26 East, Vol 1

[yogi]

Gotta disagree ‘some’ with what you said Monker. JY was quoted as saying when Styx was just getting started it was DDY who would always tell them that they were gonna be great someday and that they were great even when they couldn’t pack gymnasiums in and around Chicago. He was the one who kept the band going. He was just like a coach trying to get his players to believe.

Dennis has always given Chuck and John the credit they deserve in the founding of Styx. DDY has always stated he was the one walking past their ( Chuk & John's) house when he heard them playing.

Then when John C quit and 'Chick' found Tommy who joined the band it was DDY that put Tommy out front and center naming the first album with Tommy ‘Crystal Ball’ a song which Tommy brought with him from MS Funk to Styx. Styx then released Mademosille as the first single off of Tommy's first album with Styx.

Even when Styx ended their HUGE run after Kilroy, Dennis held them out not wanting to perform without Tommy. When it appeared Tommy wasn’t coming back ( Damn Yankees) and JY needed $$$$ it was DDY that found Glen and like with Tommy, Dennis put Glen out there front & center titling their new album ‘ Edge of the Century’ and releasing a Glen's single ' Love is the Ritual' first.

He may have been tough to work with but it also sounds like he always tried in his mind to put the band first and allow others to share the spotlight & SHINE.

[Monker]

Gotta disagree ‘some’ with what you said Monker. JY was quoted as saying when Styx was just getting started it was DDY who would always tell them that they were gonna be great someday and that they were great even when they couldn’t pack gymnasiums in and around Chicago. He was the one who kept the band going. He was just like a coach trying to get his players to believe.

Dennis has always given Chuck and John the credit they deserve in the founding of Styx. DDY has always stated he was the one walking past their ( Chuk & John's) house when he heard them playing.

Then when John C quit and 'Chick' found Tommy who joined the band it was DDY that put Tommy out front and center naming the first album with Tommy ‘Crystal Ball’ a song which Tommy brought with him from MS Funk to Styx. Styx then released Mademosille as the first single off of Tommy's first album with Styx.

Even when Styx ended their HUGE run after Kilroy, Dennis held them out not wanting to perform without Tommy. When it appeared Tommy wasn’t coming back ( Damn Yankees) and JY needed $$$$ it was DDY that found Glen and like with Tommy, Dennis put Glen out there front & center titling their new album ‘ Edge of the Century’ and releasing a Glen's single ' Love is the Ritual' first.

He may have been tough to work with but it also sounds like he always tried in his mind to put the band first and allow others to share the spotlight & SHINE.

Being tough to work with is not my point.

Reread what you said. "
"DDY has always stated he was the one walking past their ( Chuk & John's) house when he heard them playing. "
Of course, Dennis is the only reason this band was ever put together. It's all his.

" it was DDY that put Tommy out front and center naming the first album with Tommy ‘Crystal Ball’"
Yep, Dennis is responsible for all of Tommy's success in Styx.

"Dennis held them out not wanting to perform without Tommy. "
Oh, yes, Dennis is so nice and kind to Tommy.

"When it appeared Tommy wasn’t coming back ( Damn Yankees)"
First of all, this isn't true. I have posted here many times that Tommy contacted Dennis MULTIPLE TIMES asking for a Styx reunion but Dennis would not commit because of "Boomchild". In the end, DENNIS TOLD TOMMY to go ahead with DY. Then, when Boomchild had run its course, DDY said everybody else was in contact with each other so the band came together without Tommy. And, this is according to DENNIS.

" and JY needed $$$$ it was DDY that found Glen and like with Tommy, Dennis put Glen out there front & center titling their new album ‘ Edge of the Century’ and releasing a Glen's single ' Love is the Ritual' first. "
Yeah, yeah, Dennis is totally responsible for any good thing that Glen did in Styx. He made him. And, he saved JY from banrupcy.

Do you not see how arrogant this is? You have proven my point for me.

[yogi]

You are 100% correct about Boomchild & Styx & DDY at that time but as for all the rest it all depends how you look at it.

In any endeavor where a group of people are involved you MUST have a leader. Dennis was the leader of Styx. I’m sure at times he was a prick. I’m also sure at times being a prick is what the situation called for. With all that said in my eyes he did a great job of spreading the limelight around. He took a back seat often to give others the spotlight.

It’s all in how you interpret it.

[Monker]

You are 100% correct about Boomchild & Styx & DDY at that time but as for all the rest it all depends how you look at it.

In any endeavor where a group of people are involved you MUST have a leader. Dennis was the leader of Styx. I’m sure at times he was a prick. I’m also sure at times being a prick is what the situation called for. With all that said in my eyes he did a great job of spreading the limelight around. He took a back seat often to give others the spotlight.

It’s all in how you interpret it.

