Short Todd Interview

[sadie65]

http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x59 ... er-of-band

[froy]

http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x59099902/Styx-drummer-From-fan-to-member-of-band

Here it is


Todd Sucherman remembers his brother coming home with a single that had just about worn out the needle on the phonograph in their Chicago home.

It was "Lady," by Styx. And even though Sucherman was pre-kindergarten, he liked what he heard.

"Pretty good tune," his little mind thought.
Great singer as well,

Todd said I had to know who was the guy singing that tune.
Later he found out it was The leader of the band Dennis DeYoung.

Thirty-six years later, Sucherman now mans the drums in concert when Styx offers "Lady," the only difference is Alvin from the Chipmonks sings it and not the great voice he heard when he was wetting his pants.
Through a break born of hard work, Sucherman, 39, has spent a dozen years as the backbone of the band that provided much of the soundtrack of his youth. But now Todd admits they are just doing shows for the money.

Styx, which plays a week from today at the Civic Center Theater, still boasts two long-term members: founder and guitarist James Botox Young who screams out OH Yea during Miss America and singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw, who joined the outfit in 1975 fresh from The Beef and Bowl in Alabama. This year marks a decade since vocalist-keyboardist Dennis DeYoung was replaced by Lawrence Gowan and it's been down hill ever since. With no airplay and no fans left the band is just collecting a pay check night after night. Tommy Shaw admits that they made a huge mistake sandbagging Dennis and now they are afraid to eat crow and admit it.

Sucherman grew up in a household of musicians. Two older brothers played piano and bass. His father, a podiatrist, played drums, while his mother was a singer-actor. Their musical tastes ran all over.

"To me, music was music," Sucherman says. "There was The Who coming from one room, Beethoven from another, and Count Basie from another."

Early on, Sucherman had a fascination with his father's drum kit. After his dad taught him how to play, the brothers formed a band that would play parties, bar mitzvahs, anyplace that would have them.

To a tiny drummer, gigging presented a peculiar challenge, Sucherman says: "I was too young to carry my own bass drum."

The brothers would play and record as they grew older. After collage, Sucherman attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, then returned home to look for work. He spent the next several years as a session drummer, then got word in 1995 that Styx needed a helping hand (or two) with a new project.

The group, which officially had disbanded in 1992, decided to get together to re-record some old tunes for a greatest-hits package. For "Lady '95," Sucherman was recruited to ghost drum for John Panozzo, who was severely ill with liver cirrhosis. Todd recalls the talent of Dennis DeYoung and was so happy to be working with him.
Today he misses his old friend and keeps telling the 2 guys to dump Gowan and Bring Dennis back.

At the recording session, Chuck Panozzo looked at Sucherman, then quietly said, "I've never played with another drummer before."

Still, the session went well. In early '96, Sucherman was asked to return to help with another tune.

"I had a feeling something was brewing with the band," he says.

Indeed, that year Styx reunited and toured. With John Panozzo still too sick to tour, Sucherman hit the road with Styx. When Panozzo died that summer, Sucherman joined for good.
That year the band was the Headliner drawing 15 thousand per show, sadly Gowan and his awful stage presence has brought the band down to 1500 if even that per show. Todd say's it's like Im back doing weddings.

His favorite numbers come from "Grand Illusion," the triple-platinum album that came out in 1977, when Sucherman was 18. He admits a particular fondness for the honesty and drive in the cut "Fooling Yourself and Castle Walls as well as
Come Sail Away another song Gowan completely destroys.

"Those are the songs that solidified my love for the band," he says.
All we need is Dennis back and the nightmare would be over.

Of course, the shows ride the strength of the older material, as Styx has not recorded a new album since 2003's "Cyclorama." Most agree that album was a waste of time only selling about 8000 copies. I guess from platinum to aluminum is there motto.


The hits are crowd-pleasers, but not to just rock and roll old-timers.
Styx has done the same setlist for about 7 years ,
Todd say's these guys don't want to learn anything new just pay us and we are happy.

