Tommy note from San Diego

[styxfanNH]

Hello Friends,

First of all Happy Summer to everyone. Is it me or did this one seem a long time coming? I mean, spring was a STYX-a-Paloosa for us, one rip-roaring, headbanging show after another, with more new STYX fans joining our faithful long time fans than we've ever seen. But there's just something about knowing it is officially SUMMER that changes everything.

When you get to be our age, the time continuum gets distorted, you know, time seems to fly by rather than drag on like the last month of school as you wait for summer break to start, but there are times when that's not true at all. This summer seemed eternally just a few weeks away, and even though I live in Southern California, we all know the difference between the seasons a lot better than you'd imagine, and so when it got to the 21st, it felt like a small victory for those who wait.

Our UK shows are off to a great start with ticket sales putting smiles on the faces of the promoters and others involved. They do things differently there as you may have noticed, with shows going on sale nine months ahead of time, and with the positive results there are even rumblings of more shows being added.

Back in my early days in STYX we attempted to tour Europe and the UK and build a loyal following there but not everyone in the band was happy about being so far from home, which made the all-for-one, one-for-all joy that's needed to keep up with the demands of touring overseas and enjoying it an impossibility. We came to the conclusion that it jeopardized the band's existence and gave up the idea of having a global following. But when we reorganized in 1999 the joy was back and the world was once again our oyster. Despite the fact that we were a couple of decades late, our dream to play the world was revived and it's been coming true. We've learned time and time again to hold on to such dreams because let's face it, everything begins with an idea, a concept and the dream of seeing it come to be. Take you and me for instance. I guess that's why they call it conception.

It's been almost three days now of summer 2006 and we've had two killer concerts so far--Stockton, CA and Tucson, AZ with San Diego, CA on deck for tonight. STYX fans are pushing our buttons to crank up the energy and we have been more than happy to oblige. Some of the places we play seem a little out of step with what to expect from our audience, perhaps only thinking of us as having fans from our 70s and 80s era, but by the end of the shows they are all discovering that new STYX fans as well as our older fans are there to sing, dance, jump around and be a part of the same world. It's a beautiful thing to see from where we stand.

One more time, let us wish you a HAPPY SUMMER. Let's enjoy it like never before!

TS

[Ash]

and they still take pot shots... unbelievable.

Styx toured Germany in the 80's so they were still doing Europe then - so I wonder if Tommy was on one of his cocaine binges that he doesn't remember it.

Oh well. Glad to see JY is rubbing off on Tommy now.

[Jodes]

Hmm so I guess 76-82 were "early days of Styx" because from what I can remember, Styx only did tour Europe during the Paradise Theater Tour.

Or does anyone know if they were there during the Cornerstone tour?

LOL cocaine binges.. but i guess JY was right.. if it wasn't for flashbacks they wouldn't have any memory left at all!

But I agree Ash, it's been 7 years without you know who.. time to leave it be, don't know how many more times we need to hear it!

[Zan]

and they still take pot shots... unbelievable.

Styx toured Germany in the 80's so they were still doing Europe then - so I wonder if Tommy was on one of his cocaine binges that he doesn't remember it.

Oh well. Glad to see JY is rubbing off on Tommy now.

I wonder if you would be happier to re-write history for them sometimes. It was said on BTM (something so many passionate fans like to use as fodder for the flame wars when it's CONVENIENT to do so) by others besides Tommy and JY that DDY didn't like to tour very much, so I'm not sure what the big deal is. I didn't see anywhere where Tommy mentioned Dennis by name - or even singled out any ONE person in that letter, which is what gets people so pissy when JY talks about it. All he said was that not everyone liked it and now they have a renewed enthusiasm. So, you're reading between the lines - so what? It happened. Deal with it. He didn't take shots at anyone. He stated a fact. Should he just stop writing notes and posting his thoughts for the few fans who still ENJOY the band? Would that make you happy, Ash?

Are you saying they did not give up the notion of having a global following at that time? Are you thinking that the band was happy as pigs in muck during that time, and the commradery was peachy-keen? Is that what you think? lol

So, they did a brief stint in Europe in 1982 (that's when it was), and that was it. Big, fat, hairy deal. They never went after that - not in '83, not '91, not in '96 or '97.

