Dennis DeYoung wants to be back in STYX for final tour

I saw Tommy open for Rush during his Ambition tour. It was simultaneously great and sad. He alternated between solo songs and Styx songs. Golf claps for the solo songs. Roars for the Styx songs. It was comical.

Behind The Music wasn't flattering for anyone except maybe Chuck Panozzo. Dennis was still shell-shocked that there was a Styx that didn't include him. JY sounded arrogant. He looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. Tommy's mocking of Dennis' stuff did not make him look good, even when he was on the nose. It, also, seemed a bit hypocritical given some of Tommy's own folky, lightweight crap.

The lack of sympathy for Dennis' illness was quite callous, but, then again, he had put them through enough stuff for them to get to that point. With business obligations on their side, they were handed a way to kick him out of the band on a silver patter.

But, let's be clear. Dennis has written some great songs. Tommy has written some great songs. JY owes them both big time. He should never forget that.

At least Dennis and Tommy sound genuine when interviewed. I'm not sure I can describe how JY sounds.

 

Agreed. While he always had a couple songwriting contributions per LP, Young should be sending DDY and Shaw thank you cards every day for the money he has made over the years.

Queen of Spades was an awesome surprise on that tour. That was one tune I did not expect to hear that I was thrilled to get to see.

 

The current Journey is in meltdown mode. Neal Schon has been having a twitter meltdown for a while against Jonathan Cain. It's pretty ugly. The tour just ended. So it's yet to be seen what is left of this band after their hiatus is over. Of course, the all-mighty dollar will probably calm things down.

 

I'd actually go see a reunion. I'm not a fan of Styx, but I think would enjoy a reunion.

 

I saw styx on Kilroy tour and thought it was great--crystal ball was in another world. saw dennis about 2 years ago=his voice is perhaps the best of his generation other then colin blumstone. I would see tis reunion. first saw styx in 1975 opening for johnny winter

 

If I thought a reunion tour would be firing at this level, I'd consider it...

 

Any Styx fan needs to see this...A cool extended length feature on Styx from the early '80s...

 

As if the other's don't have "mawkish" ballads either? come on...that's part of the Styx Charm...It's always funny to me that the other members of Stys thing somehow they are "rock an roll" and Dennis De Young is "mawkish ballads".....they all have ballads...I never liked " Babe" either...but the others have plenty of lame songs as well...and I can do without some of Dennis' cheezy stage moves....however Cheeze is a big part of what makes up Styx....I like some of both...the current Styx as well as Dennis solo..I happen to see him, of all places, in West Memphis Arkansas at a small Casino that was hardly advertise..there was hardly no one there...probably 100 people..he gave his all though and it was a great show...Believe me..Dennis has plenty of lame songs and cheezy stage moves.....but so do the rest of the guys....the sum is greater than the parts, though..and I just think Dennis gets unfairly bashed...sure he seemed to be a jerk at first..but who are the jerks NOW? The other guys seem more of the jerks now., imo of course.

 

Excellent post. Tommy and Dennis are great writers and also together they have penned some great Styx songs as well. I thought it was funny when Tommy released Girls with Guns (which I like a lot) and included the song 'Lonely School' which I like but still it was a corny song and this coming from someone who couldn't stand 'Babe'. I don't know if this is accurate but Dennis has said on many occasions that when the guys in the band heard 'Babe' they wanted it on the album as the demo he made only has the Panozzo brothers on the track.

 

Does he do Babe?

 

I saw them on that reunion tour and they were amazing. You really need Dennis to bring on the magic. Also what I found odd was that in the 70's/80's Tommy and JY would run all over the stage together which they did in the 96/97 reunion tour but the current Styx band with Gowan Tommy and JY don't do the running around the stage following each other which was a trademark of the classic STYX shows.

 

I listened to Brave New World followed by The Mission today. Probably the biggest step up in quality I've heard. Brave New World sounds like a band on its last legs-no redeeming qualities whatsoever on that album.

 

oh yea...DDY sued for the Styx name when JY and TS booted him in c. 2000. That was the "unforgivable offense" from JY's perspective I think. Any reunion has to star with DDY apologizing--REALL apologizing--for bringing the suit. Then...maybe.

 

Yes he does. The show was called Dennis Deyoung sings the songs of Styx. Dennis sang 9 of the 14 songs at the show. Babe. The Grand Illusion, Lady, Sweet Madam Blue(with Prelude included). All the familiar songs that we hear on the radio. One of the guitar players sand the four familiar Tommy Shaw songs: Renegade, Blue Collar Man, Too Much Time on my Hands etc. The other guitar player sang James Young's Miss America. They both sang really well. Dennis mentioned that he was 70 years old and we were impressed that he not only sang great but that he was very active switching between playing the keyboards to getting up and running around the stage. If Styx did this show with Dennis it would be dynamic. Just stick to the best songs and Give the People What they Want(apologies to The Kinks).

 

Here's Dennis & company from a month ago.

Is this an argument for or against a reunion tour:

 

"Kiss Me Hello" was TS best solo song. Not sure if you dig it too, but never got tired of that song.

I love GWG. From what I heard DDY rejected GWG and some others. I think it was a mistake and should have made a Styx record. GWG has some real gems.

 

He has a very competent band right there. As much as I dig TS more than DDY, I would rather see DDY band than the current Styx. Gowan just ruins it for me.

 

His cd from the late 90s, 7 Deadly Zens, is pretty great. That one is jam packed with really good tunes.

I last saw Styx 5-6 years ago, and while the show was good, Gowan was an embarrassment to watch. I like the new album a lot, but Gowan's behavior on stage during live shows is comically embarrassing.

 

I love GWG. I actually saw Tommy live on the GWG tour. I had the cassette when it first came out and then the CD. The extended version of 'Kiss Me Hello' is great. I actually really like most of the album and the title track had it been released under the STYX banner would have been an absolute smash hit. That's too bad Dennis rejected some of the tracks.

 

Agreed as Gowan really ruins it for me. His voice is not great for Dennis' stuff and his stage presence is terrible-especially when he keeps spinning his keyboard around for the whole show!

 

People seem to think Gowan is equal or better than DDY. I compared two YouTube videos of current tours. To me it is clear DDY is superior. Not sure what people are hearing, bit it's not even close. I am not a fan of DDY antics on stage, but his vocals make up for it.

Watch TS sing BCM, seems a step or half slow. Maybe just me but lacks energy. DDY seems to be at right tempo on a couple I watched. Full of energy.

 

Well, there is something to be said for personal preference, but yeah, to anyone who thinks Gowan is an equal to or better singer than DeYoung, I would ask what you are drinking.

To me, for all of his personality faults, DDY is one of rock's all-time great singers. Gowan is a poor man's Dennis DeYoung at best.

 

Yup, would love to see them do it.

 

DDY back - count me in, without DDY I will continue to NOT see.

 

Seriously? DDY got ill and instead of waiting for him to get better they booted him and went out as Styx. THEN he sued.

If anyone needs to apologize about that whole fiasco, it's not DDY.