Lawrence Gowan

[ManOfMiracles]

I saw them open up with Borrowed Time a few years back. Tommy and JY split the lead vocals, and in lieu of the guitar solo, they had a mini-medley which consisted of instrumental portions of Rockin' The Paradise, Pieces Of Eight, and yes, Mr. Roboto. You're not making it up!!!!!

YES! See? *whew* I knew I wasn't crazy. (Well, I am, but not about this) I was just surprised at the time they acknowledged Roboto at all.

Regarding it being attached to the Bad Co tour... I don't think BC opened up for them here... but I'm drawing a total blank about who DID. I just have no memory of it being BC is all. I'll think on this... it'll come to me!

[styxfanNH]

Roboto is part of the current medley, may 10 to 15 seconds of it. I remember hearing Glen say that he is the one that pushed them to playing it in any incarnation.

Wasn't it also in edge of the century for a bit just before Glen ran into the crowd?

[stmonkeys]

Roboto is part of the current medley, may 10 to 15 seconds of it. I remember hearing Glen say that he is the one that pushed them to playing it in any incarnation.

Wasn't it also in edge of the century for a bit just before Glen ran into the crowd?

yes it was. it was edited out for the live release of EOTC though.

[Jazz]

[quote="GrandIllusionist725"

GOWAN = GOD.

If this is what you think then you need some counciling.
Gowan is a wanna be.

Gowan a "wannabe"?

Froy, Gowan's playing is leaps and bounds above anything DeYoung could ever do. Seriously, he's way better technical player than Dennis. As for vocals, he's a decent vocalist too. So he doesn't sing DeYoung's songs perfect. He shouldn't be expected to, they aren't his songs.
Also, Larry's showman ship is leaps and bound- WAY FUCKING BETTER than Dennis' ever was. Larry's got energy, and Dennis just looked like a corny old man on the reunion tours.

Again, I'd rather have Larry in the band than present Dennis, and I LIKE Dennis, I really do, but he's stuck in a rut both in writing and in his stage presence. "We had dreams!"- Yeah, I don't miss that every friggin' time hearing the song live.[/quote]

I agree with most of what you've said here. I think Dennis is best on his own now, and Lawrence seems to fit with the band, although I miss his solo work a lot. But I really don't know why we continue to rehash this. I think all of the people involved are doing pretty much what they enjoy doing now, and more power to all of them.

And it doesn't matter what we say anyway--they will continue to do what they want to do.

Jo

[styxdudebrandon]

I think Dennis is best on his own now, and Lawrence seems to fit with the band, although I miss his solo work a lot. But I really don't know why we continue to rehash this. I think all of the people involved are doing pretty much what they enjoy doing now, and more power to all of them.

And it doesn't matter what we say anyway--they will continue to do what they want to do.

Jo

Very Well said!
I agree!

[brywool]

I totally agree with this. However, it seems anytime a post is made regarding one side of this conflict, someone springs up with some comment about how the other one's better or whatever. Nobody can just post say "that the new shaw blades album is cool" without someone else (oh gee, I don' t know who) piping up with some comment that spins the thread into the crapper.

[stmonkeys]

I saw them open up with Borrowed Time a few years back. Tommy and JY split the lead vocals, and in lieu of the guitar solo, they had a mini-medley which consisted of instrumental portions of Rockin' The Paradise, Pieces Of Eight, and yes, Mr. Roboto. You're not making it up!!!!!

YES! See? *whew* I knew I wasn't crazy. (Well, I am, but not about this) I was just surprised at the time they acknowledged Roboto at all.

Regarding it being attached to the Bad Co tour... I don't think BC opened up for them here... but I'm drawing a total blank about who DID. I just have no memory of it being BC is all. I'll think on this... it'll come to me!

i remember the tour- i think it was summer of 2001. Joe Stark, Billy Squier, Bad Co, Styx were the bill. Saw them at PNC arts center in NJ, and a day or two later at Jones Beach. Of course, the jones beach show was almost cancelled due to thunderstorms. Joe stark didn't play, Billy cut his set short, bad co played during rain showers, and by the time styx came out, it cleared up. i had 2nd row tix. still was a fun night! they did open up with the borrowed time medley. i don' tthink i have any recordings from this tour though. i am working on it...

[cittadeeno23]

You guys are pretty funny. Froy will go to the grave defending Dennis. Very entertaining stuff to read!!

