...Something New Every Day

[bugsymalone]

What might have been. This is a very interesting article found by a fellow member of this board.

I like his guitar work and voice, which are sampled on his site.

Surprise: This guy. Never heard of him.

No Surprise : JY’s behavior. OK, maybe he was “worried about the performance.”

No Surprise: Dennis, the gentleman... certainly in this case.

No Surprise: John P. worrying about his stool. I would have too!

Bugsy

http://www.olivertuthill.com/Oliver-Tut ... lights.asp


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.

[classicstyxfan]

What ??????

I thought Dennis was a total prick to everyone he ever worked with....it has to be true.......after all I read it HERE !

[Zan]

What ??????

I thought Dennis was a total prick to everyone he ever worked with....it has to be true.......after all I read it HERE !

Well, that miscellaneous blurb sure proved THAT wrong!

<---Who's wondering just how many tits & tats this board needs to supply on a regular basis.

[sadie65]

What ??????

I thought Dennis was a total prick to everyone he ever worked with....it has to be true.......after all I read it HERE !

Well, that miscellaneous blurb sure proved THAT wrong!

<---Who's wondering just how many tits & tats this board needs to supply on a regular basis.

Well Tommy has the tats...and I think we've discussed the tits long enough here

[froy]

What ??????

I thought Dennis was a total prick to everyone he ever worked with....it has to be true.......after all I read it HERE !

Well, that miscellaneous blurb sure proved THAT wrong!

<---Who's wondering just how many tits & tats this board needs to supply on a regular basis.

Well Tommy has the tats...and I think we've discussed the tits long enough here

Good one .