Good Dennis Interview

[StyxCollector]

http://murphonics.com/billmurphyshow.co ... ic-friday/

[bugsymalone]

Thanks, Allan. I was happy to see he chose "Rubicon" to play from the album. Hell, I was happy to see "100 Years" promoted!


Bugsy

[brywool]

great interview. Nice of the interviewer to get into the vocal questions. Cool.
He treats the whole breakup thing with class for sure.
It's also interesting how he says "Progressive Rock was dead in 80 and I tried to do different things".
He thinks he was right. I don't agree with that for sure. Maybe as a "hit making" deal, but those songs of his are so much more interesting than the directions that he chose. He had to be convinced that it wasn't a dead horse. Hopefully, if he does new stuff in the future, he remembers that convincing.

[Boomchild]

great interview. Nice of the interviewer to get into the vocal questions. Cool.
He treats the whole breakup thing with class for sure.
It's also interesting how he says "Progressive Rock was dead in 80 and I tried to do different things".
He thinks he was right. I don't agree with that for sure. Maybe as a "hit making" deal, but those songs of his are so much more interesting than the directions that he chose. He had to be convinced that it wasn't a dead horse. Hopefully, if he does new stuff in the future, he remembers that convincing.

JY could take DDY's approach to the breakup, then people won't think he is such an ass. Doubt it will happen though. With respect to Dennis feeling Prog Rock was dead by the end of the seventies, I agree with him with respect to getting your stuff played on the radio. Which is all part of it if you want to make money, who doesn't. He also clearly pointed out that he felt he had done enough of it and wanted to try something new. I see nothing wrong with that and can understand that an artist can get bored doing the same style.

[brywool]

great interview. Nice of the interviewer to get into the vocal questions. Cool.
He treats the whole breakup thing with class for sure.
It's also interesting how he says "Progressive Rock was dead in 80 and I tried to do different things".
He thinks he was right. I don't agree with that for sure. Maybe as a "hit making" deal, but those songs of his are so much more interesting than the directions that he chose. He had to be convinced that it wasn't a dead horse. Hopefully, if he does new stuff in the future, he remembers that convincing.

JY could take DDY's approach to the breakup, then people won't think he is such an ass. Doubt it will happen though. With respect to Dennis feeling Prog Rock was dead by the end of the seventies, I agree with him with respect to getting your stuff played on the radio. Which is all part of it if you want to make money, who doesn't. He also clearly pointed out that he felt he had done enough of it and wanted to try something new. I see nothing wrong with that and can understand that an artist can get bored doing the same style.

Agreed, but I'm not sure how he couldn't get bored doing the same types of stuff over and over again, whether it's Prog or songs like Babe redone over again. To me, the Prog was certainly more interesting. Not that it was even progressive rock, but their own spin on it.
JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

[pinkfloyd1973]

JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

That's easy, DDY is an optimist and JY is a pessimist

[Boomchild]

great interview. Nice of the interviewer to get into the vocal questions. Cool.
He treats the whole breakup thing with class for sure.
It's also interesting how he says "Progressive Rock was dead in 80 and I tried to do different things".
He thinks he was right. I don't agree with that for sure. Maybe as a "hit making" deal, but those songs of his are so much more interesting than the directions that he chose. He had to be convinced that it wasn't a dead horse. Hopefully, if he does new stuff in the future, he remembers that convincing.

JY could take DDY's approach to the breakup, then people won't think he is such an ass. Doubt it will happen though. With respect to Dennis feeling Prog Rock was dead by the end of the seventies, I agree with him with respect to getting your stuff played on the radio. Which is all part of it if you want to make money, who doesn't. He also clearly pointed out that he felt he had done enough of it and wanted to try something new. I see nothing wrong with that and can understand that an artist can get bored doing the same style.

Agreed, but I'm not sure how he couldn't get bored doing the same types of stuff over and over again, whether it's Prog or songs like Babe redone over again. To me, the Prog was certainly more interesting. Not that it was even progressive rock, but their own spin on it.
JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

I see your point. Maybe the other types of songs (i.e. ballads) comes more natural to him so he gravitated to it. Their certainly more radio friendly and singles were part of what DDY felt the need to explore. I'm sure DDY is not opposed to a reunion but, I think he is taking the "if it happens, it happens" approach. He certainly is not knocking on their door asking for it. He really has focused on his solo act and tweaking it to bring what he feels the Styx fans would like from him. For the most part he has moved on and doesn't seem to be looking back. Hell, you even get that feeling when listening to some of the songs from One Hundred Years From Now.

