Tommy's Road Blog - Exclusive

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Interesting............

http://thecomet.com/posts/styx

Styx’ Tommy Shaw Road Blog Exclusive

A guy stopped me the other night and shouted "I've been listening to you since I was in the womb!" We get that a lot.

Why do fans love STYX? Do any of us really know what others see in us? All I know is that night after night on the road we get so much love from long term fans and curious new ones that I know there is something that can be seen and heard from out there that cannot be perceived from where I stand.

I know that we are good at what we do, that our music has survived the test of time, formats, eras, sea changes and economic ups and downs since we hit the road on our first national tour in 1975.

We don't look like male models, we are not shredder guitar players, we don't have tons of top 40 hits, we don't even play all the ones we do have. But our songs are still played every day on radio stations all over the country, our concert tours still rank amazingly in Pollstar Magazine’s top 40 annual concert grosses. I still get recognized in public and treated with such respect that it's sometimes almost more than I can take. What can explain this?

I know we were part of the soundtrack to many people's lives who were around in the mid 70's and 80's. We were the first live concert experience for people in the 70's, 80's, late 90's and that continues today. But how? Why?

We gave up analog recording in 2003, and now use ProTools and other digital programs in the studio. But we don't use them in our live performances. We've never used supplemental samples for our vocals in concert. We play and sing live. As Jack Black once said, "The road is fuckin' hard..." and it's true. It takes it's toll on the body but we've learned how to stay fit enough to maintain our vocal health through all but the worst of situations. When you hear us perform, that's us then and there. When you hear solos, they are performed from our gut. Because it's live and organic it ebbs and flows biometrically depending upon how and what we feel that day. It's maddening sometimes because like you, we are responding to the events of the day. That day can’t help but be reflected in what we sing and play. Our performances are not perfect. Ever. That’s one of the reasons we keep stepping up to the plate.

My friend Myriam Santos, an extraordinary photographer and glorious madwoman, excepted my invitation to sit in the front row the other night at the Gibson Amphitheater with designer Ashton Michael. It was hard to read Myriam's reaction because she was uncharacteristically stoic. It wasn't until afterwards backstage that I got the review from her and Ashton. It was so over the top glowing and positive that I would sound like an egotistical a-hole if I repeated it. Although I've known her for several years, she'd never seen us in concert. It was really something to see how she reacted. It's only now, a week later that she's returning to her take-no-prisoners attitude. Thank goodness!

Our songs tell often tell stories, some happy, some sad, but there's always hope that finds its way into the lyric. That's how we're wired. Maybe that's part of it. Believe it or not, for me it’s a gospel influence from my childhood.

So, okay, we're good singers, but we'd never make it on American Idol. Probably not Jazz Handsy enough, even though we're STYX! Our drummer, Todd Sucherman was voted #1 Rock drummer last year by Modern Drummer Magazine. He's awesome. He's been with us for 15 years. Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999. Ricky Phillips took Glen Burtnik's place in 2003. He's a great bass player, guitarist, vocalist and has played with The Babys, Jimmy Page, Bad English, Ronnie Montrose and many others and still leans into it. Chuck Panozzo, whom we thought was a goner in 1999 when he almost waited too long to get treatment for HIV which had developed into full blown AIDS, fought his way back to health, wrote and published his memoirs, "Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx" after using his return to the stage as his reason to live. He still makes appearances on our stage when it suits his fancy, between appearances all over the world as a humanitarian and motivational role model. JY, who missed his first show ever in 2008 when his wife had to have life saving emergency surgery, has been the heart and soul of the band since he planted his flag here in 1970 before the band was even called STYX. He's still larger than life and continues to grow as a musician and performer. In case you're wondering, he's the tall blond guy.

Is it in any way like seeing Johnny Cash near the end and having that man with his life’s story behind him as he sang one more song? There is not a shred of evidence from Rolling Stone magazine that would support this idea.

We're not young, we have never been the darlings of the media. We're STYX. Maybe it's that simple. Maybe I should just shut the hell up, stop thinking so much about it and simply say, "Thanks for coming."

[Everett]

Thanks for this awesome article laurie

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Thanks for this awesome article laurie

You're welcome. It was posted on one of the Styx pages on Facebook, there's a bunch of Styx FB pages, not sure which one is the real Styx one.

