Dennis DeYoung & Styx Try Their Best To Carry On After 20 Years

Dennis DeYoung & Styx are now more than 20 years beyond their controversial parting of ways in 1999. Although I had been itching to do another Styx-related video (along with viewer requests to do so), two unexpected reasons made it happen sooner than later.

First, I noticed that one of my more popular videos over the last few months was the one I made about the few times I got to spend with Dennis over the years as part of a radio show that I was heavily invoked with at one point. While I don’t care for pandering to my audience, if I happen to see they’re interested in a particular topic and I have something fresh to offer, why not make a video about it?

That’s where reason #2 comes into play. I recently found an old interview with Dennis DeYoung from 1999 which, in retrospect, was the main catalyst for all the times I got to spend with him going forward. At this point in time, the fact that Styx had proceeded without Dennis was quite shocking and something I never figured the band would ever contemplate doing, given the huge role that he played in the band. I guess one could say Styx were “ahead of their time” because personnel changes like this have become more commonplace, especially as critical members of classic bands are getting older, in poor health, wanting to retire or, sadly, passing away before our eyes.

The way I see it, Dennis was simply robbed of the band he founded along with Chuck and John Panozzo back in the 1960s. As explained in the interview, by 1999, Dennis was facing health issues and couldn’t commit to a full-scale tour. Not touring was simply not an option for James “JY” Young and Tommy Shaw, who put dollar $igns ahead of loyalty to a longtime band mate who, quite honestly, was largely responsible for much of the success and recognition the band had ever achieved. When Dennis sang “onboard, I’m the captain” from their FM staple, “Come Sail Away”, those words accurately described his role in the band. Dennis was the band's leader, the one who produced every Styx album and had a way of harnessing the vast musical differences between himself, JY and Shaw and shaping them into unforgettable classics that remain with us to this day. Did this arrangement always work? No. However, there were definitely more "hits" than misses.

Now, I understand that people grow apart and perhaps Tommy and JY no longer wanted to be under the headstrong leadership of Dennis DeYoung and his penchant for penning syrupy love songs. If that’s the case, why not forge ahead with a new band under a totally different name and leave Styx alone for a while? The reason is because the name Styx had monetary value and was KEY to controlling going forward. Styx was more than a band, it was going to be Tommy and JY’s BRAND, their way of selling concert tickets and merchandise going forward, which has been their exact roadmap for the past 20 years.

As mentioned in the interview, by 1999, Styx was seeping into the popular culture with cameos in everything from commercials, TV shows to feature films. All of a sudden, the name Styx had some weight and needed to be capitalized on at any cost. This is the reason why JY and Shaw closed all communications with DeYoung and have wanted nothing to do with him for the past 20 years. It’s because they know they did him dirty and can’t face their own greed. Instead, they blame their split with Dennis on Kilroy, the song “Babe” or how Dennis doesn’t like touring. You know the latter is a lame excuse because Dennis has been performing live practically every year over the past 20 years. Granted, it’s not as many shows as Styx but, as with Yes, who pulled a similar pathetic stunt with their longtime lead singer, they have been over-touring and have resorted to co-headliners and Cruise liners just to keep the money coming.

In other words, Tommy and JY are lucky they have the strong catalog of classics that Dennis helped build because, without him, they’ve haven’t achieved and will never achieve anything on the same level of timeless-greatness.

The only chance we have of a Styx "reunion" with Dennis DeYoung would be an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, if the Hall can stop pandering to its' pop culture audience and get back to inducting real rock and roll bands, maybe Styx can get nominated or inducted while these guys are still alive. If Styx doesn't perform with DeYoung at a possible Hall induction, it would only further underscore the grand delusions of JY and Shaw.

Be sure to let me know in the comments below what you think about the drama between Dennis DeYoung and Styx.

Also, check out my companion playlist to this video, which contains music related to topics in this video along with some of my favorite Styx songs, or "the best of times" with Dennis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkq3JBsMOP2LH9gpg-efIAG2vOxM0uaEY

Thanks,
Ant
Rushtrader.com

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