Classic JY - the genius of the band

[Keiferb]

Stumbled on the following this evening. I love JY's proclamation of how wonderful the Gowan years have been. Doofus.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mundelein/e ... s1.article

By BLAIR R. FISCHER bfischer@pioneerlocal.com

Nowadays it seems more uncommon for classic rock bands not to perform one of their essential albums in its entirety while on tour than the other way around. Groups as far ranging as Steely Dan and Aerosmith to Motley Crue and The Pixies to Illinois-area artists Cheap Trick and Local H have all been among the growing throng of artists who've performed at least one of their albums from start to finish on tour in the last few years. Styx, too, will join the queue this fall, albeit with one major twist: Instead of doing one album in its entirety, the Chicago area troupe will perform both 1977's "The Grand Illusion" and 1978's "Pieces of Eight" successively each night, including at the Genessee Theatre in Waukegan on Oct. 16.

Pioneer Press spoke to founding member/guitarists/vocalist James "JY" Young about surviving the show-truncating thunderstorm during Styx's last Chicago area performance, the possibility of reuniting with original lead singer Dennis DeYoung, and the travails of playing two classic albums back to back.

Q: When Styx last played Chicago, you headlined a show with Foreigner and Kansas at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island. Your set was cut short because of a particularly angry thunderstorm. What do you remember about that night?

A: Well, I always love when the elements add a special bit of special effect to what's going to the music because, as human beings, we can't conjure up that kind of power. It was kind of amazing to have the wind blowing up like that, standing up there, and playing the guitar solo and all of the sudden the speakers, instead of facing the crowd, were kind of facing towards me. So, I had the biggest guitar amp I've ever had by a longshot. The adrenaline's going so I don't really consider the type of danger I'm in, but I was thinking a lot about perhaps getting a fan injured and that's not a good thing. People around us said, "We better call this thing."

Q: So many bands these days are performing an album in its entirety, but you're doing two.

A: Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

Q: Why those albums, in particular?

A: Well, "The Grand Illusion" is our most popular and "Pieces of Eight" is another we also draw from heavily. My favorite era of Styx music, personally, is starting with "Equinox" in '75 through "Pieces of Eight." Then Dennis decided to go in a much softer direction with his writing, which was not something I was particularly keen of.

Q: So it's safe to say you won't be doing 1979's "Cornerstone" [which featured the schmaltzy ballad "Babe"] in its entirety?

A: My guess is that that won't happen ever.

Q: What were the hardest songs to remember?

A: There were some songs we've never played off those albums, like "Superstars" on "The Grand Illusion." We may have played "Castle Walls" a little bit, but not much. I don't know if we ever performed "The Grand Finale." We used it forever as something we would take our bows to because it's only a couple minutes long. And then on "Pieces of Eight," we never did "Lords of the Ring" live. And the song "Pieces of Eight," we probably only did on that tour back in '78. There's at least three songs I believe we never performed, and there were a number of others that haven't been performed in the last 30 years.

Q: And you're going to retain the sequence?

A: That's the notion.

Q: Does that make it difficult because often the hits tend to be on the first half of the album, which can disrupt pacing in a live setting?

A: It's kind of interesting because usually side A is filled with major key songs and side B is the minor key songs. You start out with "The Grand Illusion," which is a great opening song, and then "Fooling Yourself," "Superstars," and "Come Sail Away." That's an incredibly powerful opening and "Come Sail Away" comes much earlier in the set then we'd normally play it. But then the second side is the darker side of that album. Then onto "Pieces of Eight." But the most known songs of "Pieces of Eight" are actually on the minor key side, so we're doing the most known songs from "Grand Illusion" to start the evening and the most known songs from "Pieces of Eight" close the evening. The pacing to me is far from ideal.

Q: The current incarnation of Styx has re-recorded a bunch of songs from "The Grand Illusion" and "Pieces of Eight" for an EP called "Regeneration, Volume 1," which you'll sell at the shows. What was the thinking behind doing that?