But Larry just simply does not have the pipes that Dennis Does. Nobody does. Dennis' voice is a huge reason why Styx sold 35 million records. I think I would walk out of a current Styx show if they let Larry sing more of Dennis' classics. I almost got sick when I heard Larry sing Come Sail Away in 1999. He is Very talented, but come on. It was Come Sail Away for Gods sake. It was worse than hearing Sammy Hagar sing Jump! And I like Sammy way more than David Lee Roth, but I mean, some things are just WRONG!!
Let Larry sing his own new Styx songs in concert, and Tommy and JY can dig a little deeper into the archives. I want to hear Great White Hope, Man in the Wilderness, and Love in the Midnight.
That would be cool.

I am truly amazed at how many Larry fans there are on this forum. I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.
I can understand if your first Styx show was with Larry in the lineup, but I would love to know how many of you saw Styx for the first time with the real lineup, but still prefer Larry in the band. I'm not ragging on Larry fans, I am just curious how many of you were once Big Dennis fans and now prefer Larry.

And just so you know,Froy, in my perfect Styx World, The band lineup I would love to see together again would be DDY, Tommy, JY Chuck and John. Since that is not possible, I would love to see DDY, Tommy, JY, Glen and Todd, with Chuck showing up whenever his heart and health desires.

[MtlLady]

I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.

Me for one. Got the tour t-shirt, was member of the STYX fan club in my late teens. Still curious enough to maybe drive the 6 hours to Ontario to see them this summer.

[brywool]

Me. I'm 44 years old (GAK!)

Got a free ticket to the Grand Illusion Tour at the Seattle Arena. Went. Loved it.
Saw the Pieces of 8 Tour the next year- bought a yellow Styx shirt. Wore it out. (Seattle Coliseum)
Saw the Grand Decathalon a year later. Bought a shirt. Wore it out. (Seattle Coliseum)
Saw the Paradise Theatre show TWICE (2 nights in row)- Front row, Tommy's side. Bought a shirt. Wore it out. (Seattle Coliseum)
Kilroy Tour got cancelled because of Tommy's hand injury. Funny, I have a poster promoting the show that never was.
Saw the Edge of the Century Tour (Seattle Paramount- MUCH smaller than the Coliseum- now the Key Arena)
Saw the Return to Paradise Tour (The Gorge- I was bummed that the staging wasn't used)
Saw the 20th Anniversary Grand Illusion Show (Key Arena)
Saw the Brave New World Show- Monroe Fair (strange place for a show, but still cool)
Saw them at Emerald Queen Casino and actually played in the same building they did, down the hall. They let us in to check them out.

That's the last time I've seen them because I'm always playing.

Great live band in any incarnation.

[brywool]

You guys are pretty funny. Froy will go to the grave defending Dennis. Very entertaining stuff to read!!


Let Larry sing his own new Styx songs in concert, and Tommy and JY can dig a little deeper into the archives. I want to hear Great White Hope, Man in the Wilderness, and Love in the Midnight.
That would be cool.

YES it would. I'm tired of hearing Lady, Come Sail Away, etc. Not so tired of hearing them, just tired of the drama surrounding them.
I'm also tired of Blue Collar Man and Miss America.
I would LOVE to hear more of Gowan's Styx stuff live. I would've loved to have heard more of Glen's Styx stuff live. Great White Hope is a great song for JY. Midnight Ride and Shooz also would R O C K. Dennis' songs can be retired for all I care. If I want to hear them, I'll put on the albums. It took McCartney YEARS to play one of John's songs live. Styx could do the same thing for all I care. There are better songs than Mr. Roboto...

[cittadeeno23]

Brywool, I have also seen all those shows live. The closest I ever got to your neck of the woods for a Styx show was the 1996 reunion tour. I flew up to Portland for that one. It was an outdoor show on some racetrack. I saw that show all over the West coast. It was worth it.

I also wore out all the T-shirts! I still have some of them. I have an original Paradise Theater
tour jacket. It is hilarious. It looks like a Members Only jacket! I have it framed. I don't dare wear it because of all the abuse I will take from my buddies!!

[froy]

You guys are pretty funny. Froy will go to the grave defending Dennis. Very entertaining stuff to read!!

But Larry just simply does not have the pipes that Dennis Does. Nobody does. Dennis' voice is a huge reason why Styx sold 35 million records. I think I would walk out of a current Styx show if they let Larry sing more of Dennis' classics. I almost got sick when I heard Larry sing Come Sail Away in 1999. He is Very talented, but come on. It was Come Sail Away for Gods sake. It was worse than hearing Sammy Hagar sing Jump! And I like Sammy way more than David Lee Roth, but I mean, some things are just WRONG!!
Let Larry sing his own new Styx songs in concert, and Tommy and JY can dig a little deeper into the archives. I want to hear Great White Hope, Man in the Wilderness, and Love in the Midnight.
That would be cool.