"The number of young people who have come out in the last 10 years has just exploded," he says. "Whether the parents are turning the kids onto our music, or teens are not into the narrow music being rammed down their throats, it's incredible to see 16-year-olds in the first row." We are now playing for people who don't know any better.

Can you say Slap in The Face to the true Styx fans?

Phil Luciano can be reached at 686-3155 or pluciano@pjstar.com.

[sadie65]

Can you say Slap in The Face to the true Styx fans?

Can you say a&** who won't grow up and allow an article to be read without throwing his own neanderthal, myopic, idiotic point of view to alter reality? I am so sick of this s&*^. Who the hell are you to determine what constitutes "a true Styx fan"?

Sorry folks, wasn't in the article. Forgive the rudeness on my part.

[Jodes]

You mean a true Dennis fan?

[sadie65]

You mean a true Dennis fan?

God I hope not. Let's not insult those who like Dennis and consider themselves fans.

[Zan]

You mean a true Dennis fan?

God I hope not. Let's not insult those who like Dennis and consider themselves fans.

You might be surprised, Sadie.

[sadie65]

You mean a true Dennis fan?

God I hope not. Let's not insult those who like Dennis and consider themselves fans.

You might be surprised, Sadie.

Oh please. Yes there are "fans" like Froy...and it's a shame, but honestly, the majority of them have moved on in the 10 years. Just as we all tire of the slams, I tire of the idea that somehow "Dennis" fans are somehow like the Froys of the world. Heaven knows back in the heyday of the split there were enough pathetic turf wars between DeYoungians and Bathwater Drinkers...call me naive, but I think it's a safe bet most have moved on on both sides of the equation, and there will always be Froys remaining on both sides of the equation.

I honestly just wanted to post something I found that related to the band.

Peace out (shakes head and walks away)

[chowhall]

By Phil Luciano
of the Journal Star
Posted Jan 14, 2009 @ 03:36 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Todd Sucherman remembers his brother coming home with a single that had just about worn out the needle on the phonograph in their Chicago home.

It was "Lady," by Styx. And even though Sucherman was pre-kindergarten, he liked what he heard.

"Pretty good tune," his little mind thought.

Thirty-six years later, Sucherman now mans the drums in concert when Styx offers "Lady," along with the rest of its vast power-pop oeuvre. Through a break born of hard work, Sucherman, 39, has spent a dozen years as the backbone of the band that provided much of the soundtrack of his youth.

Styx, which plays a week from today at the Civic Center Theater, still boasts two long-term members: founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw, who joined the outfit in 1975. This year marks a decade since vocalist-keyboardist Dennis DeYoung was replaced by Lawrence Gowan. Ricky Phillips handles bass, replacing founder Chuck Panozzo, who because of AIDS plays live infrequently.

Sucherman grew up in a household of musicians. Two older brothers played piano and bass. His father, a podiatrist, played drums, while his mother was a singer-actor. Their musical tastes ran all over.

"To me, music was music," Sucherman says. "There was The Who coming from one room, Beethoven from another, and Count Basie from another."

Early on, Sucherman had a fascination with his father's drum kit. After his dad taught him how to play, the brothers formed a band that would play parties, bar mitzvahs, anyplace that would have them.

To a tiny drummer, gigging presented a peculiar challenge, Sucherman says: "I was too young to carry my own bass drum."

The brothers would play and record as they grew older. After collage, Sucherman attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, then returned home to look for work. He spent the next several years as a session drummer, then got word in 1995 that Styx needed a helping hand (or two) with a new project.

The group, which officially had disbanded in 1992, decided to get together to re-record some old tunes for a greatest-hits package. For "Lady '95," Sucherman was recruited to ghost drum for John Panozzo, who was severely ill with liver cirrhosis.

At the recording session, Chuck Panozzo looked at Sucherman, then quietly said, "I've never played with another drummer before."