A: There's a sense that (because) this line-up has kind of existed for a little over 10 years, and it's doing wonderfully, that it's just a way to put some nuances from the stage shows that weren't in the original recordings. Plus it's a representation of what the band is like live for the last 10 concert seasons and the next 12 concert seasons, as far as I'm concerned.

Q: When was the last time you spoke with Dennis DeYoung?

A: The last time I talked to him was June 1999. Unless you want to call him suing us in federal court in 2000 communication.

Q: Is there any chance for reconciliation?

A: What'd I say in VH1's "Behind the Music?" When they're playing hockey on the river Styx.

Q: That "Behind the Music" is an all-time classic.

We've played at Super Bowls. We never did when Dennis was in the band, but we've done two since (he left) and for both of them Sting somehow happened to be there. And we were label mates with The Police and I became friendly with all three of those guys. So we were talking to Sting (at the Super Bowl) and (singer/keyboarist) Lawrence (Gowan) had never met him. Lawrence says to Sting, "I don't know if you know who I am." And Sting says, "Yeah, I've seen you in your 'Behind the Music.' It's my favorite soap opera.'"

Styx

[pinkfloyd1973]

Why do I have the sudden urge to jam my head through the monitor

[Saint John]

Q - Is there a leader in Styx?

A - (JY) In any group situation, the person who has achieved the most success tends to have more weight lent to their words, and Dennis DeYoung clearly has the most success in terms of writing and singing songs out of everyone in Styx.

[Boomchild]

Stumbled on the following this evening. I love JY's proclamation of how wonderful the Gowan years have been. Doofus.

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mundelein/e ... s1.article

By BLAIR R. FISCHER bfischer@pioneerlocal.com

Nowadays it seems more uncommon for classic rock bands not to perform one of their essential albums in its entirety while on tour than the other way around. Groups as far ranging as Steely Dan and Aerosmith to Motley Crue and The Pixies to Illinois-area artists Cheap Trick and Local H have all been among the growing throng of artists who've performed at least one of their albums from start to finish on tour in the last few years. Styx, too, will join the queue this fall, albeit with one major twist: Instead of doing one album in its entirety, the Chicago area troupe will perform both 1977's "The Grand Illusion" and 1978's "Pieces of Eight" successively each night, including at the Genessee Theatre in Waukegan on Oct. 16.

Pioneer Press spoke to founding member/guitarists/vocalist James "JY" Young about surviving the show-truncating thunderstorm during Styx's last Chicago area performance, the possibility of reuniting with original lead singer Dennis DeYoung, and the travails of playing two classic albums back to back.

Q: When Styx last played Chicago, you headlined a show with Foreigner and Kansas at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island. Your set was cut short because of a particularly angry thunderstorm. What do you remember about that night?

A: Well, I always love when the elements add a special bit of special effect to what's going to the music because, as human beings, we can't conjure up that kind of power. It was kind of amazing to have the wind blowing up like that, standing up there, and playing the guitar solo and all of the sudden the speakers, instead of facing the crowd, were kind of facing towards me. So, I had the biggest guitar amp I've ever had by a longshot. The adrenaline's going so I don't really consider the type of danger I'm in, but I was thinking a lot about perhaps getting a fan injured and that's not a good thing. People around us said, "We better call this thing."

Q: So many bands these days are performing an album in its entirety, but you're doing two.

A: Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

Q: Why those albums, in particular?

A: Well, "The Grand Illusion" is our most popular and "Pieces of Eight" is another we also draw from heavily. My favorite era of Styx music, personally, is starting with "Equinox" in '75 through "Pieces of Eight." Then Dennis decided to go in a much softer direction with his writing, which was not something I was particularly keen of.

Q: So it's safe to say you won't be doing 1979's "Cornerstone" [which featured the schmaltzy ballad "Babe"] in its entirety?

A: My guess is that that won't happen ever.

Q: What were the hardest songs to remember?

