DDY - Article (Omaha) Um, very interesting!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

A friend found this article. Um, some of the answers should be pretty interesting to some of you on here

Q&A

DeYoung and Restless
Former Styx frontman to headline Brewfest at Westfair Amphitheater
By Jim Minge
You have to be careful on how you refer to Dennis DeYoung, who will headline Brewfest at the Westfair Amphitheater on Saturday, August 12. You know, the lead singer from that one band. (We're not suppose to say the name, but shhhh, it sounds just like "sticks.")

Unfortunately, "the lead singer from Styx" wasn't OK'ed by the memo sent by DeYoung's manager - a memo that listed the ways in which we (the media) are allowed and not allowed to refer to DeYoung.

For instance, it's cool say "Dennis DeYoung, former singer of the band/group Styx" and "Dennis DeYoung, a former Styx composer." But it's not OK to say "Dennis DeYoung of Styx" or "Dennis DeYoung, former Styx frontman."

It's complicated, for sure. But to DeYoung, 59, it's a serious legal issue. And as long as the other members of Styx are out touring sans DeYoung, the singer doesn't even want to mention the name "Styx."

For those of you who have never "feathered" your hair, Styx rose to fame in the mid-'70s with hits such as "Lady," "Come Sail Away" and "Babe." The theatrical concept albums "Paradise Theatre" and "Kilroy Was Here" came in the early '80s with more success. But by 1984, the band was on the splitz, with DeYoung and guitarist Tommy Shaw trying solo careers.

Styx, minus Shaw, reunited in 1990 and released the album "Edge Of the Century," which included the hit "Show Me The Way."

In 1993, DeYoung joined a touring revival of the Broadway musical "Jesus Christ Superstar," where he starred as Pontius Pilate. After that, the Chicago native recorded an album of Broadway standards titled "10 on Broadway." He also wrote a musical of his own.

Styx reunited again in 1995 (including Shaw), and released a greatest hits album with a re-recorded version of "Lady." The band toured in '96 and '97 and was in the process of recording a new album when DeYoung was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Shaw and James Young went on with the band as Styx, and a lawsuit between DeYoung and his former bandmates ensued, and was settled in 2001. The group was allowed to keep using the name "Styx," and DeYoung is allowed to use the name in descriptive phrases such as "the music of Styx."

Today, DeYoung tours with former Styx guitarist Glen Burtnick under the name "Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx." DeYoung will bring that show to the Omaha-Council Bluffs area on Saturday, to top the multi-act bill at Brewfest at the Westfair Amphitheater (surf to 961theBrew.com for ticket information, or see our Calendar section beginning on page 78).

We had a chance to chat with DeYoung via telephone from his home in Chicago last week. We talked about topics ranging from the singer's foray into musical theater to his daughter's and son's weddings this year to his symphony tour and plans for the future.

Are you taking a break from the tour?

Yep, I came home to get clean underwear.

Tell me a little bit about the band that you have with you on the road now.

Hold on one second. I'm doing an interview, honey. What do you want? What do you want? (Louder.) UPS will be here any second. Did you hear me?

Do you need to break for a second?

No.

I was just asking about the band you'll have with you. How many members do you have?

Five.

Are these guys you've been playing with for a while?

Yeah, most of us have been together for about five years. Actually, two of them. The guitar player and I have been together for 20. And the bass player, Hank Horton, has played with me on and off with me since 1986, so he's been around for a while.

As far as the set list - can you give us a taste of what you'll be playing?

Oh, sure. "Lady," "Babe," "Best of Times," "Come Sail Away," "Don't Let It End," "Mr. Roboto," "Show Me the Way," "Desert Moon," "Grand Illusion," "Lorelei," stuff like that. A couple hits.

Do you travel with a grand piano?

No, I travel with my grandmother. Just kidding. No, no, almost no one carries grand pianos anymore, or at least a real one. They're just too cumbersome.

I use a Yamaha motif. Particularly in the rock band, they sound better than a real piano have to have open mikes on them, and you always have that problem of obnoxiously loud guitar players trying to bash chords into your tiny little microphone on your piano.

So when the piano is direct off a ... they're like sampled grand pianos, in context they do sound better. They don't play like regular pianos. Sometimes some of those grand pianos are rigged. They have guts from a keyboard. I did that on the last Styx tour, or last tour with the band I should say.

I remember you were scheduled to perform in Omaha as Pontius Pilot in "Jesus Christ Superstar," but you left the production before it got to Omaha.

I might have been done. I did it for six months. I was originally just hired to do three months, but it was a huge success and they asked me to stay for three more, and we ended up doing it in New York.

Six months on the road with a musical is a lot because you're performing eight shows a week. I'm sorry I didn't get to play Omaha, but I did get to play a lot of other places.

Have you done any other work on Broadway or with any other musicals?

I wrote a musical based on Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame," which we're always fooling around with here and there, trying to get it up on its feet again. It's a long, arduous trek to Broadway.