[StyxCollector]

JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

Oh, I don't think Dennis is sitting around waiting for JY's call. Maybe he was hoping for a reconciliation years ago, but now? Highly doubt it. I think he's saying what the fans want to hear and taking the high road. It doesn't help anyone if we go back to the nasty barbs of 1999/2000 - 2003, least of all himself and the show he needs to promote.

[froy]

JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

That's easy, DDY is an optimist and JY is a pessimist

No Dennis is a class act and JY is an idiot.

[Toph]

JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

That's easy, DDY is an optimist and JY is a pessimist

No Dennis is a class act and JY is an idiot.

Clearly DDY is extending an olive branch toward Tommy. It does not seem he harbors much, if any ill will toward Tommy and has been consistently complimenting him in recent interviews. Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes? I don't see DDY and JY ever working together again - and quite frankly could care less if they do. But seeing Tommy and DDY (As Rolling Stone said once "The Lennon and McCartney of Styx") on the same stage again would be awesome. Hope it happens.

[brywool]

JY could take his approach to some extent, though Dennis (as the 'fired guy') is hoping for a reconciliation, while JY clearly is not, so it's not in his best interest to make nice I guess.

That's easy, DDY is an optimist and JY is a pessimist

No Dennis is a class act and JY is an idiot.

Clearly DDY is extending an olive branch toward Tommy. It does not seem he harbors much, if any ill will toward Tommy and has been consistently complimenting him in recent interviews. Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes? I don't see DDY and JY ever working together again - and quite frankly could care less if they do. But seeing Tommy and DDY (As Rolling Stone said once "The Lennon and McCartney of Styx") on the same stage again would be awesome. Hope it happens.

man, I dunno... he clearly IS doing that, but that seems to only go as far as Tommy as a musician and not as a person. He said he has the utmost respect for Tommy musically and left the other out. Still, they should get together and talk, if for nothing else, just to move on.

[StyxCollector]

Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes?

No. Nothing going on whatsoever.

[brywool]

Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes?

No. Nothing going on whatsoever.

+1

[Don]

I don't think a Styx reunion with DeYoung elevates this band that much from where it is currently at. A perfect storm would be needed, ie. a Wal-Mart deal with a new album and Glee doing a Styx tribute at about the same time said album is released.

[Toph]

Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes?

No. Nothing going on whatsoever.

And how do you know this?

[froy]

I don't think a Styx reunion with DeYoung elevates this band that much from where it is currently at. A perfect storm would be needed, ie. a Wal-Mart deal with a new album and Glee doing a Styx tribute at about the same time said album is released.

Your right the name has been scorched , No way out now.

[StyxCollector]

Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes?

No. Nothing going on whatsoever.

And how do you know this?

Based on off the record conversations I've had with people close to the situation. Trust me when I say that Dennis is quite happy where he is now and I personally would be shocked if he would even go back to Styx at this point for anything other than a one-off.

[froy]

Do you think there is something going on behind the scenes?

No. Nothing going on whatsoever.

And how do you know this?

Based on off the record conversations I've had with people close to the situation. Trust me when I say that Dennis is quite happy where he is now and I personally would be shocked if he would even go back to Styx at this point for anything other than a one-off.

Why go back to a dead band? Styx is now just a store selling 60 dollar posters and 15 dollar cds that end up being 25 bucks delivered,
They just want the money period. Look at face-book, this week alone they pitched some lounge and a store with 25 dollar hats,
There not in it for the music just the cash. That's not what Dennis is about at all.

[Boomchild]

I don't think a Styx reunion with DeYoung elevates this band that much from where it is currently at. A perfect storm would be needed, ie. a Wal-Mart deal with a new album and Glee doing a Styx tribute at about the same time said album is released.

