JY interview October 2013

[Archetype]

I've never liked how he addresses the topic of John Panozzo. It's like he passively aggressively compliments him to try to vindicate himself for his constant mantra that Todd is so much better. Todd has been in the band for 17 years! Give the "he's a new engine" thing a break. Let the performances sell themselves (and yes, JY, you guys are a fantastic live band.) I just think he's not particularly tactful about Panozzo vs. Sucherman.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/james-young-styx-2013-interview/

Well, God bless and God rest John Panozzo. He was really extremely strong behind the drumkit. He did a wonderful drum solo in a number of the sets that we would do live. Todd has fusion level chops and I mean, he was voted No. 1 rock drummer in the 2009 Readers’ Poll of Modern Drummer magazine. I don’t think John Panozzo ever made the top ten. John was obviously strong enough and talented enough to carry us a long way, but Todd grew up on our music, living in Chicago and it’s like having a new engine under the hood of this race car and I just love taking it out for a ride.

[Boomchild]

JY's not your tactful type of person. Never has been, never will be.

[FormerDJMike]

Personally, I prefer John. Todd is one of the best but I don't like how he adds so much to the songs. If you listen to old performances with John compared to all the "fills" Todd adds, I like John's stuff better. But thats just me.

[Archetype]

I used to prefer Todd, but lately I've been listening to a lot of Styx studio recordings (not Regurgitation) and enjoying the solid feel of John's drumming. I've also noticed that Tom Sharpe of Dennis's band plays the parts much closer to John's style, and it sounds really good.

[Boomchild]

I used to prefer Todd, but lately I've been listening to a lot of Styx studio recordings (not Regurgitation) and enjoying the solid feel of John's drumming. I've also noticed that Tom Sharpe of Dennis's band plays the parts much closer to John's style, and it sounds really good.

I know that Dennis doesn't feel that all those "fills" are needed. They stand on their own as they were originally done.

[Archetype]

I used to prefer Todd, but lately I've been listening to a lot of Styx studio recordings (not Regurgitation) and enjoying the solid feel of John's drumming. I've also noticed that Tom Sharpe of Dennis's band plays the parts much closer to John's style, and it sounds really good.

I know that Dennis doesn't feel that all those "fills" are needed. They stand on their own as they were originally done.

The fills are flashy and impressive, to be sure, but I sometimes feel like they're over the top and a disservice to the song. I recently watched Caught In The Act with a really good sound system. John Panozzo's drumming is really rock solid and serves the song wonderfully, so I'm annoyed with JY as he takes passive-aggressive jabs at Mr. Panozzo in interviews. I've also been to three Dennis concerts and felt like Tom Sharpe's drumming made it feel a lot more like a Styx concert. I'm not taking anything away from Todd though. He's a ridiculously incredible drummer. I just think that he might be better suited to being in a band such as Dream Theater.

[Boomchild]

The fills are flashy and impressive, to be sure, but I sometimes feel like they're over the top and a disservice to the song. I recently watched Caught In The Act with a really good sound system. John Panozzo's drumming is really rock solid and serves the song wonderfully, so I'm annoyed with JY as he takes passive-aggressive jabs at Mr. Panozzo in interviews. I've also been to three Dennis concerts and felt like Tom Sharpe's drumming made it feel a lot more like a Styx concert. I'm not taking anything away from Todd though. He's a ridiculously incredible drummer. I just think that he might be better suited to being in a band such as Dream Theater.

I clearly get your point in that it's not about Todd's skills. It's about how his approach serves the material. Sometimes less is better. With JY wanting Styx to be more of a straight rock band I can see why he would make the statements he has. It does nothing to support their legacy.

[masque]

honestly, i think the majority of folks simply just dislike JY......because I think that is one of the best and most honest interviews I have ever read with the guy.

I love John and Todd....John was/is incredible and he wrote those drum parts....so I tip my hat to him. I would prefer that John was alive and still drumming in Styx.

But to my ears Todd is literally one of the best drummers I have ever heard in my life......if I were starting a band today and could choose any living drummer it would come down to Todd or Neal Peart. So that's the best compliment I can give him.

I dont read JY's comments as a passive aggressive shot at John.....I simply seeing him trying to be honest about the way his ears hear their playing. At this point, JY has played hundreds of more shows with Todd as his drummer than he did with John as his drummer......so it's likely his ears have actually become more accustomed to Todd's approach than John's.