But all that Broadway stuff just fell into my lap; it was never anything pursued. Somebody hired me. I was offered the job the play Pontius Pilot out of the blue. I didn't solicit it. One thing led to another. Because of that role, I was offered the opportunity to record a Broadway album. And when I was doing that, I said, "Hey, I'll try to write one." It wasn't like I was whistling show tunes at the age of 9 in the elevators.

Ever do anything else on Broadway?

I've been offered four different roles to do stuff in New York over the last 10 years.

Wasn't interested?

I just don't ... I'd rather write music than sing other people's music. I've toyed with it back and forth. It's just a huge commitment. But I've done it. I did 220 shows on stage. I enjoyed it, but as long as I have the opportunity to sing the songs that I write I'd rather do that.

Have you thought about getting into film or TV?

No, I never pursue anything like that. I had a cameo in "The Perfect Man," the Heather Locklear, Hilary Duff movie. I have a little cameo in there. I'm the guy in the robot suit, Mr. Roboto in the club.

But not looking to get into acting any more than that?

No. I did that because they took four songs of mine for that movie. Then the producer was also the producer of "Wicked," and we got to talking about me being a superstar, and there was this part in the movie and he asked if I wanted to do it. And I said, "Sure."

I didn't actively pursued it. Because of my songwriting it kind of opened some doors for me.

Did I see on your Web site that your daughter is getting married?

Yes, my son got married this year and my daughter gets married in a couple of months.

Whoa, both in the same year.

That's why I'm playing Omaha, or Council Bluffs. I have to pay for flowers. And a lot of her friends drink like fish, so ... that bar tab is going to be killer.

Either of your children gotten into music?

Yeah, my son is a drummer. But really he's my L.D. (lighting director). He's been on the road with me for the past three years - he's my lighting designer. He's has a degree from Columbia College in Chicago in theater. He lights the stage every night.

So he'll be in Omaha (Council Bluffs) for the Brewfest show?

Yeah. In fact, two of his friends - he was in a band for about three years with two guys from Omaha that lived in Chicago. The band's name was Mama Green. And both of the boys are back in Omaha.

What are their names?

Hold on a second. I'm having a brain cramp here. Keep talking it will come to me - Tim ... and Gino. I don't want to single them out, and one of them works for a hotel and they can be found very easily.

Have you been working on any new material while on the road?

Yeah, I'm putting together the first pop-rock album that I've recorded solo in about 18 years.

Have you started recording songs for that?

Yes, I have. I have about 20 songs.

Do you have a name of a title for the album yet?

Just a working title - "Stop Me If You've Heard This One." It's not going to be the title. But when you've been around as long as I have it's appropriate.

When do you expect to release that?

When is the 12th of Never?

So, when it's done, it's done?

Yeah ... although I've just heard a rumor, and this may not be true, that millions of people are protesting all over the globe, wondering when I'm going to produce this record. They're mad that I haven't made one, so the 20 or 30 million people who are waiting to buy my record will just have to wait, damn it. And if you're going to write that, make sure people get it's a joke.

Are there other projects in addition to the pop-rock album, with other musicians or other projects of your own?

My good buddy Glen Burtnick, who was in my former band (Styx) up until a few years ago, he's now back with me. He'll be up on stage with me in Council Bluffs.

We're working together, doing some writing and recording.

I got a copy of the DVD, the concert you did with the symphony. How many shows did you do with them? Was that part of a tour you did?

I'm doing one tomorrow in Memphis. I've done a lot of them, maybe 70 over the last five years with the symphonies. That's a lot. Please direct people to my Web site, DennisDeYoung.com if they have any questions. And, oh, yes, I'm going to be doing "Canadian Idol" next week.

So they're going to be singing your songs?

Yeah, and I'm going to mentor some kids. Tell them when you sing high make sure you have thong underwear on.

That DVD is triple platinum in Canada, believe it not. And the CD is platinum. It's an amazing thing that's happened for me up there.

What about new acts? Are there any out there that have caught your attention?

I don't know many nude acts. Are there a lot of nude acts out there? Point me in their direction.

I don't know. The recent records that I've liked, I thought Maroon 5 made an outstanding record. I like Train's "Calling All Angles." I can tolerate some White Stripes, but they need a bass player, like I've always said.

You said you couldn't mention the band's name, but are you allowed to talk about Styx at all? Can you comment on the band still touring? Do you still talk to any of the members?

No, and I would rather not talk about them, because it gets into situations where anything I say is looked at under a microscope. I wish everyone well.



http://www.omahacityweekly.com/article.php?category=qa

[AnnieOprah]

It certainly sounds like a solid relationship is being rekindled with Glen! I am so happy - put the two of them together and magic definitely happens. I can't wait for the new CD!!!!

[Angiekay]

Did anyone here go to this show? I have some good friends of mine here in Sioux Falls that are in a band that were invited down to play as part of the wedding that took place between artists. I wanted to go to this, but had already commited to Alice In Chains.

[StyxCollector]

You said you couldn't mention the band's name, but are you allowed to talk about Styx at all? Can you comment on the band still touring? Do you still talk to any of the members?

