JY Interview

by **piecesofeight** » Sat May 08, 2004 1:30 am

http://lawrence.com/news/music_interviews/story/125919

In looking over the track listing of songs that I am assuming that were Dennis' choices, I wonder which one's JY and Tommy were unhappy with that Dennis chose. Okay, I can obviously guess a few, but like them or not, would anyone expect them to not be on a cd of this type? At least he didn't choose something like 'First Time.' Plus I am sure that not every Dennis Styx song that is on the cd was his choice either.
95% this is about what I'd expect to see on a Styx cd of this type.
Dear John made it. Which I am very happy for and feel it's very appropriate, but Paradise didn't get put on.
In looking over the track listing again, I just can't figure out what JY and Tommy are so upset over with Dennis' selections. Babe, like it or not, has to be on a cd of this type. Plus we don't know what songs from these guys that they chose and which one of theirs execs chose.
Or is this just JY finding another way to make a stab at Dennis. I wish the interviewer would have asked him what songs he was talking about.

by **yogi** » Sat May 08, 2004 2:34 am

My big problem with 'Come Sail Away' is that how can top 40 charting songs be left out. This is suppose to be the anthology. Dont Let It End a song I cant stand climbed to like #6 or # 3 something like that. Music Time another song I disliked was in the top 40 as was Love At First Sight. Those three songs along with Waiting For Our Time To Come which did receive alot of air play last year should of been included on Come Sail Away. How can you leave out legit hits???? The fans liked em or they would not of been hits, or received airplay!!!!!!

by **classicstyxfan** » Sat May 08, 2004 4:00 am

Interesting Interview.........I have a beter understandng of where JY is coming from in this whole thing.

I realize of course there are always 3 versions of any story or agrgument...

Person #1's version
Prerson # 2's version
and...........
The Truth !

by **Ash** » Sat May 08, 2004 5:06 am

Can somebody tell me what the Tommy Shaw / Ted Nugent incident was? I don't remember hearing about this.

by **bondrkm** » Sat May 08, 2004 5:28 am

Ash wrote:Can somebody tell me what the Tommy Shaw / Ted Nugent incident was? I don't remember hearing about this.

I believe that Tommy & Ted while touring with Dam Yankees would make fun of Babe on stage.

by **LordofDaRing** » Sat May 08, 2004 5:32 am

Ash I think the interviewer was actually eluding to the ted nugent bashing the guitar when tommy would start to sing babe stick that DY was doing on their tour, real droll stuff......

The reluctant legend is a real piece of work. I will give the interviewer some credit, he did ask some pretty direct questions. Since the reluctant one made some personal observations, I thought I might make a few here:

JY grumbled internally over cornerstone but stood tall and backed Dennis during Kilroy (yeah right, grumbled while cornerstone shot to the top of the charts)

Gowan a better keyboard player (debatealbe, didn't tommy say he wanted for years to do fooling yourself as a solo act, but nobody could do the keyboard part, he sure can't out sing DDY)

Many people in radio think the carrot is the best thing styx has done (who...who...wolfman jack, casey kasem, howard stern....who who)

A sarcastic reference to tommy not being in the band for 13 years (JY did'nt tommy quit first)

Dennis second option was styx after his third record fizzled out (STYX was/is JY's ONLY option after none of his solo records did anything, same goes for Tommy)

Many references to Dennis being "incredibly represented" on the new anthology (damn thing would not sell anything without his tunes...wait maybe we can sub witch wolf for grand illusion)

record comanies are guilty of wanting to make a profit (duh..this guy has a college degree?)

Some truth to the humor of the SNL sketch (It is a credit that Dennis could find humor in that segment on the same night his father passed away, I remember seeing it, not very funny really....Will do another funny elf movie, and get reluctant to costar)

JY has more job security than 99% of most americans (thanks in large part to the talents of that guy Gowan replaced)

Comparing himself to George Washington and Tommy to Thomas Jefferson (More like Nixon and Liddy)

JY was tired of Dennis Jacking him around (all the way to the bank huh dude)

Enough is enough (yes and most STYX fans agree reluctant)

JY thinks Mr Roboto is a great song (since when, oh yeah since it resurfaced in popularity)

Tommy was furious over several things dennis had done, which I won't go into (why not? was tommy furious over the fact that he signed the rights to STYX back over on his own accord? Goes back to the same old philosophy, this guy is a jerk, I can't tell you why, just accept my word for it...sorry reluctant...no can do)

by **Ash** » Sat May 08, 2004 5:32 am

Well yeah... I mean Tommy and Jack Blades exchanged jabs about Babe.... Jack Blades would make fun of Babe, and Tommy made fun of "sister Christian"..... but how is that an incident?

by **classicstyxfan** » Sat May 08, 2004 6:01 am

I forget, which charity did JY give his share of the profits from the singles "First Time", "Babe", and "Show Me the way" to again ?

