Gowan, JY and ME on Rock Talk Sunday night

[Zan]

And isn't this all subjective?

Yup.

Just like the outcome of a football game.

Or...the McDonalds menu changing.

[chowhall]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

[rajah2165]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

[rajah2165]

I know if I were JY, I sure wouldn't want to admit to recording a piece of crap like "First Time". He knows that that entire era of stuff pissed off and lost them some fans. The fans that songs like Babe and First Time brought to the party have long moved on I would bet. The fans that were there for the rock are probably still around. Why would he want to mention that stuff? .

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Did they ever have a number one record before Babe? No.

Did they ever have a gold selling single before Babe? No. Afterward they had two

Did they ever sell as many copies of a record? No. They sold more copies of Paradise Theatre than any other record.

Were they ever voted the most popular band in America before Babe? No. They were in 1980.

If anything, the switch to a more pop oriented sound provided them MORE fans than they lost.

I'll take First Time over Homewrecker any day of the week.

Did the band break up before Babe? NO. I guess by your styx-o-meter it's okay the band broke up from it as long as they were number one...

Blind and deaf idiots like YOU piss me off Rajah. WHO CARES ABOUT A NUMBER 1 SINGLE??? Tommy, JY, John, and Chuck obviously didn't if it meant a dent to their rock/progressive credibility which it did. That's why THEY FIRED Dennis after it came out. The majority of the band didn't want to go in that direction. I think it was probably okay for a one off, but after that, every song Dennis did was the same. How many ROCK songs did he write after that? Not even a handful. "Babe" made them the Tiger Beat band of 1980- funnily enough, it was Tommy that became the Tiger Beat guy over Dennis which made no sense since it was "Babe" that put them there. They weren't in those magazines before "Babe".

"Number One Single" does not mean anything. If it did, it would mean the crap that's number one these days is better than say "Suite Madame Blue", which there's NO way that it is. It means more idiots bought that song than the other songs out at that time, I'm assuming you were one of them. Hell, I was one of them! But is it better than "Fooling Yourself", "Come Sail Away", "Renegade", "The Best of Times", "Lorelie", "Lady", "You Need Love", "Mademoiselle", "Love is the Ritual", "Show Me the Way"?

NO, not by a long shot.

By comparison to their own catalog, "Babe" and "Roboto" were low points. "Homewrecker" was a lot better than "First Time" from a songwriting, performance, and creative standpoint. It wasn't from a vocal standpoint, but there's no way JY is going to outsing Dennis. I'm not standing up for JY as far as what a contributor he is/was to Styx. I'm just saying that these people who ream him for wanting to forget that period (that broke up the band, btw) need to see where he's coming from. Jeez, "Plexiglass Toilet" was a lot better than "First Time". At least it was funny, where as "First Time" could've been a friggin' Shaun Cassidy single.

"Number One" means nothing as far as artistic credibility. "Silly Love Songs" was THE number one song for 1976 over anything else put out that year (fact). Is it a good song that you'd love to hear today? NO. It was a song of that time for that period and sold a lot of records. McCartney doesn't even play it these days because he knows it is a non-timeless crappy song. It made McCartney look like he was cashing in on the disco craze and hurt his artistic credibility for a time. Just as "Babe" and "Roboto" and definitely "First Time" did for anybody who was really listening to the band. Is Dennis playing FT in concert these days? (Serious question because I don't know). I'd be curious if he is or not. I would think not, but I could be wrong.

Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone, Paradise Theatre, Kilroy all went platinum (some of those triple platinum) which is better than gold status, btw.

Which proves my point. The band GOT MORE successful with Cornerstone not less. So, you bash First Time and give us your opinion on the worst Styx song ever written in Homewrecker. But for some reason you can't touch my other points. Because they are absolutely true. The direction he took them in was absolutely the correct one. Pieces of Eight was merely a rehash of Grand Illusion and a poor one at that. They come out with Grand Illusion 3 in 1980 and the wheels start to come off - 1x platinum - at best. Don't believe me? Check out Kansas's career. Instead you got two more 3x platinums with Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre. That shift sold a lot more albums than had they stayed conservative and kept putting out Pieces of Eights...

And by the way, "Silly Little Love SOngs" gets played today all the time.

[chowhall]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

As if. Come to Mobile, Al and I show you who the fuck I am you dweeb.

[Zan]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

As if. Come to Mobile, Al and I show you who the fuck I am you dweeb.

