Palm Beach Post

[sadie65]

JY...what more can I say....read on....

Styx still proud to call itself a rock band
By Leslie Gray Streeter

Palm Beach Post Music Writer

Friday, September 22, 2006

I love interviewing musicians — almost all of them — but my absolute favorite ones are the old rock guys, simply because they're never boring. They're usually funny, laid-back, at peace with their demons and have been famous long enough that they're not self-censoring themselves every five seconds in fear of ticking somebody off and getting uninvited from their next TRL appearance.

In other words, very little is off the record. And "very little off the record" is music to a reporter's ears.





My recent chat with James Young, guitarist for Chicago's own Styx, was just like that. JY (everybody calls him "JY") and his band are coming to Sound Advice Amphitheatre on Sunday, and they give a great big show full of their signature screaming guitars, larger-than-life arrangements and sing-along anthems like Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man) and Renegade.

It'll also touch on songs from Big Bang Theory, their 2005 collection of classic rock covers, including their rock radio No. 1 version of The Beatles' I Am the Walrus. But be forewarned — it won't be full of Babe, or Mr. Roboto or Don't Let It End, or any of the other gloriously theatrical '80s classics penned by former lead singer and recent Celebrity Duets guest star Dennis DeYoung.

"We're avoiding the big Dennis DeYoung pop hits," JY explains, in that frank manner of which I spoke earlier. "Our goal was to get away from what brought the band down the first time. He would contend that he brought the band to its biggest success. But he and I are polar opposites."

Intriguing! Please elaborate.

"We have a medley of some of those songs. I was against it but I got outvoted," JY says. "(The band)'s a democracy now and I have to go along with it. We do Lady, but Lady is a rock song. This is a rock band. This is not a band that does show tunes."

If you're a Styx fan, or even someone who's seen their Behind the Music special — in my opinion, the best episode ev-er — you know what he's talking about. DeYoung's penchant for full-on stage productions like the play-like Kilroy Was Here tour, or gushy earnest ballads of love, are the bane of the existence of some die-hards who JY says were "alienated" by the showiness of, say, Mr. Roboto.

"Really, I bear him no ill will," JY says, "but at a certain point you have to function as a team, and (DeYoung) ceased being a team player in 1982."

But that's all in the past. Styx has both moved on, with keyboard player and singer Lawrence Gowan replacing DeYoung, and lived on. Besides the success of the Walrus cover, the band is releasing a DVD of a show they did last spring with Chicago's Contemporary Youth Orchestra. And they saw the downloads of Renegade shoot up 500 percent after American Idol's Chris Daughtry sang it on the show and in concert. The thing is, the song hasn't aged a bit, and sounds like it could've been recorded last week.

"That addresses the notion of how this band can still be relevant 34 years after it started making records," JY says. "That song retains a sense of a sort of timelessness. There's not doubt that a lot of young people, even young women, were turned on to us because of that show. Even Simon Legree (that's snarky judge Simon Cowell to you) said that was a great choice of songs. Chris has done us a great turn."

So is he hoping that AI stays on the Styx bandwagon, or maybe even does a Styx-themed night?

"They called and said that might happen at some point," JY says. "By all means."


STYX — With Foreigner and the Blue Oyster Cult, 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre, suburban West Palm Beach. Tickets: $20-$51.50. Phone: (561) 793-0445 or (561) 966-3309.



http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/con ... _0922.html

[styxfansite]

"We have a medley of some of those songs. I was against it but I got outvoted," JY says. "(The band)'s a democracy now and I have to go along with it. We do Lady, but Lady is a rock song. This is a rock band. This is not a band that does show tunes."

Wel that might be a good sign without reading to much into the article. It sounds like someone wants to do do Dennis's songs and knows that without them, the band may not be able to make it.

"Our goal was to get away from what brought the band down the first time. He would contend that he brought the band to its biggest success

What songs did Jy do that made the band sucessful after wooden nickle? Did he write "Babe", Did he write "lady", Did he write "show me the way", you get my point on this I hope.

"Really, I bear him no ill will," JY says,

Did I miss something? When did Jy start being nice to Dennis? Still the article doesn't reflect it, but this line could be read different ways I guess.

[quote]"They called and said that might happen at some point," JY says. "By all means." [quote]

That point might be when "Dogs Can Fly". I wouldn't be suprised to see Dennis on IDOL before them. Ooopse, he already was, athough it was Canadian Idol. Lets don't forget Duets, which is another Cowell production.