However, I'm glad to see that you are taking the high road, as always, with your cocaine remarks.

[styxfanNH]

These were the European dates. If you know of any others, let me know. I m sure ther are some within the holes in the dates, however, this is what I have.

Oct 28, 1981 Copenhagen, Denmark Brondby-Hallen
Oct 30, 1981 Stockholm, Sweden
Nov 06, 1981 Stafford, UK New Bingley Hall
Nov 07, 1981 London, England Wembley Arena
Nov 08, 1981 London, England Wembley Arena
Nov 16, 1981 Paris, France Pavilion de Baltard
Nov 30, 1981 Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt Festhalle
Dec 06, 1981 Stafford, UK Bingley Hall

Jan 12, 1982 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Hall
Jan 13, 1982 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Hall

[Jodes]

What a coincidence..

I'm watching the Jan 13th Styx Live At Budokon video right now..

Weird!

[froy]

Hello Friend

Back in my early days in STYX we attempted to tour Europe and the UK and build a loyal following there but not everyone in the band was happy about being so far from home,

Yea I guess being voted Americas number 1 band and 4 platinum albums was such a drag Tommy Shaw.
Im glad Dennis liked to stay around his house
I saw 50 of the best concerts with a once great band
Now we are running out of places to play so we rip Dennis DeYoung again because thats all we know how to do.

which made the all-for-one, one-for-all joy that's needed to keep up with the demands of touring overseas and enjoying it an impossibility.

Instead you did about 6 killer cds in the states
Ill keep history just the way it is Tommy Shaw,
Now your touring everywhere and your band stinks.
Im glad your happy Millions of Styx fans have all but written you off.

We came to the conclusion that it jeopardized the band's existence and gave up the idea of having a global following.

God never toured Europe and he has a global following.
Try his way .

But when we reorganized in 1999 the joy was back and the world was once again our oyster.

Then you rereorganized and Glen left
Now your a clam Tommy Shaw,

Despite the fact that we were a couple of decades late, our dream to play the world was revived and it's been coming true.

And everyone in the crowd is saying Man did Dennis Deyoung lose his voice or what
He's on coke and he''s sucks.

We've learned time and time again to hold on to such dreams because let's face it, everything begins with an idea,

Your right and Dennis DeYoung Chuck and John Panazzo thought up this idea and guess what
You freakin ruined it.

Take you and me for instance. I guess that's why they call it conception.

No they call it a guy who has lost all sense of reality.
Tommy Shaw wake up your in a bad dream.

It's been almost three days now of summer 2006 and we've had two killer concerts so far--Stockton, CA and Tucson, AZ

Why is that you are the only one telling us about these killer concerts?
You played Chicago a few weeks ago and not 1 word of how killer from anyone .
Stop blowing smoke Tommy Shaw,

STYX fans are

Sick and tired of the dog and pony show.
Close it down and get into THE ROOM .

pushing our buttons to crank up the energy and we have been more than happy to oblige.

Yea such energy the setlist has been the same for 3 years
Wow thats huge appreciation from your band Tommy Shaw,

Some of the places we play seem a little out of step with what to expect from our audience, perhaps only thinking of us as having fans from our 70s and 80s era,

Sorry to say there all gone thanks to you and James Young.

but by the end of the shows they are all discovering that new STYX fans

]]]

We have heard this BS story so many times its as old as the setlist.

well as our older fans are there to sing, dance, jump around and be a part of the same world.

There singing the Boycott Styx in 2006 song my friend

One more time, let us wish you a HAPPY SUMMER. Let's enjoy it like never before!

TS

Thanks
Im going to see Dennis Deyoung in Chicago you want to come with ?

