Styx History, Bandmates Reflect on Dennis DeYoung: A Journey Through Their Musical Connection

[@YankeeFiddler13850]

Any involved Styx fan knows Tommy Shaw was not a founder of the band, but the replacement for John Kirluski. Undoubtedly he helped the band reach the heights it did, however.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

He did help them reach new heights. However....the band had recently had a top 10 single before he joined, and had 5 albums out as Styx. The band was clearly going somewhere higher with or without Shaw with their new fame, but probably went even higher with Shaw than they would have with JC, but likely would have had additional top 10 hits and platinum albums even without Shaw.

[@fredbergeron8887]

Why do people say that Tommy Shaw is a founding member, when he replaced John Curulewski?

[@t.mccullough2573]

Thank you for this comment.

[@thethirdgeneration1738]

Good call. Tommy Shaw is not a founding member.

[@Impulse21s]

Yeah, they formed in 72', but I think John C quit in 75', and that's when Tommy Shaw joined. That's almost 5 decades, though, not 2 like the narrator said.

[@RexHrothgar1]

Yes, and isn’t it more like JY was the lead guitarist? I mean like he’s a beast! Tommy Shaw plays but isn’t he more like the rhythm guitarist?

[@thethirdgeneration1738]

They had to drag Tommy Shaw out of a bowling alley down in Montgomery, Al unemployed he was doing nothing and didn’t even care at the time. Once on, he constantly threw fits about how he wasn’t getting enough attention, walked off the stage about 2x, then let, complained Dennis was hard to work with, the high Jacked the band, a lawsuit ensued, then a coup happened Shaw and this manager step in and Dennis is thrown out! Suddenly, Tommy Shaw is in control?? If I had my way, I would have fired Shaw when he left those years ago, and that would have been the end of it. !!!! Story over, all this other drama now would not be.

[@Rless45]

Hold on , John Curulewski left Styx after Equinox then Tommy Shaw was hired to replace him. You made it sound as if Shaw was there Al along!

[@jefforymerten9613]

Glad this comment was at the top - I was going to say the same thing: they'd already had commercial success with "Lady", and Shaw was hired when Curulewski couldn't / wouldn't tour in support of Equinox.

[@lastdaysguitar]

GOOD CALL guys, John played a mean guitar and should not be forgotten - those early albums were AMAZING!

[@keithnitsche9805]

Don't matter, they sucked till Shaw joined

[@keithnitsche9805]

Tommy Shaw changed the direction of the band. They were great until De young went all Broadway

[@pepperdog2039]

@@keithnitsche9805 all broadway? what are you talking about?

[@cartelesargentinos]

Dennis is Styx ! Always

[@tammywooley2635]

Not always, Dennis and Tommy both made up the greatest hits of Styx.

[@cartelesargentinos]

@@tammywooley2635 Shaw joined the band after the fifth studio album! Dennis is Styx

[@leecrowder4934]

The band would have been nothing without the direction of DDY. The band’s greatest success came from DDY and his contributions!!!!

[@dollycluver5776]

I became a Styx fan in the late 70s. Dennis deYoung, James Young, brothers Chuck and John (can't spell their last name), and Tommy Shaw is the band I call Styx.

[@ianaintsaying1625]

Tommy Shaw is not a founding member of the band. He didn't joint until their 6th album Equinox.

[@Deborahtunes]

Equinox was their 5th album. Which Tommy joined shortly after its release on December 12, 1975. "Crystal Ball" is Styx's 6th album...

[@markoconnor5889]

The 7th Crystal Ball was his first. Equinox was their first national release and the last one with John Panozzo.

[@Deborahtunes]

@@markoconnor5889 ~ Crystal Ball is Styx's 6th album. "The Grand Illusion" is their 7th Lp. It's release was 7/7/77. You're thinking of John Curulewski, who left after "Equinox's" release. John Panozzo's (their original drummer) last studio Lp with the band was "Edge Of The Century"...

[@markoconnor5889]

Debrahtunes, You are correct. I not only got the album number wrong, but wrote the last name of the guitarist wrong. Bit I did at least. get the album names right

[@timothyphelps4394]

@@markoconnor5889 Crystal Ball was Styx 6th album.

[@dw8840]

Tommy Shaw is not a founding member. Really even JY wasnt. It was the Panozzo brothers and DeYoung.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Styx & the brothers formed the band in 1962. JY didn't join until.......8 years later. The band had a name change in 1972 after signing a record deal. The band was really still Styx since 1962. A name change and a couple new members doesn't make it a whole new band. Tommy didn't join until 13 years later and 5 albums out including a top 10 single that had already been out. Dennis & Chuck should really be the owners of the band.

[@DavidGarcia-yv1fp]

@@classicarcadeamusementpark4242, @dw8840 A different name and new members is the very definition of a new band physically and monetarily, trademark etc. JY was at the conception of the band STYX. JY has always been an original member and along with Chuck the only members that has always been in the band STYX. ......Some people force a square peg to fit into a circle to try to prove a false point. With your rationale, when Jimmy Page left the "Yardbirds" to form "Led Zeppelin" Robert Plant or John Bonham weren't founding members of LZ because they weren't in the Yardbirds. 🙄

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

@@DavidGarcia-yv1fp JC & JY joined the band TW4. They were not original members of TW4. The band simply had a name change due to a recording deal. It was still the same band, TW4. A new name.

