Let's Hear it(Read it)

[sadie65]

Moved from the other thread.


Now perhaps I should move this to a new thread, but I am seriously asking...given what we know and/or think of DDY's musical leanings these days, as well as the enjoyment many here get from "hard rocking" the current lineup represents, please give me your thoughts as to why you think it would be a good or bad thing to have the band reunite with him.It's a general question to everyone here.

Sadie

[yogi]

I think it would be a GREAT thing IF we got a good new rock or even a pop/rock type CD out of it. They would have to tour too.

If we got the broadway type of music or the Hunchback with a backing rock band type of music that Dennis has been leaning toward since the Grand Illusion ll tour ended I would say hell no, not on a Styx CD. Dennis can go ahead full speed with his broadway aspirations as a solo artist, just dont put those type of songs on a Styx CD. I'll purchase his solo material, but I dont want it on a Styx album.

To me his songs on Brave New World were soooo damn aweful, I couldnt believe that he would do that. I'm still stunned when I think of Hip Hop, Fallen Hypotenuse, his Hunchback leftover, and Great Masturbation. Tommy did produce that album, and Froy and some of the others are correct he was a horrible producer because any decent producer would of left those songs along with Brave New Face, and Just Keeled Over on the cutting room floor.

The CD should of consisted of: Witness, Brave New World, Number One, What Have They Done To You, Everything Is Cool, Heavy Water, and Roseland


I also would hope somehow Glen would be added to the mix, and be allowed to have some input in any new material.

[Ash]

If DDY got back with Styx - I'd like to see JY out and Glenn in... I like Glenn's songs a LOT. I'm actually listening to cyclorama more.... (skipping the gowan songs which are GOD AWFUL). I can actually take this record and I think Glenn has the best moments on it. Kiss Your Ass Goodbye is brilliant IMO.

[Ash]

BTW - I'll ask again ... can we cut the crap with dissing on certain songs? I realize not everyone likes certain songs, but to blatantly disrespect some songs by giving them disrespectful names?

I really like Great Expectations and "Just Fell In" has a paradise theater/too much time on my hands vibe to it that I think fits in the Styx style really well.

Nobody would like it much if I started renaming some of the songs on Equinox or Crystal ball that I think are complete udder crap - so I would hope you would have enough respect for others that you could refrain from doing the same. I wouldn't even do that to a song gowan wrote, and I cannot stomach his songs.

[yogi]

Whats in a name said the Bev as he autographed the ball he and Larry Mondello ruined BABY RUTH . I will give you the same advice June gave Ward................................... Lighten Up!!!!!!

[bugsymalone]

Back to the original subject of this thread:

I think both sides have moved so far apart they could never really rejoin again in any form that would please everyone. I could see them performing maybe one or two of the classic songs together at some award function, which is not going to happen, so that is out the window.

Dennis, to me, is showcasing his greatest asset -- his incredible voice, which is still strong and powerful. He is doing an age-appropriate, very classy show where the voice is the drawing card.
He will be 58 soon. He knows where his strengths lie and he is playing to them.

Current Styx is, I feel, nearly 180 degrees away from Dennis. They are working the traveling rock band angle. They are trying to look much younger than their years. Whether they pull that off is for others to judge. (I sure don't think so)
The band members can still perform the instrumental part of the music they play in top form. I do not question that at all. Even Gowan is a fine keyboard player. I cannot say, as I mentioned here before, that the singing is anywhere close to what it used to be.

To me, dropping Dennis out left a huge hole in the overall quality of sound of the band, but there are plenty who feel that is not a problem. It always stuns me that anyone can listen to Current Styx and think it sounds as good as Classic Styx. And some even think, better. To each his/her own there.

Bugsy's bottom line: I do not want Dennis to rejoin with Styx ever. That is over and done. No mas. It would never work. IMO.

I like what Dennis is doing and I will go to his concerts and buy his records. I get to hear the music I love and darned if it doesn’t sound very close to the classic Styx music I fell in love with 30 years ago.

Bugsy

[Adam]

I tend to think it's more about personality than music. I think there was a dichotomy in Styx through MOST of their successful years up til, um, well, whenever you wanna stop considering them whoever you think they think they were/are.

By now, these guys have grown up. Slowly Dennis had become the boss back when and now there has been a mutiny. Tommy & JY are too old to put up with DeYoung's way of doing things. And from DDY's perspective, why would he wanna be in a democracy with anyone he considers beneath his value at this point?

Yes, there are obvious stylistic differences. But I don't think that's the problem.

Nevertheless, I say the clock is ticking. Eventually, it will be about money & they'll somehow show up reunited, though not for long. That's my prediction. Just don't hold your breath. Each side must begin to fail a bit - and it seems like business aint bad for either side yet.