Here ya go, Stabbim. Chow can have some too - he'll need to keep his strength up if he wants to stay conscious.

Oooh look! There's the popcorn again!

[chowhall]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

As if. Come to Mobile, Al and I show you who the fuck I am you dweeb.

Here ya go, Stabbim. Chow can have some too - he'll need to keep his strength up if he wants to stay conscious.

Oooh look! There's the popcorn again!

Now Now Zan, do you think I need to pack a lunch to take care of Dan? He might have to get off his mother's couch.

[Zan]

Now Now Zan, do you think I need to pack a lunch to take care of Dan? He might have to get off his mother's couch.

lol...I was referring to the never-ending circle jerk.

[chowhall]

Now Now Zan, do you think I need to pack a lunch to take care of Dan? He might have to get off his mother's couch.

lol...I was referring to the never-ending circle jerk.

As long as I'm not the pivot man, I'm in.

[Skates]

Chow honey, you know that Dan would have to leave his grandmothers basement to meet you.

Zan, that popcorn looks great. Sterling, I hope that it's a great interview.

[gr8dane]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

I once had a first post too.
I wonder what rajah's first post said.?

[Zan]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

I once had a first post too.
I wonder what rajah's first post said.?

You'll have to be more specific. Which identity are you talking about?

[Zan]

As long as I'm not the pivot man, I'm in.

There's a joke in there somewhere.

[Rockwriter]

I forwarded everyone's questions to Greg yesterday and this morning, from this list and the others. So he's got them all . . . whether he chooses to ask them or not, that's up to him.

Thanks everyone for your help. We tape this thing in a little less than an hour, so hopefully it will go well. You never know until you hear how it's edited for broadcast.

I hope all is well.


Sterling

[elmotano]

I for one, miss Babe in concert. Now I have to hold off on going to the bathroom, which means less beer in take

I know if I were JY, I sure wouldn't want to admit to recording a piece of crap like "First Time". He knows that that entire era of stuff pissed off and lost them some fans. The fans that songs like Babe and First Time brought to the party have long moved on I would bet. The fans that were there for the rock are probably still around. Why would he want to mention that stuff? .

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Did they ever have a number one record before Babe? No.

Did they ever have a gold selling single before Babe? No. Afterward they had two

Did they ever sell as many copies of a record? No. They sold more copies of Paradise Theatre than any other record.

Were they ever voted the most popular band in America before Babe? No. They were in 1980.

If anything, the switch to a more pop oriented sound provided them MORE fans than they lost.

I'll take First Time over Homewrecker any day of the week.

[stmonkeys]

you mean you don't carry around a little ziplock baggie for emergencies? ::::snork::::

I for one, miss Babe in concert. Now I have to hold off on going to the bathroom, which means less beer in take

I know if I were JY, I sure wouldn't want to admit to recording a piece of crap like "First Time". He knows that that entire era of stuff pissed off and lost them some fans. The fans that songs like Babe and First Time brought to the party have long moved on I would bet. The fans that were there for the rock are probably still around. Why would he want to mention that stuff? .

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Did they ever have a number one record before Babe? No.

Did they ever have a gold selling single before Babe? No. Afterward they had two

Did they ever sell as many copies of a record? No. They sold more copies of Paradise Theatre than any other record.

Were they ever voted the most popular band in America before Babe? No. They were in 1980.

If anything, the switch to a more pop oriented sound provided them MORE fans than they lost.

I'll take First Time over Homewrecker any day of the week.

[elmotano]

my "emergencies" need much more than a zip lock baggie...know what I'm sayin?

you mean you don't carry around a little ziplock baggie for emergencies? ::::snork::::

I for one, miss Babe in concert. Now I have to hold off on going to the bathroom, which means less beer in take

I know if I were JY, I sure wouldn't want to admit to recording a piece of crap like "First Time". He knows that that entire era of stuff pissed off and lost them some fans. The fans that songs like Babe and First Time brought to the party have long moved on I would bet. The fans that were there for the rock are probably still around. Why would he want to mention that stuff? .

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Did they ever have a number one record before Babe? No.

Did they ever have a gold selling single before Babe? No. Afterward they had two

Did they ever sell as many copies of a record? No. They sold more copies of Paradise Theatre than any other record.

Were they ever voted the most popular band in America before Babe? No. They were in 1980.

If anything, the switch to a more pop oriented sound provided them MORE fans than they lost.

