For Dennis DeYoung, It's Still the Best of Times

Houston Press ^ | 4/9/15 | Bob Ruggiero

[SoFloFreeper]

To many classic-rock fans, it would seem a bit of unnecessary clarification to bill a Dennis DeYoung show as "Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx."

...the extra wording he is allowed to use after some messy legal wrangling upon his unceremonious 1999 ouster from the band....

DeYoung was the group's strongest creative force...

...despite their huge commercial popularity and sold-out shows, Styx were never critic's darlings -- both then and now -- which DeYoung feels is a big reason that the band is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....

"Styx, Journey, Foreigner, Boston, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, Chicago, and the Doobie Brothers; the people who never liked them are the same people who decides who gets in," continues DeYoung. "

[SoFloFreeper]

I liked Styx....they ought to be in the Hall of Fame.

[ilovesarah2012]

I was never really a big Styx fan but saw them in concert last year (not sure how many originals) and they were awesome. Put on a great show.

[lesko]

Me too - they were a great band.

[Gamecock]

I liked Styx, they did indeed put on a great concert.

[logi_cal869]

There’s a certain irony that only one or two lines in this article reflect on the conflict among DeYoung and the band’s remaining members.

This (2005?) article for reference
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=114635

[grania]

Styx is in good company. The Moody Blues are not in the R&R HOF either.

[stockpirate]

The R&R Hall of fame is a joke, the bands on that list should have been on it years ago.

[MplsSteve]

“The Moody Blues are not in the R&R HOF either.”

They’re not?! Wow, that’s surprising. I’d have thought they’d have been inducted by now.

[Sicon]

Check out the video. Looks like he got David St. Hubbins to play lead guitar...

[ClearBlueSky]

Styx was great. Tommy Shaw WAS-and still is- THE voice of that band. Even in Damn Yankees- his voice is clear and great!

[Lou L]

Styx was great. Tommy Shaw WAS-and still is- THE voice of that band.

The first concert I ever saw was Styx; the year was 1980 or so, and I saw them on their "Conerstone" tour.

Although I agree that Tommy Shaw has a very terrific and distinctive voice, I will politely disagree that TS was the voice of the band. That honor goes to Dennis DeYoung. It's close, but I think DD wins that by a nose.

[Jan_Sobieski]

I sat by Dennis Deyoung on a flight from Chicago to Jacksonville about 10 years ago. I told him I liked his music a lot and asked him why they chose the name Styx (river that runs through hell). He said they were given 5 names by the promoters and that one seemed the "coolest".

He had just survived a bought with cancer. I knew I would never get another chance, so I asked him where he would go if the plane were to crash. He got a little combative and responded, "Isn't that the main question in life...where are we going to go?".

I told him that he should and could know the answer to that question. I was able to explain the Gospel message to him...that Jesus saw that we had all fallen because of sin and came down to pay the price for us (death on the cross). Because of what he did, we can know where we are going when our plane goes down! I then gave him an A.W. Tozer book (Chicago Pastor) and wished him well. I hope he is doing well spiritually...

[tcrlaf]

“Styx, Journey, Foreigner, Boston, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, Chicago, and the Doobie Brothers; the people who never liked them are the same people who decides who gets in,”

Pretty much a list of my favorite bands.
Which likely explains why the popular liberal “Critics” don’t like me, either.

[Lou L]

That's a very cool story, Jan. That he wasn't completely offended or didn't blow you off when you brought up the subject says a lot about him, I think.

Interesting trivia about the band's name.

[moehoward]

“Styx”

Well, they ain’t no Supertramp!

[Nacho Bidnith]

It’s explained in depth in the VH1 “Behind the Music” episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlIGKON9_xo

Styx is one of those bands I’d known “of” and enjoyed for years, but never “knew” about.

If anyone is the least bit curious about their history, it’s a well spent 45 minutes.

[logi_cal869]

Thanks for that. I enjoy ‘behind the scenes’ stuff.

bttt

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

I saw them back in the 70’s when they were just starting out. Put on a good show. I’ve been a fan ever since.