[sadie65]

I tend to think it's more about personality than music. I think there was a dichotomy in Styx through MOST of their successful years up til, um, well, whenever you wanna stop considering them whoever you think they think they were/are.

By now, these guys have grown up. Slowly Dennis had become the boss back when and now there has been a mutiny. Tommy & JY are too old to put up with DeYoung's way of doing things. And from DDY's perspective, why would he wanna be in a democracy with anyone he considers beneath his value at this point?

Yes, there are obvious stylistic differences. But I don't think that's the problem.

Nevertheless, I say the clock is ticking. Eventually, it will be about money & they'll somehow show up reunited, though not for long. That's my prediction. Just don't hold your breath. Each side must begin to fail a bit - and it seems like business aint bad for either side yet.

Well Adam, we once again disagree. We view Dennis and his actions from different perspectives. I don't want them to reunite, however I think you're awfully harsh in your wording here.

Sadie

[Abitaman]

[quote]Yes, there are obvious stylistic differences. But I don't think that's the problem

It's the differences that made the music what it was!


Would love to see Styx together with Dennis again! BUT, it would need to ROCK, or really hard pop rock. A ballad or two in the mix would be good, but that would be it. Styx is at it's best burning down the house, and taking a breather every now and then with a slower song or ballad. That's missing from the current show.

Seen new Styx Several times, great show! But it's missing the difference. Dennis! Nothing against Larry, he is good, but the line of songs, though it is getting boring, needs to change, would still be same problem with Dennis.

Dennis is doing great on his own. Haven't seen him in concert, He will not come down this way, to the Biloxi, New Orleans area. Like what he is doing, but it would not work in Styx. And if he is going to keep heading in that firection, he needs to stay solo! I will keep buying and seeing Styx, and keep buying Dennis, and would shell out the money to see him, but unless they can get down to the meaning of Styx, the way things are now is the best way-ERIC

[Adam]

Ya think, Sadie? I actually didn't think I was being harsh (still unsure that i was) and I'm just trying to face possible realities, but maybe you're right.

I feel like one thing we all do is tend to choose a side and then perceive it all only ONE WAY. I bet the truth lies somewhere inbetween. They're all good guys and theyre all bad too. Merely flawed.

But I feel pretty darn certain that DeYoung is a very strong willed kind of guy, and I can't imagine Shaw & Young going back to giving him the amount of control he previously amassed. For better or for worse, for the past 5+ years the current Styx has been kept very busy AND in the black in a way they wouldn't have id Dennis were calling the shots, Producing the records, directing the tours, etc. in the way he had become accustomed.

But I completely respect your viewpoint, Sadie. It's okay to disagree, you know? Respectful dialogue rules.

[classicstyxfan]

The more I think about it, the less I want to see a reunion.......if it were to happen, Dennis, JY and Chick would all be 60 years old, and Tommy in his mid 50's........at what point would they just be an unintentional parody of their former selves ? the "old rock stars" trying in vein to recapture a glory that's time has long since passed ?

I'm starting to think the Return to Paradise tour was a fitting last hurrah for the Classic lineup of Styx.

However, if they were able to put aside their differences ( fat chance.....) and put together some dynamite new music that truly is reminiscent of their best work, that would add the needed legitimacy.

I have no desire to see one more "greatest hits" tour, even with Dennis, without something additional being added.

[BlackWall]

This is really difficult.. Yeah, I'd love to have them all back together, as much as anyone else, but I don't know that it would really be the best thing.

The truth is, with "Cornerstone", they started going in different directions, but this still worked, especially on "Paradise Theatre"; however, this was because of a decent balance..

With "Kilroy", Dennis took the differences to the extreme, and really, instead of pushing the rest of the group to do this concept, perhaps Dennis should have began his solo career at this point. I can forgive Dennis for "Kilroy"(this was the early '80s, after all), but this killed the band for so many years, and I feel this was the real changing point. It had been building since "Cornerstone", but with "Kilroy", Dennis really needed to do his own thing, and since the rest of the guys didn't want to do it, Dennis should have done the whole concept on his own.

I don't really see anything wrong with mixing ballads and rockers, but you can see where Dennis' heart has been for many years, look at his solo career, look at his contributions to "EOTC" & especially "BNW"..

Now, we get to see Dennis doing a show that really expresses who he wants to be, he doesn't have to hold back the theatrics, and as I've said before, we get some cool obscurities.
As for the other camp, they don't have to mix in Broadway or ballads, which wasn't part of the original agenda for Styx. However, the powerful vocals of DeYoung will always be missed, as far as Styx is concerned. His pipes have only become more intense with time, and Gowan just isn't a good replacement, as far as the vocals..

[sadie65]

Ya think, Sadie? I actually didn't think I was being harsh (still unsure that i was) and I'm just trying to face possible realities, but maybe you're right.