He couldnt have kept that money in good conscience, could he ?

by **Ash** » Sat May 08, 2004 6:24 am

I have to admit, I'm getting REALLY sick and tired of the constant rehashing of this by JY. Perhaps the guy needs a good counselor or someone to talk to because frankly I don't want to hear this shit anymore. They fired him - we know that and we know why. Can he please just shut the fuck up now and go back to the saloon or bowling alley or wherever the hell their next show is? It would be like getting divorced and then everytime someone asks you how you are you go into a diatribe about what a bitch your ex-wife was. Move on James... Please... before you get an ulcer.

I'm really getting irritated with him having to rehash this every interview. If he had any class he would just say "Yeah well I really just don't want to talk about that anymore". Meanwhile Dennis is cracking jokes and selling shows. I was really starting to kinda warm up and accept the new Styx (even if only a little bit) but this constant bullshit is NOT going to garner them any new fans.

by **classicstyxfan** » Sat May 08, 2004 6:49 am

Ash, do you think anyone besides us is actually READING any of these interviews ???? I don't.

It's like children and pets...getting any kind of attention is better than no attention at all, deep down , giving these interviews provides JY with a ( n inflated ) sense of relevance in 2004.

In his defense, at least he didnt duck the questions.......but if you arent interested in what he has to say, perhaps a Styx chat board isnt an ideal place to hang out, after all , the flow of NEW music coming out from the boys new and old isnt exactly overwhelming.....that said, what else is there to talk about ?

I enjoyed Lord's post picking apart some of the silly things he said as much as I enjoyed reading the interview.

by **ptgraphics** » Sat May 08, 2004 7:01 am

Sound like JY needs more than just counseling. Might be better if they just laced up the gloves, got in the ring and let it all fly... Winner Take All!

PAT

by **swwskj** » Sat May 08, 2004 8:12 am

Classic,

Once again you are all over it!

One thing I really got a kick out of is JY saying that "this is the best line-up to ever take the stage."---What a frickin' joke!

Why doesn't this "fantastic" line-up write the "best album ever" and tour playing just that material?....Oh yeah that's because as DDY would say "it's all bullshit". JY lives off the back of greater artists that afford him a forum that he can bestow upon us his great intelligence "A do have an engineering degree, or did I mention that yet?"

JY-he'd scratch his ass if his head itched.

Scott

by **styxfanNH** » Sat May 08, 2004 8:23 am

Hey its his opinion. Take it for what its worth. If nothing else it shows how much he feels DDY hurt the band, right or wrong.

The band was popular because of all of the music not just ddy's and not just jy's or tommy's.

The band goes on and if you don't like what they are doing now, so be it.

by **piecesofeight** » Sat May 08, 2004 8:44 am

It's just funny that these 'shots' keep coming from a guy who didn't contribute as much as the guy he shoots down.
As much as some want to say Dennis hurt the band, it isn't as much as JY hasn't done for the band.
IF, Dennis hurt the band, not before he helped them so much more than JY.
Granted, I don't even care that much for some of the stuff that Dennis did that the gets blamed for messing up the band, but it brought in thousands of new fans and helped sell millions of records.
The stuff that JY keeps referring to that messed up Styx. One day he hates it, then the next day he loves it when it becomes a part of pop culture again.
If it was messing up the band so much, why did JY say. OR even more so, why didn't he create something better. :wink:

by **swwskj** » Sat May 08, 2004 10:11 am

styxfanNH,

You are correct, it is his opinion. The thing I have a problem with is that I've heard it already, in fact I've heard it over and over and over again. Do you hear this kind of revisionist backstabbing from the DDY camp? NO.

Look, I'm a JY fan pre 1999. It is the CONSTANT sewage spilling out of the reluctant legend that turns me off. Every chance he gets he trys to drag down DDY instead of build up Styx mach Syx.

That is why there is a backlash against the Great White Dope.

Scott

by **bugsymalone** » Sat May 08, 2004 11:10 am

I think Classic has a point. Probably very few people read those interviews, especially obscure ones like the one JY gave. I think more people, even casual readers, might check out a story or interview in their local papers, and Dennis has been doing several of those.
We are talking about a small number of people even interested enough to check out an interview like the one JY gave.