I'll take First Time over Homewrecker any day of the week.

[rajah2165]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

As if. Come to Mobile, Al and I show you who the fuck I am you dweeb.

You don't want any part of me, trust me. I'll kick you ass

[rajah2165]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

I once had a first post too.
I wonder what rajah's first post said.?

You'll have to be more specific. Which identity are you talking about?

Ooh your a fucking riot....no wonder you've gone through so many men.

[rajah2165]

Chow honey, you know that Dan would have to leave his grandmothers basement to meet you.

Zan, that popcorn looks great. Sterling, I hope that it's a great interview.

I'll kick your fucking ass too Skates.

[elmotano]

Can you feel the love?
Rajah...how do you feel about Styx 5.2?

Chow honey, you know that Dan would have to leave his grandmothers basement to meet you.

Zan, that popcorn looks great. Sterling, I hope that it's a great interview.

I'll kick your fucking ass too Skates.

[brywool]

I know if I were JY, I sure wouldn't want to admit to recording a piece of crap like "First Time". He knows that that entire era of stuff pissed off and lost them some fans. The fans that songs like Babe and First Time brought to the party have long moved on I would bet. The fans that were there for the rock are probably still around. Why would he want to mention that stuff? .

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Did they ever have a number one record before Babe? No.

Did they ever have a gold selling single before Babe? No. Afterward they had two

Did they ever sell as many copies of a record? No. They sold more copies of Paradise Theatre than any other record.

Were they ever voted the most popular band in America before Babe? No. They were in 1980.

If anything, the switch to a more pop oriented sound provided them MORE fans than they lost.

I'll take First Time over Homewrecker any day of the week.

Did the band break up before Babe? NO. I guess by your styx-o-meter it's okay the band broke up from it as long as they were number one...

Blind and deaf idiots like YOU piss me off Rajah. WHO CARES ABOUT A NUMBER 1 SINGLE??? Tommy, JY, John, and Chuck obviously didn't if it meant a dent to their rock/progressive credibility which it did. That's why THEY FIRED Dennis after it came out. The majority of the band didn't want to go in that direction. I think it was probably okay for a one off, but after that, every song Dennis did was the same. How many ROCK songs did he write after that? Not even a handful. "Babe" made them the Tiger Beat band of 1980- funnily enough, it was Tommy that became the Tiger Beat guy over Dennis which made no sense since it was "Babe" that put them there. They weren't in those magazines before "Babe".

"Number One Single" does not mean anything. If it did, it would mean the crap that's number one these days is better than say "Suite Madame Blue", which there's NO way that it is. It means more idiots bought that song than the other songs out at that time, I'm assuming you were one of them. Hell, I was one of them! But is it better than "Fooling Yourself", "Come Sail Away", "Renegade", "The Best of Times", "Lorelie", "Lady", "You Need Love", "Mademoiselle", "Love is the Ritual", "Show Me the Way"?

NO, not by a long shot.

By comparison to their own catalog, "Babe" and "Roboto" were low points. "Homewrecker" was a lot better than "First Time" from a songwriting, performance, and creative standpoint. It wasn't from a vocal standpoint, but there's no way JY is going to outsing Dennis. I'm not standing up for JY as far as what a contributor he is/was to Styx. I'm just saying that these people who ream him for wanting to forget that period (that broke up the band, btw) need to see where he's coming from. Jeez, "Plexiglass Toilet" was a lot better than "First Time". At least it was funny, where as "First Time" could've been a friggin' Shaun Cassidy single.

"Number One" means nothing as far as artistic credibility. "Silly Love Songs" was THE number one song for 1976 over anything else put out that year (fact). Is it a good song that you'd love to hear today? NO. It was a song of that time for that period and sold a lot of records. McCartney doesn't even play it these days because he knows it is a non-timeless crappy song. It made McCartney look like he was cashing in on the disco craze and hurt his artistic credibility for a time. Just as "Babe" and "Roboto" and definitely "First Time" did for anybody who was really listening to the band. Is Dennis playing FT in concert these days? (Serious question because I don't know). I'd be curious if he is or not. I would think not, but I could be wrong.

Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone, Paradise Theatre, Kilroy all went platinum (some of those triple platinum) which is better than gold status, btw.

