STYX

tohostudios wrote:

Dennis was the "weenie" of the band. I generally didn't like the songs he wrote. But the James Young compositions always rocked and I liked Tommy Shaw's compositions.

There is a compilation from a few years ago called "Styx-The Rockers" which basically expurgates any of Dennis' contributions to the band. It's all Shaw and Young.

It am too much foer me!

I neot leik teh STYXS!!

I like Styx - especially the older stuff. I must admit that I do like Kilroy Was Here (8th/9th grade when it was popular) and Paradise Theater - as those were the albums that got me into Stxy - then I heard the older stuff.

I saw Styx open for Def Lep last year - Foriegner was actually better live - even though they were the best cover band I have ever seen (aside from mick jones).

Tommy and JT run the band now - they even make the "new" singer/keyboard player dress like Dennis DeYoung on stage. He sounds just like him. Funny thing was they didn't play Mr Roboto and everyone around was complaining "hey, they didn't do Mr Roboto!"

Itv is too laugh.

yoU must give teh praize tooOi me know.

thejokeriv wrote:

Tommy and JT run the band now - they even make the "new" singer/keyboard player dress like Dennis DeYoung on stage. He sounds just like him. Funny thing was they didn't play Mr Roboto and everyone around was complaining "hey, they didn't do Mr Roboto!"

I think they've basically split into two bands. Dennis tours as "Dennis DeYoung Presents the Music of Styx". I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure neither band is legally able to use material written by the other. This takes a lot of Teh Ghey out of the Young/Shaw version of the band.

The only full album I ever had was Killroy Was Here and remember really liking it, apart from that I only have a greatest hits CD:

I like the music a lot and will in the future get some of their classic albums.

SAHB Healer wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:

Tommy and JT run the band now - they even make the "new" singer/keyboard player dress like Dennis DeYoung on stage. He sounds just like him. Funny thing was they didn't play Mr Roboto and everyone around was complaining "hey, they didn't do Mr Roboto!"

I think they've basically split into two bands. Dennis tours as "Dennis DeYoung Presents the Music of Styx". I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure neither band is legally able to use material written by the other. This takes a lot of Teh Ghey out of the Young/Shaw version of the band.

No, it's more that Tommy HATES HATES HATES "Mr. Roboto" and the entire Killroy Was Here album. Dennis will do mostly, if not only, his own songs live because he's Dennis DeYoung. STYX at least still plays "Come Sail Away" & I think "Rockin' The Paradise"...

I LOVE STYX!! LOVE THEM!! L.O.V.E T.H.E.M !.!.!.!.! me'hahahahaha!!!!!

Especially the older, more rocking stuff


Renegade and the Grand Illusion are probably my favourite Styx songs of all time - Maybe even by any band.

Aside from Meat Loaf, Styx are a band that just twists me into a high world of Nostalgia and awe - Simply beautiful

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

SAHB Healer wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:

Tommy and JT run the band now - they even make the "new" singer/keyboard player dress like Dennis DeYoung on stage. He sounds just like him. Funny thing was they didn't play Mr Roboto and everyone around was complaining "hey, they didn't do Mr Roboto!"

I think they've basically split into two bands. Dennis tours as "Dennis DeYoung Presents the Music of Styx". I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure neither band is legally able to use material written by the other. This takes a lot of Teh Ghey out of the Young/Shaw version of the band.

No, it's more that Tommy HATES HATES HATES "Mr. Roboto" and the entire Killroy Was Here album. Dennis will do mostly, if not only, his own songs live because he's Dennis DeYoung. STYX at least still plays "Come Sail Away" & I think "Rockin' The Paradise"...

I recall something from the BTM on VH1 a few years ago about them almost getting killed on stage at a concert they were playing with some other bands in Texas b/c Dennis was putting on his one man one robot play when the crowd wanted to hear actual music. Go figure.

They've had their moments.

Yes, they're cheesy, & they get a heckuva lot of criticism. But who cares?

As far as 70's pseudo-prog/arena rock bands go, they're pretty good. I'd hardly put them up for nomination into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, though.

the sentinel wrote:

I recall something from the BTM on VH1 a few years ago about them almost getting killed on stage at a concert they were playing with some other bands in Texas b/c Dennis was putting on his one man one robot play when the crowd wanted to hear actual music. Go figure.

Yea, it was a Nugent/Blue Oyster Cult show in Dallas. Lots of bikers etc. there, and they were in no mood to hear Mr. Roboto after a day of drinking beer. I think the band broke up for several years after that.
When Tommy Shaw was in Damn Yankees, he would do a bit with Nuge where he played the intro to DeYoung's "Babe"; and Ted would drown him out with feedback or something.

SAHB Healer wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

I recall something from the BTM on VH1 a few years ago about them almost getting killed on stage at a concert they were playing with some other bands in Texas b/c Dennis was putting on his one man one robot play when the crowd wanted to hear actual music. Go figure.

Yea, it was a Nugent/Blue Oyster Cult show in Dallas. Lots of bikers etc. there, and they were in no mood to hear Mr. Roboto after a day of drinking beer. I think the band broke up for several years after that.
When Tommy Shaw was in Damn Yankees, he would do a bit with Nuge where he played the intro to DeYoung's "Babe"; and Ted would drown him out with feedback or something.

I forgot all about that! I saw Damn Yankees in CT around 1993 and the Nuge did that bit. I loved it because Babe is to Styx what Beth is to Kiss; i.e, a huge turd!!!

tohostudios wrote:

SAHB Healer wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

I recall something from the BTM on VH1 a few years ago about them almost getting killed on stage at a concert they were playing with some other bands in Texas b/c Dennis was putting on his one man one robot play when the crowd wanted to hear actual music. Go figure.