That said, Dennis, Tommy and JY are always going to be asked those leading, sometimes provocative, questions and the bottom line is, how do they answer them? On the one hand, you have Dennis responding mostly with very subtle humor and always with a lot of class. He does not put down, whine, or complain about what the rest of the group did other than say that it was not his decision to leave.

Contrast that with the self-serving, self-centered responses of JY. He has no resources upon which to base his responses, so he makes things up or, more often, simply embellishes and exaggerates events to make himself appear way more important than he ever was to Styx. He desperately needed and needs this band now, to validate his life. This is apparent in every response he gives.

JY’s attitude towards Dennis is a very typical response of someone who has both low self esteem and is extremely jealous of the greater talent of someone who, essentially, helped make him a rock star in a rock Supergroup.
He is no longer a “star” and the band he is in is no longer “super.” They are a sad, watered-down version of something that was at one time, quite amazing.

Dennis at least realizes if he wants to continue to perform now and in the future, he has to make the concessions to both age and the changing fan base that now both he and the current lineup need to continue to attract to their concerts. Album sales are essentially over.

In my book, Dennis is doing the far superior job with the type of concert he is performing because it can attract the widest audience.

Mind you I was, and remain, an enormous fan of Classic Styx. The Styx of yesteryear. The Styx that does not exist anymore.

All the above, of course, always one person’s opinion and my .02.

Bugsy

by **swwskj** » Sat May 08, 2004 11:40 am

Bugsy,

My friend you have once again hit it out of the park. Is it me or do your posts consistantly outperform the brilliance of even mine? LOL

Your mensa buddy in arms,

Scott

p.s. I really am in mensa, but I went inactive when the other guys in my area started speaking Klingon. Ha!

by **sadie65** » Sat May 08, 2004 11:50 am

You know, more people read these things than any of us here think. That being said, these same people most likely do not know the history of the band as we do. We sit down with a newspaper, perhaps thinking we'll check out what's going on locally for entertainment. And we find interviews like these. How often have we all read an interview with someone (doesn't have to be a member of Styx in any incarnation), and based on what the interviewee said, we believe them? How often have we taken something we've heard or seen in print and decided that it must be accurate?

I don't begrudge JY the right to his feelings or opinions. I myself, am tired of reading the same old responses though. And it saddens me that there will be people out there who think this dreck is the whole story.

Dennis most assuredly did tick off the guys in the band from time to time. No doubt about it. And no, he wasn't always the best behaved towards them he could have been. But I truly don't understand why, if life is sooooooooo much better now for one Mr. Young, he feels a need to keep rehashing the very thing he claims they are finished with. Seems to me that he himself has gotten stuck inside his own anger. Not healthy, not productive, and certainly not adult. But then, I guess he's okay with that...after all he is a "reluctant legend". :wink:

It occurs to me that for him to simply make the statement that he and the band have moved on would be detrimental to him. Why? Well because then the interview would have very little to it. And that's a shame. Because, in spite of my feelings as to his attitude in this whole fiasco, he most likely has quite a bit to say that might actually be worth reading.

Too bad most people reading it won't know the difference.

Just my .02 as well.

Sadie

by **GaryS** » Sat May 08, 2004 12:10 pm

Wait... There is a rift going on between Tommy and Dennis?

by **bugsymalone** » Sat May 08, 2004 1:05 pm

p.s. I really am in mensa, but I went inactive when the other guys in my area started speaking Klingon. Ha!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bugsy

Oh, and Live Long and Prosper, Scott

by **LordofDaRing** » Sat May 08, 2004 2:20 pm

The parallel I have drawn before is Paul McCartney with the Beatles. In many interviews, his former band mates made similar accusations: to bossy in the studio, controling, ego maniac, etc. But Paul did ultimately what was best for the Beatles. Ringo was not a song writer, and George's writing improved towards the end, but John's obsessive love with "the real Yoko", plus a heroin habit put half of the song writing team in a weaker state. There were times when Paul carried the beatles, not always, just certain points in their career. We the fans, through it all never suffered from the output of the songs. Lets face it JY is the ringo here, maybe even the Pete Best. While ddy took the shots for Kilroy, where were all of Tommy's great songs....certainly not being held back for that masterpiece Girls with guns or What If. I do not think the two existing STYX members had anything better to offer at the time. I would rather have Cornerstone, Paradise Theater and yes Kilroy was here than the solo material that came out of these guys. Somebody should forward entire posts like this to STYXWorld, just to let them know that a lot of life long fans of the band don't think that everthing is cool in the land of the brave new world.

by **Ash** » Sat May 08, 2004 10:19 pm

classicstyxfan wrote:In his defense, at least he didnt duck the questions.......but if you arent interested in what he has to say, perhaps a Styx chat board isnt an ideal place to hang out, after all , the flow of NEW music coming out from the boys new and old isnt exactly overwhelming.....that said, what else is there to talk about ?

