Styx welcomes third generation of fans

[styxfanNH]

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grpr ... xml&coll=6

Styx welcomes third generation of fans
Friday, July 07, 2006
By Lorilee Craker
The Grand Rapids Press
IONIA -- Everything old is new again, in fashion and rock 'n' roll.

Take, for instance, jumpsuits, those snug, poly-blend one-piece take-offs on the gas jockey's garb that ruled the stages of 1970s and early '80s rock shows. Jumpsuits, according to recent style watchers, are coming to a mall near you.

Speaking of which, there's a photo in the lobby of the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel in Chicago featuring James "JY" Young playing the dickens out of his guitar and wearing a you-know-what. Back when Styx spit out charting tunes faster then you can flip through a glossy magazine (predicting the rise of jumpsuits), rockers wore those types of things.

Accelerate almost three decades, and Styx has proved itself to be far more durable then a fashion fad.

In fact, the band has had a hit in every decade for the last four, spanning from "Lady" in 1974, their first smash, to their quirky cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus," which charted at No. 2 on classic radio in 2004. In between, especially from the '70s to the '80s, Styx reigned with five platinum (or double or triple) albums.

"We were on top of Mount Everest once, and now we're on our slow ascent back up the mountain," Young said in a phone interview from his Chicago home. "But even if we never get to the top, I am enjoying the view."

That view includes spying tons of fresh-faced fans turning up for Styx shows. It's a vista that leaves Young in awe.

"Especially at the (music) festivals, we see a sea of young people singing back our lyrics to us," he said. "We even had a mosh pit recently, which is a truly wacky thing."

In 1970, when the guitarist from Chicago's South Side hitched his wagon to Chuck and John Panozzo, Dennis De Young and John Curulewski to form Styx, he never dreamed he'd still be jumping off risers and getting standing O's as a routine perk of his workplace.

"It's amazing after 34 years to see a third generation of Styx fans," he said.

One sparkplug revving up the Styx machine had to be "American Idol's" Chris Daughtry, who belted out a rendition of 1979's "Renegade" a few months ago on Season 5 of the TV phenomenon. It thrilled millions of voters and even pleased stingy judge Simon Cowell.

"(Daughtry) did a pretty darn good job," Young said. Naturally, downloads of "Renegade," like just about every other song plucked from the catalogs of yore by "Idol" contestants, spiked like crazy.

The night Daughtry sang their song, though, the members of Styx were busy preparing for a May 25 concert with the Cleveland Youth Orchestra that will air as a TV special on PBS as well as be released as a DVD and on HDnet.

Playing a rock/classical hybrid show with 13-19 year-old musicians was incredible, says the 56-year-old rocker, especially since they got to present two new tunes for a crowd buzzing with enthusiasm.

Now touring like maniacs, Styx is as proud of its novel music as it is of its smash standards. Unlike many bands of its vintage, Styx creates original music regularly (the band's last completely new album was 2003's "Cyclorama.")

"We don't want to be the band that plays the same 30 songs over and over," Young said. "With all the writing prowess in the band, we are making strides each day. We don't want to limit ourselves. We're once again a progressive rock band, not a gimmicky pop band. We want to make music that is powerful and sincere."

[styxfanNH]

JY,
Playing the same 28 songs over and over isn't 30. But it is pretty close. Please alter the set list a bit.

[DerriD]

"We don't want to be the band that plays the same 30 songs over and over," Young said. "With all the writing prowess in the band, we are making strides each day. We don't want to limit ourselves. We're once again a progressive rock band, not a gimmicky pop band. We want to make music that is powerful and sincere."

Sheesh JY, ya just can't say something positive about the band without sliding in the insult. "We don't want to limit ourselves"....hmmm didn't DDY say something along those lines once?

I wonder if JY could write 'gimmicky' pop tunes that would be used in commercials and make him alot of money, if he would...somehow I think so.

Just once...just once, say one thing positive about the new band without the slam on the end. Just once.

[Zan]

STYX USED TO BE A PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND? lol...And here I thoughtI had all their albums.