Yea, it was a Nugent/Blue Oyster Cult show in Dallas. Lots of bikers etc. there, and they were in no mood to hear Mr. Roboto after a day of drinking beer. I think the band broke up for several years after that.
When Tommy Shaw was in Damn Yankees, he would do a bit with Nuge where he played the intro to DeYoung's "Babe"; and Ted would drown him out with feedback or something.

I forgot all about that! I saw Damn Yankees in CT around 1993 and the Nuge did that bit. I loved it because Babe is to Styx what Beth is to Kiss; i.e, a huge turd!!!

Ted would actually smash his guitar at times, I think.

Tommy's famous quotes on why he left STYX after KWH:

"I just couldn't write any more songs about robots."

They remind me of Journey. They started out as a prog band, and then changed into an arena rock band.

xyz wrote:

They remind me of Journey. They started out as a prog band, and then changed into an arena rock band.

They were actually a druggie band in the early days too. Ever hear the song "Light Up"? Stereo toking.

If I was to pick up my first STYX release at a used cd store, which cd would y'all agree I should get?

I have never liked Styx, and the reason I don't like them is my brother
took me to " Kilroy was Here" tour , and it was the worst concert I
have ever attended, and I have been to hundreds of the concerts.

Since then my judgement on them is based on this show, for all I know
they may have put out albums that rival Led Zeppelin and The Doors, but
I can't seem to give them a fair shake.

manny wrote:

I have never liked Styx, and the reason I don't like them is my brother
took me to " Kilroy was Here" tour , and it was the worst concert I
have ever attended, and I have been to hundreds of the concerts.

Since then my judgement on them is based on this show, for all I know
they may have put out albums that rival Led Zeppelin and The Doors, but
I can't seem to give them a fair shake.

Did you see my post earlier in this thread? I saw that tour too. Only concert I've ever been to where the audience booed when the band took the stage. Stupid show started with like a 20 minute concept film of Kilroy. Styx finally took the stage and everyone booed.

Absolutely horrible concert. The album ain't that great either.

But go back to Equinox, Crystal Ball, Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight. That's a quartet of great albums right there.

As for where to start, I'd say Equinox or Grand Illusion. But Grand Illusion was played to death by radio so I always rank it a little lower due to overexposure. But any one of those four would be a good place to start with Styx IMO.

Unfortunatley Dennis Deyoung made Styx a laughing stock with the Mr. Roboto thing. I also remember seeing the BTM on VH1, and the Mr. Roboto debacle. It's kind of a shame, because Styx had the possibility of rocking well into the 80's, but Deyoung took them in a very odd direction. I'm surprised the band ever was convinced to go into the studio with Dennis?

As far as Tommy goofing on a song like Babe, Dennis probably had it coming due to his shortsightedness, and the direction of the band.

I have to admit that the song "Desert Moon" is one of my favorite 80's songs, and a Dennis Deyoung classic.

Styx are one of those bands I don't turn off when they come on the radio but I've never been a hardcore fan either. My wife has their PARADISE THEATER album on CD and I've been known to borrow that one occasionally.

The Styx episode of "Behind the Music" was one of the best shows of that entire series. I really felt for Tommy Shaw, JY and the rest of the guys after hearing about their battles with the control freak Dennis DeYoung.

I also saw Damn Yankees back around '92 or '93 (it was the DON'T TREAD tour) and I remember the bit where they goofed on "Babe." They also goofed on Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" as a dig on Jack Blades.

Shaw did a helluva rendition of "Renegade" during that Damn Yankees set though!!

Fat Freddy wrote:

Styx are one of those bands I don't turn off when they come on the radio but I've never been a hardcore fan either. My wife has their PARADISE THEATER album on CD and I've been known to borrow that one occasionally.

The Styx episode of "Behind the Music" was one of the best shows of that entire series. I really felt for Tommy Shaw, JY and the rest of the guys after hearing about their battles with the control freak Dennis DeYoung.

I also saw Damn Yankees back around '92 or '93 (it was the DON'T TREAD tour) and I remember the bit where they goofed on "Babe." They also goofed on Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" as a dig on Jack Blades.

Shaw did a helluva rendition of "Renegade" during that Damn Yankees set though!!

I never saw this tour, but I heard this version of "Renegade", or saw it on tape somewhere. I do remember it being kick ass!

If I remember correctly, when I saw Damn Yankees, they did a song from each of the members former "lives".

tohostudios wrote:

If I remember correctly, when I saw Damn Yankees, they did a song from each of the members former "lives".

Yup, they did when I saw'em too. Shaw did "Renegade," Nugent did "Cat Scratch Fever" and Blades did "You Can Still Rock In America." I could be wrong but I can almost swear Nugent did "Free For All" too. Maybe they let him have two solo songs cuz he was the eldest.

I was kinda hoping Blades would do "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" off of Night Ranger's first album but no dice.

Who opened when you saw 'em FF?

My opener was Jackyl, complete with chainsaw!

tohostudios wrote:

Who opened when you saw 'em FF?

My opener was Jackyl, complete with chainsaw!

Yea, we had Jackyl too. Was never a big fan of those guys but they put on one helluva funny live show.

At one point Jesse James DuPree grabbed a guitar, jumped off the stage and started running up and down the aisles of the venue (Radio City Music Hall in NYC), making all kinds of random guitar noise, he jumped up onto an empty seat in front of my friend and I, played the riff from "My Sharona," then he looked at us and said "I wrote that!" We were dyin'.