Good point... I'm just so frustrated by all of this. I spent my high school years worshipping (not literal, but you know what I mean) these guys and I got to open the door at the radio station for Dennis and Mike Eldred when they were in Nashville doing the Hunchback thing. As a result I got to have a good talk with a guy whose music helped me get through some very rough times (and sometimes even still does). It's just heartbreaking to see the guys who made all that happen now trying to tear eachother apart. It's like JY is intent on making Dennis one of his own "idols of clay".

I just get emotional about it. Lots of good posts and good reading in this thread and I think I agree with just about all of it. Sometimes I need to get emotional... because I've been really hurt for the last 5 years over this. I've been big fans of many bands.... Styx... Kansas.... Boston... Queensryche.... Savatage... all of whom have either split with or otherwise fired their "meal-ticket" member at one point... and not a one of them hurts as much as Styx does. I think because we're now realizing that Styx (as we loved them the most) is dead forever.

I'm going to go see Dennis on this tour he's doing... if it's the last damn thing I do.

Thanks for putting up with the emotion. It always feels good to vent it a little bit. Not trying to be inflamatory... just trying to heal.

by **SuiteMadameBlue** » Sat May 08, 2004 11:32 pm

Ash, these boards or groups are a great place to vent. Most of us on here understand how you feel, otherwise we wouldn't be here. I hope you'll be able to see Dennis perform soon. There should be more dates posted soon for the Fall tour

I wish I could've seen his Hunchback performance!!

Lord, very interesting point with the Beatles. I wish our posts could be forwarded to the Styxworld board - I would love to be on there, but there's no way I'm going to pay $30.00 :shock:

I'd probably get booted off anyway - LOL Also, I love your first post on this "assembly line"!! I couldn't have said it better!! BTW, JY still hates the song "Mr. Roboto"!! But, he sure loves getting the paycheck. JY keeps stating in his interviews that many people think the Carrot cd is the best Styx cd. Believe me, I talked to TONS of Styx fans and not one said this is the best Styx cd!!

Sadie, I agree totally with your post!! Yes, there are a lot of people that read these articles, fans and non-fans. Heck, I'm on a lot of other groups and once this article was posted from another group, it spread like wild fire and not just on the Styx boards.

Bugsy, great posts too! Yes, all members in the band are asked the same questions town after town. JY is getting more and more bitter. Tommy has been backing off for the past couple months. JY is the Styx spokesman right now. Years ago and I have the articles, Dennis and Tommy did most of the interviews while the other members just sat back. I enjoy reading Dennis' articles. He is asked the same questions over and over and over too. He has been adding humor to most of his answers.

styxfanNH, yes the band was popular because all the band members made it work together. It was Styx the band, not one member. Yes the band goes on and I personally don't like it. It's funny, reading on the other boards, the die-hard Carrot Styx fans are getting sick of them too. They play the same songs or maybe mixing it up, but they are playing the same cities year after year. Heck, last year Carrot Styx came to Wisconsin 7 times in 5 months. This year they're coming to Wisconsin 6 times within 3 months. Isn't that a little crazy? Right now Dennis has the about the same set list, but he's playing solo to cities that he hasn't played. I know that he's going to be adding a few songs, maybe in Fall to mix things up.

Scott, you have the quote of the week:

JY-he'd scratch his ass if his head itched

Too funny!!

by **yogi** » Sun May 09, 2004 1:18 am

I have got to disagree with most of you on this interview. I thought it was a GREAT interview. JY was honest in what he feels is the assessment of the band. You may not like to hear it, but I'd rather hear someone speak the truth( the way THEY see it) as opposed to what we want to hear. The one thing that does not make much sense to me is why no one ever asks JY about the Edge Of The Century CD and tour. How was life in the band without Tommy??? Was the group happy then??? I thought it was real interesting when he said if Dennis had gone out and toured in 1999 they would still probably be intact(Tommy,Dennis, JY, Todd) today. His views of Todd as a drummer are 100%correct. Todd has NO equal on the drums. He is the BEST drummer out there. As I have always stated and JY seemed to allude to is that Dennis did spread himself real real thin back in 1998/1999( Hunchback and all). It(rock and roll BAND) is a TEAM sport so to speak if an athlete spread himself that thin an an injury or illness occured because of it ,the team WOULD move on(Aaron Boone,Manny Ramirez... etc).

by **styxfanNH** » Sun May 09, 2004 2:44 am

Don't get me wrong, I like the classic band also. All I am saying is that there is enough blame to share in why the big 3 aren't together. Jy has his feelings as do the others and the reality is that none of us know the whole story.