I feel like one thing we all do is tend to choose a side and then perceive it all only ONE WAY. I bet the truth lies somewhere inbetween. They're all good guys and theyre all bad too. Merely flawed.

But I feel pretty darn certain that DeYoung is a very strong willed kind of guy, and I can't imagine Shaw & Young going back to giving him the amount of control he previously amassed. For better or for worse, for the past 5+ years the current Styx has been kept very busy AND in the black in a way they wouldn't have id Dennis were calling the shots, Producing the records, directing the tours, etc. in the way he had become accustomed.

But I completely respect your viewpoint, Sadie. It's okay to disagree, you know? Respectful dialogue rules.

I fully agree on respectful dialogue. And I think we agree all of these men are neither awesome nor evil. I have tried to be fair and give credit where credit is due.

I didn't care for the "beneath him" comment. I think they are all strong willed individuals. And I agree that in today's world, the men (NONE OF THEM) are going to settle for less than what they want. But I also believe that Dennis isn't as much of a "control freak", if you will these days.

I disagree that we all choose a side and then see things only ONE WAY. Many of us here have demonstrated the ability to recognize good and bad for their respective "sides". That there are a few who do not is unfortunate. That those same few get under people's skins as much as they do is almost sadly comical. My opinion only.

I think each member of the band has grown and somewhat matured. I just think their ideas and expectations of what they want from the band/for the band are vastly different.

And I respect your opinions as well.

Sadie

[Adam]

Extremely well put, Sadie. (You even shot ME down a little in there dammit!)

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I always wanted Styx to reunite, but now I feel different. Especially seeing the CMN again. How sad. Here Dennis is playing with a band that just kicked him out. I don't know if I could see them reunite. Knowing the way JY feels publically, it would be hard to see all of them on the stage putting a show on for the crowd to enjoy.

I wish everyone knew that there are different sides to the story of Styx. There are things that happened with the band that we (the fans) will never know. We weren't there. We can read the interviews, articles and watch tv, a lot of it isn't true what happened or what was said.

Just like Sadie said, Dennis isn't as much of a "control freak", if you will these days. He really isn't - I just saw him "behind the scenes" at a radio station a few weeks ago.

[styxfanNH]

There are pivotal events in all of our lives that make us take a deep look at ourselves and do a self evaluation. During that time, many of us may choose to change direction or change our approach to things.

I think for all the parties involved, BNW caused them to take a deep look into themselves and decide what they wanted to do as they went forward with their lives and the band and acted on it.

Would I love some day to see them together some day. Absolutely. Do I think it is realistic? No. It seems somewhat apparent to me that as they matured musically, Dennis came to fall in love with the stage and music that is more closely related to ballads. Tommy and JY decided that they wanted to rock and have even turned their backs on some of their own work from the past. It is too bad that we will probably never see them together again, but each appears to be happy with where they are now.

The only ones that are bitter appear to be some of the fans. For the time being, I will be happy to hear what they both bring to the table.

[piecesofeight]

There are pivotal events in all of our lives that make us take a deep look at ourselves and do a self evaluation. During that time, many of us may choose to change direction or change our approach to things.
I think for all the parties involved, BNW caused them to take a deep look into themselves and decide what they wanted to do as they went forward with their lives and the band and acted on it..

You are correct and very perceptive. If you really want to know how Dennis feels and what he is about go look at the words to 'Fallen Angel' off of BNW.
Also note how similiar it is to the song the Grand Illusion. Interesting because Dennis feels that The Grand Illusion album saved his life.
All Dennis ever wanted his music to do was to inspire people to follow their dreams and find love, not love/worship him or follow his dreams. He feels it's ok to buy into the words/music, but don't buy into the act and all the bull!@#$ of it. That has got to be one of his favorite cuss words...fits him well.

[ek88]

However, if they were able to put aside their differences ( fat chance.....) and put together some dynamite new music that truly is reminiscent of their best work, that would add the needed legitimacy.

I agree. Cyclorama was a step in the right direction, but just imagine what a new Styx album could sound like if Tommy, JY, and Dennis fully cooperated on some new material! Gives me chills just thinking about it. To me, that's the only motivation for a reunion. Of course, a reunion doesn't guarantee stellar music (see Brave New World). It would take some serious collaboration and willingness to take constructive criticism from one another, and I just don't see that happening . . .

[gr8dane]

Reunion would work, if they all had the same attitude as when they went to the studio to record Pieces of 8.

[Adam]

Excellent posts here (especially styxfanNH & ek88).

You must realize the politics at the time they went into the studio to record "Pieces of 8" (or whichever classic Styx album you favor). There was a balance - a constant give and take probably along with healthy competitive struggle. They were younger men on their way up, willing to compromise a little more, eager to work a little harder.

There was no boss, no one was richer than the others, they each didn't have their own attorneys (& perhaps each of their wives weren't yet whispering in their ears how THEY are the reaso for the bands' success...)