Styx "With the Great Tommy Shaw"

[Zan]

[Grotelul]

I don't see what's so wrong with this. Tommy Shaw IS and had ALWAYS BEEN Styx. Let's be honest, the reason most people listen to Styx is because of Tommy Shaw. Why is it a problem to advertise him?

-Shane

OK! . Here we go...I could write a whole book on this statement, but I won't. First off, you win for what may be the stupidest post of the year on this WHOLE board. Second, you knew it would get you attention, so I am going to just get to the point and keep this one brief. Although it was just to damn good to pass up.
Tommy is Styx NOW, that's it for that.
As some have already mentioned, and it's pretty simple....if not for DENNIS' Lady, there would be no Styx. The main reason many started to know about Styx and follow them. Then it continues that it was Dennis hits, over many years, that brought so many to Styx and kept them there. When Styx was first put on MTV, it was mostly Dennis' songs that so many saw..what, one for Tommy? It was DENNIS' Babe that again made so many more aware of Styx. It was Dennis' Show Me The Way, that AGAIN either brought so many to Styx and brought so many back. Tommy was not even a founding member and even left the band for awhile.
You mention Styx to anyone on the street, I promise you, they will mention a Dennis song to you, not Tommy.
As I sit and type this, I am chuckling and shaking my head as I think about the statement I am responding too. Like or hate Dennis, for soooooooooooo many reasons, HE is the reason so many know about Styx. That's it. PERIOD!
It was also Dennis' comcept for Paradise Theater and his songs on there, especailly the vids played on MTV from that time, that made so many aware of Styx.
Even today, love or hate Mr Roboto, even this won't go away and has become a huge part of pop culture today.
Lady, The Grand Illusion album, Babe, Paradise Theater album, Mr Roboto, and Show Me The Way are the main reasons that mainstream folks know about Styx through the various ways things from these have been put out there. Dennis is the main man behind these things.
I can't go on or may say something that I might regret.
All I ask is that you explain the reasons for your statement.

Excuse me but there never was a DENNIS version of Lady. There was a STYX version that featured the contributions of JY, JC, JP, CP and DDY. The vocals of JY, JC and DDY together, the guitar work of JY and JC, the bass and drums of CP and JP. Cracks me up that some here like to make it sound as Dennis did this all on his own. Without Tommy Shaw, Styx never becomes the fantastic live band they became, never has 4 triple platinum albums in a row. Maybe Dennis should be thanking Tommy , JY and the rest for giving him the platform to help create those top 10 hits you like to place solely on Dennis.

There are extremes to both sides of this as those who think Tommy is Styx are on some other planet also.

[styxfanNH]

Dear John, not even close to a best Styx song.

And I don't know how old Kipthekid is, but he may have a point if you think of it this way. If he became a fan in the last 8 years. he wouldn't know Dennis' side of Styx other than the hit makers. If your reference is from a show, the cd releases, the dvd's etc, much of Dennis' work is non existant and therefore might just put the Tommy songs as thh most important of Styx tunes. It is also possible for a casual Styx fan in there late teens or early twenties to only know Larry as the keyboardist of Styx.

Dennis clearly gave Styx the radio exposure that allowed Tommy's work to compliment it as deeper cuts. Tommy's work is mostly second tear popularity in the Styx spectrum/exposure on the radio.

All that said, depending on the circumastances and when you latched onto Styx's music, one could honestly think that Tommy has been the leader of the band.

[sadie65]

I see the never ending circle jerk continues. I think each of the "classic" lineup of the band contributed to their success, as well as their "downfall". The marketing tactic used per the start of this thread is just that...marketing. In the current situation, who should be named as the standout? Perhaps you think no one, however, as we all know, the more you hype, the more likely to get the consumer to buy into it.

Do I think Dennis achieved everything on his own? Hardly. I don't think he believes that either, contrary to what some here might think. I do think there was appreciation from him to the other members...just perhaps not as much as some here would deem appropriate. I do know, it isn't for me to decide that though.