[@DavidGarcia-yv1fp]

@@classicarcadeamusementpark4242 All I'm saying, in regard to your original comments, "The band was really still Styx since 1962. A name change and a couple new members doesn't make it a whole new band" A trio band named "Tradewinds" in 1962, add a guitar player and change name to "TW4", eventually add a second guitarist from a 4 piece to a 5 piece. In 1972 get a record deal and change name again finally to STYX (with JY), I would say that makes it a whole new band and JY is a founding member of STYX!

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

@@DavidGarcia-yv1fp I'd say, not really. They simply changed names. First to an abbreviated name only for the purpose of avoiding confusion with another band, and then to a new name due to the recording contact because someone didn't like the name they had. How does that make it a new band? JC & JY were playing as members of TW4. It's still the same band that Dennis & the twins started in 1962. Bands often change a member or add an additional one, but are considered the same band. One of my bands went through a name change for the same reason. We were still....the same band.

[@montymuseitef53]

STYX is no more without Dennis DeYoung

[@aaronmagers6539]

Through my years of original Styx Shows, and "post Dennis" Styx shows, along with Dennis' group, still nothing is as good as the O.G. Styx shows. '75 - 96. Across the board, besides the younger Styx fans, everyone I've spoken to for years and years pretty much say the same thing. "I like the sound of the new Styx, but nothing compares with DDY's voice, because this is the voice we all hear in our ears!" Furthermore, again, besides the younger fans who never heard Dennis, everyone I've ever talked to, would die to have them reunite for one last tour.. I reiterate, I'm knocking no new member in the band, they're all talented, but would love to hear Dennis belt out one last time with Styx again, "Lady, When You're With Me I'm Smiling!"

[@104thDIVTimberwolf]

I'm sorry, but it's just not Styx without Dennis.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

You missed the part where after getting the boys together for the 95-96 tour, he then sidelined all of them for over 3 years while he ran off to Broadway. That's why they were pissed when he said NO to touring, they were going on 4 years of doing nothing. Dennis wasn't even in the same studio for the Brave New World album, Dennis recorded all his parts in another studio. So at that point Tommy, JY, and Chuck decided to move on.

[@DavidGarcia-yv1fp]

@michaelkeudel8770 Some people live in denial. Again, new members, especially a name change is the definition of a new band physically, monetarily, trademark, band members rights, etc, unless you are hired as a session musician and not hired as a band member. It is really very simple, just Google; “Who are the founding members of STYX” JY is a founding member of STYX. That’s why JY is still in STYX and Dennis couldn’t get him to change the band name. Finally, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke left the band FREE, then added Mick Ralphs and Boz Burrell and changed the name to BAD COMPANY. All 4 members are founders of BAD COMPANY. Make all the smoke all you want, nothing can change the fact that JY is a founding member of STYX.

[@Mark-fk3ei]

Your very confused. Go back and do your research.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

@@Mark-fk3ei Nope, facts are facts. After the 95-96 reunion Dennis went to do Broadway for 3 years, he recorded his new parts for Brave New World in a separate studio from the band, then wanted a delay to a tour, after sitting around 3 years waiting for Dennis they decided to move on with out him.

[@Mark-fk3ei]

@michaelkeudel8770 incorrect...first point you made about "Brave New World' is incorrect. Nobody ever went into the studio. Everyone did their piece at their own location. Second, the issues had nothing to do with Broadway. Dennis developed a virus and was sensitive to light. He asked for them to just holdoff on a tour for a few months. They refused because apparently the others were suffering financially.. Now things may have turned out the same because I dont think Dennis would tour just endlessly.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

@@Mark-fk3ei show me Styx's tour schedule from 96 to 99, or what tours the other member of Styx were doing while Dennis was off to Broadway and they sat at home on their asses earning NOTHING, somehow you think it's fair AFTER reuniting the band.

[@Authoratah]

6:08 Dennis looking like Mr. Ralph Furley from Threes Company

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Over the course of time, Tommy Shaw steered the group to a more hard-driving sound. At that same time, Dennis DeYoung slowly became a Barry Manilow type, dragging that Shaw driven sound in to the ground. Also, let's face it, that KILROY stuff was very hard to live down. There was a lot of egg on his face.

[@russellbaxley9934]

They sucked with out Dennis DeYoung,

[@pepperdog2039]

really did you know that deyoung tuned shaws' renegade into a rocker when it was originally an acoustic folk song? same thing for crystal ball listen and learn this is the tommy shaw version before styx kzbin.info/www/bejne/noTKh5KVp9aVa9Esi=bDXV3sEwivQAOrPN

[@waltersimmons946]

​​​@@russellbaxley9934 You are 100% correct. Right on target 🎯 🎯 🎯 🎯 🎯

[@mr.intensity2685]

I liked all of the Styx music. Even Mr. Roboto, but I turned 10 in 1983, so I can understand why older fans might have a different opinion. I've seen Styx a few times and I wish I could have seen Dennis live. As for Tommy and J.Y., You're in your 70's now...Get over it!

