Current Styx and Other Bands on You Tube

[birdynumnum]

I was just going through You Tube looking at the most recent concert footage of some of my favorite bands, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Rush, Van Halen, Judas Priest and of course Styx. It's amazing how most of these bands have managed to keep the fan base and still sell out major arenas with the fans going crazy, except for Styx. I actually felt sorry for the band when I look at the places they play at and the smallish crowds and wonder how they must feel. Take a look at some recent concert footage of Iron Maiden and the fans are going crazy in sold out stadiums, this with little or no radio play. They still have a full stage show as well, not some bare bones stage with a few lights and banners. When Styx toured in 1996, the crowds were also smallish, they only sold 5,000 seats in Toronto, so this is not meant as a slight to the current Styx. I don't think it would be much different if Dennis was still with the band. Styx was as big as any of these bands during their heyday, so I wonder how their fan base disappeared while these others continued? I suppose I probably know the answer, but it is kind of depressing to see how the mighty have fallen.

[Everett]

I was just going through You Tube looking at the most recent concert footage of some of my favorite bands, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Rush, Van Halen, Judas Priest and of course Styx. It's amazing how most of these bands have managed to keep the fan base and still sell out major arenas with the fans going crazy, except for Styx. I actually felt sorry for the band when I look at the places they play at and the smallish crowds and wonder how they must feel. Take a look at some recent concert footage of Iron Maiden and the fans are going crazy in sold out stadiums, this with little or no radio play. They still have a full stage show as well, not some bare bones stage with a few lights and banners. When Styx toured in 1996, the crowds were also smallish, they only sold 5,000 seats in Toronto, so this is not meant as a slight to the current Styx. I don't think it would be much different if Dennis was still with the band. Styx was as big as any of these bands during their heyday, so I wonder how their fan base disappeared while these others continued? I suppose I probably know the answer, but it is kind of depressing to see how the mighty have fallen.

Ticket prices are a majority of the problem. Have you seen what they charge a pop for acts like styx? Rediculous but they can get away with it. We have no choice but to pay the outrageous price to see the band we love. Except for froy god forbid he go see a show. We would definitley be playing hockey on the river styx if that were to happen.

[Toph]

I was just going through You Tube looking at the most recent concert footage of some of my favorite bands, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Rush, Van Halen, Judas Priest and of course Styx. It's amazing how most of these bands have managed to keep the fan base and still sell out major arenas with the fans going crazy, except for Styx. I actually felt sorry for the band when I look at the places they play at and the smallish crowds and wonder how they must feel. Take a look at some recent concert footage of Iron Maiden and the fans are going crazy in sold out stadiums, this with little or no radio play. They still have a full stage show as well, not some bare bones stage with a few lights and banners. When Styx toured in 1996, the crowds were also smallish, they only sold 5,000 seats in Toronto, so this is not meant as a slight to the current Styx. I don't think it would be much different if Dennis was still with the band. Styx was as big as any of these bands during their heyday, so I wonder how their fan base disappeared while these others continued? I suppose I probably know the answer, but it is kind of depressing to see how the mighty have fallen.

You must have been to an off night in 96 and 97. In 1996 I saw them in an arena that sat 10,000 and in 1997 I saw them in an arena that sat 12,000. Their tour in 1996 was one of the biggest of the summer.

[froy]

I was just going through You Tube looking at the most recent concert footage of some of my favorite bands, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Rush, Van Halen, Judas Priest and of course Styx. It's amazing how most of these bands have managed to keep the fan base and still sell out major arenas with the fans going crazy, except for Styx. I actually felt sorry for the band when I look at the places they play at and the smallish crowds and wonder how they must feel. Take a look at some recent concert footage of Iron Maiden and the fans are going crazy in sold out stadiums, this with little or no radio play. They still have a full stage show as well, not some bare bones stage with a few lights and banners. When Styx toured in 1996, the crowds were also smallish, they only sold 5,000 seats in Toronto, so this is not meant as a slight to the current Styx. I don't think it would be much different if Dennis was still with the band. Styx was as big as any of these bands during their heyday, so I wonder how their fan base disappeared while these others continued? I suppose I probably know the answer, but it is kind of depressing to see how the mighty have fallen.

You should not feel sorry for Styx
Their stupid decisions have brought them to where they are today.
500 fans showing up to a show in a bar wow that is just about as low as you can go.
When they dumped Dennis and brought in a guy who can't sing or write music they all but sunk themselves
You could not have picked a worse replacement then Larry Gowan
Its now starting to show

To think that JY thought he was going to build a bigger band without Dennis just shows how delusional he is.
You do not break up the chemistry after 25 years.

Looking forward I would say who really wants to see Styx with or without Dennis
I'm not even sure I would go

[Ehwmatt]

I love Dennis, I love the current line-up, Cyclorama was a great record as was 100 Years, blah blah. I don't care how many seats they're selling, so long as it's enough to keep them going.