Which proves my point. The band GOT MORE successful with Cornerstone not less. So, you bash First Time and give us your opinion on the worst Styx song ever written in Homewrecker. But for some reason you can't touch my other points. Because they are absolutely true. The direction he took them in was absolutely the correct one. Pieces of Eight was merely a rehash of Grand Illusion and a poor one at that. They come out with Grand Illusion 3 in 1980 and the wheels start to come off - 1x platinum - at best. Don't believe me? Check out Kansas's career. Instead you got two more 3x platinums with Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre. That shift sold a lot more albums than had they stayed conservative and kept putting out Pieces of Eights...

And by the way, "Silly Little Love SOngs" gets played today all the time.

The band got more successful... to the teeny boppers and chicks that'd never heard them before. It became less successful with it's original fanbase and FM AOR radio. Paradise Theatre did not contain Babe or First Time or Homewrecker. That makes it not really a part of the conversation, right? Paradise Theatre was a better album than Cornerstone, that's why it sold more. Not because Babe had come out on Cornerstone. If Babe was the big turning point, as you say, wouldn't Cornerstone have outsold all their albums?

Silly Love Songs- I NEVER hear that on the radio or anywhere else. Paul certainly doesn't play it live, yet it was his biggest hit of the 70s.

[Rockwriter]

We taped the show earlier today. I think it went very, very well. Gowan was hysterical, true to his reputation. I wish some of our off air banter would air, but what DOES air will be cool enough I hope. If it edits the way it went down, I think Gowan will play me on with a snippet Queen's "Somebody To Love" in which he changed the lyric to reference my book, which made me burst out laughing.

When JY came on, which was while we were off air, the host said, "And joining us on the phone is Sterling Whitaker," at which JY laughed. Then I said, "He laughs evilly", LOL. JY talked a bit about the early days of the group, and then the host basically promoted the hell out of my book and asked him if he had read it, whereupon JY said something along the lines of, "I've looked at it and read a couple of pages." The host then tells him he really should read it, how great it is and so on, and then JY said something to the effect of, "I actually never agreed to be interviewed by Sterling . . . in fact this is the first time I've ever spoken to him." So I interrupted with a tongue-in-cheek, "Hey, JY," which actually made him laugh. He said, "I thought you were kidding when you first said that (that I was on the phone), but now I recognize that you're not." LOL, I guess the reason he agreed to do the show with me is that they didn't tell him the show was with me! But he was cool, he rolled with it and was cordial, both on the air and off when we went to break. He made an explanation of why he wasn't so thrilled with the IDEA of a Styx book which was interesting. We came back from break and JY and Gowan talked a bit more, and then they ended that segment by asking me why Styx fans have stuck with the band for so long, and promoted the book once again, and boom! That was it. We all stayed on and just kinda bullshitted for two or three minutes and said our goodbyes. Overall, from my perspective at least, it was a really fun, very positive experience. I think Styx fans will really enjoy the mix of stories and perspectives in the show.

Thanks once again everyone for your interest. Sad to say, they went into more time than they intended and didn't get around to any fan questions other than one funny one for Gowan. But it went well and I'm really happy with it.


Sterling

[Jodes]

Okay guys, enough with the insults and the threats.. do we really want this to end up like the Journey board?

[styxfanNH]

http://www.cfrb.com/

The show will air this Sunday, November 11th at 6 PM Eastern and repeat at 1 AM Eastern

[chowhall]

You don't want any part of me, trust me. I'll kick you ass

Nice Grammar Dickless

[chowhall]

Ooh your a fucking riot....no wonder you've gone through so many men.

At least she's not a moron who doesn't know the difference between your and you're.

[Zan]

Ooh your a fucking riot....no wonder you've gone through so many men.

At least she's not a moron who doesn't know the difference between your and you're.

Well, to be fair, I have mis-typed a few times. One time, I even typed "is" instead of "are" when I was CERTAIN the subject of the sentence was "group" and not "fans" or...something like that. Who can remember after all this popcorn!

The Internet is educational - Today I learned that liberal use of the word "fuck" makes even the most idiotic sentences have more syllables.

[gr8dane]

Idiotic, untrue statements like this really piss me off.

Good. That really is the point of this board Dan.

Don't know who Dan is. Who the fuck are you making your first post?

As if. Come to Mobile, Al and I show you who the fuck I am you dweeb.

You don't want any part of me, trust me. I'll kick you ass

What's this? WrestleMania.
Haberdasher vs. Chowmeinhall.

[Zan]

Haberdasher vs. Chowmeinhall.

Haberdasher...ha!

My money's still on Chris in Orlando, tho.