Realistic Views

[styxfanNH]

This is the bulk of an article from commercialappeal.com. For those of you that believe Tommy and JY don't understand their current role with the music, think again.



Guitarist Neal Schon admits that, in its current incarnation, Journey is what he calls a "greatest hits band."

"I don't have a problem with it. I have other musical outlets that are very creative for me," Schon said, calling from Nashville where Journey is rehearsing for its tour. "If we play something new, they look at us like we have four heads."

Memphis in May executive director Jim Holt said the lineup came about for two reasons.

"We've always done artists that appeal to different age groups. In the past we had acts like Foreigner and Kansas," he said.

"Our schedule is also affected by touring trends, and there aren't as many new acts out there touring this year," Holt added. "I'd say there probably isn't as much talent out this year as there has been in the past."

Still, those who come out to see these bands will likely be ardent fans (and may just be wearing a ratty "Escape" T-shirt bought at a long-ago Journey gig).

The reason is simple: songs like "Don't Stop Believin' " and "Renegade" filled the soundtrack of their youth, and they still know every word.

"For the people that grew up listening to the Steve Miller Band, Styx and all those folks, it leaves a lifelong impression on them," said Tim Spencer, operations manager for Rock 103, the city's classic rock station.

Tommy Shaw, guitarist and singer in Styx, understands that. Although the band has released new records since its last Top 40 hit in 1991, the show is dominated by the old stuff.

"(We play) three or four new songs. But the rest of it is dedicated to our favorite Styx songs and the songs we think they want to hear," Shaw said, calling from his Los Angeles home.

"Whatever experiences you were having, Styx was the music you were listening to back then," Shaw added. "As long as Styx and Journey and Steve Miller do a great job with this music, I think fans are always going to want to come out and listen to that music again."

Still, a potential problem lurks, particularly for those longtime fans.

Styx and Journey - arguably two of the most popular bands of the '70s and '80s, with a combined 33 Top 40 hits - each lack one of their most recognizable members.

Styx lost Dennis DeYoung - the voice behind huge hits "Babe" and "Come Sail Away" - while Journey is missing Steve Perry, who sang on nearly all of the band's 17 Top 40 hits.

Both bands added new members, but they'll never sound exactly the same as their earlier incarnations.

Spencer thinks that will disappoint some fans, but that the remaining musicians are talented enough to overcome the loss.

"It's definitely going to be missed, there's no doubt about it," he said. "Although Steve Perry had a very unique, Sam Cooke kind of sound, those guys gave them a musical signature, too. It's going to be missed, but those guys are such good musicians."

Schon admitted that some fans will never accept new singer Steve Augeri, but that hasn't stopped Journey from continuing to tour.

"There are still some fans out there that will never ever believe in the new band," he said. "But it's nostalgia at this point, a greatest-hits thing."

[piecesofeight]

I don't recall much talk about Tommy and JY not understanding their current role in music.
I had seen this article somewhere else and it really didn't hit me anywhere or do much for me unless I am really missing something.

[Ash]

Wow... if this is the case then I like the current situation even more. If these bands are content to dwell in the lack-luster mediocrity that being a "greatest hits" band is, then where is the vision? I was of the impression (perhaps mistakenly so) that these guys were trying to make a go of it with their new music. If Aerosmith can make the top 10 with a blues record, you'd think Styx could do the same if they just did it "right". Same holds true for DDY. Both bands seem happy where they are and that is beginning to give me peace about the whole thing. I just think DDY is "happier" or at least making lemonade out of the lemons.

[GaryS]

Wait a minute!! Dennis left Styx?!!! When did that happen?

[classicstyxfan]

I know I am in the minority ( of all fans, not the people who post here......) But I have little interet in seeing a 21st century "greatest hits" Styx show....I would go if I could be assured of 2 things.

#1 ( hopefully ) Great NEW music from the band....

#2 A few songs off of the ( well ) beaten path that is their standard song list.

Now that I've seen Dennis live, I'm not going back unless I can confirm he added something to his show, preferably 3 or 4 songs
from the Styx library that were not on the setlist in the Winter of 2004....

[atthistime]

That writeup is what I would call, Schons,coming to a conclusion.

[Eric]

AS a Journey fan - this makes me depressed!

[atthistime]

Journey needs some high octane Perry to cure it's ills. It's simply running on fumes, imo.

[Monker]

Journey needs some high octane Perry to cure it's ills. It's simply running on fumes, imo.

Why are you bringing Journey discussion to a Styx forum?

[atthistime]

Someone else threw the ball. I'm was just keeping it rolling, monker sweetkums.

[yogi]

Monker goes slumming