No, and I would rather not talk about them, because it gets into situations where anything I say is looked at under a microscope. I wish everyone well.

Smart move on this one. Someone should pass this response onto JY. This is one thing of DDY he should copy.

But Dennis is right - he could say something even in jest and it would be analyzed 1000 different ways depending on who is looking at it.

[Ash]

You said you couldn't mention the band's name, but are you allowed to talk about Styx at all? Can you comment on the band still touring? Do you still talk to any of the members?

No, and I would rather not talk about them, because it gets into situations where anything I say is looked at under a microscope. I wish everyone well.

Smart move on this one. Someone should pass this response onto JY. This is one thing of DDY he should copy.

But Dennis is right - he could say something even in jest and it would be analyzed 1000 different ways depending on who is looking at it.

The best part.... Dennis doesn't need to say anything because the words of JY tell people all they need to know.

[StyxCollector]

The best part.... Dennis doesn't need to say anything because the words of JY tell people all they need to know.

I don't see it as a right or wrong thing ... the glass has been shattered and there's obviously hard feelings on both sides whether they say it or not. You don't go through a "divorce" and not be affected by it - not when you have over 30 years of history. Dennis has just shut up instead of throwing barbs across the fence.

I don't think JY is a bad, evil man at all. I just think he needs to put some thought into his words sometimes.

[Ash]

The best part.... Dennis doesn't need to say anything because the words of JY tell people all they need to know.

I don't see it as a right or wrong thing ... the glass has been shattered and there's obviously hard feelings on both sides whether they say it or not. You don't go through a "divorce" and not be affected by it - not when you have over 30 years of history. Dennis has just shut up instead of throwing barbs across the fence.

I don't think JY is a bad, evil man at all. I just think he needs to put some thought into his words sometimes.

I don't think JY is evil either actually. I think he's bitter, ungrateful, and as a whole not very smart (despite the degree he seems to have in whatever). And he's definitely not the business rocket-scientist (no pun intended). He's a man who has let his hatred and bitterness over the things that made him a star consume him. In a way, it must be awful for him to love where he is, but hate how he got there. Poor, poor JY. He's had it so rough for the last 30 or so years. He really would have been better off doing anything aside from what he is now.

[Zan]

StyxCollector wrote:
Ash wrote:
The best part.... Dennis doesn't need to say anything because the words of JY tell people all they need to know.


I don't see it as a right or wrong thing ... the glass has been shattered and there's obviously hard feelings on both sides whether they say it or not. You don't go through a "divorce" and not be affected by it - not when you have over 30 years of history. Dennis has just shut up instead of throwing barbs across the fence.

I don't think JY is a bad, evil man at all. I just think he needs to put some thought into his words sometimes.

I don't think JY is evil either actually. I think he's bitter, ungrateful, and as a whole not very smart (despite the degree he seems to have in whatever). And he's definitely not the business rocket-scientist (no pun intended). He's a man who has let his hatred and bitterness over the things that made him a star consume him. In a way, it must be awful for him to love where he is, but hate how he got there. Poor, poor JY. He's had it so rough for the last 30 or so years. He really would have been better off doing anything aside from what he is now.

Maybe JY should let his manager do all the bad-mouthing for him. Now there's a smart idea!

[Rockwriter]

The best part.... Dennis doesn't need to say anything because the words of JY tell people all they need to know.

I don't see it as a right or wrong thing ... the glass has been shattered and there's obviously hard feelings on both sides whether they say it or not. You don't go through a "divorce" and not be affected by it - not when you have over 30 years of history. Dennis has just shut up instead of throwing barbs across the fence.

I don't think JY is a bad, evil man at all. I just think he needs to put some thought into his words sometimes.

I don't think JY is evil either actually. I think he's bitter, ungrateful, and as a whole not very smart (despite the degree he seems to have in whatever). And he's definitely not the business rocket-scientist (no pun intended). He's a man who has let his hatred and bitterness over the things that made him a star consume him. In a way, it must be awful for him to love where he is, but hate how he got there.
Poor, poor JY. He's had it so rough for the last 30 or so years. He really would have been better off doing anything aside from what he is now.




His bitterness goes back to at least the EOTC era. At that time it was directed at Tommy because he had not re-joined the band. Tommy said that JY has a hard time forgiving and moving on, that he used to send him mean-spirited letters through his attorney all the time, and that once you are on his bad side, you are stuck in that position. It's a shame, a serious blind spot in an otherwise very intelligent guy.
I heard recently that JY was either suing or getting ready to sue Dennis regarding the ways in which he is able to advertise and represent himself. Now suddenly Dennis is saying that he can't say this or that or the other. It doesn't take a scientist to see what's up with this, I don't think. Now is that bullshit or what? This is not to settle the affairs of a partnership that is ending, nor to claim damages (what damage is inflicted on JY by Dennis saying the word "Styx"?) It's just because he can, to make trouble for someone he loathes. How fucking stupid.
It's a real shame, because I truly believe that under all of those layers of decades of pent-up bitterness, there's a basically decent guy somewhere. Same goes for Dennis, same for Tommy. They have each been made to forget how good their shared history was by the damage they have inflicted on each other in the last two decades. The more I research them, the more I shake my head and think was a shame it is that they all wound up so lost. This band was so damn good, had the potential to do so much more together. JY in particular is trying so hard to talk himself ( and everyone else) out of how good the past was - the very past that brought ALL of us here, including him. That's both sad and absurd.



