Does Styx even exist anymore?

by **G.I.Jim** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:06 pm

This may sound like a retarded question to you avid Styx fans, but why are they even still calling themselves Styx anymore? To me, this band has less merit than if Dennis went around touring as "Styx".

Even though Foreigner only has one original member, he's the true original member who started the band. He at least got someone who sounds incredibly like Lou, AND he wrote pretty much all of the bands hits. I'd go see Foreigner in a heartbeat with this line-up.

Styx on the other hand, hired someone to replace the best vocalist in the band... with someone who sounds absolutely NOTHING like Dennis, and his vocals are ridiculous!!! Tommy hasn't even been a constant in the band, and the only original member in the group is JY who sounds even WORSE than Gowan!! :shock:

Just saying...

by **Don** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:12 pm

Don't ask me, I'm just here for the boobies.

by **G.I.Jim** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:19 pm

Gunbot wrote:Don't ask me, I'm just here for the boobies.

Me too!!!

by **Zan** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:44 am

Does the G.I. stand for gastrointestinal? Just wondering.

Seriously tho - thank you, Jim, for bringing up the subject. I've been wondering when someone would mention the elephant in the room. I'm glad it finally happened, especially in this forum. You, single-handedly, have released us from the suppression. Rock on.

by **KWH17** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:43 am

Chuck's an original member and he plays with the band whenever he's well enough to do so. Tommy may have not written a lot of the hits, but he certainly was pivitol in making the band into what it became during it's heyday, so if he, JY, and Chuck are still in the band, I think the sum of their total makes it close to the ideoligical STYX we all love.

As for Gowan, I personally like him, and I'm pretty sure the whole POINT in hiring him was because he DIDN'T sound like Dennis. Call me blasphemous, but I somewhat enjoy his renditions of Dennis' songs [just not as much as when Dennis sings them, of course].

My biggest qualm with Styx is they are largely a hits only band, and they don't even play a wide range of their hits, which I'm sure makes them stale. I have not seen them live [yet] so it can't be stale to me, but unless they changes their strategy I would probably only see them 2 or 3 times total[unless Dennis came back]. Dennis, a solo guy who tours less than they do, and probably makes less money from live performances, at least plays a couple non-hits from time to time, and even did the "Lost Treasures" thing. I think it would be cool if they played more songs from their 1st 6 albums. The stuff's less known, but there's a lot of material there that's live-worthy, and I think the crowd would enjoy.

by **bugsymalone** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:41 am

It's all in your perspective, I suppose.

Styx is in Dennis' past. Styx is in Current Styx' present.

Creatively, Dennis has the goods. Monetarily, Styx, apparently, has the goods.

Neither has a particularly high profile right now.

That may change, but I doubt it.

I am happy for Dennis. He seems to be in a good place right now for his future.

The band will rock the oldies 'til they drop.

Bugsy

by **Everett** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:02 am

bugsymalone wrote:It's all in your perspective, I suppose. Styx is in Dennis' past. Styx is in Current Styx' present. Creatively, Dennis has the goods. Monetarily, Styx, apparently, has the goods. Neither has a particularly high profile right now. That may change, but I doubt it. I am happy for Dennis. He seems to be in a good place right now for his future. The band will rock the oldies 'til they drop. Bugsy

Sad but true. Does it even pay to be a ~die hard"? Let alone wish for new music? (can't stop rockin' doesn't count

)

by **G.I.Jim** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:25 am

Hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers in here... I just thought about it yesterday and figured I'd raise the question. At what point do you stop supporting a band you used to LOVE? When they start playing at local rib festivals? when they play local clubs for 300 people? When they no longer write music, and rely on ONLY playing their nostalgic hits?

I've seen Styx many times, but I doubt I'll go see them again. To me, when Dennis left, something big changed. Gowan just doesn't fill that void for me. If they get Dennis back, I'll support them 100%. Maybe even if they just got someone who SOUNDS a lot like him, and then write a kick-ass album!??? I don't know... that's just my 2 cents worth! :wink:

[/code]

by **styxfanNH** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:17 am

Dennis left the band? wow, I never realized...

Styx is touring under the same circumstances that virtually every other band of there generation is - one relenquished to a greatest hits package.

Most of the people that fo to there shows are trying to relive the time of their mis-spent youth and that is what they play. Minus of course many of Dennis' songs.

I went to two of their shows this year during the summer and they were both very well sold - one I would consider sold out.

This is there numbers for the best 6 months ( http://www.pollstarpro.com/SpecialFeatu ... nTours.pdf ) they were the 55th best selling tour at that point. Concerts in July and August was there larger volume shows.

The names of the venues are irrelevant these days. It is the way the industry is. They are very successful with the festival shows.

Styx tours more than 100 shows a year. People and venues keep asking them back, so they are playing venues based on the demand. If no one wants to see them, venues will stop booking them.

Dennis is doing what he loves. If Dennis was still in Styx, we wouldn't have gotten 100 Years, Hunchback, or 101 dalmations. Dennis is happy with his second career.

Being a solo act, Dennis has more flexibility with his set list. But his set list doesn't vary that much. Even he knows that the general public doesn't care about the wooden nickel days.