[Everett]

Thanks for this awesome article laurie

You're welcome. It was posted on one of the Styx pages on Facebook, there's a bunch of Styx FB pages, not sure which one is the real Styx one.

I got this one from styxworld so i guess this is the real styx fb page:

http://www.facebook.com/styxtheband

[StyxCollector]

Quite a good post by Tommy. He addresses pretty much everything without - shocker - mudslinging!

we don't even play all the ones we do have.

Heh.

We gave up analog recording in 2003, and now use ProTools and other digital programs in the studio. But we don't use them in our live performances. We've never used supplemental samples for our vocals in concert. We play and sing live.

Not so subtle dig at some of their former touring partners *cough* Journey and Def Leppard *cough*.

We're not young, we have never been the darlings of the media. We're STYX. Maybe it's that simple. Maybe I should just shut the hell up, stop thinking so much about it and simply say, "Thanks for coming."

One of the best lines written about Styx by anyone, band member or not.

[Babyblue]

Thanks for this awesome article laurie

I agree Love what Tommy, had to say about LG. They still rock Can't wait to see them.

[bugsymalone]

We're not young, we have never been the darlings of the media. We're STYX. Maybe it's that simple. Maybe I should just shut the hell up, stop thinking so much about it and simply say, "Thanks for coming."

That was a good line.


Bugsy

[Toph]

Interesting............

http://thecomet.com/posts/styx

Styx’ Tommy Shaw Road Blog Exclusive

We don't look like male models, we are not shredder guitar players, we don't have tons of top 40 hits, we don't even play all the ones we do have. But our songs are still played every day on radio stations all over the country, our concert tours still rank amazingly in Pollstar Magazine’s top 40 annual concert grosses.

Actually Styx DOES have a lot of top 40 hits...16 to be exact.. Styx also has 8 top 10 hits...more than Journey...more than Foreigner....more than REO Speedwagon...but 7 out of the 8 are Dennis songs...so you are correct...YOU don't have many...but your band does particularly the guy you kicked out.....depsite trying to ignore your pop sucess, its there...but nice revisionist history.

So, okay, we're good singers, but we'd never make it on American Idol.

You are..no one else in the band is. not by a long shot...

He's been with us for 15 years. Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999.

Love by half your fans...at best...the other half refuse to go to your shows anymore...again..nice revisionist history...

JY, who missed his first show ever in 2008 when his wife had to have life saving emergency surgery, has been the heart and soul of the band since he planted his flag here in 1970 before the band was even called STYX. He's still larger than life and continues to grow as a musician and performer. In case you're wondering, he's the tall blond guy.

Whatever...he's the one who is most at fault in the whole dispute..

[

[froy]

A confused Tommy Shaw said

Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999.

Really amazing singer? Tommy is he an amazing singer? Funny thing other than babyface most here think he stinks as a singer,
I think you need to go back and listen to the way he sings, put up a chipmonks cd next to it and you will get my point,
As far as taking Dennis DeYoung's place why is he still taking Dennis DeYoungs place? Dennis is fully capable to take back his place from this horrific singer,
What's the problem big guy? You really think you are the man behind Dennis's band ? You feel good about hijacking a multi platinum band and reducing yourself to a regurgitation band, How many more things can you re-record? As far as Gowan being loved by anyone he is certainly not loved by Classic styx fans in fact it's the complete opposite,

[Toph]

A confused Tommy Shaw said

Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999.

Really amazing singer? Tommy is he an amazing singer? Funny thing other than babyface most here think he stinks as a singer,
I think you need to go back and listen to the way he sings, put up a chipmonks cd next to it and you will get my point,
As far as taking Dennis DeYoung's place why is he still taking Dennis DeYoungs place? Dennis is fully capable to take back his place from this horrific singer,
What's the problem big guy? You really think you are the man behind Dennis's band ? You feel good about hijacking a multi platinum band and reducing yourself to a regurgitation band, How many more things can you re-record? As far as Gowan being loved by anyone he is certainly not loved by Classic styx fans in fact it's the complete opposite,

Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

[froy]

A confused Tommy Shaw said

Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

In layman's terms Tommy Shaw is full of it,

[Mr JY Roboto]

A confused Tommy Shaw said

Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999.