Sterling

[DerriD]

Sterling,

Ya Freakin' nailed that one

[yogi]

Sterling,

How is the book coming??

I would sure like to purchase it. I'm not much of a reader, but I would read this from cover to cover.

[Blue Falcon]

JY apparently has a hard time seeing things from anyone else's perspective but his own...even if he was upset at Tommy not joining for EOTC, he could have at least realized why, which was because Tommy was involved with Damned Yankees.

We all know who to blame for DDY not being able to use the word 'Styx': the friggin' lawyers. They exist solely for things like this and can stifle free speech in this country just by the threat of litigation. They will litigate this country back to the Stone Age...

Here's an example of bitterness combined with litigation: John Fogerty (CCR) was sued by his former record lable when he released a solo album. Their reason? It was plagiarism...his album sounded too much like a John Fogerty album!! This nonsense actually went to court, where the judge had the wisdom to throw it out...OF COURSE a John Fogerty album (on Record Label XYX) is going to sound like a John Fogerty album (on Record Label ABC)!!

[Ash]

Allowing your bitterness to impact your decisions isn't smart. When you're not smart enough to just shut up and move on - then .... well what more can be said. I think we're giving JY too much credit. How smart can he be with some of the decisions he's making. I'm not taking about stuff that happened 5 years ago, I'm talking TODAY ... what he's doing and the things he's saying TODAY. There's no reason or cause for it. What has Dennis done TODAY that impact's JY's life and why is JY so angry about it?

JY is bitter because Dennis, by today's standard for a musician of his era, is a successful musician. JY wants Dennis to fail so it justifies everything he has done. Absent that, there's some valve in JY's brain that tells him there is unfinished business to do. Frankly - if he's that angry and that bitter, perhaps he's mentally ill and needs some therapy. I wonder how much more money he'd have if he wasn't constantly paying his lawyers to do things.

[Rockwriter]

Sterling,

How is the book coming??

I would sure like to purchase it. I'm not much of a reader, but I would read this from cover to cover.

Thanks! That's what I like to hear,lol. It's coming along great, virtually complete with the exception of a final edit on the last section and a few people reviewing the final section to see their words in context. I offer that to those who participated because it's such a loaded situation in some ways, it's best to make sure everyone who participated is sure that's what they wanted to say. Frankly, it's also to cover my own ass. I've been letting a few select people on either side - and in the middle - read it in progress and comment. I try to see the value of each point of view and find a middle ground that incorporates elements of both. As I always say, these are basically good people, but they are stars, with all that goes along with that, and there is no one bad guy here. It took everyone's best effort to make it as good as it was, and it took everyone's worst effort to destroy it. I think most Styx fans, or anyone interested in how the music business really works on the business side, will find a lot of interest in this book.
As to a release date, all I can say is soon. I would LOVE to get it out for Christmas, and that remains a strong possibility, but I promise nothing because a couple of the remaining elements to finish are not in my complete control, permissions and such. But soon.

Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

[Rockwriter]

JY apparently has a hard time seeing things from anyone else's perspective but his own...even if he was upset at Tommy not joining for EOTC, he could have at least realized why, which was because Tommy was involved with Damned Yankees.

We all know who to blame for DDY not being able to use the word 'Styx': the friggin' lawyers. They exist solely for things like this and can stifle free speech in this country just by the threat of litigation. They will litigate this country back to the Stone Age...

Here's an example of bitterness combined with litigation: John Fogerty (CCR) was sued by his former record lable when he released a solo album. Their reason? It was plagiarism...his album sounded too much like a John Fogerty album!! This nonsense actually went to court, where the judge had the wisdom to throw it out...OF COURSE a John Fogerty album (on Record Label XYX) is going to sound like a John Fogerty album (on Record Label ABC)!!

Well, the Tommy/DY thing was a bit more complicated than that. Styx had some meetings in 1988, and Dennis had signed with MCA for one album, which became BOOMCHILD. He was contractually obligated and asked for a year to do that. The others then proceeded to talk about a reunion without him and had a series of meetings. Tommy's then-manager Bud Prager said that JY felt that with Dennis gone, it would be his band, and was trying to grab power for himself. He also said that JY had written a lot of disrespectful correspondence to Tommy and that he (Bud) felt that Styx was a very peculiar, very negative, very ugly situation to return to. That's why he looked around for something else for Tommy to do, which became Damn Yankees.

Tommy himself said, "He (JY) had word processing before anyone, and he would always write these mean-spirited memos and letters. I always just cringed when I got a letter from JY, because it was always in legalese, and mean-spirited, with copies to this guy and that guy, and it's like, my God, JY, lighten up! You dare not step out of line because you would hear from him."