[StyxCollector]

Back in my early days in STYX we attempted to tour Europe and the UK and build a loyal following there but not everyone in the band was happy about being so far from home, which made the all-for-one, one-for-all joy that's needed to keep up with the demands of touring overseas and enjoying it an impossibility. We came to the conclusion that it jeopardized the band's existence and gave up the idea of having a global following. But when we reorganized in 1999 the joy was back and the world was once again our oyster. Despite the fact that we were a couple of decades late, our dream to play the world was revived and it's been coming true. We've learned time and time again to hold on to such dreams because let's face it, everything begins with an idea, a concept and the dream of seeing it come to be. Take you and me for instance. I guess that's why they call it conception.

Tommy is nuts here. They played the UK/Europe for a handful of dates in Summer, '78 (mainly UK; I have 'em here somewhere), and also on the Cornerstone tour ... as well as PT. They toured there with DDY on three tours. Yes, DDY did not like to tour extensively, but come on ... they did play outside the USA for the glory years. Get over it. Revisionist history.

EDIT: Both the Cornerstone and PT tours were extensive, so to say they didn't try to break Europe and the UK is bollocks.

Here's proof for the Cornerstone tour if you don't believe me:
http://cgi.ebay.com/STYX-PARIS-1980-pos ... dZViewItem

[Zan]

Tommy is nuts here. They played the UK/Europe for a handful of dates in Summer, '78 (mainly UK; I have 'em here somewhere), and also on the Cornerstone tour ... as well as PT. They toured there with DDY on three tours. Yes, DDY did not like to tour extensively, but come on ... they did play outside the USA for the glory years. Get over it. Revisionist history.

Here's proof for the Cornerstone tour if you don't believe me:
http://cgi.ebay.com/STYX-PARIS-1980-pos ... dZViewItem

Of course. Tommy said they NEVER played outside the U.S. That's what he said. Not that they didn't get to tour abroad as much as many of them would have liked to, not that they didn't have a feeling of "all for one, and one for all," not anything like that. You're absolutely right, Allan. Tommy's nuts. lol

And you were all there to know how nuts he is. Everyone's a frickin' expert on history they weren't a part of. Can't even call that revisionist history - just a few micro-managers holding magnifying glasses to someone else's account of their own past.

Get over it, indeed.

[StyxCollector]

Of course. Tommy said they NEVER played outside the U.S. That's what he said. Not that they didn't get to tour abroad as much as many of them would have liked to, not that they didn't have a feeling of "all for one, and one for all," not anything like that. You're absolutely right, Allan. Tommy's nuts. lol

And you were all there to know how nuts he is. Everyone's a frickin' expert on history they weren't a part of. Can't even call that revisionist history - just a few micro-managers holding magnifying glasses to someone else's account of their own past.

Get over it, indeed.

I like both sides (DDY and Styx), so I have no agenda, but Styx is a band who over time has rewritten its own history as it suits the current lineup (and I include DDY in all of that such as the 1991 lineup). As I just edited my post, they spent quite a bit of time on the road for both Cornerstone and PT - sufficient enough in my book to try to break the UK and Europe. It didn't happen.

It also didn't happen for bands like Journey, either. The fact is, at that time in the UK especially, you had the end of punk which segued into New Wave. Styx and its music just didn't resonate and stick in the way that they did here. They played decent sized halls in 1981, sure, but PT was a worldwide hit. First time they played outside of Europe and the Americas, too (Japan).

By Tommy's own accounts and other observers he was shall we say medicating at that point (as I'm sure others were in the band to various degrees), but it all came to a head during the PT tour when he started to demo his own stuff outside the band while they were in the UK. So it's easy to look back in hindsight and say we didn't break the UK and Europe as we liked, but they gave it quite a bit of time over three years. That's a plan. If they only played there in '78 and never went back (a la Journey who never really tried to break Europe), I'd agree with Tommy wholeheartedly.

I'm glad they're playing to more receptive crowds over there in this day and age. Good for them. So what has changed since 1981? I couldn't tell you. It's not Dennis, because they went there with him. I think it is the musical climate more than anything else. Melodic rock/AOR has a following there.

[Zan]

As I just edited my post, they spent quite a bit of time on the road for both Cornerstone and PT - sufficient enough in my book to try to break the UK and Europe. It didn't happen.