Still, the session went well. In early '96, Sucherman was asked to return to help with another tune.

"I had a feeling something was brewing with the band," he says.

Indeed, that year Styx reunited and toured. With John Panozzo still too sick to tour, Sucherman hit the road with Styx. When Panozzo died that summer, Sucherman joined for good.

His favorite numbers come from "Grand Illusion," the triple-platinum album that came out in 1977, when Sucherman was 18. He admits a particular fondness for the honesty and drive in the cut "Fooling Yourself."

"Those are the songs that solidified my love for the band," he says.

Of course, the shows ride the strength of the older material, as Styx has not recorded a new album since 2003's "Cyclorama." The hits are crowd-pleasers, but not to just rock and roll old-timers.

"The number of young people who have come out in the last 10 years has just exploded," he says. "Whether the parents are turning the kids onto our music, or teens are not into the narrow music being rammed down their throats, it's incredible to see 16-year-olds in the first row."

Phil Luciano can be reached at 686-3155 or pluciano@pjstar.com.

PS Ever notice how Froy and F*** are so easily mistaken for each other.

[froy]

Can you say Slap in The Face to the true Styx fans?

Can you say a&** who won't grow up and allow an article to be read without throwing his own neanderthal, myopic, idiotic point of view to alter reality? I am so sick of this s&*^. Who the hell are you to determine what constitutes "a true Styx fan"?

Sorry folks, wasn't in the article. Forgive the rudeness on my part.

Gotta love it
Now you know what the article would have looked like if the guy was not paid.,
My best work yet

[Jodes]

I thought in an Interview with Todd that he was like 11 or 12 when his brothers took him to see Styx during the Paradise Theater tour..

[Jodes]

Can you say Slap in The Face to the true Styx fans?

Can you say a&** who won't grow up and allow an article to be read without throwing his own neanderthal, myopic, idiotic point of view to alter reality? I am so sick of this s&*^. Who the hell are you to determine what constitutes "a true Styx fan"?

Sorry folks, wasn't in the article. Forgive the rudeness on my part.

Gotta love it
Now you know what the article would have looked like if the guy was not paid.,
My best work yet

Yes Froy, you are some piece of work..

[bugsymalone]

Oh please. Yes there are "fans" like Froy...and it's a shame, but honestly, the majority of them have moved on in the 10 years. Just as we all tire of the slams, I tire of the idea that somehow "Dennis" fans are somehow like the Froys of the world. Heaven knows back in the heyday of the split there were enough pathetic turf wars between DeYoungians and Bathwater Drinkers...call me naive, but I think it's a safe bet most have moved on on both sides of the equation, and there will always be Froys remaining on both sides of the equation.

Hear! Hear! Anyone with any kind of intelligence should know well enough not to paint everyone with the same broad brush, whatever side you are for or against.

I advise Froy to listen closely to the song "Forgiveness" on "One Hundred Years From Now." If the songwriter/singer of that song can move on well, then....


Bugsy

[froy]

I advise Froy to listen closely to the song "Forgiveness" on "One Hundred Years From Now." If the songwriter/singer of that song can move on well, then....


Bugsy

[/quote]

I would say this, we all have the right to go in whatever direction we want but one thing I won't do is let the passing of time pursued me to make any choices. Sheep follow the crowd Froy is not a sheep. Most of the world is.
Im sure Shaw and JY think fans would just give up because it's been 10 years. Guess what they are wrong.
There are millions of Froys out there people who never give up when they know something is wrong.
STYX has been dead for 10 years nothing is going to make me think otherwise. When I see phony articles like most all I have seen in the last 10 years It proves to me this band is sick paying off writers to spin the articles there way.
You think Todd's only song on GI is Fooling Yourself? You think he became a Styx fan when he was 4 years old because of Gowan? The article is biased and worthless unless you read the real article which is the unedited version which happens to be mine.
That's the real article

Support Classic Styx not Phony Baloney Styx.