[@mr.intensity2685]

Two decades? Tommy Shaw has been with the band for nearly 50 years!

[@pepperdog2039]

deyoung did not fire their manager derek sutton quit. this is a fact

[@davidhain2996]

Boy is your history wrong. Tommy Shaw was not a founding member. DeYoung allegedly suffered from a virus that caused chronic fatigue and prevented him from touring..There was also a rift between he and Young/Shaw over which way the music was heading. Please get your facts straight before you put them in a video. I've followed Styx since my sister had a party and someone brought Styx I album....Then of course came Lady...

[@waltersimmons946]

Like it or not. The band is NOT better off without Deyoung. They still made albums (since Deyoung left) , but where are the NEW hits ? What song did Gowan write that's a hit of his own ?? Just saying !! 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮 8:09

[@brycemcneil4404]

No band of Styx's generation is having a hit from 2004-2023. It'd be no different with Dennis in the band. While you may have negative opinions about JY, he fundamentally was correct in reading the tea leaves in the late 90s: "Styx needs to focus on being a frequently touring nostalgia act and keep a busy schedule. Any original material will simply have to be passion project." Dennis wouldn't acquiesce to that vision and if the band had done it his way, they would have toured sporadically while taking copious amounts of time to create material that would not have sold any better than anything either Styx or Deyoung has done in the 2000s Also, the reverse of your assertion is also true: Dennis didn't accomplish much commercially without Styx either. His only hit was "Desert Moon" and even that only peaked at #10. You know how a lot of people like to compare the Styx/Deyoung situation to Journey/Perry? Well, Perry had a #1 hit and an album that went double platinum in 1984. DeYoung had neither of those things. If Deyoung had accepted a compromise such as having an "understudy" of sorts (or honestly more pragmatically, only being on stage for the songs in which he sang lead, thus giving him some breaks), he'd still be in the band today. Instead he called their bluff that they'd go on without him, a "bluff" that has stood for nearly a quarter of a century.

[@waltersimmons946]

@brycemcneil4404 Thank you. I'm aware of why Styx wouldn't have hits even with Dennis in the band. In Lou Gramms book 👉 JUKE BOX HERO MY 5 DECADES IN ROCK N ROLL. Lou explained how Foreigner and their contemporaries( like Styx , Journey, Chicago, Boston , Toto) were reduced to classic rock stations and new albums by these bands were no longer being accepted or played . But Bryce, it started in 1991 . ROCK stations were taken over by suits and DJS were under orders to play only "new music 🎶 " thus GRUNGE AND GANSTSA RAP became the new music 🎶. As far as James Young ?? , uh, get real . He is very jealous of Deyoung and always was that way . In a live interview on the radio in 1980 . Dennis and J.Y were on together and I remember clear as a bell J.Y saying "It's hard to not be jealous of Dennis' singing, playing and songwriting ability ". Also Tommy Shaw who at first after leaving Styx in 1983 and swearing he'd never go back to them said J.Y was very critical and nit picky of Tommy's songs 🎵 and J.Y felt so overshadowed by (Dennis and Tommy's songs) that J.Y would always present his songs 🎵 LAST. The songwriting of the current Styx isn't up to snuff. Dennis is still a far better musician, songwriter, and singer than Tommy or J.Y. combined.

[@brycemcneil4404]

@waltersimmons946 Music trends changed before 1991 and they've changed many times after 1991. The way 70s and 80s rock fans act so bitter and entitled amuses me, it's classic Baby Boomer behaviour. Classic rock radio stations did more to kill new rock music than any grunge or hip hop format ever did. And still 55-and-uppers can't get over the fact that the stuff they liked got usurped just like every other subgenre of rock in history. You don't see 80 year olds bitching about how there are new bands like the Dave Clark Five anymore but dear God, 50/60 somethings can't get over the fact that their beloved 70s darlings didn't get new radio treatment into infinity. Roger Daltrey wrote "hope I die before I get old" but rock fans of the 70s/80s never got the memo. And nothing you said proves the band would have been better off keeping Dennis. If anything, you affirmed my point.

[@waltersimmons946]

@brycemcneil4404 No, in 1991, that was the year AOR rock stations stop taking in any new albums from the bands I mentioned. Johnny Edwards, who replaced Lou Gramm from 1990-92, did a podcast interview about the subject and why Foreigners album 1991s UNUSUAL HEAT didn't make it. Edwards said, "1991 was a horrible year for Foreigner and those bands I mentioned to you previously. Edwards also said "SOUND SCAN" which tabulated records as they were sold, hurt the bands too because before that sales were done by estimating what would sell. Mr. Moonlight Lou Gramms final Foreigner album (which was NOT on Atlantic 1994-95) bombed far worse than Unusual Heat with Johnny Edwards. I only told you this because I do remember that time and Lou's song with SHADOW KING called "I WANT YOU" did come out and got airplay late 1991. Foreigner released "LOWDOWN AND DIRTY " during the summer of 1991. It was years later , I found out why these bands didn't do well. My point is everything came to the forefront at that time and more noticeable than in 1990 or before that year.