By The Way.... I didn't keep up with it, but how did everyone do on the Jy Drinking game?

[bugsymalone]

Careful, JY. Your jealousy is showing.

Oh, and sure, the Idol people called. But then they said "Sorry, wrong number." And called Dennis.

Bugsy

[shaka]

What songs did Jy do that made the band sucessful after wooden nickle? Did he write "Babe", Did he write "lady", Did he write "show me the way", you get my point on this I hope.

For many of us JY tunes, whether written, co-written, or just sung bye him, were an essential ingredient of Styx. For me, Styx was never about hits. Styx was about an albums worth of music that could hold my attention for months or even years. I think about songs like Southern Woman, Midnight Ride, Ms. America, Great White Hope, Eddie, Snowblind, Half Penny Two Penny, Double Life, and Captain America are just as important to Styx as Queen of Spades, Castle Walls, Too Much Time on My Hands, Man In The Wilderness, Blue Collar Man, Grand Illusion etc.... In fact, I'm far more likely to listen to any of the above songs before I listen to Babe, First Time, She Cares, and Boat on the River. (I also like those songs but they aren't as important to me)

Let's not forget the intangibles such as guitar playing and singing. JY, while not Eddy Van Halen, can flat out play the guitar. His solos are often the perfect balance of bombast and melody. I often think of the first time I heard Midnight Ride when I was still kid and beginning guitar player. In the begining of the song JY says, "Check this out" and pops off a wonderfully catchy guitar lead before going into the verse. Many of you do not lik Eddie but I love that song (and not just because it rips the Kennedy's). I dare any of you to crank Eddie in your car paying special attention to the awesome Dennis synth solo followed by JY's equally awesome guitar solo and then tell me you weren't rocking out.

JY's voice is a big part of Styx's signature sound. Think about the chorus of virtually every styx song and right smack dab in the middle of the background vocals is JY. Styx got by without Tommy for a time because Glen could do a pretty good approximation of Tommy's background vocals. However, I think it would be much harder to replace JY's voice in those awesome three-part harmonies because it tends to be his voice that is the muscle that ties things together. Then there's Double Life. I should hate that song but I don't. In fact, I love Double Life. There is no way that Dennis or Tommy could have sung DB and pulled it off. JY's performance makes an otherwise quirky song rock.

Yes, JY is extremely important to Styx.

Eric

[yogi]

I agree 100%!!!!!!!!!!

The only person who could of stated JY's importance to Styx better than you just have is............................................



JY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[styxfansite]

I am not knocking Jy's talents. He is very talented and very good in the band. I just get tired of his interviews, never giving credit where it is due. Sure he has done great work, but alot of that great work was done with DDY, which Jy does not care to talk about. It is aleays him.

[DerriD]

"We're avoiding the big Dennis DeYoung pop hits," JY explains, in that frank manner of which I spoke earlier. "Our goal was to get away from what brought the band down the first time. He would contend that he brought the band to its biggest success. But he and I are polar opposites."

1 Drink

This is a rock band. This is not a band that does show tunes."

1 Drink

"but at a certain point you have to function as a team, and (DeYoung) ceased being a team player in 1982."

1 Drink

All in all just a moderate buzz. Pretty tame for JY's usual venom.

[gr8dane]

What songs did Jy do that made the band sucessful after wooden nickle? Did he write "Babe", Did he write "lady", Did he write "show me the way", you get my point on this I hope.

For many of us JY tunes, whether written, co-written, or just sung bye him, were an essential ingredient of Styx. For me, Styx was never about hits. Styx was about an albums worth of music that could hold my attention for months or even years. I think about songs like Southern Woman, Midnight Ride, Ms. America, Great White Hope, Eddie, Snowblind, Half Penny Two Penny, Double Life, and Captain America are just as important to Styx as Queen of Spades, Castle Walls, Too Much Time on My Hands, Man In The Wilderness, Blue Collar Man, Grand Illusion etc.... In fact, I'm far more likely to listen to any of the above songs before I listen to Babe, First Time, She Cares, and Boat on the River. (I also like those songs but they aren't as important to me)

Let's not forget the intangibles such as guitar playing and singing. JY, while not Eddy Van Halen, can flat out play the guitar. His solos are often the perfect balance of bombast and melody. I often think of the first time I heard Midnight Ride when I was still kid and beginning guitar player. In the begining of the song JY says, "Check this out" and pops off a wonderfully catchy guitar lead before going into the verse. Many of you do not lik Eddie but I love that song (and not just because it rips the Kennedy's). I dare any of you to crank Eddie in your car paying special attention to the awesome Dennis synth solo followed by JY's equally awesome guitar solo and then tell me you weren't rocking out.