Tommy is an original member of the time period that made Styx a household name. He didn't appear on one album.

I also agree with everything Bugsy said.

by **kansas666** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:16 am

G.I.Jim wrote: why are they even still calling themselves Styx anymore? To me, this band has less merit than if Dennis went around touring as "Styx".

If Dennis could call himself STYX he would - Brand recognition.

But he lost that opportunity in the lawsuit. He can only bill himself as "playing the music of STYX"

by **Blue Falcon** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:48 am

Journey and Foreigner have at least paid homage to their past by getting singers who resemble their former singers....it could be argued that Styx did the opposite just out of pure spite, since Gowan sounds like Fat Bastard singing Styx songs.

Maybe this is why Styx is playing 30-minute opening slots on a three-act bill, while Journey and Foreigner are capable of touring by themselves and doing all right.

by **Jodes** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:14 am

Falcon.. please show me where Styx has had a 30 minute set on a 3 act bill in the last few years please..

by **chowhall** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:13 am

Jodes wrote:Falcon.. please show me where Styx has had a 30 minute set on a 3 act bill in the last few years please..

Or where Foreigner is touring by themselves and "doing alright"?

by **classicstyxfan** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:21 am

This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over............... :wink:

by **styxfanNH** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:57 am

classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Post of the day!!!!

by **G.I.Jim** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:28 am

classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Maybe to you, but I don't frequent this board. :roll:

I can't speak for this message board being green, but I can now see that like most other boards... It has a jackass! :wink:

by **styxfanNH** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:28 am

G.I.Jim wrote:
classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Maybe to you, but I don't frequent this board. I can't speak for this message board being green, but I can now see that like most other boards... It has a jackass!

Then as a newbie on this board that apparently frequents other boards, you should know that you should sift through past posts and get a flavor of what the place is like.

by **Ehwmatt** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:29 am

G.I.Jim wrote:Hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers in here... I just thought about it yesterday and figured I'd raise the question. At what point do you stop supporting a band you used to LOVE? When they start playing at local rib festivals? when they play local clubs for 300 people? When they no longer write music, and rely on ONLY playing their nostalgic hits?

I've seen Styx many times, but I doubt I'll go see them again. To me, when Dennis left, something big changed. Gowan just doesn't fill that void for me. If they get Dennis back, I'll support them 100%. Maybe even if they just got someone who SOUNDS a lot like him, and then write a kick-ass album!??? I don't know... that's just my 2 cents worth! [/code]

With respect to the "Where/To how many they are playing" question, that doesn't matter one iota to me. I saw Dennis at our Riboff two years ago and he was literally playing to about 150 people... and tickets were 5 bucks. It was embarrassing, but you know what? He still went out there and rocked. Styx in its current incarnation has always drawn way more than that. But it doesn't matter anyway.

Tommy has been a constant in the band since I was shittin in diapers, that's long enough for me.

JY is an original member and although he doesn't have the songwriting prowess of Mick Jones in the band's back catalogue, he can write and would arguably be missed a lot more than if Kelly Hansen acquired the legal rights to the Foreigner name and went out and got some stud guitarist.

It bothers me that they don't write any more, because Cyclorama proved unequivocally that they still could... including Gowan. Styx's and Dennis's most recent efforts respectively were both GREAT. But, hey, there are a lot of legacy bands out there that haven't written anything in a lot longer than 8 years, and I'll still go see them.

Not liking Gowan is fair enough, I'll give you that. He's obviously not the singer DDY is. But, these guys still put on a helluva live show, the vanilla setlists notwithstanding, and they're still worth seeing for me. Obviously, it would be best if DDY were back in the band, for all parties... but hey, what can you do.

by **Monker** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:08 am

styxfanNH wrote:
G.I.Jim wrote:
classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Maybe to you, but I don't frequent this board. I can't speak for this message board being green, but I can now see that like most other boards... It has a jackass!

Then as a newbie on this board that apparently frequents other boards, you should know that you should sift through past posts and get a flavor of what the place is like.

LOL...you're talking about someone from the Journey forum...don't think they worry too much about that kinda stuff.

by **Blueskies** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:47 am

Monker wrote:
styxfanNH wrote:
G.I.Jim wrote:
classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Maybe to you, but I don't frequent this board. I can't speak for this message board being green, but I can now see that like most other boards... It has a jackass!

Then as a newbie on this board that apparently frequents other boards, you should know that you should sift through past posts and get a flavor of what the place is like.

LOL...you're talking about someone from the Journey forum...don't think they worry too much about that kinda stuff.

Journey fans take no prisoners and are battle veterans. :lol:

by **Monker** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:04 pm

Blueskies wrote:
Monker wrote:
styxfanNH wrote:
G.I.Jim wrote:
classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Maybe to you, but I don't frequent this board. I can't speak for this message board being green, but I can now see that like most other boards... It has a jackass!

Then as a newbie on this board that apparently frequents other boards, you should know that you should sift through past posts and get a flavor of what the place is like.

LOL...you're talking about someone from the Journey forum...don't think they worry too much about that kinda stuff.