JY speaks from his point of view, and it is obvious this is how he feels. I agree with Yogi in that it is new that Jy feels if DDY went out and toured with them in 99 they would probably be together. And that it was the union of the five that made the music work. As you read into the various interviews JY has given in the last couple of years, one thing rings true....JY was deeply hurt when Dennis sued them over the name of the band and that is where many of his feelings come from.

Will we ever see the big 3 back together again? I doubt it...but as we know time heals all wounds. The reality is that if something doesn't get settled within the next 5 years, the answer is a resounding no. It just appears to me that with all this band has provided for us over the long haul, regardless of lineup, that some don't have to keep bashing the current lineup. Like most bands that have been around for thirty years, the lineups change and those who don't like the current work of the lineup will not support them. Just like we do to many other bands.

by **ek88** » Sun May 09, 2004 3:37 am

You are correct, it is his opinion. The thing I have a problem with is that I've heard it already, in fact I've heard it over and over and over again. Do you hear this kind of revisionist backstabbing from the DDY camp? NO.

I think the reason we don't hear much on this topic from the DDY camp is because Dennis was quite satisfied with the Styx products at the time. Kilroy Was Here seems to be his brainchild, by all accounts, so what is there for him to complain about? First Time and Babe both made the cut for Cornerstone (and Babe was extremely successful, to boot). What's there to complain about, from his point of view? I think it's fair to say that he got what he wanted at the time. It's fairly obvious from recent JY interviews that he didn't feel the same way.

Granted, had there been more compromise, maybe Babe doesn't see the light of day (on a Styx album). Maybe Styx doesn't have the same success or MTV exposure without the whole Kilroy concept. But maybe, and this is just an opinion, with a little more compromise going on, Styx maintains the band unity and group dynamics that gave us albums like GI and POE. Musically speaking, that would've been the best scenario, and if that would've meant less fans and platinum albums and videos, so be it.

Of course, all of this is a moot point, what's done is done, but it sure is fun to discuss it and speculate in a friendly manner!

P.S. Even having said what I said, I do think that JY might be best served by simply avoiding the topic.

by **piecesofeight** » Sun May 09, 2004 3:44 am

Yes, everyone has a right to their opinion, and to express it.
I also agree that everyone was to blame for the mess.
JY has every right to feel as he does and express it anyway he wants, BUT for ME, it just cracks me up that he can't let it go and finds anyway to keep slamming Dennis.
In my mind, he is so much more bitter than Tommy.

by **SuiteMadameBlue** » Sun May 09, 2004 3:55 am

JY really needs to move on. I know all the band members are asked about Styx and Dennis, but really, he needs to move on. Before each interview he should tell the reporter to have the questions stay focused on what the band is doing now. I was at an interview in August with JY and you should have seen his face when he was talking about working on The Grand Illusion. For a MOMENT it looked like he was in back in time talking about being in the studio recording it. He was very happy talking about that time period and said that was his favorite album he worked on.

Again, they have the new carrot cd, well, it's a over a year old and they have their huge tour with Frampton and Nelson to promote. That's what he should be talking about.

What would it be like if Styx got back together for one show? Dennis, Jimmy and Tommy. Then you would have Todd on drums, which is okay. Due to Chuck's health problems, there would be no way he could play the whole concert, no way. Would Ricky be up there? Would they ask Glen to come back for a reunion? I don't think so. To me it wouldn't be the same without Chuck and the 3 big ones up on stage.

Just my opinions

Have a GREAT weekend everyone :lol:

by **GaryS** » Sun May 09, 2004 4:18 am

Is Chuck's health deteriorating? I have heard mention of that a couple of times. Is there a place to send a "get well soon" note?

by **SuiteMadameBlue** » Sun May 09, 2004 4:45 am

Gary, I'm trying to find the article from this week. Tommy said in an interview that Chuck is recovering from surgery but he was still able to make the cd signings at Tower Records in Chicago. Maybe I read that on the famous Styxboard, I'll try to find where I read it

I'm not sure what the surgery was for.

It looks like Chuck's website hasn't updated in quite a while. There is another Chuck website that is new and is updated. Here are pictures of Chuck from this week in Chicago:

http://www.chuckpanozzosplace.com/towerrecords.html

MR

JY Interview

JY Interview

Who is online