In regard to the potential reunion Tommy said, "I got the vibe that it was going to be more of the same, and life is too short. It was always, 'Dennis won't do it unless he gets this, I won't do it unless I get that.' Not a band vibe at all. Even though those guys have a history of being together for a long time, they're not drinking from the same cup. It's business with Styx. Business first, business second, third, and probably fourth. I don't think people come into it at all."

So the negotiations were pretty brutal, and Tommy got tired of it and committed to Damn Yankees, and that's part of why JY was so furious. He blamed Tommy for everything that DIDN'T happen for Styx at that time, feeling that if he had returned, the demand for the reunion of all the classic members would have made all the difference. And who knows, maybe it would have.

I've heard the Fogerty story before. Wow, has that guy been through the ringer, lol. I think what may be a surprise to some in the Styx book is how much litigation Styx has actually been through, starting with their leaving Wooden Nickel. That was a bloodbath, and I think it's part of why they have developed the way they have. Once burned, twice shy. Their suspicion of outsiders is kind of understandable when you see it in that context.



Sterling

[Ash]

So the negotiations were pretty brutal, and Tommy got tired of it and committed to Damn Yankees, and that's part of why JY was so furious. He blamed Tommy for everything that DIDN'T happen for Styx at that time, feeling that if he had returned, the demand for the reunion of all the classic members would have made all the difference. And who knows, maybe it would have.

I wonder what things were like for Glen and JY then.... if this is how JY felt then Glen would have been a reminded of everything JY was pissed about. Kinda like the consolation prize (I'm saying that is how JY may have felt). TO be reminded every day of that guy not being there by the presence of someone else. I bet that got old for everyone.

[Rockwriter]

Allowing your bitterness to impact your decisions isn't smart. When you're not smart enough to just shut up and move on - then .... well what more can be said. I think we're giving JY too much credit. How smart can he be with some of the decisions he's making. I'm not taking about stuff that happened 5 years ago, I'm talking TODAY ... what he's doing and the things he's saying TODAY. There's no reason or cause for it. What has Dennis done TODAY that impact's JY's life and why is JY so angry about it?

JY is bitter because Dennis, by today's standard for a musician of his era, is a successful musician. JY wants Dennis to fail so it justifies everything he has done. Absent that, there's some valve in JY's brain that tells him there is unfinished business to do. Frankly - if he's that angry and that bitter, perhaps he's mentally ill and needs some therapy. I wonder how much more money he'd have if he wasn't constantly paying his lawyers to do things.

JY is very smart, if not brilliant, when it comes to inanimate things like engineering, business, etc. But when it comes to people, sometimes not so much. His business sense is by far the most important thing he brought to Styx, and still is. As a musician he's relatively replaceable. But he had the business sense that Tommy didn't (and doesn't), and the tact that Dennis didn't (especially when he was younger). JY did an awful lot to forward the cause of Styx at the label, at radio, you name it.

But that was then and this is now, and I could not agree more that he is not behaving in an intelligent way right now in terms of how he is trying to image the act. He's trying to re-make Styx, and you know what's fundamentaly wrong with that? Most of the fans loved Styx BECAUSE of the way it was and don't want it to be dramatically different. And they certainly don't want to read negative interviews in which a band member of a group they loved comes out and says negative things about the very songs which, in many cases, brought them to the table.

Look at it this way: if you were 17 in 1975 when "Lady" hit, you might have had it as your first prom theme, or as your special song with your first love. So maybe in 1979 you got married to "Babe", and maybe in 1981 you had your first kid to the strains of "Best of Times". In 1991 you're older and wiser and sitting helplessly as war unfolds on your TV, wondering what the hell kind of world you're bringing up your children in, and "Show Me The Way" is there to comfort you.

Fast forward to 2004; your kid is grown now, it's just the two of you again, your 25th anniversary is coming up. Styx is coming to town, and you want to re-capture that romance, that magic, those special moments. You get your tickets. Then on the day of the show, you read an interview with JY in the morning paper . . . turns out Dennis is gone, they won't be playing any of those songs, and on top of that JY proclaims those songs, which you have held so dear for so long, "cringe-inducing". He is finding fault not only with the songs and the history that got him where he is, but by extension, with your own listening tastes and past purchasing decisions - purchasing decisions which have paid his way in life. Not a great feeling, is it?

I have said before and say it here again, JY's position on this, from a PR standpoint, is a losing position. If he wants to be bitter, fine, what do we care? But have the grace and common sense to shut up about it in public.


Sterling

[Rockwriter]

So the negotiations were pretty brutal, and Tommy got tired of it and committed to Damn Yankees, and that's part of why JY was so furious. He blamed Tommy for everything that DIDN'T happen for Styx at that time, feeling that if he had returned, the demand for the reunion of all the classic members would have made all the difference. And who knows, maybe it would have.