*snip*

I'm glad they're playing to more receptive crowds over there in this day and age. Good for them. So what has changed since 1981? I couldn't tell you. It's not Dennis, because they went there with him. I think it is the musical climate more than anything else. Melodic rock/AOR has a following there.

Well, considering that they're still rockin' out to bands like the Scorpians in Europe, I'm not sure you theory is accurate, but I'm definitely sure that to say Tommy's nuts for writing what he did is pretty nuts as well. There were opportunies there that were never taken. We can battle all week/month/year/decade as to why those reasons were, but the fact still remains that these opportunies were avoided.

You claim you're a fan of both "sides" and you have no agenda. So I ask you, WHY would Tommy deliberately slam DDY (even tho he seemed to be extra careful how he worded his note - pointing no fingers, naming no names, not even bitching, just saying in a matter-of-fact way) when he knows full-well that many of their fans are sensitive to the issue? That is what makes no sense.

Or I'll take it a step further - Do you or anyone else really believe that he sits around thinking about Dennis all the time?

Tommy's an introspective guy. He likes to reflect on the past and compare notes with the present. He thinks out loud. Lucky for (some of) us that he likes to share that part of himself with his fans. Too bad that every time he does, he gets picked apart for it. *shrug* Some people just can't be happy.

I appreciate that you used the word "bollocks" in your post, however. lol

[StyxCollector]

Well, considering that they're still rockin' out to bands like the Scorpians in Europe, I'm not sure you theory is accurate, but I'm definitely sure that to say Tommy's nuts for writing what he did is pretty nuts as well. There were opportunies there that were never taken. We can battle all week/month/year/decade as to why those reasons were, but the fact still remains that these opportunies were avoided.

The UK vs. mainland Europe is different - different markets. Don't confuse them. American acts like Journey, Foreigner, Styx, and so on have not been big in Europe. Many didn't attempt to tour, or haven't for years. Styx did it for three tours, which is more than most American bands. They gave it a legitimate shot.

You claim you're a fan of both "sides" and you have no agenda. So I ask you, WHY would Tommy deliberately slam DDY (even tho he seemed to be extra careful how he worded his note - pointing no fingers, naming no names, not even bitching, just saying in a matter-of-fact way) when he knows full-well that many of their fans are sensitive to the issue? That is what makes no sense.

Tommy has said similarly worded things over the years when he was out of the band. He makes no bones over the weirdness behind the scenes that was/is/will contiue to be Styx. He's avoided saying anything like this for awhile (unlike JY). I'm surprised he went there now. While it may not be deliberate ("let me take a potshot at DDY"), it's not too hard to read between the lines.

Or I'll take it a step further - Do you or anyone else really believe that he sits around thinking about Dennis all the time?

Tommy's an introspective guy. He likes to reflect on the past and compare notes with the present. He thinks out loud. Lucky for (some of) us that he likes to share that part of himself with his fans. Too bad that every time he does, he gets picked apart for it. *shrug* Some people just can't be happy.

I appreciate that you used the word "bollocks" in your post, however. lol

Tommy? No, not at all. I think when he reflects like this it comes to mind and he worded it in as nice a way as he could. Some reflections should go unsaid, though, as he even has to know it stirs the dust up. He's not that dumb, either.

I'm not unhappy with what he said - you're reading into my comments. I could care less. To me it's just another page in the saga. To some degree, they bring the criticism upon themselves by putting comments out there.

Look at it this way: many Styx fans may be divided (me not being in that crowd), but be glad that they are not going through what is going on in the Journey camp. I'll take the Styx soap opera over that one any day.

Styx fans have taken DDY's replacement much better than the Perry/Augeri stuff. The current controvesy ain't helping there, either.

[Zan]

I'm not unhappy with what he said - you're reading into my comments. I could care less. To me it's just another page in the saga. To some degree, they bring the criticism upon themselves by putting comments out there.

YOU'RE not unhappy, perhaps, but I know a few that ARE. It's ridiculous. lol

And yeah, of course he's gonna know that people will read between the lines, and for that, he doesn't get political or offensive. He's got no reason to - and he's got no reason to make shite up either, that's my other point.