[chowhall]

I advise Froy to listen closely to the song "Forgiveness" on "One Hundred Years From Now." If the songwriter/singer of that song can move on well, then....


Bugsy

I would say this, we all have the right to go in whatever direction we want but one thing I won't do is let the passing of time pursued me to make any choices. Sheep follow the crowd Froy is not a sheep. Most of the world is.
Im sure Shaw and JY think fans would just give up because it's been 10 years. Guess what they are wrong.
There are millions of Froys out there people who never give up when they know something is wrong.
STYX has been dead for 10 years nothing is going to make me think otherwise. When I see phony articles like most all I have seen in the last 10 years It proves to me this band is sick paying off writers to spin the articles there way.
You think Todd's only song on GI is Fooling Yourself? You think he became a Styx fan when he was 4 years old because of Gowan? The article is biased and worthless unless you read the real article which is the unedited version which happens to be mine.
That's the real article

Support Classic Styx not Phony Baloney Styx.[/quote]

Support Real Styx fans, not Phony Baloney Froy who can't move on and enjoy all aspects of Styx instead of the narrow version he wants to delude himself that still exists.

[LordofDaRing]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

[chowhall]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

[froy]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

No he wasn't Dennis and The Panazzo Bros were.
Jy was added

[Zan]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

No he wasn't Dennis and The Panazzo Bros were.
Jy was added

JY was added to TW-4 and went on to form STYX.

[froy]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

No he wasn't Dennis and The Panazzo Bros were.
Jy was added

JY was added to TW-4 and went on to form STYX.

I think we went down this road before

[chowhall]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

No he wasn't Dennis and The Panazzo Bros were.
Jy was added

JY was added to TW-4 and went on to form STYX.

I think we went down this road before

They never performed as Styx without JY until last year.

[styxfanNH]

DON"T FEED THE TROLL

[froy]

You mean a true Dennis fan?

Same thing

[Zan]

You mean a true Dennis fan?

Same thing

So Froy, what is the forecast in Dennis' derriere this week?

[LordofDaRing]

Ok I guess he was a founding member of the band with the name Styx. So that makes JC a founding member as well, right. That also makes Pete Best a founding member of the Beatles. Stu Sutcliffe as well.

[bugsymalone]

Ok I guess he was a founding member of the band with the name Styx. So that makes JC a founding member as well, right. That also makes Pete Best a founding member of the Beatles. Stu Sutcliffe as well.

And Gowan is a founding member of "Styx--The Cyclorama Years" And, of course, Ricky Phillips, founding member of "Styx -- The Endless Tour Years."


Bugsy

[Zan]

Ok I guess he was a founding member of the band with the name Styx. So that makes JC a founding member as well, right. That also makes Pete Best a founding member of the Beatles. Stu Sutcliffe as well.

And Gowan is a founding member of "Styx--The Cyclorama Years" And, of course, Ricky Phillips, founding member of "Styx -- The Endless Tour Years."

and Froy is a founding member of the DeYoung Internet Assclown Society.

[DeeJaySTYX]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

Actually, the correct term is original member.. Not founder..

[DeeJaySTYX]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

No he wasn't Dennis and The Panazzo Bros were.
Jy was added

JY was added to TW-4 and went on to form STYX.

The band was already formed.. They just changed the name of the band..

[bugsymalone]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

Actually, the correct term is original member.. Not founder..

Good point, Deejay. And how the heck are you? You hopped onto one nutty thread!


Bugsy

[DeeJaySTYX]

HO kay, pet peeve time

"founder and guitarist J.Y. Young and..."

Not the founder, not a founder. At least get the history right folks.

He was a founding member of Styx.

Actually, the correct term is original member.. Not founder..

Good point, Deejay. And how the heck are you? You hopped onto one nutty thread!


Bugsy

I'm battling a cold right now because of the deep freeze, but i'm O.K. and how are you?? Good point yourself...I must be nutty myself or overdosed on cough medicine to jump on this thread..