I think we forget that these guys were simply co-workers......we cant stand the thought of them not liking each other or believing that some "replacement" guy is actually better than the original guy that had that spot......we see these bands and their members as "snapshots in time".....and dont want any of it to change.....I'm sure JY looks at it and wants to praise Todd all he can because he works well with the guy.....he must because he's worked extensively with him at a break neck pace for over 17 years. That's really how I see it. At the end of the day I dont think he's putting John down as much as he's lifting Todd up.

[cittadeeno23]

I love JY and I always will, but he goes out of his way to keep telling anyone who will listen that this current version of the band is the "best incarnation" ever.
What he needs to remember is that the real Styx (DDY/TS/JY/JP/CP) sold 35 million records (probably much more) had 16 top 40 pop-hits, and many more Rock radio hits, along with highly successful sold out tours.
The current "incarnation" has sold ZERO million albums, has ZERO top 40 pop hits and has ZERO rock radio hits.
I could care less if Todd is a "beast" on drums and if Gowen is a "classically trained" pianist. Todd is not John and Gowen is not Dennis. John invented the drum parts on ALL of Styx' hits and Dennis wrote, sang, played keys and produced all the hit Styx albums. How many Styx hit songs/albums did Todd invent? How many Styx hit songs/albums did Gowen invent?
The current "incarnation" is basically a nostalgia act/cover band which is making money off of the real Styx' past. Period.
JY can be proud of the current band all he wants and he has earned the right to be able to enjoy himself and continue touring doing what he loves. God Bless him.
But I really wish he would quit taking little digs at the real band that made him famous, and when he says the current version of the band is the best version of the band, that is EXACTLY what he is doing.

[Archetype]

Excellent wording of what I've been trying to say. John did so much more for Styx than Todd has. And actually, as far as studio material goes, with "One With Everything" being the only exception, John's drumming parts are far superior to Todd's. The drumming in almost every Styx song since Todd joined has been ridiculously mundane. Todd is a fantastic drummer, but he isn't that great at writing drum parts like John was. I like current Styx, and will continue to see them in concert with it's convenient, but JY's jabs at the lineup that made Styx what it is are really annoying from a fan's perspective.

But current Styx's cover of "I Am The Walrus" ended up on some radio chart in Texas!

[Toph]

If Todd was that great of a drummer, he'd be with a band that had sniffed a hit record in the last 20+ years...

[gr8dane]

I love JY and I always will, but he goes out of his way to keep telling anyone who will listen that this current version of the band is the "best incarnation" ever.
What he needs to remember is that the real Styx (DDY/TS/JY/JP/CP) sold 35 million records (probably much more) had 16 top 40 pop-hits, and many more Rock radio hits, along with highly successful sold out tours.
The current "incarnation" has sold ZERO million albums, has ZERO top 40 pop hits and has ZERO rock radio hits.
I could care less if Todd is a "beast" on drums and if Gowen is a "classically trained" pianist. Todd is not John and Gowen is not Dennis. John invented the drum parts on ALL of Styx' hits and Dennis wrote, sang, played keys and produced all the hit Styx albums. How many Styx hit songs/albums did Todd invent? How many Styx hit songs/albums did Gowen invent?
The current "incarnation" is basically a nostalgia act/cover band which is making money off of the real Styx' past. Period.
JY can be proud of the current band all he wants and he has earned the right to be able to enjoy himself and continue touring doing what he loves. God Bless him.
But I really wish he would quit taking little digs at the real band that made him famous, and when he says the current version of the band is the best version of the band, that is EXACTLY what he is doing.

Isn't there a difference in 'Best version ever' and 'Best version ever taking the stage' ?

[cittadeeno23]

Classic Styx was better on record and especially on stage. It's not even close. And even if JY doesn't agree, he has to know why he is still able to make a living off of Styx.
It's insulting to the fans like me who have followed this band since the beginnning to insinuate that the new band is better.
And it's even MORE insulting to Dennis and John who put their hearts and souls into making Styx what they became.
The Current band has absolutely NOTHING to do with that.

[gr8dane]

JY,don't ever change.
Reading the whimpering sniveling posts, that you bring out of the teenage girls here are priceless.
Keep doing what you are doing.
I agree that your Styx is greater live.
No Babe,No robots.