Really? The guy that was pretty much the face and spokesman for Styx returning to the band wouldn't do much? Can't say I agree with you there. At least they would be able to play more real Styx hits rather then have to avoid some because the current replacement can't pull them off well. Not to mention that they maybe would put out an actual album of new material instead of dancing around the subject.

[yogi]

Great interview.

I really didnt understand what the hell he was talking about when he compared writing the hits Lady and Come Sail Away. He knew they were hits, but he didnt know they were hits ,and you shouldnt write thinking everything you do is good. It was like someone trying to explain Obamas Health Care Plan.

Dennis is a GREAT listen. He sounds really happy. Thats great.

I dont agree with him that in 1979 Art or Progressive rock was done. Dennis he has always stated that a great song is a great song in any era. So wouldnt GREAT progressive song in 1984 would still be a GREAT progressive song?? Pink Floyd proved that over and over again. Dennis then proved that again with 'Crossing The Rubican.'

It also sounds like there could be a chance for he and Tommy to hook up again. I for one hope they include Glen if this ever takes place. WOW would that be GREAT!!!!


Great interview!!!

P.S. Riddle me this: In Texas we currently pay around 46Cents per gallon in state and federal taxes on each gallon of gasoline sold. About 2/3 of that goes to the state and the other 1/3+ goes to the Federal Government. The federal government now wants to up what that tax where the Feds get at least 36 cents per gallon of gasoline sold.This is something that will bring in alot of extra tax money to help us pay down our trillion dollar deficit.

That is one HUGE chunck of change brought in from every driver in America.

So here is my riddle: the Feds also want us off of gasoline. They want us driving something more enviornmental friendly. If everyone, or the majority of us go green and we drive battery operated, solar operated or whatever tpye of cars, and we use wind / water/ sun as our power souces, where do the Feds and State governments now get their HUGE amount of tax money from???

[Toph]

Great interview.

I really didnt understand what the hell he was talking about when he compared writing the hits Lady and Come Sail Away. He knew they were hits, but he didnt know they were hits ,and you shouldnt write thinking everything you do is good. It was like someone trying to explain Obamas Health Care Plan.

Dennis is a GREAT listen. He sounds really happy. Thats great.

I dont agree with him that in 1979 Art or Progressive rock was done. Dennis he has always stated that a great song is a great song in any era. So wouldnt GREAT progressive song in 1984 would still be a GREAT progressive song?? Pink Floyd proved that over and over again. Dennis then proved that again with 'Crossing The Rubican.'

It also sounds like there could be a chance for he and Tommy to hook up again. I for one hope they include Glen if this ever takes place. WOW would that be GREAT!!!!


Great interview!!!

P.S. Riddle me this: In Texas we currently pay around 46Cents per gallon in state and federal taxes on each gallon of gasoline sold. About 2/3 of that goes to the state and the other 1/3+ goes to the Federal Government. The federal government now wants to up what that tax where the Feds get at least 36 cents per gallon of gasoline sold.This is something that will bring in alot of extra tax money to help us pay down our trillion dollar deficit.

That is one HUGE chunck of change brought in from every driver in America.

So here is my riddle: the Feds also want us off of gasoline. They want us driving something more enviornmental friendly. If everyone, or the majority of us go green and we drive battery operated, solar operated or whatever tpye of cars, and we use wind / water/ sun as our power souces, where do the Feds and State governments now get their HUGE amount of tax money from???

Once again, you are wrong and DDY is right. The times in music had changed circa 1979/1980. Ask the boys from Kansas who kept going down the progressive/experimental path, much to their demise.

Journey, Styx, Foreigner, Yes, Supertramp all got it. Not sure why they don't get equal blame as far as "selling out" to the ballad/pop sensibilities. Journey violated this arguably more than Styx did. Compare the change in Departure to Escape - its HUGE! And most claim Escape is Journey's best album - it is also their least risky album and by the way, their most successful - Journey tripled their sales with that one over Departure. And while the follow up, Frontiers was still incredbily successful, the experimental 2nd side caused it not to be nearly as sucessful as Escape.

[yogi]

Maybe I am wrong but at the time, if they had stayed true to their Equinox, Grand Illusion, Pieces Of Eight roots they would have kept far more of their hardcore fans.