As to what anyone hears on the radio or what draws them to any line up of the band...does it really matter? For my generation, you made your decisions of who you liked based upon who was on the radio. It was basically your main outlet for making those decisions. Radio favored Dennis led material. Is it the same now? Don't think so. Doesn't change anything from my perspective. You're going to like what you like, dislike the rest, and often confuse the point that others will do the same.

Carry on.

Peace

[Classic Rock]

All this back and forth about whose songs are more popular and still played today is pointless! Pointless because it varies by city, by station, and by DJs. Here in Houston, TX our primary Classic Rock radio station is 93.7 The Arrow. They play primarily Tommy Shaw songs and ultimately that means nothing because in another part of the country they might primarily play Dennis DeYoung songs. There is really no way to gauge whose songs are more poplar these days. Also in Houston the only way to hear “Babe” is to put it on a soft rock station.

I posted this a few months ago on a thread similar to this one:

My classic rock radio station (93.7 Houston, TX) have the following tracks in their library: Babe, Blue Collar Man, Come Sail Away, Crystal Ball, Fooling Yourself, Lady, Lorelei, Miss America, Renegade, Suite Madame Blue, The Best of Times,The Grand Illusion, and Too Much Time On My Hands. The bolded ones are the ones played most often, the others you only hear upon special request or an annual A-Z play list.

Outside of Big Daddy, when I hear a Styx song on TV or in the movies, it's a Dennis song.

“Renegade” was played in Sandler’s “Billy Madison” which is an icon movie for teens and young adults. It introduced me to STYX and that became my favorite song. I have tons of friends who love that song because of its placement in the movie.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Here in "lovely" Wisconsin, classic rock stations regularly play Come Sail Away, The Grand Illusion, Lady, Renegade and Blue Collar Man. Mainstream stations LOVE to play '80's on the weekends and that's when one might hear The Best of Times, Mr. Roboto or, Too Much Time on My Hands.. When there's a '90's weekend, you MAY here Show Me The Way...but not so much. Babe can be heard on "soft" rock or Adult Contemporary stations. Once, I even heard "It Takes Love."

For the MOST part, Styx songs that are played are DDY-sung tunes. But Tommy does get a fair amount of air play.

Before Dennis was at Festa, The Brew played "Babe" and a TON of Styx songs. I also heard "Babe" on Tuesday too, but not sure what station.

97.3 The Brew, 102.9 The Hog, 96.5 WKLH, 94.5 WKTI, 95.7 and 99.1 play Styx QUITE often. I haven't gone a day without driving without hearing a Styx song. In the last 3 weeks I also heard "Lorelei", "Light Up" and "Suite Madame Blue". On Monday we heard "Fooling Yourself", that was on The Brew.

Also on The Brew, they have played a few of Tommy's solo songs, especially "Girls With Guns".

[DarwinNebraska]

I don't see what's so wrong with this. Tommy Shaw IS and had ALWAYS BEEN Styx. Let's be honest, the reason most people listen to Styx is because of Tommy Shaw. Why is it a problem to advertise him?

-Shane

Lay off the crack pipe.

[DarwinNebraska]

I don't see what's so wrong with this. Tommy Shaw IS and had ALWAYS BEEN Styx. Let's be honest, the reason most people listen to Styx is because of Tommy Shaw. Why is it a problem to advertise him?

-Shane

The 8 top 10 singles written and sung by Dennis DeYoung (vs. 1 for Tommy Shaw) would beg to differ with you...

...and I beg to differ that chart position doesn't equal quality OR songs that everyone knows (how about Stairway to Heaven). Styx's most famous songs are Renegade, Blue Collar Man, Too Much Time On My Hands, Crystal Ball, and Dear John.

-Shane

Again, lay off the crack pipe.

Anyhow, I'm not sure I can even take you seriously... your posts have gotten excessively more antagonistic and odder since you kicked things off with bizarro post #1.

The "Dear John" inclusion pretty much nails it that you're just yanking chains here and this whole persona of yours is some giant fabrication.

Either that, or back on your meds.

