the albums including Wooden Nickel, except Edge of the Century and Brave New World.
So let me get this straight then. Dennis is a dork. But you have nearly all the albums he is on?
Do you only listen to the non-dorkian cuts off of those albums?
Do you try to tune out his dorkiness when you are listening to his contributions to those albums?
I am confused. Help me out here, Dave.
Bugsy

Posted:
Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:05 am
by ek88
With no disrespect meant to Dennis' musical ability, I find him to be a bit of a dork at times, also (albeit a lovable one)


Posted:
Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:20 am
by sadie65
With all due respect to both gentlemen, both can be dorks. they both have talent. Obviously, people have preferences. Me, I'll take Dennis' dork qualities over Glenn's. But that's just me.
Sadie

Posted:
Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:07 am
by DeeJaySTYX
Hey Kansas666,
Just for the record(pardon the pun), Glen was on Edge of the Century but not on Brave New World...
Also I think that Dennis, Tommy, Chewey......Oh, I mean JY, Glen, and Larry act like Dorks at times in their own right....For example, JY's little heel-toe, heel-toe dance( let's call that the Wookie Dance)during "Renegade" on the Caught In The Act Video.......Tommy at the end of "Too Much Time On My Hands" on the Same Video.....
DeeJay....

Posted:
Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:26 am
by ek88

Posted:
Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:35 am
by DeeJaySTYX

Posted:
Fri Oct 08, 2004 5:56 am
by kansas666
bugsymalone wrote:
So let me get this straight then. Dennis is a dork. But you have nearly all the albums he is on?
Do you only listen to the non-dorkian cuts off of those albums?
Do you try to tune out his dorkiness when you are listening to his contributions to those albums?
I am confused. Help me out here, Dave.
Bugsy
Well, I saw STYX a couple of times with Dennis, and I have seen them about a dozen times without him. IMO he comes off like an egotistical DORK on stage.

Posted:
Fri Oct 08, 2004 5:57 am
by kansas666
DeeJaySTYX wrote:Hey Kansas666,
Just for the record(pardon the pun), Glen was on Edge of the Century but not on Brave New World...
Actually he was on Brave New World. Just not credited. Check out the discography on his website.

Posted:
Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:02 am
by classicstyxfan
Dave, You are probably right about DDY's "Dorkiness".....at least when you compare him to other Rock Stars...I personally think that's a part of his charm. Like him or dont like him, he IS charasmatic, at least many people seem to think so.

Posted:
Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:48 am
by bugsymalone
Kansas: Well, I saw STYX a couple of times with Dennis, and I have seen them about a dozen times without him. IMO he comes off like an egotistical DORK on stage.
OK, fair enough. All in the eye of the beholder. What about the EAR of the beholder though?
Classic: Like him or dont like him, he IS charasmatic, at least many people seem to think so.
That is how many, me among them, view him. A riveting presence onstage. Some see that is egotistical, others as star power.
As I said before, in the view of those who really dislike DDY and consider him a dork (among other things), there must only be one Styx album/CD that those people listen to --- Cyclorama. Everything else is just loaded with input from the, let's see, now he is the "
egotistical dork."

Posted:
Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:15 pm
by kansas666
bugsymalone wrote:OK, fair enough. All in the eye of the beholder. What about the EAR of the beholder though?
I can't deny that he has written some great songs and he has a great voice. I was first turned on to STYX with Equinox. But when I finally saw them on the Grand Illusion tour, he was not what I expected.
Listen to Return to Paradise. when he introduces The Grand Illusion it sounds as if he is preaching to children. Does he realize who his audience is? His egotistical, condecending dorkiness really turned me off. Granted, JY isn't much better. But he has the good sense not to talk much on stage.