I am truly amazed at how many Larry fans there are on this forum. I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.
I can understand if your first Styx show was with Larry in the lineup, but I would love to know how many of you saw Styx for the first time with the real lineup, but still prefer Larry in the band. I'm not ragging on Larry fans, I am just curious how many of you were once Big Dennis fans and now prefer Larry.

And just so you know,Froy, in my perfect Styx World, The band lineup I would love to see together again would be DDY, Tommy, JY Chuck and John. Since that is not possible, I would love to see DDY, Tommy, JY, Glen and Todd, with Chuck showing up whenever his heart and health desires.

Perfect post

[LordofDaRing]

Funny posts, but once again we all slipped into the Dennis vs. Larry thing and missed the intent of the post. Why Gowan or Burtnik were not featured more in Styx. Isn't the answer that JY and Tommy are doing to these guys what they accused (or at least JY accused) Dennis of doing. I have Cyclorama and Glen's KYAG was IMO the best and most marketable song on the CD. But it was not written by either of the two guys in charge of Styx. No song royalties. I guarantee you that is one reason why GB is no longer in this band. He even was quoted as saying, that there are other ways to promote this band besides non stop touring. But the last thing TS and JY want is another prominent singer/songwriter in the current line up.

[Rockwriter]

Funny posts, but once again we all slipped into the Dennis vs. Larry thing and missed the intent of the post. Why Gowan or Burtnik were not featured more in Styx. Isn't the answer that JY and Tommy are doing to these guys what they accused (or at least JY accused) Dennis of doing. I have Cyclorama and Glen's KYAG was IMO the best and most marketable song on the CD. But it was not written by either of the two guys in charge of Styx. No song royalties. I guarantee you that is one reason why GB is no longer in this band. He even was quoted as saying, that there are other ways to promote this band besides non stop touring. But the last thing TS and JY want is another prominent singer/songwriter in the current line up.

Well, it comes down to who has the marquee value in any given incarnation. I know some fans get pissed off with me for saying this, but it's still the truth: 90-some percent of the people at any given Styx/DDY concert are there because of the shared distant past (1975-1972) and couldn't give a flying rat's ass about the recent past or present endeavors. Glen is great, but he didn't have any marquee value in the band and his departure did not affect the ongoing touring business one iota. Todd is one of the great working drummers in the world, but if he left Styx and was replaced by any other competent drummer who could play the parts, it would have no effect whatsoever on the ongoing business of the band. Gowan is a great keyboardist, but if he left and was replaced by a Dennis sound-alike whose presence would let the band play songs like "Babe" or "Best Of Times" and a side man keyboardist, it would probably actually IMPROVE the band's business over time, because very few fans have any real investment in him. Their investment is in the songs they loved in the past that they continue to want to hear. Ricky could be replaced at any moment, who cares? As long as another bass player came in who could play the parts . . . and those are not hard parts. The marquee value was ALWAYS Dennis and Tommy, with JY a distant third. It still is. The correspondence I get from Stx fans, radio people and media people all over the world all the time indicates this over and over and over and over . . . . and over again.

I hope all is well.


Sterling

[Jazz]

You guys are pretty funny. Froy will go to the grave defending Dennis. Very entertaining stuff to read!!

But Larry just simply does not have the pipes that Dennis Does. Nobody does. Dennis' voice is a huge reason why Styx sold 35 million records. I think I would walk out of a current Styx show if they let Larry sing more of Dennis' classics. I almost got sick when I heard Larry sing Come Sail Away in 1999. He is Very talented, but come on. It was Come Sail Away for Gods sake. It was worse than hearing Sammy Hagar sing Jump! And I like Sammy way more than David Lee Roth, but I mean, some things are just WRONG!!
Let Larry sing his own new Styx songs in concert, and Tommy and JY can dig a little deeper into the archives. I want to hear Great White Hope, Man in the Wilderness, and Love in the Midnight.
That would be cool.

I am truly amazed at how many Larry fans there are on this forum. I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.
I can understand if your first Styx show was with Larry in the lineup, but I would love to know how many of you saw Styx for the first time with the real lineup, but still prefer Larry in the band. I'm not ragging on Larry fans, I am just curious how many of you were once Big Dennis fans and now prefer Larry.

And just so you know,Froy, in my perfect Styx World, The band lineup I would love to see together again would be DDY, Tommy, JY Chuck and John. Since that is not possible, I would love to see DDY, Tommy, JY, Glen and Todd, with Chuck showing up whenever his heart and health desires.

