JY Interview #1

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Okay ChicagoStyx, I could go on and on and on about Dennis, which I still plan to. But, just for you (and Yogi ) I'll be adding JY interviews that I'm finding on-line. I have a TON of hard copy interviews from the band from the 1970's-1990's but the band was SO happy back then to the press.

Here's the transcript:

http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/ ... -05-jy.htm

I'll wait for all of you comments on this one and then I'll add my own

[bugsymalone]

Not much to add there, Suite. Mostly what he has said before, other places. Although the tone of his more recent interviews, as opposed to this one, has become increasingly bitter and angry towards Dennis --unwarrented in my estimation.

In this one, he was a bit more circumspect.

Bugsy

[sadie65]

I find this interview to be typical JY. The comments regarding the possibility of Dennis' return were rather harsh, though in fairness to all of the band members, I would imagine it gets rather tiring having those questions asked over and over again. He still could have taken a better line with it though (IMHO).

He's learned the PR game over the years, and this interview is nothing more than that.

Sadie

[swwskj]

I found it funny that the writer of the article starts off by quoting what I am assuming are in his opinion the three most popular catch phrases from Styx history.

And what praytell were they?

"Domo Arigato", "I'm Sailing Away", and "Lady When You're With Me I'm Smiling".

Hmmm let's see what do these three songs have in common? Oh that's right Gowan sings them all now.

See..It's not always about Dennis...or is it?

Scott

[GaryS]

Go Gowan! Go Gowan! It's your birthday! It's yer birthday!

[froy]

Go Gowan! Go Gowan! It's your birthday! It's yer birthday!

Your right

Go Gowan Go right now back to Canada

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I personally think Larry would be better off as a solo artist again. It would be better for him musically especially up in Canada, eh. I don't have anything against him. He's the only one that didn't say anything negative about the "break-up" of the band or anything negative about anyone that I have read or have seen posted. I personally don't care for his singing voice!!! No offense to the Larry Lovers out there

Is it me or isn't it weird "Styx" thanked Larry in the linear notes on the Brave New World album/cd? If you have this album/cd, just read the notes and then read the "thank you's" for the other band members. Things that make you hmmm - LOL

[ek88]

Is it me or isn't it weird "Styx" thanked Larry in the linear notes on the Brave New World album/cd? If you have this album/cd, just read the notes and then read the "thank you's" for the other band members. Things that make you hmmm

It's not just you. I kind of wondered about that one, too.

[swwskj]

I think when Larry was first added to the band, Tommy mentioned something about him having opened up for Styx during the 1997 tour. He said something like, "Even Dennis would have to admit that he's a great keyboardist."

That's the only reason I can imagine for the thanks. As conspiracy conscious as I am, I don't think it's anything more underhanded than that.

Scott

[bugsymalone]

Did I read? hear? imagine? something about how some of the keyboard work done by Dennis on the non-Dennis songs on BNW was replaced by Tommy and JY during the California end of the recording process?

I think I saw this or heard this in an interview with Dennis regarding this.

If that is the case, perhaps Mr. Gowan was used for the keyboard work on the Tommy and JY end of things, thus the liner note thanks.

This was definitely two separate albums, on one CD under a single name.

Bugsy

[yogi]

I thought I read the same thing. It was in an article about DDY not tournig with Styx in support of Brave New World. Dennis was not happy about it( tour&finished product BNWCD), and he said something about some of his keyboard work being done over or taken out completely. I really did read this somewhere. Theres been sooo many articles since 1999 I cant remember all of em completely.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Yogi, I've seen and collected TONS of articles throughout the years. Here's one of them that you can read on-line that explains a little bit about Brave New World. It was an interview with Dennis.

http://www.styxnet.com/deyoung/print/int_midwest00.html

Here's just PART of the article:

Brave New World is very much a tale of two cities. DeYoung produced his five songs here in Chicago, while Shaw and Young twisted knobs for their tracks in Los Angeles with the help of Damn Yankees producer, Ron Nevison. The lush harmonies inherent to older Styx recordings are watered down and weak-kneed. The album lacks the cohesiveness that in the past has enabled a Styx album flow well, despite its many styles and textures. Without that special 'glue' holding the tracks together, Brave New World sounds like a haphazard collection of left overs rather than a thought-out and carefully assembled project.

"All I can say about it (Brave New World), is that it's an album of missed opportunities," said DeYoung. "It could have and would have been a great Styx record, but I was shut out of everything. I was not allowed any input at all into the final tracks, the sequencing, or the album artwork." Touching upon the bland design on the album makes DeYoung livid. "Isn't that just about the ugliest album you have ever seen?," he asks. "I don't even want to go there. Don't get me started on the album's artwork."

DeYoung likewise divorces himself from much of the project. "All I can say, is that if you don't like my five songs, than blame me. But everything else on that record I really had no involvement with," he said. "All the performances you hear on the songs that JY and Tommy did, I heard for the very first time about two weeks before the record came out. That's why I insisted that asterisks be placed in the production credits on the songs I did, because I had absolutely nothing to do with any of their songs and I wanted the fans to know that."

While the recording experience for Brave New World ended badly, it began rather routinely in August of 1998. "I was really ill at the time, so we worked in the studio at my house. That way, I figured if I started to feel bad, I could go upstairs and lay down, which I did many times," recalled DeYoung. "Tommy had done some work out in California, but mostly he was working here with us and I thought that things were going swimmingly."

[ek88]

Anytime I read anything about Brave New World, I get bummed. Listening to it is like sitting by the pool on a hot summer's day, but not being able to jump in for a swim. You're free to dip your feet in, or sprinkle yourself with some water, but not enjoy the complete experience! You know, I don't even think that the songs on BNW are bad songs, but I really think they would've been GREAT songs if our three boys had closely collaborated. Kind of makes you wonder what the classic albums would've sounded like if they had recorded them in the same fashion as BNW. Maybe someday they'll release the original demos! (yeah right).

[yogi]

That sure is an excellent article. I had read it before, but it was a long time ago. It sure spells out Dennis's perspective of what broke up the band.

If VH1 is looking for new ideas Ive got one. A rock show titled 'The Cutting Room Floor'. It could go back to the different Behind the Music episodes and show us what was said by the different band members and people interviewed that didnt make the cut for the orginal episode. I'd sure like too see alot more of the Styx footage regarding the group split.
It was alot fresher back then.The band breakup stories sure have changed since 1999.

Another GREAT Styx article, that does NOT focus on the band breakup that came out around the time Brave New World was released was The Goldmine magazine article. Styx was on the cover. It was a VERY in depth Styx article. I purchased about 10 of those issues when it came out. GREAT GREAT article!!!!!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Yogi, I have the Goldmine too featuring Styx.

As for Behind the Music - Uncut. If I'm not mistaken, VH1 has released only a FEW episodes that featured UNCUT material. I can't find the uncut versions, but they do have these Behind The Music's on VHS or DVD:

Megadeth, Motley Crue, Blondie & Shania Twain

They also have a few VH1 Storytellers on DVD too. I'm going to purchase the Matchbox Twenty one - didn't know they had it until now

I have a friend that works for VH1, I'll have to find out the scoop and report back