A: There were some songs we've never played off those albums, like "Superstars" on "The Grand Illusion." We may have played "Castle Walls" a little bit, but not much. I don't know if we ever performed "The Grand Finale." We used it forever as something we would take our bows to because it's only a couple minutes long. And then on "Pieces of Eight," we never did "Lords of the Ring" live. And the song "Pieces of Eight," we probably only did on that tour back in '78. There's at least three songs I believe we never performed, and there were a number of others that haven't been performed in the last 30 years.

Q: And you're going to retain the sequence?

A: That's the notion.

Q: Does that make it difficult because often the hits tend to be on the first half of the album, which can disrupt pacing in a live setting?

A: It's kind of interesting because usually side A is filled with major key songs and side B is the minor key songs. You start out with "The Grand Illusion," which is a great opening song, and then "Fooling Yourself," "Superstars," and "Come Sail Away." That's an incredibly powerful opening and "Come Sail Away" comes much earlier in the set then we'd normally play it. But then the second side is the darker side of that album. Then onto "Pieces of Eight." But the most known songs of "Pieces of Eight" are actually on the minor key side, so we're doing the most known songs from "Grand Illusion" to start the evening and the most known songs from "Pieces of Eight" close the evening. The pacing to me is far from ideal.

Q: The current incarnation of Styx has re-recorded a bunch of songs from "The Grand Illusion" and "Pieces of Eight" for an EP called "Regeneration, Volume 1," which you'll sell at the shows. What was the thinking behind doing that?

A: There's a sense that (because) this line-up has kind of existed for a little over 10 years, and it's doing wonderfully, that it's just a way to put some nuances from the stage shows that weren't in the original recordings. Plus it's a representation of what the band is like live for the last 10 concert seasons and the next 12 concert seasons, as far as I'm concerned.

Q: When was the last time you spoke with Dennis DeYoung?

A: The last time I talked to him was June 1999. Unless you want to call him suing us in federal court in 2000 communication.

Q: Is there any chance for reconciliation?

A: What'd I say in VH1's "Behind the Music?" When they're playing hockey on the river Styx.

Q: That "Behind the Music" is an all-time classic.

We've played at Super Bowls. We never did when Dennis was in the band, but we've done two since (he left) and for both of them Sting somehow happened to be there. And we were label mates with The Police and I became friendly with all three of those guys. So we were talking to Sting (at the Super Bowl) and (singer/keyboarist) Lawrence (Gowan) had never met him. Lawrence says to Sting, "I don't know if you know who I am." And Sting says, "Yeah, I've seen you in your 'Behind the Music.' It's my favorite soap opera.'"

Styx

Interesting, JY's vision of success is having played at The Super Bowl. What an idiot. If I remember correctly even though they played at The Super Bowl they were never the half time show act. Talk about hype. They never played or were asked to play at any of the benefit concerts like Live Aid or Live 8. That would be something to talk about.

[Bearded Clam]

Was their Super Bowl performances televised?

[yogi]

Good interview.

JY tells it like it is through his eyes. You cant fault him for that.

Now you can fault the shi t out of him for Out On a Day Pass album, and his rock star poses.

[froy]

Was their Super Bowl performances televised?

I never saw it.

[bugsymalone]

I agree that JY has a perfect right to defend and support the group he is touring with now. I still consider him a jerk of the first order, but he most certainly has a right to say whatever he wishes.

This did intrigue me. " ... we're doing the most known songs from "Grand Illusion" to start the evening and the most known songs from "Pieces of Eight" close the evening. The pacing to me is far from ideal. " Does this mean they won't be doing the entire albums?

I am sure the re-caps from those who went will tell the tale on this.

Bugsy

[yogi]

No Bugsy to me it means that they are playing the songs EXACTLY in their order on the albums. So Come Sail Away will be the fourth song of the night when usually it comes at the end of a concert. I love what they are doing. Yes I wish that Dennis was with them for this. But its 2010 and it is what it is now. I wish them and Dennis all of the best.

If Styx came anywhere near Carthage, TX with this tour I would be there.