JY's voice is a big part of Styx's signature sound. Think about the chorus of virtually every styx song and right smack dab in the middle of the background vocals is JY. Styx got by without Tommy for a time because Glen could do a pretty good approximation of Tommy's background vocals. However, I think it would be much harder to replace JY's voice in those awesome three-part harmonies because it tends to be his voice that is the muscle that ties things together. Then there's Double Life. I should hate that song but I don't. In fact, I love Double Life. There is no way that Dennis or Tommy could have sung DB and pulled it off. JY's performance makes an otherwise quirky song rock.

Yes, JY is extremely important to Styx.

Eric

Very well put.
The hits are the songs I like the least in the land of Styx.
I think JY's batting average was much better in my IMHO.
When Babe became a hit I knew Styx would never be the same.It was downhill from there.
Come to think of it.I wonder what Styx could have been , had Babe never been released??

[froy]

When Babe became a hit I knew Styx would never be the same.It was downhill from there.

Downhill from there for who?
Was Faithfully The Downfall for Journey?
Was I Want To Know What Love Is the Down fall for Foreigner?
Babe was number 1 it brought STYX a huge amount of attention

Just because 2 jealous members could not write a number 1 song we have to hear about how Babe was a mistake

I look at Babe and think of the Beatles
Could you imagine if John Lennon stopped Paul from releasing Yesterday ?

Come to think of it.I wonder what Styx could have been , had Babe never been released??

[/quote]

They could have been what they are today
A shitty band with immature members.

[gr8dane]

When Babe became a hit I knew Styx would never be the same.It was downhill from there.

Downhill from there for who?
Was Faithfully The Downfall for Journey?
Was I Want To Know What Love Is the Down fall for Foreigner?
Babe was number 1 it brought STYX a huge amount attentio

Just because 2 jealous members could not write a number 1 song we have to hear about how Babe was a mistake

I look at Babe and think of the Beatles
Could you imagine if John Lennon stopped Paul from releasing Yesterday ?

They could have been what they are today
A shitty band with immature members.

Downhill for who?Well froy, I was not speaking on behalf or you or fritz down in your local hardware store.

If there was no Babe ,maybe Dennis would still be in Styx.

[shaka]

When Babe became a hit I knew Styx would never be the same.It was downhill from there.

Downhill from there for who?
Was Faithfully The Downfall for Journey?
Was I Want To Know What Love Is the Down fall for Foreigner?
Babe was number 1 it brought STYX a huge amount of attention

Just because 2 jealous members could not write a number 1 song we have to hear about how Babe was a mistake

I look at Babe and think of the Beatles
Could you imagine if John Lennon stopped Paul from releasing Yesterday ?

Come to think of it.I wonder what Styx could have been , had Babe never been released??

They could have been what they are today
A shitty band with immature members.[/quote]

Good points but neither Journey or Foreigner made an albums like KWH after they had those hits. Kilroy was a HUGE departure from what most of us considered Styx to be. In fact, I'd say neither of those bands made a Cornerstone type album either. Cornerstone was also a huge departure from what most folks considered Styx to be.

If Styx had stuck to the strengths of what made GI and POE great, and then thrown on one Babe per album just for commercial appeal, I think most fans could handle it. Instead they, for better or worse, evolved in some confusing ways.

To answer your last question... Styx was already one of the biggest rock bands on the planet when Babe was released. I think their reputation as a great band had already been solidified.

Eric

[shaka]

If there was no Babe ,maybe Dennis would still be in Styx.

I say keep Babe ( I think it's a great song) but get rid of Kilroy. If Kilroy wouldn't have happened then maybe Styx could have survived. Of course then I'd never know who Glen Burntick is. lol

Eric

[froy]

If there was no Babe ,maybe Dennis would still be in Styx.

[/quote]

And if there was no Babe there would be no STYX period
If there was no Dennis DeYoung there would be no STYX either.

[shaka]

If there was no Babe ,maybe Dennis would still be in Styx.