[froy]

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grpress/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-2/1152283677230460.xml&coll=6

Styx welcomes third generation of fans
Friday, July 07, 2006

Not intrested

[whocares]

hmmmm, I seem to remember Progressive Rock once being used to label bands like Kansas and Journey in the early days, along with the Dixie Dregs and much later and thankfully, Dream Theater. Styx Progessive Rock? That almost made me choke on my lunch.

Lots of dinosaur bands out touring these days have several generations tagging along with the parents and grandparents that grew up with their music. He makes it sound like it only happens to Styx.

[Zan]

hmmmm, I seem to remember Progressive Rock once being used to label bands like Kansas and Journey in the early days, along with the Dixie Dregs and much later and thankfully, Dream Theater. Styx Progessive Rock? That almost made me choke on my lunch.

Kansas and Journey were progressive rock??? Well, if it's good enough for them, I guess it's good enough for Styx, but I always pictured bands like REM and the Police to be more progressive rock. I guess a label is whatever you decide it means.

[DerriD]

Kansas and Journey were progressive rock??? Well, if it's good enough for them, I guess it's good enough for Styx, but I always pictured bands like REM and the Police to be more progressive rock. I guess a label is whatever you decide it means.

I always thought that progressive rock started and ended with Yes. Asia had been considered prog rock as well. I do remember reading a long time ago that 'Styx was started as an American answer to Yes.' Personally I never thought of them as that, but Prog rock tends to be defined as keyboard driven rock. Listen to an album like Pieces of Eight and you could maybe see where people thought that.

[Zan]

Kansas and Journey were progressive rock??? Well, if it's good enough for them, I guess it's good enough for Styx, but I always pictured bands like REM and the Police to be more progressive rock. I guess a label is whatever you decide it means.

I always thought that progressive rock started and ended with Yes. Asia had been considered prog rock as well. I do remember reading a long time ago that 'Styx was started as an American answer to Yes.' Personally I never thought of them as that, but Prog rock tends to be defined as keyboard driven rock. Listen to an album like Pieces of Eight and you could maybe see where people thought that.

I guess. lol

But if we're putting Yes, Kansas, and Journey in this pile, Styx should definitely be in there as well. I guess I associate "progressive rock" with the late-late 70s thru the 80s sound (Flock of Seagulls, Kim Wild, Blondie, REM, and so on) more than the psychedelic or synthy sounds of the mid to late 70s like yes and Kansas. *shrug*

But then, I always thought of Brian Setzer's group as "swing" and I was told in no uncertain terms that they were indeed "rockabilly," and NOT swing. Whatever. If it's good, it's good, and if it sucks, it sucks. lol

[whocares]

Never heard of Flock of Seagulls, Police and REM and other bands like them being presented as anything other than New Wave/alternative.

Kansas and Journey were very much considered Progressive in the early days. Journey before Perry, obviously. So yes, MAYBE you could call them Progressive, as it seems to be a label that goes with whatever anyone things it is.

The Stray Cats was one I only ever heard as Rockabilly too. Later on his own they Setzer called the newer band Swing.

And I agree, if it's good then I'll listen, if not, get the hell outta my ears.

[Zan]

The Stray Cats was one I only ever heard as Rockabilly too. Later on his own they Setzer called the newer band Swing.

Right, I'm talking about BSO - I know it's swing! That made it even more annoying!!! Idiot people...

[whocares]

The "problem" for Setzer, he said he made more money doing the swing fad that came back for a short time, than he did with the Cats. That's really sad.

Rock -n- Roll is hear to stay, no matter what kind of rock. The other's just come and go every decade or so.

[Zan]

The "problem" for Setzer, he said he made more money doing the swing fad that came back for a short time, than he did with the Cats. That's really sad.

Rock -n- Roll is hear to stay, no matter what kind of rock. The other's just come and go every decade or so.

Brian Setzer rocks my face, no matter if he's in playing rockabilly or swing. He does a great job with all of it.

