Most Significant Member Of Styx Ever...

[DarwinNebraska]

When it's all said and done... who will be looked upon as the most significant member of Styx... the one most responsible for them acheiving stardom?

Dennis DeYoung.

[Abitaman]

Dennis DeYoung -because of ala the hits he wrote. Sure Tommy added style on stage and wrote some hits, but ask who the voice is or to name a Styx song ,and it is Dennis.
The only way that would change is if they had a good run of commercial success-ERIC

[bugsymalone]

Agree totally with Darwin and Abitaman.

I think Dennis is the only member with wide recognition outside of Styx. Tommy most certainly has some, but not to the extent Dennis does.

I also think that when people hear Dennis sing, they are more likely to recognize his voice above any of the other members of Styx.


Bugsy

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I had to think really hard about this question

I would have to say Dennis. I totally agree with Darwin, Eric and Bugsy.

Not only did he have the most recognizable voice and wrote or co-wrote the most Styx hits, he also produced, or okay, helped produce most of the Styx albums.

Tommy is second.

[Rockindeano]

Tommy Shaw.

How can deYoung be the most significant if he is no longer involved, and the band are still going?

Makes no sense.

Answer: Shaw, hands down.

Wait, seriously..

Maybe the answer is there isn't ONEsignificant person..after all, it is called a "Band."

[SuiteMadameBlue]

How can deYoung be the most significant if he is no longer involved, and the band are still going?

I would think Darwin's question is for the history of the band. Just like some people would pick Steve Perry for Journey if the question was asked on that board. I personally think Neal Schon for that one, but that's my opinion.

Makes no sense.

Yes, it makes sense asking with the history of the band and the band members.

Answer: Shaw, hands down.

Shaw's great

Wait, seriously..

Maybe the answer is there isn't ONEsignificant person..after all, it is called a "Band."

Darwin asked: When it's all said and done... who will be looked upon as the most significant member of Styx... the one most responsible for them acheiving stardom?

If you or anyone think's the band as a whole, that would be your opinion. If someone picks the band, then the question would be asked, what line-up? Wooden Nickel Styx, Classic Styx, Hour Glass Styx or I guess current line up Styx or Scott coined Styx Syx.

I think a lot of bands have a significant member, a member that stood out more than the others, one that was more responsible for them to achieve stardom. Just my opinion

[Abitaman]

Hey, SMB, I think Rock D was yanking your chain ,rather good too (could be wrong). ERIC

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Eric says:

Hey, SMB, I think Rock D was yanking your chain ,rather good too (could be wrong). ERIC

He was? He was yanking my chain?

I'm taking my ball and going home!!

Boo Hoo!!

(LOL)

[styxfanNH]

Without a question, Dennis had more to do with their raise to fame than the other members. Partly because he penned the songs that got the band the most exposure. You would also have to add in his role in production in crafting the Styx sound.

However, you would also have to remember that he was also responsible for the events that led to their unfortunate demise as a supergroup. Regardless of the popularity of the songs that came from it.

Tommy would be a close second. And number one in success through Damn Yankees. Shaw/Blades is really insignificant in the overall scheme of things.

But all ten members have had an influence on the band overall.

I would also say that if you played a song like Babe, asked 100 off the street 14 year olds who sang it, you might get 5 who would get to Styx and 1 that would get to Dennis. So much for "his voice being one of the most recognizable in the music world today". On the other hand, ask them about who the lead singer of STYX is and you might get 5 to say Tommy or Larry. But that debate is for another thread.

[swwskj]

If you started some more polling and asked people "what song do you think of when you think of styx" I feel because of the commercials and the movies that have helped bring the name front and center again, you'd probably get the following:

Mr. Roboto
Babe
Lady
Come Sail Away

All Dennis sung tunes. What song started the bands popularity?-Lady What song changed the 'direction' of the band?-Babe What song is blamed for breaking up the band?-Mr. Roboto The only time a song like Blue Collar Man gets brought up is "hey I heard it on my classic rock station last week" or if Alice Cooper gives it his 'Not Gay' stamp of approval.

It is my experience that if a casual fan (of which none post here) can name a member of the Band it's Dennis.

[BlackWall]

I agree, without question, it's Dennis. As it's been pointed out, he wrote their first big hit "Lady"; he wrote their last big hit "Show Me The Way"; he revived the success of the band with "Come Sail Away"; he wrote the title track to their most popular album"The Grand Illusion"; he wrote their only #1 single "Babe"; he created the concept for their only #1 album "Paradise Theatre"; he stirred things up with "Mr. Roboto" and "Kilroy Was Here".
................he holds the note in "Suite Madame Blue"..