[@waltersimmons946]

@brycemcneil4404 What I said about Dennis stands. The band isn't better off and they can't make money selling records no more. The old guys have to tour which I'm sure is harder on them physically. Doesn't matter if you agree or not. That's the truth.

[@stiffrichard2816]

What people don't realize is that the lawsuit wasn't just against Styx, it was also their new manager who has been running the band since the 90's.

[@catherineferguson7646]

He hired this new manager behind the backs of the other members. Other bands who had played with him said Dennis is a total narcissist. He wanted to have the band under his control and said so.

[@JimmyLeeHook]

Tommy Shaw and James Young were NOT founders. In fact, Styx has zero original founding members in the band right now. Founders: Dennis DeYoung, John Panozzo, Chuck Panozzo. Every now and then Chuck does show up and play a bit. But not much. Had Dennis trademarked the name “Styx” he would probably not have been booted like he was. Nobody takes the name “Boston” from Tom Scholz. Members come and members go, but Tom Scholz IS Boston.

[@danr4137]

This statement is not true. James Young is a founding member of "Styx." James Young joined the band when they were still called TW4. The band decided to change the name from the request of their record company who did not like TW4 when they signed their first recording contract. At that point, all five members including James Young had input on the new name and Styx was the only name they all liked. Dennis Deyoung did not come up with the name and had no more rights to it than any other member. So, James Young and Chuck (on a part time basis) are original members that still play with the band and of course Chuck was there from day 1 when the garage band was first put together and were called Tradewinds.

[@JimmyLeeHook]

@@danr4137 Exactly. The founding members were Dennis DeYoung, John Panozzo, Chuck Panozzo, and John Curulewski. James Young came after those young men had already been playing together successfully. And, as JY says on his biography, “They were ready to get a recording contract when I joined.” Doesn’t sound like he was founding member to me. But, I could see where you may think so. JY was not a founding member of TW4. But since he was in the band when they changed to “Styx” then maybe he could be considered a founder. I guess.

[@danr4137]

@@JimmyLeeHook Yeah, it depends on the your point of view as what makes an original member from a fans perspective. Even JC wasn't there in the beginning when Chuck, Dennis and John started the band as a trio. I was just thinking as it relates to the business side and they incorporated as Styx, JY was already in the band. So, the point I was really making was that Dennis did not have sole control over the name to trademark it himself and that he didn't come up with the name. It was all 5 of those members had control over the name. But don't get me wrong, I am not anti-Dennis. I think the popular lineup from the 70s and early 80s really capture some magic and was the best.

[@davidrose8842]

@@danr4137 Dennis, Chuck and John founded the Trade Winds- which became TW4 and which JY joined- which became Styx. Therefore, JY is an ORIGINAL member of Styx but NOT a founding member.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Excellent point on Tom Scholz IS Boston. Dennis should have trademarked the name Styx, but he never felt the other members didn't matter so he didn't. Then.....he got robbed of the name essentially. Hire someone new after you made a name for the band, have a top 10 single and 5 albums out, then let someone steal it away from you.

[@timtapscott8737]

They hated Mr Roboto, my first ever concert. I loved it. But can understand why they didn’t.

[@clorox2287]

Shaw was NOT a founding member, and Dennis was there from the very start.

[@pegpountney1923]

Come on guys. Let's all face it. Dennis wanted to take the Band one way, JY wanted to go another, and Tommy was self medicating 😜. For whatever reason there is some VERY bad blood btwn them, and I honestly believe there will never be a reunion tour. Anyhoo as long as STYX has concert dates in Northern Ohio you'll find me in the audience for sure

[@Barrybirdeyes]

Hard to take a lot of this post as fact when it starts out with a big falsehood: Tommy Shaw not a founding member. Five albums put out even before he joined the band.

[@anakina1]

Shaw is not a founding member. He replaced Curulewski. Dennis deserves better.

[@thegregariousrecluse]

My attentiveness to this clip ended at the first historical inaccuracy. Shaw was NOT a founding member of Styx.

[@davemacpherson4752]

Styx isn’t Styx without DDY

[@rustybear5125]

Sure they are. They found someone sufficient to replace him. However, without Tommy Shaw, there is no Styx.

[@LesPaulVOS]

Equinox is my fav album. No Tommie Shaw on this album. That being said Crystal Ball is another favorite.

[@bradwalker2724]

Toomy Shaw, Styx co founder? Please, he joined much later in the band's history.

[@shawncosmos5431]

Deep Purple want allow founding Blackmore to perform with them. Little River Band is nothing but imposters and the guy that owns the name want even consider allowing the original members to perform with them. Grand Funk black listed founding member Farner..The Styx situation really piss’s me off. Shaw isn’t even a founding member and continually bashes Dennis. Total nonsense…

[@ZenyattaFan1]

I had no problem with them touring without him in 1999. And it probably wasn't a smart idea for Dennis to sue them. But once Dennis got healthy and wanted to come back, they should have let him come back.

[@shadokat]

Dude, did you even see that interview with JY, Tommy, and Larry? You attributed most of their comments to the wrong person. How can we rely on you to tell this story if you get a basic interview wrong?