[Toph]

Hey JY (and all band members/wives/mangement/sons/daughters etc. who read this site)

Not that this hasn't been said before, but you are really just a bitter jerk. Your spewing of hate toward the guy that got you to where you are is not only hypocritical, but childish. Have you ever had a song played on the radio JY? Do you know what that is like? Is Miss America really the defining Styx song? Uh...not even close. It's a pseudo hit. Most people have never even heard of it. Then we have to go down to the likes of Snowblind and then after that your role in the band is to provide that 1 filler song on every album that is often skipped by most of the folks that purchased those albums. So you can talk about how great this version of the band is and how talented it is, and how horrible DDY was for the band, but were it not for your buddy DDY who built the brand with HIS songs, you'd be sweeping a mall floor somewhere. Get over yourself - of all people to own the band's name, you are the least deserving. Yet, you control the most power - I can understand why they call you the Godfather of Styx....your theft of what was once a great brand name is appaling to state the least. Then you have the audacity to go off and be critical of DDY every chance you get...Can you at least get a little more creative with your put downs off DDY - this playing hockey on the river styx is been played out almost as much as the "backwards satanic messages" intro to Snowblind.

So, you can continue to revel in how you managed to kill a band that used to be my and many others favorite. And you can claim that this is the best incarnation of Styx...all while not having a record deal, not being able to play to any sizeable crowd without 2 other bands on the bill, and whose total creative output consists of poorly rerecording songs that were written, produced, and sung by a guy who you continually bash in any public interview that you have......Pathetic...

[Everett]

Awesome interview.

[Everett]

Hey JY (and all band members/wives/mangement/sons/daughters etc. who read this site)

Not that this hasn't been said before, but you are really just a bitter jerk. Your spewing of hate toward the guy that got you to where you are is not only hypocritical, but childish. Have you ever had a song played on the radio JY? Do you know what that is like? Is Miss America really the defining Styx song? Uh...not even close. It's a pseudo hit. Most people have never even heard of it. Then we have to go down to the likes of Snowblind and then after that your role in the band is to provide that 1 filler song on every album that is often skipped by most of the folks that purchased those albums. So you can talk about how great this version of the band is and how talented it is, and how horrible DDY was for the band, but were it not for your buddy DDY who built the brand with HIS songs, you'd be sweeping a mall floor somewhere. Get over yourself - of all people to own the band's name, you are the least deserving. Yet, you control the most power - I can understand why they call you the Godfather of Styx....your theft of what was once a great brand name is appaling to state the least. Then you have the audacity to go off and be critical of DDY every chance you get...Can you at least get a little more creative with your put downs off DDY - this playing hockey on the river styx is been played out almost as much as the "backwards satanic messages" intro to Snowblind.

So, you can continue to revel in how you managed to kill a band that used to be my and many others favorite. And you can claim that this is the best incarnation of Styx...all while not having a record deal, not being able to play to any sizeable crowd without 2 other bands on the bill, and whose total creative output consists of poorly rerecording songs that were written, produced, and sung by a guy who you continually bash in any public interview that you have......Pathetic...

blah blah blah

[froy]

Awesome interview.

bla bla bla

[hoagiepete]

Per JY...

... A: Well, "The Grand Illusion" is our most popular and "Pieces of Eight" is another we also draw from heavily. My favorite era of Styx music, personally, is starting with "Equinox" in '75 through "Pieces of Eight." Then Dennis decided to go in a much softer direction with his writing, which was not something I was particularly keen of.

Hard to argue against this comment.