I don't see you as being a hot head, Allan. We just don't agree on a lot of stuff in Styxworld, that's all.

And I realise there is a difference in markets between Europe and the UK. Styx may be going to the UK< but they steered away from EUROPE as a whole for a long time.

[StyxCollector]

And yeah, of course he's gonna know that people will read between the lines, and for that, he doesn't get political or offensive. He's got no reason to - and he's got no reason to make shite up either, that's my other point.

He's living his truth, just as JY is living his, and DDY his. It's all their own experience and coloring on events they all shared. You and I are third parties to that, so we can look at all three and see what is going on from a less partial view. I see grey area.

Let's face it, maybe DDY was a real terror, maybe he wasn't. I didn't live on the road with him. While it's known he didn't love to tour, why did Dennis commit back in the day to extensive worldwide tours for both Cornerstone and PT if he hated touring so much? Only with Kilroy did they just start to play the exclusively NA again, and the NA tour was partially derailed thanks to Tommy smashing up his arm/hand. Can't blame DDY for that. That didn't help that tour by sucking some momentum out.

By the time Styx toured again in 1991, the music business had changed and doing the shed thing was "in". I've seen some of the documentation signed for that tour while they were public before they sealed up the papers for the lawsuit when it was settled, and it was clear it was going to be a fairly short summer tour. So it's not a fair comparison when you view the '70s and early '80s tours to the ones in the '90s. At least Styx of the '90s had no delusions of grandeur - they played the right size venues and rebuilt their audience, especially in 1996. They were testing the waters.

After 1999, they have not concentrated outside of North America much to date. Some dates in Europe (which they did before the UK dates ever were a possibility the first time out), one stint in the UK, a few dates in Japan (where they even did "Babe"), and now another UK tour next year. From my point of view, the classic lineup had more of a plan to break Europe and the UK with their tours at the time. That's why you go there on three tours in a row in consecutive years (for the most part), not sporadically as they seem to be doing now. Sure, the economic climate is different and it's expensive to tour over there: you need backers. I get that.

Journey just played Europe for the first time in what, 30 years? Not sure what took them so long, and they can't use Perry as an excuse, just like I think it is somewhat silly to even give the whiff that DDY held Styx back from being a global band. Tommy was not in the 1991 lineup so he can't blame DDY for staying in the US for that tour. In 1996 and 1997 it made no sense to tour Europe. Hell, Rush who toured Europe consistently through the Bones tour didn't for over 10 years until R30.

[Ash]

Zan? Reading things into things? NEVER. Now I do love Zan and all - and she and I disgree on a lot of things - but that doesn't mean I have lost respect, and I'll just leave that where it is - but I'm not the only one who would be happy to re-write Styx History.

JY attempts to do it with EVERY INTERVIEW HE DOES.

I don't care. These guys can suck for all I care now. They've proven Dennis is far bigger of an influence than they ever could admin tisimply because they can't stop talking about them.

And according to some of you, because JY has some kind of engineering degree, he'd have been far richer without Dennis - and I'm sure far more famous. Keep living in your delusional dreamworld - it's cool. Dennis isn't the one still talking about how life sucked with the other guys in the band. He's consistently spoken favorably of the "old days" and hasn't tried to tear down the band as it was.

Rewriting history is when you talk about the past in terms that attempt to change people's opinions and spin the facts with opinion. You tell me who is doing that these days. Because it sure as hell isn't me.

[Ash]

Or I'll take it a step further - Do you or anyone else really believe that he sits around thinking about Dennis all the time?

I bet they spend far more time doing this and thinking about this than you or I could imagine. ESPECIALLY JY. He just DRIPS with it every time he opens his pie hole. It just seems as if it's starting to happen with Tommy now.

If he wanted to not be so passively agressive about it he could have said something that got the point across, but did so with respect.

"We didn't tour Europe in the early days because Dennis had a family and didn't like being so far from home. Not everyone in the band felt this way, but thats just the way it was."

It's accurate.... and it's at least willing to mention Dennis by name (of course, they may not be allowed to do this for all I know).