My brother + about 5 other friends that I knew completely abandoned them as a group they would listen to with the release of songs like Babe, Never Say Never, Boat On The River, First Time etc.... That is just in the little group that I hung with.

I believe they would of had a following much of what I saw when I went to the Rush concert had they stayed on their Grand Illusion/ Pieces Of Eight path.


Dennis has stated over and over again a good song is a good song. Come Sail Away would have been just as HUGE in 1985 as it was in 1977.


I loved the Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre albums but they lost a ton of their die hard fans when they changed course. The fans that they picked up later on I dont believe were as devoted as the die hards that they lost.

Plus I also believe and this may make no sense but had Dennis not switched the course that the band was on back in 1979 he would still be in the band today. There would be no way JY or Tommy could have gotten rid of him and Styx fans accept it if their course would have stayed true to The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight.

Dennis maybe took them to the diamond mines, but the diamond mines were in South Africa, and for that some people will never forgive him. Including now some of the guys that he worked with.

[Toph]

Maybe I am wrong but at the time, if they had stayed true to their Equinox, Grand Illusion, Pieces Of Eight roots they would have kept far more of their hardcore fans.

My brother + about 5 other friends that I knew completely abandoned them as a group they would listen to with the release of songs like Babe, Never Say Never, Boat On The River, First Time etc.... That is just in the little group that I hung with.

I believe they would of had a following much of what I saw when I went to the Rush concert had they stayed on their Grand Illusion/ Pieces Of Eight path.


Dennis has stated over and over again a good song is a good song. Come Sail Away would have been just as HUGE in 1985 as it was in 1977.


I loved the Cornerstone and Paradise Theatre albums but they lost a ton of their die hard fans when they changed course. The fans that they picked up later on I dont believe were as devoted as the die hards that they lost.

Plus I also believe and this may make no sense but had Dennis not switched the course that the band was on back in 1979 he would still be in the band today. There would be no way JY or Tommy could have gotten rid of him and Styx fans accept it if their course would have stayed true to The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight.

Dennis maybe took them to the diamond mines, but the diamond mines were in South Africa, and for that some people will never forgive him. Including the guys that he worked with.

Too many of what is said on these boards are qualitative, un substantiated, one off stories vs. real analysis using numbers.

How did they lose so many fans when Cornerstone hit #2 and still is their biggest worldwide selling album...ever
Paradise Theatre hit #1 and has sold more copies than Grand Illusion.

Band voted 1980 most popular band - after Cornerstone released...

I'll take all those and this so called of abandonment of fans any day of the week....

[yogi]

I agree, BUT I witnessed over 15,000 people in Dallas Texas singing every note to every word of a group (Rush) that had a total of 1 top 40 hit. This group was/is a progressive/ art type rock band that was relevant at the same time Styx was. They are still relevant today. They didnt need 2 other dinosaur groups to sell 15,000 tickets. They stayed true to their progressive/ guitar playing roots. Their new song Caravan is being played on 'classic' and hard rock stations all through Texas and the south. And I am not even a true Rush fan.

I also know that among my friends, they stopped listening to Styx once they changed course. My brother along with some others were die hards as much or more than I was, but when Cornerstone came along I can still remember them saying 'what is this shi t.' 'I cant believe this is Styx'. They would then hit the button or buttons on the old Dodge Dart searching for some new Boston, New England, Triumph, April Wine, The Cars etc.... Styx actually became kind of a joke in the circles that I ran with.

[Don]

Iron Maiden sells out the LA. Forum whenever they come to town. 17,500 for a group that has never been on Top 40 radio. It's all about your fan base. As long as you don't splinter it with band politics, you can still sell out most arenas here in the states, especially if you have ever had any success in the past even if it was 30 years ago.

[Ash]

Dennis has been consistent in his position that the Music Business is just that... a Business. Businesses are meant to make money. If you're not making money, then you eventually go out of business.

He felt switching up the style was in the best interests of Styx from a business perspective. And - honestly - he was right. Paradise Theatre was their biggest album and their biggest tour ever. Artistically? He doesn't talk about it.

I don't see Paradise Theatre being artistically inferior to Grand Illusion. In many ways, I find it better.