[Monker]

hmmmm, I seem to remember Progressive Rock once being used to label bands like Kansas and Journey in the early days

Uh, that's a GENRE, not a 'label' stuck to a band by whoever...and, yes, Journey was a Progressive rock band in the beginning...along with Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Kansas, and Styx, etc.

[Monker]

I guess. lol

But if we're putting Yes, Kansas, and Journey in this pile, Styx should definitely be in there as well. I guess I associate "progressive rock" with the late-late 70s thru the 80s sound (Flock of Seagulls, Kim Wild, Blondie, REM, and so on) more than the psychedelic or synthy sounds of the mid to late 70s like yes and Kansas. *shrug*

But then, I always thought of Brian Setzer's group as "swing" and I was told in no uncertain terms that they were indeed "rockabilly," and NOT swing. Whatever. If it's good, it's good, and if it sucks, it sucks. lol[/color][/b]

Well, I got into a drawn out argument once about this topic, cuz I wanted to discuss Journey in the Progressive rock forum. I was told Journey was Progressive rock up until the Infinity album...So, I was told by the moderator that, from Infinity on, Journey may have been "progressive" but they were not a part of the Progressive Rock (with a capital 'P') genre.

Progressive rock has a sorta wide definition...Lots of instrumental bits, drawn out 'epic' songs, lots of keyboards, lyrics and/or music that is 'challenging' for the listener, fusing different styles of music together (Jazz fusion), concept albums...

Most of Styx' albums fit into that definition...and some are debatable, IMO, like Edge.

I looked it up in Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock

If you scroll down, there is a bit about 'characteristics'. That is basicaly what I was told...but this has a lot more detail, with examples.

[styxfanNH]

The "problem" for Setzer, he said he made more money doing the swing fad that came back for a short time, than he did with the Cats. That's really sad.

Rock -n- Roll is hear to stay, no matter what kind of rock. The other's just come and go every decade or so.

Brian Setzer rocks my face, no matter if he's in playing rockabilly or swing. He does a great job with all of it.

Brian Setzer is good at anything he tries. THe BSO is definitely still Swing. Stray cats was Rockabilly.

Unfortunately he never comes close enough to see.

[LordofDaRing]

"All the writing prowess in this band"????? Lets see you do have Tommy and uhhhh
oh yeah a cover album, but I think Hendrix and the Beatles and people like that get writing credit. But you know JY could claim that he and TS wrote I am the Walrus. That coo cco c'joob line was stolen from that TS song he use to sing in the bowling alley, ain't gonna get down no more.
Aside from that you have one album they have done together, with mixed reivews and a ton of live stuff with the "same old 30 songs being played over and over" on them. That is hardly "creating new music regularly", one new CD in seven years together? Of course they could be going for Boston's time table on new recordings, about one a decade. "Once again a progressive rock band", yep still playing a lot of songs written and sung by the "gimmicky POP band" former lead singer/keyboardist...that Gowan can "run circles around". He must mean literally running in circles around that keyboard that he does live, other than that...nah!

Dear Charlie Brusco (sp?) current manger of Styx and former manager of Tommy shaw solo artist:
Please make JY shut up.
Sincerely:
LOTR

[styxfanNH]

"All the writing prowess in this band"????? Lets see you do have Tommy and uhhhh
oh yeah a cover album, but I think Hendrix and the Beatles and people like that get writing credit. But you know JY could claim that he and TS wrote I am the Walrus. That coo cco c'joob line was stolen from that TS song he use to sing in the bowling alley, ain't gonna get down no more.
Aside from that you have one album they have done together, with mixed reivews and a ton of live stuff with the "same old 30 songs being played over and over" on them. That is hardly "creating new music regularly", one new CD in seven years together? Of course they could be going for Boston's time table on new recordings, about one a decade. "Once again a progressive rock band", yep still playing a lot of songs written and sung by the "gimmicky POP band" former lead singer/keyboardist...that Gowan can "run circles around". He must mean literally running in circles around that keyboard that he does live, other than that...nah!

Dear Charlie Brusco (sp?) current manger of Styx and former manager of Tommy shaw solo artist:
Please make JY shut up.
Sincerely:
LOTR

Lord,
Move on, This anger you have can't be good for you.