I respect Tommy's contributions to the band, I think he added a much needed element, but Dennis by far played the biggest role in making the band what it was. Can anyone imagine what Styx would have been without Dennis? That's just it, there wouldn't have been a Styx. While it's true that J.Y. did lead on a lot of their early material, who wrote the majority of it?

[froy]

When it's all said and done... who will be looked upon as the most significant member of Styx... the one most responsible for them acheiving stardom?

Dennis DeYoung.

Its funny the most significant member question and Zan Yogi Kansas Chicago Styx and Monker ignore the question .
How can the most significant member of the band not be allowed in the band seeing that he formed it in the first place.
Its amazing that Shaw and Jim Y are allowed to hijack this band
Very sad.

[sadie65]

History will remember them for their best and their worst. In most cases, that falls on Dennis. That isn't to say that any of the others don't deserve credit in either area.

I think significance changes from person to person. For instance, I'm not well versed in how to play a guitar so I tend to enjoy it, but have no true ear for it. I can sing however, so vocals take on a greater importance to me.

Lyrics are important to me. So I view those as having greater significance than music. I realize though that other people pull other things from the music, hence my comment above.

I think, as Scott said, to the casual fan, it's the songs that had the most commercial success that they will remember. Like him or not, they were songs Dennis wrote and performed. So I guess for me it would be Dennis, based solely on the way this question was written.

[yogi]

Froy,

I didnt ignore anything. I have been out of town since Wednesday.

NO DOUBT it is Dennis Deyoung. But because of people like you it makes me almost glad Dennis is no longer in the band. Its almost embarrassing thinking I like some of the same music that you do.

[Rockindeano]

Froy, I must say, that I need to be more educated here in relation to the Styx fall out.

Over in the "other" board, there is a fight as well, but under different circumstances.

Perry LEFT that band...here DDY was ..let me get this straight, "kicked out?"

If I am right, and I am Dennis DeYoung, in NO WAY do I ever take a phone call from those clowns...

so tell me, am I right on my assumption?

[SuiteMadameBlue]

First, I'd give anything for Froy and Yogi to meet in person and then throw Monker in the mix (and I guess Adam too) You guys would be so totally different talking about this (Styx, Dennis vs. Gowan stuff) in person with each other.

Second, Deano, how many hours do you have this weekend to talk about this? I have my storyboard and pictures all ready for this, we'll go year by year

You are right, yes again!!! Dennis was kicked out of band that he co-founded. 3 to 1.

[classicstyxfan]

Hey Rock'n Beano........if that's your girlfriend on your avatar, suggest you keep the lights as dim as possible ! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrowf !!

[gr8dane]

Dennis is the guy most responsible for achieving stardom.
He was the most productive writer.
Now,biggest hits does not mean best songs in my book,and stardom does not really mean a better band either.
Dennis wrote the most,but without the other members to make that special sound,I do not think there would have been many hits. Dennis's solo albums is surely an indication to that.There is exactly 2 memorable songs on 3 solo albums (and no hits,besides the song Desert Moon,i believe).
I wonder how things would have been if JC did not leave for another 2 or 3 albums.

[Rockindeano]

Second, Deano, how many hours do you have this weekend to talk about this? I have my storyboard and pictures all ready for this, we'll go year by year

No thanks. I came in here to ask a question, but it's pretty clear that Journey guys and Styx peeps don't mix..

I'll pass...

[classicstyxfan]

on that last point Gr8, me too.......

I think it should be apparent that the sum of the band was more than the individual parts.....

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Deano says:

No thanks. I came in here to ask a question, but it's pretty clear that Journey guys and Styx peeps don't mix..

This is what you asked:

here DDY was ..let me get this straight, "kicked out?"

Then I answered your question:

You are right, yes again!!! Dennis was kicked out of band that he co-founded. 3 to 1.

I answered it simple and I was kidding about talking it next weekend. It's a Journey weekend, not a Styx weekend.

Journey guys and Styx peeps don't mix? Okie Dokie But I'm sure the Journey girls and Styx peeps mix pretty good together

I'M KIDDING AROUND

[sadie65]

Second, Deano, how many hours do you have this weekend to talk about this? I have my storyboard and pictures all ready for this, we'll go year by year

No thanks. I came in here to ask a question, but it's pretty clear that Journey guys and Styx peeps don't mix..