[rajah2165]

I know that all the songs they play on the classic rock stations in Nashville are mostly Tommy. The only song I remember hearing from Dennis is Come Sail Away. That is only played when it is sandwiched between two Tommy songs.

I like Dennis, but it seems that the songs Tommy wrote get more exposure in the Nashville area....

Now if we want to do 70's and 80's night on pop stations.... thats a whole different story.

Most of Dennis' songs are being played in elevators and department stores.

Why don't you just shut the F*Ck up

[rajah2165]

I don't see what's so wrong with this. Tommy Shaw IS and had ALWAYS BEEN Styx. Let's be honest, the reason most people listen to Styx is because of Tommy Shaw. Why is it a problem to advertise him?

-Shane

OK! . Here we go...I could write a whole book on this statement, but I won't. First off, you win for what may be the stupidest post of the year on this WHOLE board. Second, you knew it would get you attention, so I am going to just get to the point and keep this one brief. Although it was just to damn good to pass up.
Tommy is Styx NOW, that's it for that.
As some have already mentioned, and it's pretty simple....if not for DENNIS' Lady, there would be no Styx. The main reason many started to know about Styx and follow them. Then it continues that it was Dennis hits, over many years, that brought so many to Styx and kept them there. When Styx was first put on MTV, it was mostly Dennis' songs that so many saw..what, one for Tommy? It was DENNIS' Babe that again made so many more aware of Styx. It was Dennis' Show Me The Way, that AGAIN either brought so many to Styx and brought so many back. Tommy was not even a founding member and even left the band for awhile.
You mention Styx to anyone on the street, I promise you, they will mention a Dennis song to you, not Tommy.
As I sit and type this, I am chuckling and shaking my head as I think about the statement I am responding too. Like or hate Dennis, for soooooooooooo many reasons, HE is the reason so many know about Styx. That's it. PERIOD!
It was also Dennis' comcept for Paradise Theater and his songs on there, especailly the vids played on MTV from that time, that made so many aware of Styx.
Even today, love or hate Mr Roboto, even this won't go away and has become a huge part of pop culture today.
Lady, The Grand Illusion album, Babe, Paradise Theater album, Mr Roboto, and Show Me The Way are the main reasons that mainstream folks know about Styx through the various ways things from these have been put out there. Dennis is the main man behind these things.
I can't go on or may say something that I might regret.
All I ask is that you explain the reasons for your statement.

Excuse me but there never was a DENNIS version of Lady. There was a STYX version that featured the contributions of JY, JC, JP, CP and DDY. The vocals of JY, JC and DDY together, the guitar work of JY and JC, the bass and drums of CP and JP. Cracks me up that some here like to make it sound as Dennis did this all on his own. Without Tommy Shaw, Styx never becomes the fantastic live band they became, never has 4 triple platinum albums in a row. Maybe Dennis should be thanking Tommy , JY and the rest for giving him the platform to help create those top 10 hits you like to place solely on Dennis.

There are extremes to both sides of this as those who think Tommy is Styx are on some other planet also.

No it was a Dennis penned song that he wrote solely by himself at a piano. The rest of the band had little to do with it. Much like Babe, Mr. Roboto, Show Me The Way (oh wait, that's right, Chuck thinks he deserves a writing credit on the song for changing one word)...and guess what, they are some of the band's biggest songs.

With or without Tommy Shaw, Styx would have been just fine. He added some nice cream to the top, but the band was already breaking through.

[styxfanNH]

With or without Tommy Shaw, Styx would have been just fine. He added some nice cream to the top, but the band was already breaking through.

YOU have to be kidding...

[Zan]

I know that all the songs they play on the classic rock stations in Nashville are mostly Tommy. The only song I remember hearing from Dennis is Come Sail Away. That is only played when it is sandwiched between two Tommy songs.

I like Dennis, but it seems that the songs Tommy wrote get more exposure in the Nashville area....

Now if we want to do 70's and 80's night on pop stations.... thats a whole different story.

Most of Dennis' songs are being played in elevators and department stores.

Why don't you just shut the F*Ck up

Now, now, Raj...are you letting the board get the best of you?