[froy]

Hey JY (and all band members/wives/management/sons/daughters etc. who read this site)

Not that this hasn't been said before, but you are really just a bitter jerk. Your spewing of hate toward the guy that got you to where you are is not only hypocritical, but childish. Have you ever had a song played on the radio JY? Do you know what that is like? Is Miss America really the defining Styx song? Uh...not even close. It's a pseudo hit. Most people have never even heard of it. Then we have to go down to the likes of Snow-blind and then after that your role in the band is to provide that 1 filler song on every album that is often skipped by most of the folks that purchased those albums. So you can talk about how great this version of the band is and how talented it is, and how horrible DDY was for the band, but were it not for your buddy DDY who built the brand with HIS songs, you'd be sweeping a mall floor somewhere. Get over yourself - of all people to own the band's name, you are the least deserving. Yet, you control the most power - I can understand why they call you the Godfather of Styx....your theft of what was once a great brand name is appalling to state the least. Then you have the audacity to go off and be critical of DDY every chance you get...Can you at least get a little more creative with your put downs off DDY - this playing hockey on the river Styx is been played out almost as much as the "backwards satanic messages" intro to Snow-blind.

So, you can continue to revel in how you managed to kill a band that used to be my and many others favorite. And you can claim that this is the best incarnation of Styx...all while not having a record deal, not being able to play to any sizable crowd without 2 other bands on the bill, and whose total creative output consists of poorly rerecording songs that were written, produced, and sung by a guy who you continually bash in any public interview that you have......Pathetic...

The bottom line here is these 2 guys are not going to give up. They have ruined the name STYX but quite frankly don't give a damn about it. It's now in the hands of one guy and that is Chuck Panazzo, This coward has been floating in and out of the band that was formed by his brother and Dennis DeYoung for 11 years now and has never said one word. It's Chuck Panazzo who should be ashamed of himself for letting his band be ruined by the 2 other members and the LAME manger that thinks of these dumb ideas like Regurgitation. If Chuck Panazzo would have voted no 11 years ago the classic STYX band would still be intact. Sure there would have been 2000 less shows but also there would have been 400 killer shows instead. Thanks to Chuck there has not been 1 real STYX show since 1997. As far as JY I don't even read his garbage anymore its worthless.

[froy]

Per JY...

... A: Well, "The Grand Illusion" is our most popular and "Pieces of Eight" is another we also draw from heavily. My favorite era of Styx music, personally, is starting with "Equinox" in '75 through "Pieces of Eight." Then Dennis decided to go in a much softer direction with his writing, which was not something I was particularly keen of.

Hard to argue against this comment.

Since when does JY's opinion count? He did noting for the success of the band nothing. I'm sure he was disappointed in all the money Paradise Theater brought,

[yogi]

JY's favorite era of Styx was Equinox, Crystal Ball , The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight. All these albums & tours were done with Dennis. The way I read that that includes EVERYTHING up until now and this was JY's favorite.

How is this a slam on Dennis?? This is a plus comment.

Shi t, he did a a good honest interview. Some of you are TOTALLY blind & twisted.

Wake up it is almost 2011!!

[cittadeeno23]

SIGH......

He's still pissed at Dennis. I'm just really affraid these two guys (Dennis and JY) are going to go to their graves and never speak again.
It makes me sick and it's just sad. They created so much magic together. I just wish one of them would have the balls to call the other and try to patch things up. If for no other reason just because it's the right thing to do.

[Toph]

Hey JY (and all band members/wives/mangement/sons/daughters etc. who read this site)

Not that this hasn't been said before, but you are really just a bitter jerk. Your spewing of hate toward the guy that got you to where you are is not only hypocritical, but childish. Have you ever had a song played on the radio JY? Do you know what that is like? Is Miss America really the defining Styx song? Uh...not even close. It's a pseudo hit. Most people have never even heard of it. Then we have to go down to the likes of Snowblind and then after that your role in the band is to provide that 1 filler song on every album that is often skipped by most of the folks that purchased those albums. So you can talk about how great this version of the band is and how talented it is, and how horrible DDY was for the band, but were it not for your buddy DDY who built the brand with HIS songs, you'd be sweeping a mall floor somewhere. Get over yourself - of all people to own the band's name, you are the least deserving. Yet, you control the most power - I can understand why they call you the Godfather of Styx....your theft of what was once a great brand name is appaling to state the least. Then you have the audacity to go off and be critical of DDY every chance you get...Can you at least get a little more creative with your put downs off DDY - this playing hockey on the river styx is been played out almost as much as the "backwards satanic messages" intro to Snowblind.