[@wesnorton13]

There are so many things wrong with this story that I couldn't even get through it. It appears that Tommy and JY came up with this fairytale to make people think that they were right to replace Dennis. Made it seem like Dennis claimed to be sick, but really wasn't. It's despicable that the author of this story didn't even try to check the information before putting it out there. I lived through all of this and it saddens me that anyone out there is OK with the way that Dennis was treated. Dennis built this band with the Panozzo brothers in 1964 and later joined by JY to form Trade Winds 4. Later changed the band name to STYX and put out 5 albums. John Curelewski quit and Tommy entered the band 5 years later. Tommy is hardly a founding member. This is a terribly WRONG story. Mostly made up facts.

[@williamjones6031]

I'm with Tommy and JY. REO Speedwagon had the same problem that made Gary leave. Rock and Roll.

[@tommynickels4570]

This is the Audit the Audit guy? (The narrator)

[@triandfit1]

Dude- 90 sec in and you already have misspellings and pronunciations.

[@timothyphelps4394]

The content is wrong in so many places. This is not a good source if you want accurate info about the band.

[@vicojimenez8109]

Yes. Inaccurate and repetitive in some parts.

[@styxchic8225]

A lot of the band members names are misspelled.

[@timbartos868]

Tommy Shaw was NOT a founder of STYX. He didn't join til Crystal Ball. They had 5 albums before that

[@Deborahtunes]

Tommy joined after "Equinox" was released on December 12, 1975. The "Equinox" Lp was released just days before that. "Crystal Ball" was released in 1976, which was Tommy's song before joining the band...

[@stendec-dd3he]

It would be nice if someone that actually knew the history of STYX was narrating this tripe.

[@lastdaysguitar]

Dennis was burned badly by the group, his strong talents and equally strong personality is what made the band, JY is poison - and trust me, I've played cover from at least a half dozen of their albums, his guitar work is not "all that".

[@b67y8y]

lawernce gowan not galwin

[@Steve-kl9vg]

You say that James Young and Tommy Shaw with founding memories which they were not. Dennis Young and the Panozzo brothers were the founding members of styx You need to get your story straight before you broadcast it.

[@gabrieljuarez3100]

By 'founding' he means when they traded names from TW4 to Styx, so yes JY was there at styxs beginning.

[@cowboyupdrummer]

Don’t do a story/video if you don’t have your facts straight. First of all You’re not pronouncing John and Chuck’s last name correctly. Or John C (original guitarist before Tommy) Yes before Tommy! Tommy Shaw (as great as he is) is NOT an original member, not even close. So I Crystal Ball or Grand Illusion is their very first album for Styx….WRONG! Tommy is an important member since joining them but not original like Dennis. DDY should be in Styx. He wants to at least do one last tour with the band for the fans. But Tommy and JY won’t have it. That’s terrible! Back to your terrible video. I really couldn’t get through the whole thing, because of your inaccuracies. 🤦‍♂️

[@StudyinCrimePod]

Styx has never sounded as great as they could be after Dennis was kicked out. Dennis, on the other hand, is incredible in concert.

[@slyfoxx2973]

I think DeYoung thought himself a Roger Waters type with the Kilroy concept. Paradise was brilliant. Kilroy not so much.

[@terrencereardon6374]

Tommy is pro-Roger Waters, Dennis is pro-David Gilmour. BTW it was Pete Townshend who wrote The Who material and Dennis modeled himself!

[@garyleahy4537]

Kilroy was Dennis' concept album and a commercial failure plus the beginning of the end for the band. Artistic differences caused the breakup.

[@everythingmatters6308]

​@@garyleahy4537Kilroy sold two million copies back in the day. It was a commercial success. Stop spewing the bullshit.

[@bb-gc2tx]

you should make a billy squier video

[@TuneintoHistory]

Thank you very much for the suggestion. It has been added to our list. Be on the lookout for the video.

[@bb-gc2tx]

@@TuneintoHistory nice. huge fan of squier think he is so underrated he is great song writer . but all everyone brings up is the awful video that ruined his career

[@bobowman470]

Why do ppl have to go on, on, on about who's in the band. When you look at the whole picture, there's no one even still alive from the orginal L.S. but, the name goes on with the blessings of all the band members family. There are certain give me's, if Mick Jagger died I wouldn't expect the stones to still be the stones. When John Lennon was murdered, the Beatles where for sure no more. When Steve perry left Journey they still continue to tour. It happens all the time in this industry. Sure Dennis De Young is good and has continued to work, with?? The Dennis De Young band. Life's to short for all this stress.... sincerely

[@timothyphelps4394]

People need to do their research or keep their biased opinions to themselves when putting out information about anything. Tommy Shaw did not come along until the 6th Styx album, 6th….. how can you mess up that bad on your reporting?

[@BoGuitarz]

right from the start you're wrong. TS is not original

[@caddood]

I'm 61 & saw them during the Kilroy era. Although when I learned of the fan feedback following that tour, I did kinda agree. They were real good but they had that stage production of Paradise Theater and now Kilroy? My thought was, 'you guys going on Broadway next?' Where's the hard driving rock sound? Cornerstone was the last album with any meat & that still had Babe in it. That should have been writing on the wall......