I have heard "Call Me" in a department store (WalMart),and "Desert Moon" in a coffee shop at 8:00 in the morning in BumFuck China (and I do mean -CHINA-). I also heard Shaw-Blades in the grocery store before (I'll Always Be With You).

[Grotelul]

I know that all the songs they play on the classic rock stations in Nashville are mostly Tommy. The only song I remember hearing from Dennis is Come Sail Away. That is only played when it is sandwiched between two Tommy songs.

I like Dennis, but it seems that the songs Tommy wrote get more exposure in the Nashville area....

Now if we want to do 70's and 80's night on pop stations.... thats a whole different story.

Most of Dennis' songs are being played in elevators and department stores.

Why don't you just shut the F*Ck up

Who? Aleksandr A Fock? That Russian tree researcher passed on long ago..so he has already shut up.

[kipthekid]

...in Las Vegas - in the Mirage's "cafe." I don't think there's much rhyme or reason to any of this.

I think, however, that it's great that Styx songs are still played. Ultimately, it discredits the east-coast critics who tried desperately to make Styx (and other bands) irrelevant by ignoring them or writing "reviews" of their albums that clearly indicated that, at best, they gave the record a cursory listen.

Standing the test of time is the ultimate legacy for a rock band. Styx has done that and then some.

[brywool]

LOL, I'm not kidding, this is the billing that the ad in the Nashville Scene has for the Styx show at the Wildhorse Saloon in October. The ad has a picture from CYCLO with Glen in it, and the text says, "Styx with the Great Tommy Shaw". I couldn't believe it when I saw that. Does the band's management not do ANYTHING to control the ads for shows? Or do these things just get by them? Either way, this kind of crap advertising certainly does this band and its current lineup no good.

Look, this band, at one time, helped INVENT the whole concept of a band taking control of its advertising and national branding. In my view it's way past time for the band to take advertising back into its own hands. Every show that has come to Nashville since 1999, the ads have sucked without fail. Last time they were in town the radio ads leaned almost entirely on Dennis songs, including "Babe" and "Best of Times", neither of which were in the show. This kind of thing hurts the band far more than it helps. Is anybody working with Styx even seeing this stuff?


Sterling

Sterling this band is ruined
It does not matter what they do now
They will play forever as long as some stupid pays them.
Im sure Tommy Shaws wife made up that ad,
I can now say Im not a STYX fan anymore thanks to The great Timmy Shaw and the goof Jim Young.

Froy give it up. I saw a Youtube post of Dennis from Sea World. It was THE most UNrock performance I've ever seen. Looks like friggin' Donny and Marie. Awful. Dennis's pitch is all over the place, his wife sashaying behind him looks ridiculous. Dennis has turned himself into a Branson act. Terrible. Watch Dennis, even he's not into it. He looks SO corny doing the air guitar, strutting, etc. Looks like my drunk uncle Pete at an AA picnic.
How you can be so enamored with him and not dig the ROCK BAND that Styx now is, is beyond me. Dennis and Suzanne have totally become the Steve and Edie of rock n' roll. I dig Dennis's voice, but I'd never go see the show he now tours with.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i1DD7gW8juM

When have you EVER been a Styx fan?
And yeah Sterling, the Tommy add is lame. Hopefully that's not the state things are coming to.

[shaka]

Froy give it up. I saw a Youtube post of Dennis from Sea World. It was THE most UNrock performance I've ever seen. Looks like friggin' Donny and Marie. Awful. Dennis's pitch is all over the place, his wife sashaying behind him looks ridiculous. Dennis has turned himself into a Branson act. Terrible. Watch Dennis, even he's not into it. He looks SO corny doing the air guitar, strutting, etc. Looks like my drunk uncle Pete at an AA picnic.
How you can be so enamored with him and not dig the ROCK BAND that Styx now is, is beyond me. Dennis and Suzanne have totally become the Steve and Edie of rock n' roll. I dig Dennis's voice, but I'd never go see the show he now tours with.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i1DD7gW8juM

When have you EVER been a Styx fan?
And yeah Sterling, the Tommy add is lame. Hopefully that's not the state things are coming to.