[Boomchild]

Dennis has been consistent in his position that the Music Business is just that... a Business. Businesses are meant to make money. If you're not making money, then you eventually go out of business.

He felt switching up the style was in the best interests of Styx from a business perspective. And - honestly - he was right. Paradise Theatre was their biggest album and their biggest tour ever. Artistically? He doesn't talk about it.

I don't see Paradise Theatre being artistically inferior to Grand Illusion. In many ways, I find it better.

I agree. Also people seem to keep forgetting that it wasn't just Dennis that had voting rights with regard to band direction. So did the other members. So, they agreed to go in that direction otherwise they would have stayed on the same course. As far as Styx losing members of it's fan base when they changed direction, I'm sure they did. They also gained new fans and I believe it either balanced their fan base out or even increased it. A good majority of artists\bands change their direction to mirror the current popular music style. You will always be a able to pick out a very small segment that doesn't and remains successful like Rush for example. They are the exceptions. I always felt that Styx was a band with various musical styles due to the nature of the band member's own musical styles. I believe the fans they lost did not understand that about the band. I feel at times that fans put unrealistic demands on artists\bands like not understanding that a artist\band can get bored of doing the same thing or wishes to explore new things.

[Boomchild]

Great interview.

I really didnt understand what the hell he was talking about when he compared writing the hits Lady and Come Sail Away. He knew they were hits, but he didnt know they were hits ,and you shouldnt write thinking everything you do is good. It was like someone trying to explain Obamas Health Care Plan.

Dennis is a GREAT listen. He sounds really happy. Thats great.

I dont agree with him that in 1979 Art or Progressive rock was done. Dennis he has always stated that a great song is a great song in any era. So wouldnt GREAT progressive song in 1984 would still be a GREAT progressive song?? Pink Floyd proved that over and over again. Dennis then proved that again with 'Crossing The Rubican.'

It also sounds like there could be a chance for he and Tommy to hook up again. I for one hope they include Glen if this ever takes place. WOW would that be GREAT!!!!


Great interview!!!

P.S. Riddle me this: In Texas we currently pay around 46Cents per gallon in state and federal taxes on each gallon of gasoline sold. About 2/3 of that goes to the state and the other 1/3+ goes to the Federal Government. The federal government now wants to up what that tax where the Feds get at least 36 cents per gallon of gasoline sold.This is something that will bring in alot of extra tax money to help us pay down our trillion dollar deficit.

That is one HUGE chunck of change brought in from every driver in America.

So here is my riddle: the Feds also want us off of gasoline. They want us driving something more enviornmental friendly. If everyone, or the majority of us go green and we drive battery operated, solar operated or whatever tpye of cars, and we use wind / water/ sun as our power souces, where do the Feds and State governments now get their HUGE amount of tax money from???

I think Dennis' view of a great song is a great song no matter what style it is or if it fits with the current popular genre is just a personal view. I think he understands that the listening public may not agree. He also said he does not like to put his songs into categories. He didn't want to put limits on the types of songs Styx would do, something that the other members didn't seem to agree with.

[Archetype]

Iron Maiden sells out the LA. Forum whenever they come to town. 17,500 for a group that has never been on Top 40 radio. It's all about your fan base. As long as you don't splinter it with band politics, you can still sell out most arenas here in the states, especially if you have ever had any success in the past even if it was 30 years ago.

They came damn close to selling out the ~23,000 seat First Niagara Pavilion near Pittsburgh, PA on this past summer on their Final Frontier tour. They've always stayed true to their music and don't have that "rockstar" attutide. Much like Rush. Styx, not so much. Their egos grew with every album sold.

[StyxCollector]

Some of you folks must be casual RUsh fans. You don't think that fanbase is splintered? There's the "keyboards and the 80s ruined Rush" crowd who only likes 1981 and earlier (Signals and/or GUP are the turning points for many), there is the "all Rush is good" crowd, etc. Yes, they can still sell venues around the world on their own and do a 3 hour show, but don't be fooled into thinking the fanbase is united and doesn't bicker.

Oh, and while I am a huge Rush fan, you don't think all the swag they sell (bobbleheads, etc.) is meant to be art, do you? It's commerce.