And if there was no Babe there would be no STYX period
If there was no Dennis DeYoung there would be no STYX either.[/quote]

No Babe no Styx?

Care to qualify that statement? Seems to me there was a Styx before Babe.

Hmmm, maybe it's just your error light flashing. I'll page Kilroy and have him kick you in the crotch.

[Abitaman]

I think JY has an ego of RD-ERIC

[froy]

If there was no Babe ,maybe Dennis would still be in Styx.

And if there was no Babe there would be no STYX period
If there was no Dennis DeYoung there would be no STYX either.

No Babe no Styx?

No Babe no Dennis no Dennis no Styx no Styx JY is driving a taxi

[styxfanNH]

JY...what more can I say....read on....

Styx still proud to call itself a rock band
By Leslie Gray Streeter

Palm Beach Post Music Writer

Friday, September 22, 2006

I love interviewing musicians — almost all of them — but my absolute favorite ones are the old rock guys, simply because they're never boring. They're usually funny, laid-back, at peace with their demons and have been famous long enough that they're not self-censoring themselves every five seconds in fear of ticking somebody off and getting uninvited from their next TRL appearance.

In other words, very little is off the record. And "very little off the record" is music to a reporter's ears.





My recent chat with James Young, guitarist for Chicago's own Styx, was just like that. JY (everybody calls him "JY") and his band are coming to Sound Advice Amphitheatre on Sunday, and they give a great big show full of their signature screaming guitars, larger-than-life arrangements and sing-along anthems like Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man) and Renegade.

It'll also touch on songs from Big Bang Theory, their 2005 collection of classic rock covers, including their rock radio No. 1 version of The Beatles' I Am the Walrus. But be forewarned — it won't be full of Babe, or Mr. Roboto or Don't Let It End, or any of the other gloriously theatrical '80s classics penned by former lead singer and recent Celebrity Duets guest star Dennis DeYoung.

"We're avoiding the big Dennis DeYoung pop hits," JY explains, in that frank manner of which I spoke earlier. "Our goal was to get away from what brought the band down the first time. He would contend that he brought the band to its biggest success. But he and I are polar opposites."

Intriguing! Please elaborate.

"We have a medley of some of those songs. I was against it but I got outvoted," JY says. "(The band)'s a democracy now and I have to go along with it. We do Lady, but Lady is a rock song. This is a rock band. This is not a band that does show tunes."

If you're a Styx fan, or even someone who's seen their Behind the Music special — in my opinion, the best episode ev-er — you know what he's talking about. DeYoung's penchant for full-on stage productions like the play-like Kilroy Was Here tour, or gushy earnest ballads of love, are the bane of the existence of some die-hards who JY says were "alienated" by the showiness of, say, Mr. Roboto.

"Really, I bear him no ill will," JY says, "but at a certain point you have to function as a team, and (DeYoung) ceased being a team player in 1982."

But that's all in the past. Styx has both moved on, with keyboard player and singer Lawrence Gowan replacing DeYoung, and lived on. Besides the success of the Walrus cover, the band is releasing a DVD of a show they did last spring with Chicago's Contemporary Youth Orchestra. And they saw the downloads of Renegade shoot up 500 percent after American Idol's Chris Daughtry sang it on the show and in concert. The thing is, the song hasn't aged a bit, and sounds like it could've been recorded last week.

"That addresses the notion of how this band can still be relevant 34 years after it started making records," JY says. "That song retains a sense of a sort of timelessness. There's not doubt that a lot of young people, even young women, were turned on to us because of that show. Even Simon Legree (that's snarky judge Simon Cowell to you) said that was a great choice of songs. Chris has done us a great turn."

So is he hoping that AI stays on the Styx bandwagon, or maybe even does a Styx-themed night?

"They called and said that might happen at some point," JY says. "By all means."


STYX — With Foreigner and the Blue Oyster Cult, 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre, suburban West Palm Beach. Tickets: $20-$51.50. Phone: (561) 793-0445 or (561) 966-3309.



http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/con ... _0922.html

probably the best pre-show interview/article we have seen. JY stays away from "the best line-up ever" comment. They say that Dennis is gone and that you won't hear Dennis top 40 songs. JY says he and Dennis are polar opposites and they are staying to songs that like REnegade. For the first time that I can remember, he says that he was out voted on the medley being included. A couple of minor shots at Dennis that we read more into than any casual fan at the show.