That was not the best Dennis clip. You're right his pitch was all over the place. With that said we have no idea how the stage monitors were performing. Could be Dennis couldn't hear himself very well.

The funny part of the performance was the transition from the guitar solo to the last chorus. The backup singers come to the front of the stage and join Dennis in some air guitar. Suzanne couldn't quite get her strum right with the beat. For some reason her lack of rhythm made me laugh a bit.

[brywool]

It made you laugh because it's embarrassing. All around it's embarrassing. The way Suzanne and the other gal kind of sashay behind Dennis is laughable. Also WHAT THE HELL is Dennis, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time, doing with another keyboard player in the band? Lame.

[styxfanNH]

It made you laugh because it's embarrassing. All around it's embarrassing. The way Suzanne and the other gal kind of sashay behind Dennis is laughable. Also WHAT THE HELL is Dennis, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time, doing with another keyboard player in the band? Lame.

You can't sing the songs, play the songs, and wander around the stage with a piano strapped to your back. If he wants keyboards in his songs then he needs someone to play them while he sings them. Billy Joel uses a second keyboardist and has for years. Elton on the other hand, locks himself behind his piano and plays from there.

[LifeGiver]

Why must I need medication to consider "Dear John" one of Styx's signature songs. It is a song about the death of a member of the band that received significant airplay in the late 90s. There are some really mean people around here!

-Shane

[brywool]

It made you laugh because it's embarrassing. All around it's embarrassing. The way Suzanne and the other gal kind of sashay behind Dennis is laughable. Also WHAT THE HELL is Dennis, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time, doing with another keyboard player in the band? Lame.

You can't sing the songs, play the songs, and wander around the stage with a piano strapped to your back. If he wants keyboards in his songs then he needs someone to play them while he sings them. Billy Joel uses a second keyboardist and has for years. Elton on the other hand, locks himself behind his piano and plays from there.

I'd rather DeYoung didn't wander around. He used to look good doing it (1978 and before). Something happened to him around Paradise Theatre where his showmanship went out the window. I'd rather see him at a GRAND piano- NOT some crappy keyboard piano, keyboards, and an organ.

[Zan]

There are some really mean people around here!

If that were only the deepest of our problems...

[sadie65]

It made you laugh because it's embarrassing. All around it's embarrassing. The way Suzanne and the other gal kind of sashay behind Dennis is laughable. Also WHAT THE HELL is Dennis, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time, doing with another keyboard player in the band? Lame.

You can't sing the songs, play the songs, and wander around the stage with a piano strapped to your back. If he wants keyboards in his songs then he needs someone to play them while he sings them. Billy Joel uses a second keyboardist and has for years. Elton on the other hand, locks himself behind his piano and plays from there.

I'd rather DeYoung didn't wander around. He used to look good doing it (1978 and before). Something happened to him around Paradise Theatre where his showmanship went out the window. I'd rather see him at a GRAND piano- NOT some crappy keyboard piano, keyboards, and an organ.

I am serious when I ask this question...how is him not having a grand piano and using a keyboard any different than Gowan...other than you prefer Gowan's stage presence better? Not getting into who is better or worse, merely commenting that the statement as I read it lacks merit.

[Zan]

I'd rather DeYoung didn't wander around. He used to look good doing it (1978 and before). Something happened to him around Paradise Theatre where his showmanship went out the window. I'd rather see him at a GRAND piano- NOT some crappy keyboard piano, keyboards, and an organ.

I am serious when I ask this question...how is him not having a grand piano and using a keyboard any different than Gowan...other than you prefer Gowan's stage presence better? Not getting into who is better or worse, merely commenting that the statement as I read it lacks merit.

Isn't that what he said? He used to like Dennis' stage presence, but doesn't anymore and thinks he'd serve himself better behind a grand piano. Not being faceteous, it just seemed pretty clear to me what he was saying. FWIW, I kinda of agree. I think a grand piano suits his style well.