Even supporters of this line up believe JY should move on and let it go.

But, it can't be good for fans to get this worked up over the meanderings of a band member. And there isn't new music coming from any member of this band past or present in the last 10 years or so.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Derri sez: I do remember reading a long time ago that 'Styx was started as an American answer to Yes.'

Yes, I do remember hearing Styx was "America's answer to English Progressive Rock"


Robin

[gr8dane]

Derri sez: I do remember reading a long time ago that 'Styx was started as an American answer to Yes.'

Yes, I do remember hearing Styx was "America's answer to English Progressive Rock"


Robin

Sometimes I hear the term 'prog related' about Styx.
That term suits me fine, but ofcourse Styx did other things too.

[DerriD]

[quote="pinkfloyd1973Yes, I do remember hearing Styx was "America's answer to English Progressive Rock"
Robin [/quote]

See! I told ya!

[LordofDaRing]

NH:
I have moved on, and currently and sadly without my second favorite band of all time..Styx. I posted a comment in the topic you posted in response to the comments made by James JY Young, who has definately holding a lot of hostility toward former member Dennis DeYoung and has obviously not moved on. And let their be no misunderstanding on this fans actions, I did not stop supporting Styx because their current shows were not entertaining or even that they are not turning out an original decent product, or because I have a hard on for Lawrence Gowan. Its comments like this made by a man who owes his livelihood to Dennis DeYoung, that have completely turned me off to this product. Its not a good feeling I will grant you that. However you posting this by definition knew you would draw a response from myself, Froy or some of the other people who feel the same.
In addition, you brining in all the other members past and present is rather unfair, seeing as though, JY is the only one of them spewing this nonsence. I am still waiting for DDY to cut loose on him in one of his interviews. DDY is always very good at giving credit to all members of Styx.

[yogi]

I always heard that Styx was Americas answer to Queen. I always thought that Styx was twice the band that Queen ever dreamed of being. I still do.

Death at a young age seems to change alot of perceptions. It turns many people into instant legends. In my opinion this is what happened with Freddy( rest in peace) and to Queen.

I also believe Styx, Journey, Kansas, etc were considered progressive bands up until their HUGE success. After they started selling millions of albums and selling out huge arenas they lost their 'progressive' lable and started being called 'Arena rock. Progressive was deemed 'more cool' by the critics. The Arena bands were considered faceless,sellouts, that lacked any real talent and substance.

What a crock!!!!

[bugsymalone]

I always heard that Styx was Americas answer to Queen. I always thought that Styx was twice the band that Queen ever dreamed of being. I still do.

Death at a young age seems to change alot of perceptions. It turns many people into instant legends. In my opinion this is what happened with Freddy( rest in peace) and to Queen.

I also believe Styx, Journey, Kansas, etc were considered progressive bands up until their HUGE success. After they started selling millions of albums and selling out huge arenas they lost their 'progressive' lable and started being called 'areana' rock. Progressive was deemed 'more cool' by the critics. The Areana bands were considered faceless,sellouts, that lacked any real talent and substance.

What a crock!!!!

Good observations, Yogi! I do remember when those bands sort of morphed from being called progressive to being labeled arena rock. I realized later that the latter apellation was considered an insult or put-down.

I was always a fan of Queen mainly because of their awesome harmonies and not so much Frontman Freddie.

Bugsy

[styxfanNH]

I tend to remember hearing a long time ago somewhere that Freddie did all the vocals on the albums. Does anyone else remember hearing that?

[gr8dane]

I tend to remember hearing a long time ago somewhere that Freddie did all the vocals on the albums. Does anyone else remember hearing that?

Roger Taylor did background vocals often,Sang lead on 'I'm in love with my car' from A night.
I'm pretty sure May sang lead on 'You're my best friend' on the same album.

[whocares]

They both sang back-up as well as lead once in a while.

Brian May actually has a decent voice, not Freddie material, but his own style and it was nice to hear.

More than likely Freddie just did a lot of overdubbing of backgrounds.