Journey fans take no prisoners and are battle veterans.

What battle? The battle of the band and fans trying to convince everybody it is 1982 again?

by **Blueskies** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:07 pm

Monker wrote:
Blueskies wrote:
Monker wrote:
styxfanNH wrote:
G.I.Jim wrote:
classicstyxfan wrote:This may be the "Greenest" message board on all of the internet........tree huggers everywhere must be proud of the way we recycle the same topics over and over and over and over and over...............

Maybe to you, but I don't frequent this board. I can't speak for this message board being green, but I can now see that like most other boards... It has a jackass!

Then as a newbie on this board that apparently frequents other boards, you should know that you should sift through past posts and get a flavor of what the place is like.

LOL...you're talking about someone from the Journey forum...don't think they worry too much about that kinda stuff.

Journey fans take no prisoners and are battle veterans.

What battle? The battle of the band and fans trying to convince everybody it is 1982 again?

You want a piece a me, Monker? Take it back upstairs to the battleground where the war is fought! :twisted:

by **chowhall** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:25 pm

G.I.Jim wrote:This may sound like a retarded question to you avid Styx fans, but why are they even still calling themselves Styx anymore?

You are exactly right. It's a retarded question.

by **G.I.Jim** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:51 pm

chowhall wrote:
G.I.Jim wrote:This may sound like a retarded question to you avid Styx fans, but why are they even still calling themselves Styx anymore?

You are exactly right. It's a retarded question.

Choke on some chowhall chili-mac BEOTCH!!! :lol:

by **Ehwmatt** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:57 pm

The guys from Styx have been pretty clear on the record in recent interviews the last few years that they want to write, but just don't have the incentive after the piss poor sales/promotion of Cyclo+the whole illegal downloading thing. They claim they want to write, however...

That got me thinking, I wonder if Wal-Mart approached them if they could conjure up 10-14 great songs and put one last great album out? After seeing the success of their peers, I would think they'd have a decent shot at moving some records.

by **G.I.Jim** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:04 pm

Ehwmatt wrote:The guys from Styx have been pretty clear on the record in recent interviews the last few years that they want to write, but just don't have the incentive after the piss poor sales/promotion of Cyclo+the whole illegal downloading thing. They claim they want to write, however...

That got me thinking, I wonder if Wal-Mart approached them if they could conjure up 10-14 great songs and put one last great album out? After seeing the success of their peers, I would think they'd have a decent shot at moving some records.

I'd LOVE to see them bust out some new tunes. I actually LIKED Cyclorama (I like Gowans voice as himself... just not when he's singing Dennis's songs). I'd buy another album if they put it out! I was just raising the question to the Styx fans here when do you call it something other than Styx? Just saying. :wink:

by **Ehwmatt** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:10 pm

G.I.Jim wrote:
Ehwmatt wrote:The guys from Styx have been pretty clear on the record in recent interviews the last few years that they want to write, but just don't have the incentive after the piss poor sales/promotion of Cyclo+the whole illegal downloading thing. They claim they want to write, however...

That got me thinking, I wonder if Wal-Mart approached them if they could conjure up 10-14 great songs and put one last great album out? After seeing the success of their peers, I would think they'd have a decent shot at moving some records.

I'd LOVE to see them bust out some new tunes. I actually LIKED Cyclorama (I like Gowans voice as himself... just not when he's singing Dennis's songs). I'd buy another album if they put it out! I was just raising the question to the Styx fans here when do you call it something other than Styx? Just saying.

Cyclorama was fuckin great:

Do Things My Way, Waiting For Our Time, Fields of the Brave (Gowan's best song with the band by far), More Love For The Money, Together, One With Everything, Killing The Thing That You Love (Castle Walls-esque :evil:

), and my personal favorite, These Are The Times... all KILLER songs. I thought they got in touch with their old sound quite well - just listen to that Madame Blue-esque progression on These Are The Times, for example.

Yes I Can was a cheesy ballad but wasn't bad for what it is. Just funny to think it's the same guys that incessantly made fun of Babe. But it kinda reminds me of a Beatles tune, so it's all right in my book.

by **Don** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:00 pm

Just curious but has a Styx thread ever been locked?

by **Monker** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:13 pm

G.I.Jim wrote:
Ehwmatt wrote:The guys from Styx have been pretty clear on the record in recent interviews the last few years that they want to write, but just don't have the incentive after the piss poor sales/promotion of Cyclo+the whole illegal downloading thing. They claim they want to write, however...

That got me thinking, I wonder if Wal-Mart approached them if they could conjure up 10-14 great songs and put one last great album out? After seeing the success of their peers, I would think they'd have a decent shot at moving some records.

I'd LOVE to see them bust out some new tunes. I actually LIKED Cyclorama (I like Gowans voice as himself... just not when he's singing Dennis's songs). I'd buy another album if they put it out! I was just raising the question to the Styx fans here when do you call it something other than Styx? Just saying.

It's not up to Styx fans to call them something else.

Journey only has two original members left as well...and they continue on with the name.

Little River Band has NONE of the original voices and they continue on with the name.

It's the band's decision, not the fans or critics.