So, you can continue to revel in how you managed to kill a band that used to be my and many others favorite. And you can claim that this is the best incarnation of Styx...all while not having a record deal, not being able to play to any sizeable crowd without 2 other bands on the bill, and whose total creative output consists of poorly rerecording songs that were written, produced, and sung by a guy who you continually bash in any public interview that you have......Pathetic...

blah blah blah

Glen should have kicked you ass.

[Toph]

JY's favorite era of Styx was Equinox, Crystal Ball , The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight. All these albums & tours were done with Dennis. The way I read that that includes EVERYTHING up until now and this was JY's favorite.

How is this a slam on Dennis?? This is a plus comment.

Shi t, he did a a good honest interview. Some of you are TOTALLY blind & twisted.

Wake up it is almost 2011!!

Get your head out of your ass....

The hockey on the river styx comment is just stupid.

[froy]

"Keiferb

When was the last time you spoke with Dennis DeYoung?

The last time I talked to him was June 1999. Unless you want to call him suing us in federal court in 2000 communication.

Is there any chance for reconciliation?

What I said in VH1's "Behind the Music?" When they're playing hockey on the river Styx

.

When they're playing? Who is they're?

[yogi]

He sticks by his hockey on the river Styx comment and his favorite era is one with Dennis leading the band. He is telling the truth in a interview how is this a bad thing??

I too wish that they would get along and get back together. But the bottom line is as of today JY wants nothing to do with Dennis. He likes the band he is in now.

It was a great interview, where he answered the questions presented to him truthfully.

[froy]

He sticks by his hockey on the river Styx comment and his favorite era is one with Dennis leading the band. He is telling the truth in a interview how is this a bad thing??

I too wish that they would get along and get back together. But the bottom line is as of today JY wants nothing to do with Dennis. He likes the band he is in now.

It was a great interview, where he answered the questions presented to him truthfully.

We have heard it all before , Why doesn't Shaw and Panazzo step up to the mic

[brywool]

JY's favorite era of Styx was Equinox, Crystal Ball , The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight. All these albums & tours were done with Dennis. The way I read that that includes EVERYTHING up until now and this was JY's favorite.

How is this a slam on Dennis?? This is a plus comment.

Shi t, he did a a good honest interview. Some of you are TOTALLY blind & twisted.

Wake up it is almost 2011!!

Exactly. God, get over it already.
From JY's perspective they're doing okay. I'm sure if Dennis was interviewed, he'd also so "Yeah, we're doing okay".

Leave it alone, be happy for them. They obviously are happier these days. Money and sales ain't everything.
If you don't like Styx now, don't listen to them. Simple as that. To cry about the same crap everyday...

The Definition of Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

That's the MR Styx board in a single sentence.

[brywool]

Hey JY (and all band members/wives/management/sons/daughters etc. who read this site)

Not that this hasn't been said before, but you are really just a bitter jerk. Your spewing of hate toward the guy that got you to where you are is not only hypocritical, but childish. Have you ever had a song played on the radio JY? Do you know what that is like? Is Miss America really the defining Styx song? Uh...not even close. It's a pseudo hit. Most people have never even heard of it. Then we have to go down to the likes of Snow-blind and then after that your role in the band is to provide that 1 filler song on every album that is often skipped by most of the folks that purchased those albums. So you can talk about how great this version of the band is and how talented it is, and how horrible DDY was for the band, but were it not for your buddy DDY who built the brand with HIS songs, you'd be sweeping a mall floor somewhere. Get over yourself - of all people to own the band's name, you are the least deserving. Yet, you control the most power - I can understand why they call you the Godfather of Styx....your theft of what was once a great brand name is appalling to state the least. Then you have the audacity to go off and be critical of DDY every chance you get...Can you at least get a little more creative with your put downs off DDY - this playing hockey on the river Styx is been played out almost as much as the "backwards satanic messages" intro to Snow-blind.