Really amazing singer? Tommy is he an amazing singer? Funny thing other than babyface most here think he stinks as a singer,
I think you need to go back and listen to the way he sings, put up a chipmonks cd next to it and you will get my point,
As far as taking Dennis DeYoung's place why is he still taking Dennis DeYoungs place? Dennis is fully capable to take back his place from this horrific singer,
What's the problem big guy? You really think you are the man behind Dennis's band ? You feel good about hijacking a multi platinum band and reducing yourself to a regurgitation band, How many more things can you re-record? As far as Gowan being loved by anyone he is certainly not loved by Classic styx fans in fact it's the complete opposite,

Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer. F'n idiot.

[yogi]

Great article! I have not seen them in a couple of years now I may go.

As for Styx, Tommy, etc.. saying in print how good the band currently is I have an article from 1991 where Dennis praises Glen and states that he is more talented that Tommy.

I cant remember if the article appeared in The St. Paul Dispatch or The Minneapolis Tribune. At any rate Dennis was trying to promote The Edge Of The Century album & tour and he said it.

Was he correct???? I cant say, but the Edge concert was AWESOME, so was the album, and Glen's Welcome To Hollywood still sits near the top of my all time favorite albums.

[Rockwriter]

Great article! I have not seen them in a couple of years now I may go.

As for Styx, Tommy, etc.. saying in print how good the band currently is I have an article from 1991 where Dennis praises Glen and states that he is more talented that Tommy.

I cant remember if the article appeared in The St. Paul Dispatch or The Minneapolis Tribune. At any rate Dennis was trying to promote The Edge Of The Century album & tour and he said it.

Was he correct???? I cant say, but the Edge concert was AWESOME, so was the album, and Glen's Welcome To Hollywood still sits near the top of my all time favorite albums.

If you can find that I'd be interested to see it. I've read loads and loads of interviews with Dennis and I've never once seen him say Glen was better than Tommy.

I didn't see the EOTC tour, but the vids I've seen kinda blow, to be honest.


Sterling

[Toph]

A confused Tommy Shaw said

Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999.

Really amazing singer? Tommy is he an amazing singer? Funny thing other than babyface most here think he stinks as a singer,
I think you need to go back and listen to the way he sings, put up a chipmonks cd next to it and you will get my point,
As far as taking Dennis DeYoung's place why is he still taking Dennis DeYoungs place? Dennis is fully capable to take back his place from this horrific singer,
What's the problem big guy? You really think you are the man behind Dennis's band ? You feel good about hijacking a multi platinum band and reducing yourself to a regurgitation band, How many more things can you re-record? As far as Gowan being loved by anyone he is certainly not loved by Classic styx fans in fact it's the complete opposite,

Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer. F'n idiot.

Hey fucktard grow up - it was a fucking opinion.

[yogi]

Sterling,

I have the article somewhere at home and I may have misquoted it. What Dennis was quoted as saying was that he was proud of the album, and then he went on to say that the band is more talanted now than it has ever been. He did say this WITHOUT mentioning Tommy or Glen by name in the quote. He did go on later in the article and praise Glen's talents, as a singer, songwriter and overall musician.

I have had 5 or 6 moves since 1991. Most of my Styx stuff is together. I will look tonight and try to find the exact quote. I printed here some time ago when I had the article in front of me.

[froy]

A confused Tommy Shaw said


Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer.

At least he would be telling the truth

[Babyblue]

A confused Tommy Shaw said


Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer.

At least he would be telling the truth

Froy,it's just a matter of time now Oh one fine day and it will all be sweet again.

[Monker]

A confused Tommy Shaw said


Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer.

At least he would be telling the truth

Here is some truth for you.

The first time I saw Styx with LG, he sang CSA and the crowd was so absolutely into it. It was an amazing moment. Nobody cared that DDY was not there, at least nobody of significance. The last time I saw Styx, LG came out and did this shout back thing where he started a lyric ad the crowd finished. It was a good couple minutes of playful fun...and MUCH better then Journey did with Neal doing things on the guitar and trying to get the audience to imitate it, which hardly anybody did. Anyway, Gowan ended with "How about this...come sail away, come sail away..." Of course the entire crowd erupts with "...come sail away with me!" And, they go into the song...and, again, everybody loved it.

The truth is that you are in denial....people absolutely love LG in Styx. They should. He's a great performer. He knows how to work a crowd. He knows how to have FUN on stage and let it show through. And, yes, he CAN sing. THAT is the truth but since you are in denial about things, you refuse to believe it and it is a bit pointless to point you towards it.