Iron Maiden, Priest, and Rush are a little bit of an unfair comparison... Styx's arena rock/melodic rock is a little bit more of a relic in this day and age vs the former bands' kind of sounds/styles. Rush will always appeal to musicians and progressive fans, which obviously spans all ages. Maiden and Priest will always appeal to many metal/hard rock fans, which kind of goes the same way as Rush (AC/DC is another great, little bit older example). Their appeal tends to transcend age to a large extent (just see how many young faces you find on Rush in RIO), whereas Styx (and most other bands on this site) will appeal to the same people they appealed to 20, 30 years ago. A lot of it has to do with the stigmatization the melodic rock bands endured during the '80s era of hair, cheese, and such. VH with Roth would not be selling out year after year if they were hitting the road hard like Styx, Journey, REO etc over the years.

People who think that Styx or Journey would be recapturing their past glory if they had Dennis or Perry back are just as delusional as JY, so you're right on in saying that. Most people probably don't even know the difference if they're in the band or out. I think the fundamental issue is that this kind of music has never ever been "cool," even in its heyday, so why would that change now when nothing in the way of new material is promoted at all? You might get lucky to have someone buy Come Sail Away after hearing it on South Park or Don't Stop Believing after hearing it at the ball game for 99c, but that's about all you're gonna get. To many, this music has always just been too bombastic and overblown, synths, soaring tenor vocals (cheesy in some eyes/ears), huge harmonies that sound like a chorus of women, corny clothes/hair etc etc. And whatever "promotion" this kind of music gets just reinforces that image, just think the lame commercials for say, the Monster Ballads compilations.

I stand by my conviction that MTV is the worst thing to ever happen to music. It forever equated the music with the image. I was sitting around watching my dad's Burt Sugarman Midnight Special DVDs from the 70s. Sure, the bands were being captured on video then, and most of em looked like complete schmucks, pimps, and/or burnouts. But no one cared. Maybe because the only people who were bothering to watch such shows were devoted fans who didn't care in the first place what Deep Purple or Steely Dan looked like, as long as they were rockin out. MTV gave John Q. Public access to the image, and eventually the image trumped the music. Maybe that's why so many people were and are afraid to admit being fans of the Journeys and Styxs of the world. That's why modern mainstream music is a cesspool of shit. The chord chart to most of what passes for mainstream pop music today wouldn't be worthy enough to wipe Todd Rundgren's ass with. But hey, they look great. Fuck MTV and fuck the labels for buying into it.

[styxfanNH]

I love Dennis, I love the current line-up, Cyclorama was a great record as was 100 Years, blah blah. I don't care how many seats they're selling, so long as it's enough to keep them going.

Iron Maiden, Priest, and Rush are a little bit of an unfair comparison... Styx's arena rock/melodic rock is a little bit more of a relic in this day and age vs the former bands' kind of sounds/styles. Rush will always appeal to musicians and progressive fans, which obviously spans all ages. Maiden and Priest will always appeal to many metal/hard rock fans, which kind of goes the same way as Rush (AC/DC is another great, little bit older example). Their appeal tends to transcend age to a large extent (just see how many young faces you find on Rush in RIO), whereas Styx (and most other bands on this site) will appeal to the same people they appealed to 20, 30 years ago. A lot of it has to do with the stigmatization the melodic rock bands endured during the '80s era of hair, cheese, and such. VH with Roth would not be selling out year after year if they were hitting the road hard like Styx, Journey, REO etc over the years.

People who think that Styx or Journey would be recapturing their past glory if they had Dennis or Perry back are just as delusional as JY, so you're right on in saying that. Most people probably don't even know the difference if they're in the band or out. I think the fundamental issue is that this kind of music has never ever been "cool," even in its heyday, so why would that change now when nothing in the way of new material is promoted at all? You might get lucky to have someone buy Come Sail Away after hearing it on South Park or Don't Stop Believing after hearing it at the ball game for 99c, but that's about all you're gonna get. To many, this music has always just been too bombastic and overblown, synths, soaring tenor vocals (cheesy in some eyes/ears), huge harmonies that sound like a chorus of women, corny clothes/hair etc etc. And whatever "promotion" this kind of music gets just reinforces that image, just think the lame commercials for say, the Monster Ballads compilations.

I stand by my conviction that MTV is the worst thing to ever happen to music. It forever equated the music with the image. I was sitting around watching my dad's Burt Sugarman Midnight Special DVDs from the 70s. Sure, the bands were being captured on video then, and most of em looked like complete schmucks, pimps, and/or burnouts. But no one cared. Maybe because the only people who were bothering to watch such shows were devoted fans who didn't care in the first place what Deep Purple or Steely Dan looked like, as long as they were rockin out. MTV gave John Q. Public access to the image, and eventually the image trumped the music. Maybe that's why so many people were and are afraid to admit being fans of the Journeys and Styxs of the world. That's why modern mainstream music is a cesspool of shit. The chord chart to most of what passes for mainstream pop music today wouldn't be worthy enough to wipe Todd Rundgren's ass with. But hey, they look great. Fuck MTV and fuck the labels for buying into it.

