StyxCollector wrote:So here are some highlights from memory ... and trust me when I say I am close to tears. After that interview to have nothing I am flabbergasted.
1. The acoustic thing is DDY on piano, Glen on guitar, and someone TBD. Jimmy has another commitment. They haven't worked out a set list. They may do some Beatles stuff. He mentioned six dates at the moment (no other dates) and that NYC wouldn't have been his first place as it adds some pressure. He has no plans to record or release the shows a la the Music of Styx 2 CD set. He said that he went back and watched the Unplugged mini-set they did for VH-1 and thought it was great.
2. One Hundred Years (the US release) has songs that are remixed from the original Canadian release (about 4 or 5). Rain was one.
3. He validated that there are a few Styx demos out there, namely Chain Me Down (recorded but not put on GI) and Lighthouse (originally written but not recorded for Po8).
4. He said JY did NOT sing on any version - demo or otherwise - of CSA.
5. He was VERY complimentary to Tommy. In fact, he even said that TS wrote better songs for CB, hence his song getting the album title. He said CB and Mademoiselle are the two best songs on there. He knew that TS would put Styx over the top.
6. He talked about the WN years and how there's very little of it he feels is any good. Off the top of my head: Lady, Best Thing, Young Man, Father OSA, and he said Christopher, Mr. Christopher is a good song but a bad recording. He said Styx II is the only album worth owning from that era.
7. The main reason he doesn't play keys is that a) for this band, he feels he needs to be front and center and b) with all the variables in sound, and he's never on a proper tour, so he flies in and does a show. He can't easily just schlep a real piano and the Oberheim. He really loves that old synth stuff, but it's just not in the cards.
8. We talked quite a bit about some stuff around potential mistakes and such. DDY said A&M wanted to release SMTW as the first single from EOTC, but he said no and wanted to put Glen's song out (LITR) first. But he said in hindsight it was a mistake. Similar things were said about KWH (he would have never released High Time as a single and he wrote it ... he wanted Haven't We Been Here Before as a single but TS hated the video, etc. - so that's why High Time was released). First Time came up again.
9. DDY said JY did not play or sing on Babe OR BOTR.
10. He flat out said that no one is blocking any formal remasters or reissues.
11. Basically, he understands that the die hards want to hear other tunes, but most people are there for nostalgia and quite frankly, doing the lesser known tunes isn't getting him through the door. That's what things like the Lost Treasures show are for.
12. Rubicon may eventually make the live set. It was actually the original title for the album and artwork was even made up.
13. He said that not having a second guitarist earlier for the rock act was a mistake. The reason there wasn't one was that the initial shows were all orchestral, so two guitars would have been too much, but for the live rock act, it would have been better with two from the get go. It had nothing to do with copying Styx (but he basically said who better to do the songs like Styx than him).
14. He said multiple times he didn't have confidence in some things which ultimately turned out well (an example is the live album from a few years back).
15. Besides Babe and First Time, he said BOTR should have been the third single from Cornerstone.
16. We talked about the writing process and he feels he writes better alone. Everyone brought their individual playing to parts, but the final say on any tune was the guy who wrote it. We talked a bit about collaboration and how some Styx songhs - such as Renegade - were brought in as acoustic harmony numbers, DDY made some suggestions to Tommy, and you got the rocker you have today. Same with Crystal Ball. If you heard the leak of the old HArvest track a few years ago, you'll know it was all three part harmony. DDY suggested the chorus and that TS sing the verses alone, and it's the song we know and love today.
17. Told me an interesting story about the UK and Cornerstone. When Styx did the mini-tour of the UK/Europe in '78 they were panned. Punk was in, etc., and Dire Straits opened for them. Styx was doing its thing (i.e. the GI/Po8 sound) but he knew from that trip that they had to come back and change direction or they wouldn't survive. Hence, you have Cornerstone.
18. He doesn't understand why the fans are still split at this point (I'm paraphrasing). We talked a lot about fans and perceptions, etc.
19. He said "All For Love" was in consideration to be recorded for One Hundred Years (the US release) but ultimately didn't make it and there were better songs.
20. We talked about the Oscars thing - he said he nearly fell out of his seat.
That's all for now ... if I remember anything else, I'll post.
Interesting the compliments toward Tommy - doesn't sound as the blood is nearly as bad between TS and DDY as it is JY and DDY....and given that JY did not even PERFORM on Styx's biggest hit in the US or Europe, never had a hit single, and is an inferior guitarist to TS, how was he able to wrangle so much power?
Put it this way....what does better - a Styx with JY and TS or a Styx with DDY and TS - you get the two main vocalists back...what does that do for tour and album options?