I wonder what things were like for Glen and JY then.... if this is how JY felt then Glen would have been a reminded of everything JY was pissed about. Kinda like the consolation prize (I'm saying that is how JY may have felt). TO be reminded every day of that guy not being there by the presence of someone else. I bet that got old for everyone.

Well, I get the impression that Glen has been in two minds about ALL of his work in every Styx lineup in which he has taken part. On the one hand, happy to have a good-paying, high-profile gig. On the other, maybe a bit uncomfortable with the fact that it's with a band that he was never really a fan of in the first place. That's an odd place to be, especially since he faced the wrath of Tommy's fans in 1991, and Dennis' fans in 1999. He's played a kinda weird, not-altogether-satisfying role in Styx, which is too bad, because he just came to the party too late. He's a strong enough singer and songwriter that he would have been as successful as Dennis or Tommy had he been in the classic lineup. As it is, he's never had any real shot at having a real impact on the commercial fortunes of Styx, even though he's had substantial success as a songwriter for others. That's got to be a frustration. How could it not be?



Sterling

[yogi]

Sterling,

Man do I hope this book is out by Christmas. It will be # 1 on my wish list.

I live in a small town 70 miles west of San Antonio. Will you let us know when it will be coming out? Will it be available at all the big stores( Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com etc...)? Do you have a title???


For me its a MUST read. Maybe the first must read of my life!!!

[Ash]

Look at it this way: if you were 17 in 1975 when "Lady" hit, you might have had it as your first prom theme, or as your special song with your first love. So maybe in 1979 you got married to "Babe", and maybe in 1981 you had your first kid to the strains of "Best of Times". In 1991 you're older and wiser and sitting helplessly as war unfolds on your TV, wondering what the hell kind of world you're bringing up your children in, and "Show Me The Way" is there to comfort you.

Fast forward to 2004; your kid is grown now, it's just the two of you again, your 25th anniversary is coming up. Styx is coming to town, and you want to re-capture that romance, that magic, those special moments. You get your tickets. Then on the day of the show, you read an interview with JY in the morning paper . . . turns out Dennis is gone, they won't be playing any of those songs, and on top of that JY proclaims those songs, which you have held so dear for so long, "cringe-inducing". He is finding fault not only with the songs and the history that got him where he is, but by extension, with your own listening tastes and past purchasing decisions - purchasing decisions which have paid his way in life. Not a great feeling, is it?

I have said before and say it here again, JY's position on this, from a PR standpoint, is a losing position. If he wants to be bitter, fine, what do we care? But have the grace and common sense to shut up about it in public.


Sterling

Holy shit dude. You're like my new fuckin' hero man! (sorry for the profanity)... but those two paragraphs encapture everything I've been trying to say for the last 7 years. Thats amazing. Wow.... I'm in stone face awe. That was great!


You live in Nashville don't you? I live there too. I want to buy you a drink.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Sterling,

Man do I hope this book is out by Christmas. It will be # 1 on my wish list.

I live in a small town 70 miles west of San Antonio. Will you let us know when it will be coming out? Will it be available at all the big stores( Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com etc...)? Do you have a title???


For me its a MUST read. Maybe the first must read of my life!!!

I know i'm not Sterling but I can tell you the title of the book is called "The Grand Delusion" and I will definitely want to read this too!



Robin

[yogi]

Sterling,

I second what Ash says!!!!!!

The Grand Delusion, GREAT title!!!!!

I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Blue Falcon]

Allowing your bitterness to impact your decisions isn't smart. When you're not smart enough to just shut up and move on - then .... well what more can be said. I think we're giving JY too much credit. How smart can he be with some of the decisions he's making. I'm not taking about stuff that happened 5 years ago, I'm talking TODAY ... what he's doing and the things he's saying TODAY. There's no reason or cause for it. What has Dennis done TODAY that impact's JY's life and why is JY so angry about it?

JY is bitter because Dennis, by today's standard for a musician of his era, is a successful musician. JY wants Dennis to fail so it justifies everything he has done. Absent that, there's some valve in JY's brain that tells him there is unfinished business to do. Frankly - if he's that angry and that bitter, perhaps he's mentally ill and needs some therapy. I wonder how much more money he'd have if he wasn't constantly paying his lawyers to do things.

JY is very smart, if not brilliant, when it comes to inanimate things like engineering, business, etc. But when it comes to people, sometimes not so much. His business sense is by far the most important thing he brought to Styx, and still is. As a musician he's relatively replaceable. But he had the business sense that Tommy didn't (and doesn't), and the tact that Dennis didn't (especially when he was younger). JY did an awful lot to forward the cause of Styx at the label, at radio, you name it.

But that was then and this is now, and I could not agree more that he is not behaving in an intelligent way right now in terms of how he is trying to image the act. He's trying to re-make Styx, and you know what's fundamentaly wrong with that? Most of the fans loved Styx BECAUSE of the way it was and don't want it to be dramatically different. And they certainly don't want to read negative interviews in which a band member of a group they loved comes out and says negative things about the very songs which, in many cases, brought them to the table.