Better yet - they could have just left it out. What did it add to the conversation

[styxfanNH]

Tommy started these "certain member" attacks with his post as they came off the road in November. Why? Nobody knows. When I read this before I posted it on here, I knew it was going to stir things up.

Dennis may not have liked to tour back in the day, or perhaps even now. But they were ALWAYS on the road or recording. It was the lack of desire to come off the road that probably had more of a toll.

But if you believe that "if you're not appearing you're disappearing" as Tommy says, than yo can understand this conflict would have with any married person.

But, this is just another chapter in the saga.

[Zan]

Zan? Reading things into things? NEVER. Now I do love Zan and all - and she and I disgree on a lot of things - but that doesn't mean I have lost respect, and I'll just leave that where it is - but I'm not the only one who would be happy to re-write Styx History.

JY attempts to do it with EVERY INTERVIEW HE DOES.

...They've proven Dennis is far bigger of an influence than they ever could admin tisimply because they can't stop talking about them.

This I will agree with you on. I think JY would be happy to re-write history (or rather, re-LIVE history), and I do think Dennis' heavy influence is mirrored every time they mention/not mention him.

And according to some of you, because JY has some kind of engineering degree, he'd have been far richer without Dennis - and I'm sure far more famous. Keep living in your delusional dreamworld - it's cool.

Yeah...um, that was in response to YOU, Ash, who said "Jy would be a cab driver if it wasn't for Dennis." We said it's possible he could have been richer (and judging by that finance interview he did last year, it's not a far cry), but what we REALLY said was that he'd be doing better than a cab driver, like you suggested. He's no "internet arguer," intellectually.

Dennis isn't the one still talking about how life sucked with the other guys in the band. He's consistently spoken favorably of the "old days" and hasn't tried to tear down the band as it was.

Of Course not! To HIM, everything was dandy! LOL!

Rewriting history is when you talk about the past in terms that attempt to change people's opinions and spin the facts with opinion. You tell me who is doing that these days. Because it sure as hell isn't me.

Sometimes. And sometimes people only know what they think happened. Then again, maybe history was written improperly to begin with, and some people are trying to set the records straight. It was Glen who used the quote "history is lies agreed upon," not JY. Maybe he doesn't feel he's spread the word enough yet. How does any of us know which it is? Do you know?

(And I love you too, Ashy-poo) ::::smooch::::

[DarwinNebraska]

Zan, you care too much.

[Zan]

Zan, you care too much.

It's a bit like getting cut off in traffic: Some days I just shrug it off, some days I shake my head and wonder, and some days I scream and beat on my steering wheel.

[LordofDaRing]

Speaking of "rewriting history", in the "Early days of Styx" there was no Tommy Shaw. Certain things stay in your mind as a fan too, I remember watching a show in Baton Rouge on the original Paradise Theater Tour, and JY did an intro to a song where he discussed being abroad on tour in places like France and Italy. I remember him clearly referencing the toilet paper over there being like using a brown paper bag (ouch). He rambeled on about basically how they all missed being in the states and how none of these places measured up to America.
I think even though he didn't mention names, we all know who TS was referring to. Its like him saying, you know some members of the band back then wrote ballads. Hmmmmm, wonder who that could be? I am still waiting for some newer movie to ressurect one of those old DDY ballads and watch how fast Styx would use it in one of their concerts.

[styxfanNH]

Not sure about that one. We didn't hear anything about the songs in Perfect Man.

So I guess in this saga the mantra is going to be....it depends.

[StyxCollector]

Glen has gone on record saying that they were not going to play Roboto (either as part of the EOTC-2K version or in that small opening medley they used to play a few tours back) until he pretty much insisted on it.

Sometimes I think Styx bites off their nose to spite their face (so-to-speak). Early on they used to play songs like "The Best Of Times", but honestly, Gowan did not sound that great. I can understand they dropped them for that reason, but when you put a snoozer of a song like "Yes I Can" on Cyclorama, please don't tell me your main mission in life is to rock. They've never played that one live, but "Yes I Can" is clearly not a rocker.