[@jerrysully6972]

Hey Jodi, I met them all once in a diner, in New Jersey. WPLJ sponsored it. I said "Hello JY" with my hand out. He had his armed folded, just looking at my hand. Tommy shook my hand, but looked all around past me, while shaking it. Dennis & Chuck were two of the nicest guys you could meet.

[@catherineferguson7646]

The.Panaso brothers started the band. He heard them and better than their current piano player and he kicked him out. He didn't even actually start the band When Tommy went through Dennis's little play of Mr. Roboto, and planed to carry this way for the band. Tommy decided because he didn't like the direction the band to go. So he left. The all left with Him. Deyoung has continued to blame for up until today everything tha has gone wrong in his life. OnTommy.

[@timtapscott8737]

Seems to me the other guys didn’t manage their money well while Dennis did. He’s a family Man. Always was. Not cool for a rocker.

[@equinoxpete]

Hi, so basically you just gave us the Dan Rather interview. Brilliant.

[@rockinggator969]

Actually he didn't even do that. He left much out of that interview.

[@triandfit1]

Gowan. Not Galwin.

[@TheStyxchic1]

Chuck and John's last name is spelled Panozzo. I know from a good source that they said to Dennis, "Thank you for your contribution to the band, We don't need you anymore." He we kicked out of the band he co-founded with Chuck and John. Idk depart to me sounds like he willingly left. Dennis hasn't toured for a while. When he was his son did all the lighting for his shows. They had to do it in a certain way cause Dennis is light sensitive. He has to wear sun glasses most of the time.

[@adelajazmin]

Without Dennis is not the same !!.

[@bb-gc2tx]

JY Young always reminded me of ny islanders legend bobby nystrom 🤣

[@kevindepew8193]

Tommy Shaw was NOT a founding member of Styx. They did 5 albums before Tommy Shaw and had some success before he ever joined the band. Dennis DeYoung wrote and sang the vast majority of Styx's successful songs. Dennis was the group's leader and Tommy and James Young used Dennis' illness and desire to delay a tour as an excuse to kick him out of the band. Dennis was far more to Styx than Tommy and James combined. It is a disgrace that they get to use the Styx name on tour. I don't mind when bands tour w/o all of the living original members, but not when they exclude a member who wants to be with the band, clearly still has the talent to be with the band (Dennis still sings amazing), and especially when the excluded member of the band is irrefutably the most important reason for the band's historic success. Styx without Dennis DeYoung is not Styx. Lawrence Gowan may be fine, but he is nothing more than a touring member of the band. Their studio albums have had no success since Dennis DeYoung was kicked out of the band. Dennis being in the band would not guarantee success at all for studio albums (they would probably do better, but they will never have their former success), but a tour with Dennis DeYoung would have FAR higher attendance than the current Styx cover band gets. Tommy Shaw and James Young suck for excluding Dennis from the band.

[@johnhayes3314]

Tommy WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL BAND 🙄

[@Jeff-y7t]

People need to get it right Tommy Shaw was the real guitar genius in this band

[@mwrable]

This video is full of historical errors. Also, it’s a crime that TS and JY cannot pull it together and do one last tour with DDY “for the fans”.

[@vincegedeon6583]

Pieces of 8 album is their best work EVER IMO its really an amazing album its better than Grand Illusion 💯

[@gyelamagnechavez]

James Young and Tommy Shaw were dilussional. They were not one of the founders of the band. Dennis De Young is.

[@mikesalasek3603]

Shaw was not a founder nor even in early Styx. Shaw joined the band in "75", just saying!

[@stevenbanks4555]

This dude has spelled names wrong and can't pronounce them either. Plus he really doesn't know his history very well.

[@tomtaylor1386]

Styx was renamed Styx in 1972. They were a band before then and Dennis DeYoung hired James Young before the band changed its name. Saying Young was a founding member is a stretch. Saying Shaw was a founding member is plain laziness and ignorance.

[@AudiophileTommy]

Kilroy KILLED Styx 🎉

[@kkelleybass]

DDY defines Yacht Rock. Sedate, sterilized music for suburban soccer moms. While Tommy Shaw rocks. What DDY contributed was what we considered WUS MUSIC. The rest of the band wanted to rock. DDY wanted to do Show Tunes!

[@pepperdog2039]

whaat show tunes dummy? if shaw wanted to rock where was his rock on paradise theater and kilroy?

[@ybrix101]

Plenty of songs where Dennis rocks and a few where Tommy is mellow. What you are stating has been proven to be a false narrative.

[@rustybear5125]

@@ybrix101 Not true, he's right. Just because there were some mellow songs, that doesn't mean it's not rock. DDY wanted to go in the direction of Broadway and that is not now rock and roll. You should learn what false narrative means before you use it incorrectly.

[@johnnyringo9759]

Dennis added the wuss to the music!!!

[@tglenn3121]

Without Dennis DeYoung, they shouldn't have been allowed to continue using the name Styx. Tommy Shaw and others are traitors for kicking Dennis DeYoung out of the band.

[@isaacg2008]

What name would they use? Rocks? Leaves? Water? Dirt? Sand?

