Without trying to make this a war any worse than what it is. You said
No... I come here to celebrate classic Styx and the great Dennis DeYoung.
People like you think because we're fans of the real band and don't accept this line-up that we have no right to be here. WRONG.
Here is where I believe we are the same and also how we differ. It is also how us wordsmiths use the words and start the flamethrowing.
Virtually everyone here fell in love with the music of Styx during the DDY years and credits him for what he brought to the table in voice, creativity and musicianship in the various roles he had.
There is a second group here that follows the band the way they are today and is glad to see them producing material today. True, its not what we call the classic line-up, but two of the three main players (four of five if you count Chuck) are continuing on with the spirit of the band in it's hey day.
The two incarnations are Styx. When you use words like "the real band" to designate the classic line-up, you are setting yourself up for someone to come back at you. Or when Gowan is said to be ruining Dennis' songs because he can't sing and the same would be said of anyone that sang lead on the songs Dennis wrote. One person doesn't make a band and a band is always a case where the sum of the parts is better than one individual.
I'll give you the fact that the way Dennis was tossed out of the band sucks. I believe as much as you do that Dennis was sick when he was let go.
I also believe that the classic lineup was really done before BNW came to be and the illness was used as an excuse by JY and Tommy when they decided they wanted to tour.
And I believe that JY is a jerk everytime he uses "the best lineup ever" line in an interview.
That being said it was the diversity in writing styles that brought me in part to Styx. And while I personally like the harder side of Styx, even from the classic lineup, I have always appreciated what Dennis brought to the band and his songs.
Maybe for me it is my decision to put the internal politics of the band aside and listen to the music for what it is. I try not to slam the musicians instead the idiocracy that some people make. Some of it is in fun, other times it is just to correct the record.
I'll see Dennis in a couple of weeks when he comes my way. I'll see him again when he's about two hours from here in the fall (Still on sale but not advertised). I like his music and will show my support. Just the same, I will see Styx when they are in the area three or four times and show my support for them as well.
We all can sit here and get ulcers over things that are out of our control, things that happened in the past, or we can just accept things the way they are and support whatever side or sides we choose. If it makes each of us feel better then so be it.
Maybe we can bring this back to the reality we had before March 28th when we just agreed to disagree and poked fun at what use to be. You know we use to like each other in here at one time, and we respected each others ability to have a differing point of view.
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