And with that, I'll say it's good to have you back (even if it's just a little), Sadie.

[Ash]

I'd rather DeYoung didn't wander around. He used to look good doing it (1978 and before). Something happened to him around Paradise Theatre where his showmanship went out the window. I'd rather see him at a GRAND piano- NOT some crappy keyboard piano, keyboards, and an organ.

Do you know what it costs to carry a grand piano around with you on tour? I mean seriously. Do you have any concept of how incredibly heavy and delicate such an instrument is and how expensive they are? Guitars and drums are easily tuned. Pianos are incredibly delicate and time consuming to tune not to mention having someone on the tour specifically to tune pianos (or hire a piano tuner in each location) - especially if you had to have a couple of them in rotation to make sure they stay in tuned with all the wear and tear (loading, unloading, heat of the truck, cold of the stage, etc, etc...). It's just not economically feasible for almost any band to do which is part of why when Styx did do it - it was so special.

Keyboards make infinitely more economic sense. Pianos are not a touring instrument. They like to be in one place for a long period of time

[Zan]

I'd rather DeYoung didn't wander around. He used to look good doing it (1978 and before). Something happened to him around Paradise Theatre where his showmanship went out the window. I'd rather see him at a GRAND piano- NOT some crappy keyboard piano, keyboards, and an organ.

Do you know what it costs to carry a grand piano around with you on tour? I mean seriously. Do you have any concept of how incredibly heavy and delicate such an instrument is and how expensive they are? Guitars and drums are easily tuned. Pianos are incredibly delicate and time consuming to tune not to mention having someone on the tour specifically to tune pianos (or hire a piano tuner in each location) - especially if you had to have a couple of them in rotation to make sure they stay in tuned with all the wear and tear (loading, unloading, heat of the truck, cold of the stage, etc, etc...). It's just not economically feasible for almost any band to do which is part of why when Styx did do it - it was so special.

Keyboards make infinitely more economic sense. Pianos are not a touring instrument. They like to be in one place for a long period of time

Is that the official answer? *g*

[Ash]

Is that the official answer? *g*

No - just the obvious one. I used to do some roadie work a lifetime ago.

[DarwinNebraska]

Why must I need medication to consider "Dear John" one of Styx's signature songs. It is a song about the death of a member of the band that received significant airplay in the late 90s. There are some really mean people around here!

-Shane

Where did "Dear John" receive significant enough airplay to deem it one of Styx's signature songs? Umm... never. Was it *ever* played on the radio?? LOL

The current line-up doesn't even play it... and if it were a non-Dennis "signature song" you can bet your bottom dollar they'd be playing it.

Get real.

[rajah2165]

It made you laugh because it's embarrassing. All around it's embarrassing. The way Suzanne and the other gal kind of sashay behind Dennis is laughable. Also WHAT THE HELL is Dennis, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time, doing with another keyboard player in the band? Lame.

Not nearly as embarrasing as playing a 30 minute set in front of a puppet show and 2 other bands like the current joke of Styx is playing.

And if you want to look at embarrassing stage presence. Sit on Gowan's side at a STyx show. What a joke.

[LifeGiver]

It made you laugh because it's embarrassing. All around it's embarrassing. The way Suzanne and the other gal kind of sashay behind Dennis is laughable. Also WHAT THE HELL is Dennis, one of the greatest keyboard players of all time, doing with another keyboard player in the band? Lame.

Not nearly as embarrasing as playing a 30 minute set in front of a puppet show and 2 other bands like the current joke of Styx is playing.

And if you want to look at embarrassing stage presence. Sit on Gowan's side at a STyx show. What a joke.

I don't think that playing in front of one of the biggest bands in the world (Def Leppard) is the same as a puppet show! BTW, Gowan rocks!

-Shane

[shaka]

Dennis hasn't played a grand piano for years. When Styx reformed he was playing an electronic piano stuffed into the shell of a grand piano. In fact, I think he was doing this in the Kilroy years.

I could care less what kind of keyboard he uses as long as he's the one who's playing it.