So, you can continue to revel in how you managed to kill a band that used to be my and many others favorite. And you can claim that this is the best incarnation of Styx...all while not having a record deal, not being able to play to any sizable crowd without 2 other bands on the bill, and whose total creative output consists of poorly rerecording songs that were written, produced, and sung by a guy who you continually bash in any public interview that you have......Pathetic...

The bottom line here is these 2 guys are not going to give up. They have ruined the name STYX but quite frankly don't give a damn about it. It's now in the hands of one guy and that is Chuck Panazzo, This coward has been floating in and out of the band that was formed by his brother and Dennis DeYoung for 11 years now and has never said one word. It's Chuck Panazzo who should be ashamed of himself for letting his band be ruined by the 2 other members and the LAME manger that thinks of these dumb ideas like Regurgitation. If Chuck Panazzo would have voted no 11 years ago the classic STYX band would still be intact. Sure there would have been 2000 less shows but also there would have been 400 killer shows instead. Thanks to Chuck there has not been 1 real STYX show since 1997. As far as JY I don't even read his garbage anymore its worthless.

Not true. Chuck has made his feelings known about Dennis. He doesn't like him.

[Blue Falcon]

Amazing that a 60+ year old man could still harbor such bitterness towards someone whom he shared many years of success with. My granddad hated the Japs until he died at age 90, but he had a pretty good reason to since they had killed most of his buddies on Okinawa.

This ain't Okinawa, JY.

Why can't JY take the high road for just once?? To keep mentioning the "hockey on the River Styx" metaphor after ten years is definitely juvenile. And again with the jabs at 'Cornerstone'...you need to let it go, JY.

[Saint John]

Why can't JY take the high road for just once??

Oh, he's been high for the better part of 40 years.

[StyxCollector]

This interview is really no different than JY has done for awhile. Although he seemed to be more toned down towards Dennis - his dislike for Dennis really shines here. It is what it is. I don't see why people are getting their panties in a twist.

Q: Why those albums, in particular?

A: Well, "The Grand Illusion" is our most popular and "Pieces of Eight" is another we also draw from heavily. My favorite era of Styx music, personally, is starting with "Equinox" in '75 through "Pieces of Eight." Then Dennis decided to go in a much softer direction with his writing, which was not something I was particularly keen of.

Q: So it's safe to say you won't be doing 1979's "Cornerstone" [which featured the schmaltzy ballad "Babe"] in its entirety?

A: My guess is that that won't happen ever.

I do have a fault with these two statements.

1. Again - I submit "Boat on the River", "She Cares", and "Sing for the Day" for your consideration. They don't rock like "Renegade". So what? It's easy to blame one guy. And if it sucked so much, step up and write something better than a rehash of "Miss America". It's not like "Eddie" was the standout track on Cornerstone.

2. I should have taken a screen capture, but if you remember, when they had the poll on Styxworld, they had GI, Po8, Cornerstone, and PT as the choices for full albums. So maybe he is out of sync with the folks in charge.

[froy]

JY's favorite era of Styx was Equinox, Crystal Ball , The Grand Illusion & Pieces Of Eight. All these albums & tours were done with Dennis. The way I read that that includes EVERYTHING up until now and this was JY's favorite.

How is this a slam on Dennis?? This is a plus comment.

Shi t, he did a a good honest interview. Some of you are TOTALLY blind & twisted.

Wake up it is almost 2011!!

Exactly. God, get over it already.
From JY's perspective they're doing okay. I'm sure if Dennis was interviewed, he'd also so "Yeah, we're doing okay".

Leave it alone, be happy for them. They obviously are happier these days. Money and sales ain't everything.
If you don't like Styx now, don't listen to them. Simple as that. To cry about the same crap everyday...

The Definition of Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

That's the MR Styx board in a single sentence.

Funny thing is BRY you always say get over it forget it whatever
Don't ya get it we will never get over it ever.
Stop saying that it won't ever happen.

[froy]

"brywool"

Not true. Chuck has made his feelings known about Dennis. He doesn't like him.

Really show me the article.