[@tglenn3121]

@@isaacg2008 how about Traitors or Mutineers? Tommy and the Hypocrites? or just Shitpile.

[@StarshipTrooper32]

I like that, Tommy and the Hypocrites...... It's not Styx without Dennis DeYoung.

[@derekpierkowski7641]

Funny, deyoung was the only member I couldn't stand.

[@The-You-Doober]

Everything with a beginning, has an end. Unreliable People who don't show up to work get fired. I have seen many shows without Dennis. They still sound awesome. Gowan sounds real good. It's business. The theaters are still packed.

[@Deborahtunes]

There is a bit misinformation in this video. •The founding members were John & Chuck Panozzo. Dennis joined shortly thereafter, replacing someone who left early on while they were still a very young basement band. •Tommy Shaw though a perfect replacement, didn't join until December 12th 1975, shortly after their 5th Lp "Equinox" was released. Styx has always had issues with DeYoung. He himself said he nearly quit the band in 1976. Unfortunately the interviewer, wasn't bright enough to ask why? So we will probably never know the reason. But DDY always hated touring, even before he was fired. The guy's were simply tired of going through this every time they wanted to tour. So many missed opportunities because DeYoung didn't want to be bothered. They were even offered $500,000 to play at the US festival. But as usual, Dennis said "no". In all honesty, DDY was my least favorite songwriter in the band. I mean, how many more love songs will he write about his wife? It got old a long time ago. Dennis was better when he collaborated with JY on lyrics. Tommy & JY are the better lyricists...

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

A well thought out list. Is there anything you can say positive about Dennis. Just asking

[@Deborahtunes]

@@JamesMoritz-f6l ~ Dennis is a talented musician, no doubt. And I do enjoy some of his songs in Styx. Especially the ones he collaborated on with JY, Tommy, &/or John Curulewski. s Such as: •Queen Of Spades •Superstars •Born For Adventure Along with some others. But DDY is a controlling person, who wants everything his way. In a band with 3 singer/songwriters, leeway needs to be given to the other writers sometimes. If that doesn't happen, tensions will arise. Dennis had no right to tell the guys not to tour without him. JY & Tommy tried to work it out. Unfortunately DeYoung was refusing to give an inch. That's why they fired him. As a musician, DDY is top notch, (although he does need to lay off the sappy love ballads for a while). However, as a person, Dennis is too self centered for his own good...

[@JamesMoritz-f6l]

@@Deborahtunes thank you. You know your Styx history.

[@Deborahtunes]

@@JamesMoritz-f6l ~ I've been a major fan since the "Pieces Of Eight" Lp. Owning all of their studio Lps on vinyl. With some on those on CD's as well. I also have several Styx concert DVD's. Have a lot of Styx memorabilia, including Chuck Panozzo's book, and a 1984 typed/signed letter from Tommy Shaw, right before he released "Girls With Guns". Posters, Keychains, concert t-shirts; magazine articles, etc... Anything I can get my hands on of the band, thats reasonably priced. You can say they've been an obsession of mine since the late 70's...

[@johnhayes3314]

JY fucked it up. That’s MY opinion.

[@atyt11]

Deyoung wrote most of the hits, Shaw a few. They should have waited for deyoungs health issues to get clarified , but deyoung has been crying about it for 25 years and counting. DDY spews venom every waking moment. My word, MOVE ON!!! No chance of a reunion with this bunch.

[@mikep1085]

The only person that would benefit from a DeYoung/Styx reunion... would be DeYoung. Styx is doing just fine without him, and doesn't need him at this point.

[@connietaubert1776]

Agree 100%! Tommy and JY don’t want to work with Dennis, and that is their right! Tommy has stated that, at this stage of his life, he wants to be happy, and that’s good enough for me!

[@DebiG1057]

I won't listen to Styx anymore. They now stink.

[@TuneintoHistory]

I am sorry to hear that. I really enjoy alot of their songs.

[@Rless45]

Their live show is really quite good. Yes all original members that started the group are either dead or gone(Dennis DeYoung, and the Panozzo brothers). But I have to give credit where credit is due. I started listening to Styx back in 1974. There’s Styx II and The Serpent Is Rising albums were really great. And I do give credit to Dennis DeYoung for all their successes during the 70s I thought Tommy Shaw replacing John Curulewski was a good match for the group. But make no mistake, the album Kilroy was here was nothing short of a dud, and I do believe Tommy Shaw breathed new life into the group. I also am convinced that their time of glory has come and gone. Today they shine their best in doing their old numbers. I have heard nothing new that indicates anything of great interest. The old band from the early 70s consisting of Dennis de Young, James Young, John Curulewski, Chuck Panozzo, and John Panozzo. And in my view was a great band that I admired in my childhood. The albums that Tommy Shaw was on, crystal ball, the grand, illusion, cornerstone, Paradise Theatre, and Kilroy was here or a mixed bag of good and terrible songs, of course this is just my opinion and you can take it for what it’s worth I for one think their best work was before Tommy got there. I love STYXII , The Serpent is Rising, and Equinox which had some of their best work. I like the above mentioned that Tommy played on and love several of his tunes that he was responsible for writing, but there’s just something about being captivated as a child when you first discover a band. In conclusion I give credit to all the members that make.Styx a band I still enjoy listening to.