Overall it is a milder, less offensive JY. And the writer did her homework about the band, how good is that.

[sadie65]

I guess we disagree here NH. While it may seem milder, I find it sad for him that he needs to get those shots in at all. That being said, I think we as fans will never really know, now would we accept, what is truth here. It's too subjective. I really think it's what we each value. What we connect with.

JY played a very large part in this band's history, and continues to play a large part now. I hope it works out for him.

Peace

[styxfanNH]

not saying that I necesarily agree with his tact. Just as a change he has toned down the rhetoric from what has been his company line. I've said a number of times that he should just move on. But other than his usual attitude issues that we usually comment on, at least they are getting the songs credited correctly finally.

[Ash]

And they saw the downloads of Renegade shoot up 500 percent after American Idol's Chris Daughtry sang it on the show and in concert. The thing is, the song hasn't aged a bit, and sounds like it could've been recorded last week.

So that means it sold 50 copies instead of 10 copy the day after AI?

Grats for them! Woo - fuckin - hoo (twirling index finger in the air)

[styxdudebrandon]

JY...what more can I say....read on....

probably the best pre-show interview/article we have seen. JY stays away from "the best line-up ever" comment. They say that Dennis is gone and that you won't hear Dennis top 40 songs. JY says he and Dennis are polar opposites and they are staying to songs that like REnegade. For the first time that I can remember, he says that he was out voted on the medley being included. A couple of minor shots at Dennis that we read more into than any casual fan at the show.

Overall it is a milder, less offensive JY. And the writer did her homework about the band, how good is that.

Less offensice JY?? He must have been drunk or something!

[styxfansite]

Maybe someone in Florida talked to him and told him to watch what he says. Maybe he is lurking here watching what users say here. Might have something to do with the legal action he was taking against Fans and there websites. That was one of the nicest interviews I can recall reading. His site lists them all.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

IMO:

The current line-up of Styx will not be on American Idol this season.

[pinkfloyd1973]

I certainly hope JY is being treated for that "Foot-In-Mouth" disease that he's been suffering from


Robin

[DarrenUK]

Or it could be Mad Cow Disease but i think thats restricted to the band members in Anthrax......

[Ash]

IMO:

The current line-up of Styx will not be on American Idol this season.

HOWEVER! I have heard they might be involved in a spin-off of American Idol that features washed up rock bands who fire their meal-tickets and then go on a crusade to re-write their history to exclude all of the things that made the band famous to begin with. In an ironic twist of fate - they actually get what they want and are sucked through a giant vortex in time to be never heard from again. Thats right... coming this fall.... American Douchebags starring Styx.

[Jodes]

Na.. Styx won't get that gig Ash, that's going to the one and only.. Eddie Van Halen!

[ArnelRox]

Well whatever about all the arguing or whatnot. I just want to pop in & say I was at the show last week & it was the very best Styx show I have ever seen. Styx is not my all-time favorite band. I love some of their music and I just like a lot more more of it. So me saying this is actually HUGE. This was my 3rd time seeing them tho in the last 4 years & I have never had a better time nor have I ever thought they looked or sounded better. The person I was with hates Styx except for 1-2 songs. He originally planned to leave after Foreigner but he was in such a good mood, he figured he'd make it thru a couple of Styx songs. Then he got jazzed up & stayed till the end. He had a hell of a time & said himself that he had a whole newfound appreciation for them & would go see them again in a heartbeat. The energy was on fire that nite. Tommy was all over the place like a guy half his age. JY was happier than ever & so digging the lineup & having so much fun. Lawrence was more amazing than ever. It was truly dynamite. The audience were going nuts from it. What a heck of a show. I can't wait till they come down here again because I'll be there again. Foreigner were also amazing appearing before them. They pumped us all up big time. If u get a chance to see the show this year, my advice is go. U won't regret it.

[StyxCollector]

"Really, I bear him no ill will," JY says, "but at a certain point you have to function as a team, and (DeYoung) ceased being a team player in 1982."

So why the hell did he come back in 1991? I saw those agreements when you could get copies of the lawsuit. He knows what he signed. I don't feel bad for JY.

So is he hoping that AI stays on the Styx bandwagon, or maybe even does a Styx-themed night?

"They called and said that might happen at some point," JY says. "By all means."

Even if Idol did something like that, it would have to include DDY hits.