Look at it this way: if you were 17 in 1975 when "Lady" hit, you might have had it as your first prom theme, or as your special song with your first love. So maybe in 1979 you got married to "Babe", and maybe in 1981 you had your first kid to the strains of "Best of Times". In 1991 you're older and wiser and sitting helplessly as war unfolds on your TV, wondering what the hell kind of world you're bringing up your children in, and "Show Me The Way" is there to comfort you.

Fast forward to 2004; your kid is grown now, it's just the two of you again, your 25th anniversary is coming up. Styx is coming to town, and you want to re-capture that romance, that magic, those special moments. You get your tickets. Then on the day of the show, you read an interview with JY in the morning paper . . . turns out Dennis is gone, they won't be playing any of those songs, and on top of that JY proclaims those songs, which you have held so dear for so long, "cringe-inducing". He is finding fault not only with the songs and the history that got him where he is, but by extension, with your own listening tastes and past purchasing decisions - purchasing decisions which have paid his way in life. Not a great feeling, is it?

I have said before and say it here again, JY's position on this, from a PR standpoint, is a losing position. If he wants to be bitter, fine, what do we care? But have the grace and common sense to shut up about it in public.


Sterling

That's an excellent way of putting it, I'm looking forward to the book too!

Maybe JY is bitter because even with DDY and all those cringe-inducing songs he could at least look out at a crowd of 15,000 at the Capital Centre near where I live outside DC.

But now? In June they were back and played Belmont Country Club...which holds no more than 1,000.

Maybe JY suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

[styxfanNH]

Or maybe it has something to do with JY needing to tour to sustain a living with STYX and he believes that Dennis was stopping him from doing so.

[shaka]

Or maybe it has something to do with JY needing to tour to sustain a living with STYX and he believes that Dennis was stopping him from doing so.

Hey Sterling, you're writing the book. Has JY taken care of his money or is he in the poorhouse? Personally I have a hard time believing that he needs to tour to sustain himself, his wife, or his lifestyle.

Eric

[Monker]

I heard recently that JY was either suing or getting ready to sue Dennis regarding the ways in which he is able to advertise and represent himself. Now suddenly Dennis is saying that he can't say this or that or the other. It doesn't take a scientist to see what's up with this, I don't think. Now is that bullshit or what? This is not to settle the affairs of a partnership that is ending, nor to claim damages (what damage is inflicted on JY by Dennis saying the word "Styx"?) It's just because he can, to make trouble for someone he loathes. How fucking stupid.

I don't think that's stupid AT ALL. When it comes down to it, he'll say he's protecting the trademark (or whatever) and the band's ability to perform and make a living. It's pretty callous and maybe even needlessly defensive - but it's NOT stupid to force Dennis to not use "Styx" in any way shape or form that is not explicitly written in the original settlement. If he is trying to go against the settlement, then yeah, it IS stupid - cuz he'll probably lose.

The same thing happened to Little River Band when that band sued their original members for refering to themselves as "The original voices of the Little River Band". LRB won, over and over again - in Australia. On their DVD, they refer to themselves as "The original voices of *** ****** ***** ****". Kinda funny, I think. Don't know if that tactic by JY will really work in the US, but it may....especialy if Dennis is somehow appearing to violate the settlement.

If Dennis has been knowingly violating the settlement, then he's pretty smart to stop...and HE would be pretty stupid to continue doing it.

[Monker]

Explain how the few interviews by both Tommy and Dennis where it is explained that Tommy called Dennis SEVERAL times asking about getting Styx back together, but Dennis couldn't because of Boomchild? I believe in the Dennis interview ON THIS SITE, *HE* says he told Tommy to join DY because he couldn't start the reunion, and Tommy insisted he needed the work.

JY apparently has a hard time seeing things from anyone else's perspective but his own...even if he was upset at Tommy not joining for EOTC, he could have at least realized why, which was because Tommy was involved with Damned Yankees.

We all know who to blame for DDY not being able to use the word 'Styx': the friggin' lawyers. They exist solely for things like this and can stifle free speech in this country just by the threat of litigation. They will litigate this country back to the Stone Age...

Here's an example of bitterness combined with litigation: John Fogerty (CCR) was sued by his former record lable when he released a solo album. Their reason? It was plagiarism...his album sounded too much like a John Fogerty album!! This nonsense actually went to court, where the judge had the wisdom to throw it out...OF COURSE a John Fogerty album (on Record Label XYX) is going to sound like a John Fogerty album (on Record Label ABC)!!

Well, the Tommy/DY thing was a bit more complicated than that. Styx had some meetings in 1988, and Dennis had signed with MCA for one album, which became BOOMCHILD. He was contractually obligated and asked for a year to do that. The others then proceeded to talk about a reunion without him and had a series of meetings. Tommy's then-manager Bud Prager said that JY felt that with Dennis gone, it would be his band, and was trying to grab power for himself. He also said that JY had written a lot of disrespectful correspondence to Tommy and that he (Bud) felt that Styx was a very peculiar, very negative, very ugly situation to return to. That's why he looked around for something else for Tommy to do, which became Damn Yankees.

