Interesting take on Chuck's book.

[blt man]

I have not read Chuck's book yet but will get around to it. While most people here appear to have liked it, I just read this negative review and was wondering if people agree with the reviewer. He some interesting things to say.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /705260335

The critisism of his book that I found most interesting was this:

But Panozzo, so focused on himself, never fully explores the issue. For example, did he not see Elton John and Freddie Mercury, two well-respected rockers who didn't waste much energy trying to hide their homosexuality? If so, what did he think of them? And what place is there in pop music and rock for gay men and women? Panozzo glosses over this with a mere two paragraphs about the "Coming Out Rocks" campaign in 1998 in which he and musicians like Melissa Etheridge, Michael Stipe of REM, and the Indigo Girls participated. All he can say is that after feeling so "isolated and freakish" he was now part of the cool crowd.

More than anything, that example illustrates where The Grand Illusion collapses. Instead of writing about what he learned from these people; instead of weighing in on someone like George Michael - who plummeted from popularity when his homosexuality was revealed; instead of discussing how he must have felt when guys like Lou Reed and David Bowie were participating in gender bending sexual explorations, Panozzo goes on about his decision to move from Chicago to Miami and how much he would miss his condo.

[styxfansite]

I have not read Chuck's book yet but will get around to it. While most people here appear to have liked it, I just read this negative review and was wondering if people agree with the reviewer. He some interesting things to say.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /705260335

The critisism of his book that I found most interesting was this:

But Panozzo, so focused on himself, never fully explores the issue. For example, did he not see Elton John and Freddie Mercury, two well-respected rockers who didn't waste much energy trying to hide their homosexuality? If so, what did he think of them? And what place is there in pop music and rock for gay men and women? Panozzo glosses over this with a mere two paragraphs about the "Coming Out Rocks" campaign in 1998 in which he and musicians like Melissa Etheridge, Michael Stipe of REM, and the Indigo Girls participated. All he can say is that after feeling so "isolated and freakish" he was now part of the cool crowd.

More than anything, that example illustrates where The Grand Illusion collapses. Instead of writing about what he learned from these people; instead of weighing in on someone like George Michael - who plummeted from popularity when his homosexuality was revealed; instead of discussing how he must have felt when guys like Lou Reed and David Bowie were participating in gender bending sexual explorations, Panozzo goes on about his decision to move from Chicago to Miami and how much he would miss his condo.

I think this was a little off

He and John met a neighbor kid, James "JY" Young, and they began playing cover songs at various weddings before building their lineup by adding Dennis DeYoung, and eventually Tommy Shaw, and forming what would become one of the midwest's most popular bands in the '70s and '80s.

Also this book was about Chuck and his life, not about the band. The reviewer like Jy must have thought this book was about STYX in general.

[stabbim]

But Panozzo, so focused on himself, never fully explores the issue. For example, did he not see Elton John and Freddie Mercury, two well-respected rockers who didn't waste much energy trying to hide their homosexuality? If so, what did he think of them? And what place is there in pop music and rock for gay men and women? Panozzo glosses over this with a mere two paragraphs about the "Coming Out Rocks" campaign in 1998 in which he and musicians like Melissa Etheridge, Michael Stipe of REM, and the Indigo Girls participated. All he can say is that after feeling so "isolated and freakish" he was now part of the cool crowd.

More than anything, that example illustrates where The Grand Illusion collapses. Instead of writing about what he learned from these people; instead of weighing in on someone like George Michael - who plummeted from popularity when his homosexuality was revealed; instead of discussing how he must have felt when guys like Lou Reed and David Bowie were participating in gender bending sexual explorations, Panozzo goes on about his decision to move from Chicago to Miami and how much he would miss his condo.

Well, it is a book about his life, not a dissertation on sexuality in the entertainment business.

Nevertheless, I was also surprised that there was no mention of Freddie Mercury, for two reasons: A) Styx opened for Queen on more than one occasion, it's reasonable to assume that they would have crossed paths at some point, and B) he was one of the first big AIDS casualties of the rock world, right around the time CP was diagnosed with HIV. I was curious to see what impact, if any, such events would have had on CP and was mildly disappointed that the subject was not addressed.

Edit: Ok, now having read the entire review, it's safe to say that the guy seriously missed the point of the book. Ah well.

[StyxCollector]

A Freddie bit in the book would have been interesting. I was curious to see if Chuck would say anything since Styx did open for them in the 1976/77 timeframe. And Freddie's death in the early 90s was huge. Didn't really detract from the book for me personally, since it is Chuck's story and he can tell it the way he wanted to.

Now, I would never assume or insinuate that Chuck had any sort of "personal" relationship with Freddie, but I would have thought he may have had some sort of unspoken kinship.

Don't forget - Elton was married to a woman in the 80s, but it was rock's worst kept secret that he was not straight nor was he clean and sober.

[Rockwriter]

I have not read Chuck's book yet but will get around to it. While most people here appear to have liked it, I just read this negative review and was wondering if people agree with the reviewer. He some interesting things to say.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /705260335

The critisism of his book that I found most interesting was this:

But Panozzo, so focused on himself, never fully explores the issue. For example, did he not see Elton John and Freddie Mercury, two well-respected rockers who didn't waste much energy trying to hide their homosexuality? If so, what did he think of them? And what place is there in pop music and rock for gay men and women? Panozzo glosses over this with a mere two paragraphs about the "Coming Out Rocks" campaign in 1998 in which he and musicians like Melissa Etheridge, Michael Stipe of REM, and the Indigo Girls participated. All he can say is that after feeling so "isolated and freakish" he was now part of the cool crowd.

More than anything, that example illustrates where The Grand Illusion collapses. Instead of writing about what he learned from these people; instead of weighing in on someone like George Michael - who plummeted from popularity when his homosexuality was revealed; instead of discussing how he must have felt when guys like Lou Reed and David Bowie were participating in gender bending sexual explorations, Panozzo goes on about his decision to move from Chicago to Miami and how much he would miss his condo.

The part that I thought was accurate was when the reviewer says the other band members are one dimensional, but then again, I think Chuck actually intended not to reveal them as full-fledged characters. So I agree with that, but think it's irrelevant. This guy reviewed not what the book IS, but what it is NOT. Which is kinda pointless, kinda like reviewing Iron Maiden and saying, "I just don't think this works as a Barry Manilow record."

I also think the reviewer would have been more credible if he had his facts straight about JY and Dennis and the order in which they joined, as well as actually knowing how to spell "Styx" . . . LOL, it's not spelled "Stix", dumb ass!


Sterling