[Toph]

JY,don't ever change.
Reading the whimpering sniveling posts, that you bring out of the teenage girls here are priceless.
Keep doing what you are doing.
I agree that your Styx is greater live.
No Babe,No robots.

But you do get shitty JY vocals.

[yogi]

Did any of you get to see Really classic Styx with JC?

[Boomchild]

honestly, i think the majority of folks simply just dislike JY......because I think that is one of the best and most honest interviews I have ever read with the guy.

I love John and Todd....John was/is incredible and he wrote those drum parts....so I tip my hat to him. I would prefer that John was alive and still drumming in Styx.

But to my ears Todd is literally one of the best drummers I have ever heard in my life......if I were starting a band today and could choose any living drummer it would come down to Todd or Neal Peart. So that's the best compliment I can give him.

I dont read JY's comments as a passive aggressive shot at John.....I simply seeing him trying to be honest about the way his ears hear their playing. At this point, JY has played hundreds of more shows with Todd as his drummer than he did with John as his drummer......so it's likely his ears have actually become more accustomed to Todd's approach than John's.

I think we forget that these guys were simply co-workers......we cant stand the thought of them not liking each other or believing that some "replacement" guy is actually better than the original guy that had that spot......we see these bands and their members as "snapshots in time".....and dont want any of it to change.....I'm sure JY looks at it and wants to praise Todd all he can because he works well with the guy.....he must because he's worked extensively with him at a break neck pace for over 17 years. That's really how I see it. At the end of the day I dont think he's putting John down as much as he's lifting Todd up.

The point is comments like this and the ones made about DDY serves no purpose on the bands legacy and those that made it happen. Everyone has faults and this is JY's.

[Boomchild]

Isn't there a difference in 'Best version ever' and 'Best version ever taking the stage' ?

Not sure, since they have omitted so much from their set lists of what they did in the past.

[Boomchild]

Classic Styx was better on record and especially on stage. It's not even close. And even if JY doesn't agree, he has to know why he is still able to make a living off of Styx.
It's insulting to the fans like me who have followed this band since the beginnning to insinuate that the new band is better.
And it's even MORE insulting to Dennis and John who put their hearts and souls into making Styx what they became.
The Current band has absolutely NOTHING to do with that.

I really doubt that majority of people coming to their current shows are doing so because of this specific lineup. It has more to do with their past then anything else.

[Archetype]

Classic Styx was better on record and especially on stage. It's not even close. And even if JY doesn't agree, he has to know why he is still able to make a living off of Styx.
It's insulting to the fans like me who have followed this band since the beginnning to insinuate that the new band is better.
And it's even MORE insulting to Dennis and John who put their hearts and souls into making Styx what they became.
The Current band has absolutely NOTHING to do with that.

I really doubt that majority of people coming to their current shows are doing so because of this specific lineup. It has more to do with their past then anything else.

Exactly. Tommy and JY didn't fight tooth and nail for the Styx name for nothing.

[gr8dane]

JY,don't ever change.
Reading the whimpering sniveling posts, that you bring out of the teenage girls here are priceless.
Keep doing what you are doing.
I agree that your Styx is greater live.
No Babe,No robots.

But you do get shitty JY vocals.

That I do.

[gr8dane]

Isn't there a difference in 'Best version ever' and 'Best version ever taking the stage' ?

Not sure, since they have omitted so much from their set lists of what they did in the past.

Don't forget 'Best version ever taking the stage',is to to him,not anyone else.

[gr8dane]

honestly, i think the majority of folks simply just dislike JY......because I think that is one of the best and most honest interviews I have ever read with the guy.

I love John and Todd....John was/is incredible and he wrote those drum parts....so I tip my hat to him. I would prefer that John was alive and still drumming in Styx.

But to my ears Todd is literally one of the best drummers I have ever heard in my life......if I were starting a band today and could choose any living drummer it would come down to Todd or Neal Peart. So that's the best compliment I can give him.

I dont read JY's comments as a passive aggressive shot at John.....I simply seeing him trying to be honest about the way his ears hear their playing. At this point, JY has played hundreds of more shows with Todd as his drummer than he did with John as his drummer......so it's likely his ears have actually become more accustomed to Todd's approach than John's.