One of the reasons (current controversy aside) Journey has had bigger audiences and somewhat more success is the fact they are not ignoring all of the classic songs people know them for. Styx is to a large degree. I've said it before and I'll say it again - at shows I've talked to people who are surprised that DDY is not there (despite him being gone since 1999) and that they aren't going to hear "Babe" or "The Best of Times". Part of the problem is that they use DDY's songs in the promos, so it's understandable.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen Styx a few times since 1999 and they're a good act live. I'm just calling a spade a spade here.

[redSG]

at shows I've talked to people who are surprised that DDY is not there (despite him being gone since 1999) and that they aren't going to hear "Babe" or "The Best of Times". Part of the problem is that they use DDY's songs in the promos, so it's understandable.

I don't have much sympathy for people who go to the shows, and complain about not realizing that certain members, particularly a singer/lead member aren't there. If they choose not to be up-to-date on the band, that's their fault. That doesn't just go for Styx, but for tons of bands out there, like Journey, Skid Row, Warrant, Deep Purple, KISS, and so on.

Same goes for people who don't realize that if they go to a DDY-less Styx show, they aren't going to get the sappier stuff like "Babe." Sorry, but if you're not up on band history, it's not the band's fault.

I would agree though, that use of DDY songs don't help, and I certainly wouldn't like to hear promos with songs that certainly aren't in the setlist.

[StyxCollector]

Agreed people should do their homework, but it just shows that you can never assume that people know.

[Blue Falcon]

Some of this is simple psychology: let's say you have a relationship end and you talk about that other person for YEARS afterwards, albeit in a negative way. The fact that you are even bringing that person up, even if it is to criticize or slam them, shows that YOU ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT THEM.

For Tommy (and JY) to continually bring up DDY (even if Tommy is not as direct) shows that DDY is still on their minds. Why would that be? Probably because other people keep mentioning to them what a great band they were when they were all together and keep asking them why DDY is not around.

So when that happens people will tend to go out of their way to JUSTIFY their actions. With JY continually bringing up DDY, it shows that he is trying to justify why DDY is no longer in the band by slamming their entire past with him.

Maybe JY and Tommy look out at the crowds and see 1,000 people and remember when they used to see 10,000 back in the heyday of Styx.

My message to JY (and to a lesser extent Tommy) would be: living well is the best revenge. If you want to put the past behind you, then stop talking about it!!

[Zan]

Some of this is simple psychology: let's say you have a relationship end and you talk about that other person for YEARS afterwards, albeit in a negative way. The fact that you are even bringing that person up, even if it is to criticize or slam them, shows that YOU ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT THEM.

Well, yeah - when something reminds you of them. if you're having coffee with someone, and they say, "Wow, I've seen you three times this month, and before that it was forever..." and you think, Well gee, that was because I was married to whatshisface, and he always bitched and complained every time I tried to leave the house...So you say, "Well, now that a certain someone is out of the picture, I have more time to spend with my friends." Does that mean you walk around thinking of your ex?

For Tommy (and JY) to continually bring up DDY (even if Tommy is not as direct) shows that DDY is still on their minds. Why would that be? Probably because other people keep mentioning to them what a great band they were when they were all together and keep asking them why DDY is not around.

And then there's that. So, they're not actually thinking of him on their own. In other words, they're being bombarded by (often) zealous fans & inquisitive interviewers.

So when that happens people will tend to go out of their way to JUSTIFY their actions. With JY continually bringing up DDY, it shows that he is trying to justify why DDY is no longer in the band by slamming their entire past with him.

Could be part true, I don't know. The again, their entire past could have genuinely been a living nightmare behind the scenes.

Maybe JY and Tommy look out at the crowds and see 1,000 people and remember when they used to see 10,000 back in the heyday of Styx.

And maybe it's the lesser of two evils for them.

My message to JY (and to a lesser extent Tommy) would be: living well is the best revenge. If you want to put the past behind you, then stop talking about it!!

A philosophy I try to live by! Although some people, even if they're long gone - still get my blood boiling when I *talk* about them, even if my living well was ample revenge. LOL