I'll pass...

Nah...we mix. Might be a little volatile at times, but we mix.

[styxfanNH]

Deano says:

No thanks. I came in here to ask a question, but it's pretty clear that Journey guys and Styx peeps don't mix..

This is what you asked:

here DDY was ..let me get this straight, "kicked out?"

Then I answered your question:

You are right, yes again!!! Dennis was kicked out of band that he co-founded. 3 to 1.

I answered it simple and I was kidding about talking it next weekend. It's a Journey weekend, not a Styx weekend.

Journey guys and Styx peeps don't mix? Okie Dokie But I'm sure the Journey girls and Styx peeps mix pretty good together

I'M KIDDING AROUND

Suite,
Didn't Dennis replace another accordian guy in the band that was originally founded by the Panozzo twins?

[SuiteMadameBlue]

gr8dane says:

Dennis is the guy most responsible for achieving stardom.
He was the most productive writer.
Now,biggest hits does not mean best songs in my book,and stardom does not really mean a better band either.

That's your opinion and a few other people I know too. I have 2 good friends that are Styx fans and they feel the same way as this. They both say Tommy has the better songs.

Dennis wrote the most,but without the other members to make that special sound,I do not think there would have been many hits.

I totally agree with you, especially the Grand Illusion album. Most of the band members that I talked to said that this is the album that they worked so hard together on and had the most input from all the members. I agree with that special sound with their music, it was all of them together to achieve it.

Dennis's solo albums is surely an indication to that.There is exactly 2 memorable songs on 3 solo albums (and no hits,besides the song Desert Moon,i believe).

In my opinion, I think if Dennis had promoted his solo music or even added a tour with any of the albums, there might have been a few more hits, just my opinion and we'll never know.

I wonder how things would have been if JC did not leave for another 2 or 3 albums.

I've wondered about that too over the years.

[sadie65]

Suite,
Didn't Dennis replace another accordian guy in the band that was originally founded by the Panozzo twins?

[/quote]

I'm not Suite, but were they even a band or were they jamming and Dennis told them to come over to his house.

Not trying to start anything...but somehow I am not sure this qualifies.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

styxfanNH says:

Suite,
Didn't Dennis replace another accordian guy in the band that was originally founded by the Panozzo twins?

LOL!! I'm trying to still find out more information about this person and what ever became of him. I lost the name, it's somewhere in my emails.

"Technically" from my understanding, the first 3, the Panozzo brothers and the first accordian guy weren't really a "band", they just jammed together. Then came Dennis which I'm sure motivated the guys to follow "their" dream and become a band. First start playing weddings in the area, going to college, hooking up with JY and JC, then the rest is history. IMO

Anybody know anything else about the VERY beginning????? I hope so.

[styxfanNH]

As I read on, I was swept away to a time of innocence. He was the young boy that Dennis would eventually replace!
I remember playing rhythm guitar and John playing drums to Wayne's performance of "On Top of Old Smokey"

This was from Chuck's site. I think he considered them a band. A school band, but a band just the same.


The guy in front is Wayne. http://www.chuckpanozzosplace.com/ourgang.jpg for original pic or Chuck's site under From the Desk & You got mail.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Okay, there you go, that sounds like a band that they were just beginning.

Thanks for finding the information

[bugsymalone]

Well....I guess it depends on your point of view. Chuck and John did join Dennis at HIS house, at Dennis' invitation. So....who started the band?

If they had not joined him, would Dennis have started up a band with other guys? I most certainly think so.

Would they have eventually sounded like Styx? Probably.

Would they have been called Styx? I do not think so.

All speculation except for my first paragraph. Dennis asked them to join him. Not the other way around.

Thanks for that little info, NH and for finding the picture!

Bugsy

[gr8dane]

OK then.
Best Dennis/Styx songs AM years:
Light Up
Suite Madame Blue
Lonely Child
Castle Walls.
Pre-EGO years
Best Styx songs:As in STYX.
Lorelie
Born for adventure
Queen of spades
I'm OK
Lights
Borrowed time
Snowblind.
Sure, Dennis has the edge.But the collaborations make the grand picture as in Dennis is/was not Styx.
And no TS is/was not Styx either.But BCM,and Renegade were massive compared to DDY's hit run from this album.
Scuse me,this is a 6 pint ramble ,but at least i know what i think i am talking about.