[@waltersimmons946]

​@Rless45 Tommy did energize the band to a another level and gave the band another strong mainstream lead vocalist besides Deyoung (James sang but never had a mainstream voice) but honestly Deyoungs songs (the singles) charted a lot better than Shaws songs. Back then the bands had to have singles that were hits to keep from being sacked by the record label and also have sold out tours. Tommy's songs were good album fillers but it was Deyoungs songs that were singles that charted in top 6 or top 10. Come Sail Away #7 on Billboard in 1977 broke the band (after years of struggling as a warm-up band) into major headliners. Tommy's only top 10 hit to this day was TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS #9 on Billboard, and I don't even think that was his best song.

[@Eddie-61864]

Stynx

[@Deborahtunes]

And Styx is doing just fine without you. But where's Dennis today? Sitting home in his basement, living in the past. Just like you and his zealots...

[@Videoproducerfantic]

What a horrible and misinformative video. The real reason why James Young and Tommy Shaw moved on without him is because he was sick and they wanted to do a tour ASAP. Dennis went to several doctors and they couldn't figure out what was causing him to be sick. He ended up finding out many months later that he had a light sensitivity issue. Tommy and James wanted to go out and tour but Dennis couldn't because of his condition and he asked them to wait for him. They were VERY money hungry and had several shows already lined up for them. Tommy and JY with their big egos not respecting that this guy basically made them any sort of relevance, success or a career in the first place replaced him with a complete clown named Lawrence Gowan that sounds horrible covering Dennis's songs. Since then, they have lacked to provide any real hits or that magical sound in any studio album. Dennis has toured without them and has released his two final albums that sound far...FAR better than the crap that the current STYX has put out since he was in the band. What a shame..! Lets not forget that Tommy Shaw left the band due to thinking he would have a successful Solo career and James Young did NOT want him back in the band and to be fired...Dennis completely disagreed with this idea. It was also Dennis who thought to make Renegade a faster paced song...another one of his brilliant ideas.. 6 out of their top ten songs were created by him and you can say 7 for Renegade because of his idea to make it fast paced.

[@RCullis47]

Kinda playing it fast and loose with band facts and chronology....

[@markthomas2436]

Almost 9 minutes in, you get to the crux of the affair. After deciding to drop Dennis, this band went to touring and they worked their butts off to make Styx an arena band AGAIN. And it worked. They found out that they could STILL sell out places. They did not falter because they did not have The Voice of the early years singing those songs. Dennis jerked them around for years and years. He had led them off the cliff with Kilroy, an album so strange it alienated half their fans. He would not tour and had mystery ailments which never seemed to get fixed. But the biggest part of it was that Dennis could be quite a jack ass to contend with, and THAT was what truly sunk his ship with them eventually. Add it all up and they said via condios Dennis we are gone. He won't be getting back in this band, either.

[@carminelombardi9575]

Take away all the songs that Dennis wrote and sang, and Styx has no setlist or catalogue of material for a show.

[@robb5921]

How can you tell the story and say Tommy was an original member?? 🙄 DDY is pompous, and"Broadway", they are doing just fine with Gowan.

[@vincemendoza28]

AI BS

[@dragongeraldb]

Who cares, that's been over since 1983.

[@Waynemann1]

Stop your whining.. Tommy Shaw didn’t replace anyone. DDY wanted to write BS and the others didn’t. End of story. Bye Bye

[@fredrickbaker7686]

I had to quit watching after about 2 minutes. If you are going to tell a story, tell ir right.

[@RSTL1234]

These guys are a joke they would be nowhere if it wasn't for Dennis Deyoung

[@johndeese4972]

Wrong

[@Jeff-y7t]

I only saw sticks once with Lawrence Gowan and I think he's a terrible singer I will never see them again and as long as that is the Young's out of the band

[@MagnumD-bt6yb]

EQUINOX & GRAND ILLUSION are Awesome ('Lorelei' live is epic!) ; Paradise & Killroy were Disasters! I was at the Paradise concert in '81 and couldn't believe the crap I was seeing - WE ALL could tell that everyone but DeYoung Hated the theatrical garbage they opened with. They went from opening with "Grand Illusion + Light Up" in previous concerts, to having the band members perform short plays - I remember Tommy Shaw in a chair reading scripted lines that led into "Mr Roboto" - which was clearly a humiliating pacification of talented weirdo DeYoung's inner Broadway theater fantasies. I felt sorry for the rest of the guys in the band getting dragged through that phase and I blame DeYoung solely for sidetracking one of history's best concert bands. Styx is in my Hall of Fame - who gives a damn what the arrogant, screwball, misfit leftists at the R&R HOF say!

[@thethirdgeneration1738]

The 3rd man responsible for Dennis DeYoung not being allowed to come back. Charlie Brusco! The manager of STYX. Brusco worked out the deal with Tommy and JY; as the condition not to let Dennis ever comeback again! It’s true. It was just released on line; Brusco’s comments. Back in 1999; he told Shaw you’re not letting DeYoung come back again. So, how much money $$ is Brusco making off of this arrangement? Greedy managers $ greedy guitar players.