No, this is not what I am trying to get at. I'm not arguing if he was a good leader, or if he was a 'prick' or not. Simply put, I am saying for the past 30yrs or so Dennis talks as if HE is Styx. Even after being kicked out of the band, HE is still Styx - in his mind and how he expresses himself. This album cover is a continuation of that mindset.

As for leadership, I found this fascinating. Dennis is the first type of leader:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6_5dKRudiY

[ChicagoSTYX]

I thought he had 2 songs from the album coming out today. I don’t see anything on iTunes.... I guess I can just listen to A Love Foretold.

[FormerDJMike]

I thought he had 2 songs from the album coming out today. I don’t see anything on iTunes.... I guess I can just listen to A Love Foretold.

Yep me too. Nothing from Frontiers on YouTube either. In fact digital downloads aren't even an option for preorder on Amazon! I pre-ordered the vinyl.

Someone dropped the ball on this. I'm surprised there are no preorders anywhere for digital downloads.

Sirius XM is playing both of the tunes but I don't have Sirius. The Beatles channel is playing the first track. Someone heard East Of Midnight on another channel and said it sounds like classic Styx.

Sure hope these singles appear somewhere soon!

[FormerDJMike]

Finally, digital download preorders are up with samples of all songs on iTunes and Amazon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ezG38Iirqg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p82vm7SD4o

[ChicagoSTYX]

The 2 songs are okay..... AD 2020 is a direct copy from Paradise Theater.....kind of cool to hear. Looking forward to the rest of it now. On iTunes you get a 90 second sample of each song.

[FormerDJMike]

The 2 songs are okay..... but when I listened to samples of the other 8 songs I felt much better about this album. AD 2020 is a direct copy from Paradise Theater.....kind of cool to hear. Looking forward to the rest of it now. On iTunes you get a 90 second sample of each song.

Cool, will check out iTunes because Amazon only had 30 seconds.

[masque]

i think to me you pretty much have to look at DDY as being the leader and "main guy" from styx. so I don't really care about this argument of what it was like to work with him or what he did to save JY or anything else......only those guys know who did what or who was responsible for each other's pain the most etc.

all I want to focus on is the discussion about this album cover and release......I've heard the first two songs many times now and like both, but I do understand some of the criticisms that are being made in this thread......I hear those things but they dont bother me enough to still not be interested in this release.

now that i've had a few weeks to look at the artwork etc, I do think it was heavy handed and intentional to lob a "styx grenade" into the other camp....or into the debate area for the fans........causing more of the "who is really styx?" kind of stuff. if it wasn't intentional then he had to know it was at least going to be seen that way by some folks.

let's face it, DDY is 73, has to now realize that TS and JY will not be reuniting with him "one last time".....it appears they are still very sure of that even based on last summer's big interview with Dan Rather. I think those 2 really just dont like the dude and dont want to work with him.....and they have managed to create enough independence and crowds and money to function at the level they do without him. and because DDY may be truly swallowing the bitter pill of "I guess this is really never gonna happen now", he's decided to go out with a bang, so to speak, and "show the world" what he has believed all the time.........that deep down, he really is the voice of styx and that "he can give fans a truer real styx experience than the band calling themselves styx can". I'm not saying I agree that he does, I'm just saying he' believes that cause he's said it.

and you know what????? why not? he's 73, probably has a bit of "get off my yard" going on at his age and he's gonna take a few jabs at them with the album cover and sound of the songs etc.

it doesn't matter much to me, cause i love both camps.....the songs and band members I prefer are the ones in styx because of the music I like the most, which are things like renegade, great white hope etc. but there is no doubt that both camps music is stronger by acknowledging the best or at least some of the best of what all of them wrote. and I love ALL of the music they made together with the exception of just a couple of songs.

in reality, none of this really matters to anyone outside of the 15,000-50,000 styx fans that still care enough to keep up with this stuff and buy albums.

[FormerDJMike]

Release date pushed back to May 22. Really not surprised with the world situation.

[FormerDJMike]

On WGN TV

https://wgntv.com/morning-news/dennis-deyoung-performs-new-song-with-special-guest-julian-lennon/amp/?fbclid=IwAR14VWbx2OO5vbne8j1MoZzDbj2k-iJChK0t2gReEgxgD_Ba7961pcWKWpw

[SuiteMadameBlue]

On WGN TV

https://wgntv.com/morning-news/dennis-deyoung-performs-new-song-with-special-guest-julian-lennon/amp/?fbclid=IwAR14VWbx2OO5vbne8j1MoZzDbj2k-iJChK0t2gReEgxgD_Ba7961pcWKWpw

Sorry, I just seen your post. I made a thread about this.

[FormerDJMike]

yeah, better off in its own thread, more people may see it that way.