I think all of the various band members have their strengths and weaknesses. As for your question re: Styx and Gowan--being from Canada, and being of a certain age, I first became aware of both of them in the late 70s, early 80s, and have enjoyed both ever since. However, with all of the breakups of Styx, and the Babe/Best of Times/Mr. Roboto times, Styx almost disappeared from the radar here, and I lost touch/interest in them until Lawrence joined the band and brought me back to them. Meanwhile, Lawrence was going strong here in Canada throughout the 80s and 90s. I first saw both Styx and Gowan in concert in the early days, and loved them both in concert. Styx didn't return here until Gowan joined them, and that incarnation was fabulous, too. Gowan, meanwhile had been here yearly, and is a terrific performer on his own. Styx hasn't been back here since 2001. I saw Dennis here (with Glen) last year, and it was a better show than I was expecting, to tell you the truth. I had seen him on PBS and other TV shows and his voice had seemed to deteriorate over the years, as it does with most people. And Glen was amazing. So I enjoy all of the incarnations. If someone is only listening to Styx for Dennis's voice, then I can see the problems that some people have with the current group. I, for one, enjoy both Dennis more smooth voice, and Larry's more raw one. I think Lawrence is a more talented keyboardist, but Dennis is a good one, too. They've both written great songs. Both of them are great performers. And mostly, I think people will always have their own preferences, but if someone has to trash someone else's taste in order to promote their own, it only shows their own insecurity. Just my opinion...

[Jazz]

You guys are pretty funny. Froy will go to the grave defending Dennis. Very entertaining stuff to read!!

But Larry just simply does not have the pipes that Dennis Does. Nobody does. Dennis' voice is a huge reason why Styx sold 35 million records. I think I would walk out of a current Styx show if they let Larry sing more of Dennis' classics. I almost got sick when I heard Larry sing Come Sail Away in 1999. He is Very talented, but come on. It was Come Sail Away for Gods sake. It was worse than hearing Sammy Hagar sing Jump! And I like Sammy way more than David Lee Roth, but I mean, some things are just WRONG!!
Let Larry sing his own new Styx songs in concert, and Tommy and JY can dig a little deeper into the archives. I want to hear Great White Hope, Man in the Wilderness, and Love in the Midnight.
That would be cool.

I am truly amazed at how many Larry fans there are on this forum. I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.
I can understand if your first Styx show was with Larry in the lineup, but I would love to know how many of you saw Styx for the first time with the real lineup, but still prefer Larry in the band. I'm not ragging on Larry fans, I am just curious how many of you were once Big Dennis fans and now prefer Larry.

And just so you know,Froy, in my perfect Styx World, The band lineup I would love to see together again would be DDY, Tommy, JY Chuck and John. Since that is not possible, I would love to see DDY, Tommy, JY, Glen and Todd, with Chuck showing up whenever his heart and health desires.

I think all of the various band members have their strengths and weaknesses.

As for your question re: Styx and Gowan--being from Canada, and being of a certain age, I first became aware of both of them in the late 70s, early 80s, and have enjoyed both ever since.

However, with all of the breakups of Styx, and the Babe/Best of Times/Mr. Roboto times, Styx almost disappeared from the radar here, and I lost touch/interest in them until Lawrence joined the band and brought me back to them. Meanwhile, Lawrence was going strong here in Canada throughout the 80s and 90s.

I first saw both Styx and Gowan in concert in the early days, and loved them both in concert. Styx didn't return here until Gowan joined them, and that incarnation was fabulous, too. Gowan, meanwhile had been here yearly, and is a terrific performer on his own. Styx hasn't been back here since 2001.

I saw Dennis here (with Glen) last year, and it was a better show than I was expecting, to tell you the truth. I had seen him on PBS and other TV shows and his voice had seemed to deteriorate over the years, as it does with most people. But, he sounded fairly good. And Glen was amazing. The sound at the show was not great from where I was watching, however.

So I enjoy all of the incarnations. If someone is only listening to Styx for Dennis's voice, then I can see the problems that some people have with the current group. I, for one, enjoy both Dennis more smooth voice, and Larry's more raw one. I think Lawrence is a more talented keyboardist, but Dennis is a good one, too. They've both written great songs. Both of them are great performers. And mostly, I think people will always have their own preferences, but if someone has to trash someone else's taste in order to promote their own, it only shows their own insecurity. Just my opinion...

[kansas666]

I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.