[Babyblue]

A confused Tommy Shaw said


Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer.

At least he would be telling the truth

Here is some truth for you.

The first time I saw Styx with LG, he sang CSA and the crowd was so absolutely into it. It was an amazing moment. Nobody cared that DDY was not there, at least nobody of significance. The last time I saw Styx, LG came out and did this shout back thing where he started a lyric ad the crowd finished. It was a good couple minutes of playful fun...and MUCH better then Journey did with Neal doing things on the guitar and trying to get the audience to imitate it, which hardly anybody did. Anyway, Gowan ended with "How about this...come sail away, come sail away..." Of course the entire crowd erupts with "...come sail away with me!" And, they go into the song...and, again, everybody loved it.

The truth is that you are in denial....people absolutely love LG in Styx. They should. He's a great performer. He knows how to work a crowd. He knows how to have FUN on stage and let it show through. And, yes, he CAN sing. THAT is the truth but since you are in denial about things, you refuse to believe it and it is a bit pointless to point you towards it.

Oh no poor Neal NOT!!! Now LG ROCKS

[Boomchild]

Interesting............

http://thecomet.com/posts/styx

Styx’ Tommy Shaw Road Blog Exclusive

We don't look like male models, we are not shredder guitar players, we don't have tons of top 40 hits, we don't even play all the ones we do have. But our songs are still played every day on radio stations all over the country, our concert tours still rank amazingly in Pollstar Magazine’s top 40 annual concert grosses.

Actually Styx DOES have a lot of top 40 hits...16 to be exact.. Styx also has 8 top 10 hits...more than Journey...more than Foreigner....more than REO Speedwagon...but 7 out of the 8 are Dennis songs...so you are correct...YOU don't have many...but your band does particularly the guy you kicked out.....depsite trying to ignore your pop sucess, its there...but nice revisionist history.

So, okay, we're good singers, but we'd never make it on American Idol.

You are..no one else in the band is. not by a long shot...

He's been with us for 15 years. Lawrence Gowan took Dennis DeYoung's place in 1999 and is an amazing musician, singer and front man. He's been loved by our fans since our first show in July of 1999.

Love by half your fans...at best...the other half refuse to go to your shows anymore...again..nice revisionist history...

JY, who missed his first show ever in 2008 when his wife had to have life saving emergency surgery, has been the heart and soul of the band since he planted his flag here in 1970 before the band was even called STYX. He's still larger than life and continues to grow as a musician and performer. In case you're wondering, he's the tall blond guy.

Whatever...he's the one who is most at fault in the whole dispute..

[

IMO, all good points.

[Boomchild]

A confused Tommy Shaw said


Well, let's face it, Tommy was always a bit proned to over-exaggerate and be overly positive when discussing the current version of Styx. I remember when he used to post more frequently, the constant praise and "how great everything is" and "how great the band is" etc. always sounded a bit forced, fake, and defensive....

Yeah and he is supposed to say...ah don't bother coming to see us. LG is not that good a singer.

At least he would be telling the truth

Here is some truth for you.

The first time I saw Styx with LG, he sang CSA and the crowd was so absolutely into it. It was an amazing moment. Nobody cared that DDY was not there, at least nobody of significance. The last time I saw Styx, LG came out and did this shout back thing where he started a lyric ad the crowd finished. It was a good couple minutes of playful fun...and MUCH better then Journey did with Neal doing things on the guitar and trying to get the audience to imitate it, which hardly anybody did. Anyway, Gowan ended with "How about this...come sail away, come sail away..." Of course the entire crowd erupts with "...come sail away with me!" And, they go into the song...and, again, everybody loved it.

The truth is that you are in denial....people absolutely love LG in Styx. They should. He's a great performer. He knows how to work a crowd. He knows how to have FUN on stage and let it show through. And, yes, he CAN sing. THAT is the truth but since you are in denial about things, you refuse to believe it and it is a bit pointless to point you towards it.

Please don't speak for everyone. I have seen Styx in concert with LG and was not that impressed with LG. In fact, I felt he butchered "Lady". People that were sitting near me at the show kept saying "Who the F**k is this guy in place of DeYoung?". They felt they got scammed. For the most part the vast majority of people coming to the shows are casual fans and more then likely wouldn't know the difference, even if it smacked them straight in the face.