Definitely the post of the day!!!!

When I saw them in 96 they packed what is now the Tweeter Center in Boston, in 97 it was a much easier ticket to get.

I would also add that Def Leppard is really a different era as well as music style, so it is hard to compare them.

I am with you on the MTV position too. But we have to remember that the prior to the original break up, MTV was really still in its infancy and Styx never really adapted to it well.

But for the current line-up it is tour til you drop and that definitely has an impact on the size of venues they play. Styx would rather make a dozen dimes, than four quarters as they perform continuously. Swapping Larry back to Dennis would have little effect for mare than it's initial re-reunion run. At there age, five years away would really mean putting it all to bed and none of them are ready to do that.

[birdynumnum]

[quote="Ehwmatt"]I love Dennis, I love the current line-up, Cyclorama was a great record as was 100 Years, blah blah. I don't care how many seats they're selling, so long as it's enough to keep them going.

Iron Maiden, Priest, and Rush are a little bit of an unfair comparison... Styx's arena rock/melodic rock is a little bit more of a relic in this day and age vs the former bands' kind of sounds/styles. Rush will always appeal to musicians and progressive fans, which obviously spans all ages. Maiden and Priest will always appeal to many metal/hard rock fans, which kind of goes the same way as Rush (AC/DC is another great, little bit older example). Their appeal tends to transcend age to a large extent (just see how many young faces you find on Rush in RIO), whereas Styx (and most other bands on this site) will appeal to the same people they appealed to 20, 30 years ago. A lot of it has to do with the stigmatization the melodic rock bands endured during the '80s era of hair, cheese, and such. VH with Roth would not be selling out year after year if they were hitting the road hard like Styx, Journey, REO etc over the years.

People who think that Styx or Journey would be recapturing their past glory if they had Dennis or Perry back are just as delusional as JY, so you're right on in saying that. Most people probably don't even know the difference if they're in the band or out. I think the fundamental issue is that this kind of music has never ever been "cool," even in its heyday, so why would that change now when nothing in the way of new material is promoted at all? You might get lucky to have someone buy Come Sail Away after hearing it on South Park or Don't Stop Believing after hearing it at the ball game for 99c, but that's about all you're gonna get. To many, this music has always just been too bombastic and overblown, synths, soaring tenor vocals (cheesy in some eyes/ears), huge harmonies that sound like a chorus of women, corny clothes/hair etc etc. And whatever "promotion" this kind of music gets just reinforces that image, just think the lame commercials for say, the Monster Ballads compilations.

I stand by my conviction that MTV is the worst thing to ever happen to music. It forever equated the music with the image. I was sitting around watching my dad's Burt Sugarman Midnight Special DVDs from the 70s. Sure, the bands were being captured on video then, and most of em looked like complete schmucks, pimps, and/or burnouts. But no one cared. Maybe because the only people who were bothering to watch such shows were devoted fans who didn't care in the first place what Deep Purple or Steely Dan looked like, as long as they were rockin out. MTV gave John Q. Public access to the image, and eventually the image trumped the music. Maybe that's why so many people were and are afraid to admit being fans of the Journeys and Styxs of the world. That's why modern mainstream music is a cesspool of shit. The chord chart to most of what passes for mainstream pop music today wouldn't be worthy enough to wipe Todd Rundgren's ass with. But hey, they look great. Fuck MTV and fuck the labels for buying into it.[/quote]
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I would have to agree with the comparison of Styx with the other bands. Rush Maiden etc. probably have music that spans the ages since hard rock has certainly kept a strong and loyal fan base through the years and these bands are seen as the Godfathers of that music.

The assessment of MTV is true to an extent, but it didn't hurt bands like Rush who certainly are not camera friendly. Same with Maiden, they were never really MTV darlings. No matter what, I always believe truly great music and musicians will always rise to the top, whatever the trends are of the day. Maybe I'm too optimistic.

[bugsymalone]

I don't necessarily agree that MTV ruined music. Some really great bands, U2, The Police, REM, for example, did great videos for some great music that sold well and were definitely far above average.

I do think MTV did dumb down a lot of what we saw and heard during its heyday (mostly the 80's). Telegenic bands who all sounded the same (and basically looked the same) were signed, recorded and shot on video to get on MTV for maximum rotation. So, yes, a lot of what eventually became generic music was perpetrated by the channel, to an extent.

The creative, talented, and unusual also managed to seep through the gaps and get noticed.

Styx was definitely done before MTV really took hold, so they, to me, mostly remained a faceless band, known to their diehard fans.


Bugsy