I was a STYX fan in the 70's and I saw the Grand Illusion tour. I was disappointed in Dennis DeYoung. He came across as a domineering preening fop. He was not the cool rocking singer that he appeared to be from his pictures and the albums.

When I first saw Gowan with STYX in 1999, he had all of the qualities that I had expected to see in Denny 22 years earlier. He rocked, he was cool and he was a madman on the keyboards.

[gr8dane]

I would just love to know how many of you were actually Styx fans and went to Styx concerts in the mid 70's like I did.

I was a STYX fan in the 70's and I saw the Grand Illusion tour. I was disappointed in Dennis DeYoung. He came across as a domineering preening fop. He was not the cool rocking singer that he appeared to be from his pictures and the albums.

When I first saw Gowan with STYX in 1999, he had all of the qualities that I had expected to see in Denny 22 years earlier. He rocked, he was cool and he was a madman on the keyboards.

Excellent post.

[yogi]

I could NOT disagree with you more.

One of the first concerts I ever saw was Styx's Main Event Tour at the Minnesota State Fair. I thought Dennis was one of the coolest guys that I had ever seen.

Hearing Tommy , JY and the Panozzos referring to him as 'The Doctor' let everyone know who the 'true' superstar of the group was.

[Zan]

Hearing Tommy , JY and the Panozzos referring to him as 'The Doctor' let everyone know who the 'true' superstar of the group was.

Again,



Forgive me, but this post sounds as though you are stating something more than your own interpretation of what you think they meant by referring to him as such.


Because I'm sure it had nothing to do with the big medical bag or anything.

[brywool]

Actually, referring to him as "the Doctor" probably has more to do with how much of a hypochondriac Dennis was.
Light Sensitivity anyone?

[7 Wishes]

I find it fascinating to the point of absurdity that people like brywool put up these incredibly well thought-out, intelligent posts that, invariably, are countermanded by froy's dim-witted, regurgitative, four-word synopses.

[brywool]

Froy hasn't attacked me today yet...

[7 Wishes]

Froy & Yogi...get the hell over it! OK, Dennis is a visionary. He's Jesus reincarnate. Whatever the fuck it takes to get you to pipe the hell down about Dr. Sir Dennis. I mean, good lord, guys...you needed all five guys to make the band, last time I checked. Unless you're Tom Scholz, George Michael, or Prince.

BTW, George Michael is MUCH more talented than Dennis.

[Grotelul]

I could NOT disagree with you more.

One of the first concerts I ever saw was Styx's Main Event Tour at the Minnesota State Fair. I thought Dennis was one of the coolest guys that I had ever seen.

Hearing Tommy , JY and the Panozzos referring to him as 'The Doctor' let everyone know who the 'true' superstar of the group was.

As stated elswhere, they called him the doctor because he always had so many pills with him.

[7 Wishes]

Dweeb of miracles wrote:

Um.... you sound like a raving lunatic, dude.

You've used that same line for three different people, "dude". Try something else. An insight, perhaps? Or a valid argument predicated on fact?

[ManOfMiracles]

Dweeb of miracles wrote:

Um.... you sound like a raving lunatic, dude.

You've used that same line for three different people, "dude". Try something else. An insight, perhaps? Or a valid argument predicated on fact?

Wow... why is it I feel like I'm being addressed by a 5th grader with you?
The opinions may have been valid. Just commenting on the insane rant.
And... I stand by my diagnosis of "raving lunatic." It's a few more syllables than "dweeb," but I'm sure you can sound it out if you take your time.

[LordofDaRing]

First time I heard a comparison between George Michael and DDY. Well you certainly have a point, DDY has never written any lyrics which can touch..."you put the boom boom into my heart", or "you make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day".
However the other guy from Wham probably has an open schedule, I am sure he could fit in a few open dates for Styx if they call him up.

[Zan]

First time I heard a comparison between George Michael and DDY. Well you certainly have a point, DDY has never written any lyrics which can touch..."you put the boom boom into my heart", or "you make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day".

Hip, hip hip-hopcracy, hip-hop.

I like BIG things! The size of them impresses me

Machine or mannequin with parts made in Japan...
my heart is human, my blood is boiling, my brain IBM

We're looking for action--Cruising and acting so cool...
Girls! Girls! Girls! I don't know what's wrong with me anymore!...
(yipyipyipyipyip BOW BOW)

But it's so hard for me--That mountain's so steep
I know my nose will bleed, 'cause Gravity don't sleep
It don't sleep...

I flip the switch on my laser video and there's a man staring back at me



Gosh, Lord, you're right!