Tommy himself said, "He (JY) had word processing before anyone, and he would always write these mean-spirited memos and letters. I always just cringed when I got a letter from JY, because it was always in legalese, and mean-spirited, with copies to this guy and that guy, and it's like, my God, JY, lighten up! You dare not step out of line because you would hear from him."

In regard to the potential reunion Tommy said, "I got the vibe that it was going to be more of the same, and life is too short. It was always, 'Dennis won't do it unless he gets this, I won't do it unless I get that.' Not a band vibe at all. Even though those guys have a history of being together for a long time, they're not drinking from the same cup. It's business with Styx. Business first, business second, third, and probably fourth. I don't think people come into it at all."

So the negotiations were pretty brutal, and Tommy got tired of it and committed to Damn Yankees, and that's part of why JY was so furious. He blamed Tommy for everything that DIDN'T happen for Styx at that time, feeling that if he had returned, the demand for the reunion of all the classic members would have made all the difference. And who knows, maybe it would have.

I've heard the Fogerty story before. Wow, has that guy been through the ringer, lol. I think what may be a surprise to some in the Styx book is how much litigation Styx has actually been through, starting with their leaving Wooden Nickel. That was a bloodbath, and I think it's part of why they have developed the way they have. Once burned, twice shy. Their suspicion of outsiders is kind of understandable when you see it in that context.



Sterling

[Monker]

BTW, this is where I believe the "pretend to be a rock star" comment comes from. In Styx, Glen was NOT the star, never was, and never would be. He KNEW this.

So the negotiations were pretty brutal, and Tommy got tired of it and committed to Damn Yankees, and that's part of why JY was so furious. He blamed Tommy for everything that DIDN'T happen for Styx at that time, feeling that if he had returned, the demand for the reunion of all the classic members would have made all the difference. And who knows, maybe it would have.

I wonder what things were like for Glen and JY then.... if this is how JY felt then Glen would have been a reminded of everything JY was pissed about. Kinda like the consolation prize (I'm saying that is how JY may have felt). TO be reminded every day of that guy not being there by the presence of someone else. I bet that got old for everyone.

Well, I get the impression that Glen has been in two minds about ALL of his work in every Styx lineup in which he has taken part. On the one hand, happy to have a good-paying, high-profile gig. On the other, maybe a bit uncomfortable with the fact that it's with a band that he was never really a fan of in the first place. That's an odd place to be, especially since he faced the wrath of Tommy's fans in 1991, and Dennis' fans in 1999. He's played a kinda weird, not-altogether-satisfying role in Styx, which is too bad, because he just came to the party too late. He's a strong enough singer and songwriter that he would have been as successful as Dennis or Tommy had he been in the classic lineup. As it is, he's never had any real shot at having a real impact on the commercial fortunes of Styx, even though he's had substantial success as a songwriter for others. That's got to be a frustration. How could it not be?



Sterling

[Zan]

Explain how the few interviews by both Tommy and Dennis where it is explained that Tommy called Dennis SEVERAL times asking about getting Styx back together, but Dennis couldn't because of Boomchild? I believe in the Dennis interview ON THIS SITE, *HE* says he told Tommy to join DY because he couldn't start the reunion, and Tommy insisted he needed the work.

And then he said (paraphrasing here, because I'm not Vicki), "It was at that point, with Tommy happily in Damn Yankees, if we were going to regroup, we should do it now."

I'm not sayin' he's the devil. I'm just sayin' the market on changing stories isn't exlcusively JY's.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Or maybe it has something to do with JY needing to tour to sustain a living with STYX and he believes that Dennis was stopping him from doing so.

Hey Sterling, you're writing the book. Has JY taken care of his money or is he in the poorhouse? Personally I have a hard time believing that he needs to tour to sustain himself, his wife, or his lifestyle.

Eric

Since most of you know me, here's my take. I guess this is all just my opinion, so don't jump too hard on me

With all or most musicians they are not offered health insurance like the "average" person that has a full-time job. Yes, they are offered health insurance through the record company, some music association they pay into and I think something else, can't remember. They do pay through the roof on medical expenses.

Anyway, when I had my kids, most of my hospital bills and care was paid almost 100%, except for the co-pays.

Now let's say if a musician's wife has a lot of medical problems through the years that she can't help, not cosmetic, but serious health problems, that comes out of the musicians pockets to pay. You all know how medical bills can add up.

Okay, now the music label drops the band, that's less insurance.

That's ONE reason that a certain member of the current band Styx still needs to tour. With knowing what I "heard" my heart does go out to some of these people, the ones that didn't spend their money foolishly.

When one of the kids of certain member was born, he was in the hospital longer than expected due to health problems. That was a costly bill too, I would "think".

Look at Lou Gramm for example. He's been through years of health issues, he's still touring, I don't think totally by choice, but he does have a lot of medical bills.

There's a huge article on another musician, I have to find it, but it really explains a lot. You can have all the money, but when you don't have health insurance and something happens to you or a member of your family, well then you pay through the roof.