I think we forget that these guys were simply co-workers......we cant stand the thought of them not liking each other or believing that some "replacement" guy is actually better than the original guy that had that spot......we see these bands and their members as "snapshots in time".....and dont want any of it to change.....I'm sure JY looks at it and wants to praise Todd all he can because he works well with the guy.....he must because he's worked extensively with him at a break neck pace for over 17 years. That's really how I see it. At the end of the day I dont think he's putting John down as much as he's lifting Todd up.

The point is comments like this and the ones made about DDY serves no purpose on the bands legacy and those that made it happen. Everyone has faults and this is JY's.

Not many people who thinks JY and Tommy is ruining Styx' legacy goes to their concerts,so why should they care ?

[Archetype]

Did any of you get to see Really classic Styx with JC?

I did, Aug. 3rd 1975 Ohio River Music Festival, Nippert Stadium UC Campus. JC left the band 4 months later in December.

Lineup

Aerosmith
Styx
Blue Öyster Cult
Reo Speedwagon
Foghat
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Outlaws
Black Oak Arkansas
Mahogony Rush
Bobby Womack

Were they clearly missing something that only Todd Sucherman could bring to the table?

[yogi]

How good were they live pre Tommy Shaw?

[Boomchild]

Don't forget 'Best version ever taking the stage',is to to him,not anyone else.

Well I know it's not me.

[Boomchild]

Not many people who thinks JY and Tommy is ruining Styx' legacy goes to their concerts,so why should they care ?

Because, it shows JY's, not so much Tommy's lack of respect for the work their former band mates put in to make them a success. It's just petty.

[masque]

dear god.....most of you guys are missing the point......JY saying that this verison of styx is the best version of styx has nothing to do with it being the "most creative" verison of styx or of it being "the best hitmaking verision of styx" or the "most money making version of styx".

his statement is accurate......I have seen styx nearly 20 times live over the years with the classic lineup, with Burtnik replacing Shaw and with Todd in for John and with Burtnik in for Chuck and with Gowen in for DDY and Ricky in for Burtnik. So I think I have a legitimate basis for saying this;

this version of styx is the best version of styx.....they put on the best show and they are a well oiled machine these days.....they are about as tight and powerful of a live band you will see these days anywhere.....I have taken friends with me to see this version of styx and they are not even really fans and they have left nearly speechless about how good of a live band they are.

and guess what, if the original band had stayed together, and alive and cleaned up their various habits they would also be the best version of styx.....why? because of the amount of shows they have played and their willingness to keep trying to get better. they would simply be better at their craft.

I do not like this version of styx as my favorite....I prefer the classic lineup and I certainly prefer DDY to be in the band.....I also think that JY's vocals have declined as do many aging rock star's voices (with the obvious exceptions of a few).....but as a live band they smoke right now!!! plain and simple.....you may hate JY and you may hate Gowan and his voice compared to DDY but to deny that they are a great band is just plain stupid and shows you have no ear for music.

Dont confuse the political issues of the band with the musical talent.

I also dont think this verison of styx could create as memorable new music as the classic lineup...but neither can DDY or Journey, or Foreigner or the stones or U2 of any other band that has been trying to create new music for multiple decades......after a while the ideas come slower and you wind up repeating yourself alot and your new music isnt as creative as your old music.....once again, I dont think JY is referring to the new being the best because of their creativity but rather their ability to bring it as a live act night after night after night with a high level of consistency.

I just dont understand the issue with everyone......I prefer the old styx, I prefer tommy and DDY over JY.......so I am not "that guy" that worships all things JY and thinks Gowan is a better singer than DDY.....I know the score......but I do know that this version of styx may be one of the top 3 live bands I have seen in my life. and I have seen hundreds in my lifetime.

[masque]

If Todd was that great of a drummer, he'd be with a band that had sniffed a hit record in the last 20+ years...

dude.....out of all the insane stuff you have said over the years trying to get people stirred up around here.....that statement is honestly the most misinformed statement you have ever made......i'm having to wipe my drink off my monitor from spitting it all over the place because of how hard I was laughing at the ludicrous nature of your post.....thanks for the great laugh! I needed it.

[Toph]

Really? If Todd was that great, he would be in a band writing new material and playing in front of 30,000 a night. Instead he's a John Panozzo stand in...