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That is one major reason I don't call the current band "Styx." It's a nostalgia band at this point, with only one founding member left (and with a major chip on his and Shaw's shoulders towards DeYoung--I mean seriously, it's about time they manned up and mended fences since this hatred is only happening on their side of the fence). Not that they can't make good music, but let's drop the Styx charade already. DeYoung was one of their major voices since the very first album. I'd rather see Dennis's gigs since his sound is more true to what Styx originally was.They're just not anywhere near as good without Dennis DeYoung, IMHO.
True, but I'd wager that a current day LRB show would bring a lot closer and tighter performances of their original hits. I say this because I saw them in Metro Park in Jacksonville back in the late 90s and their performances were spot on. To my knowledge, they were all replacements at that point as well. And my attitude has changed over the years somewhat. I would much rather see the understudies of a band, or a completely separate cover band, who come out on stage and really bring it to the audience instead of the original or 'long term' members of a band who can't hit the notes anymore (I'm thinking of Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff, who each spent the better part of three decades in the group Chicago).At least there is still SOME connection to the original Styx, and Tommy Shaw was in the band in its major heyday. That's better than the Little River Band.... those guys are touring with a group that has NONE of the members who were in the band during most of their hit-making era. The closest thing to an original member they have is Wayne Nelson, bass player, who didn't join until right at the tail end of their hit making days. They were the opening act for the Cheap Trick show we saw a few years ago. They sounded terrific, though, I had to admit.
The only thing that comes to mind is that "Styx" sells concert tickets. The name is a moneymaker. Dennis still markets his own shows with a byline such as "The Music of Styx." The problem with the general public is that they often don't recognize band members, but they do recognize the band entity.DeYoung knew better than anyone what the Styx brand was supposed to represent and he never steered the band wrong commercially the entire time the band was fully in his control, so it would have been more dignified for everyone all the way around if Shaw and J.Y. had gone off and done their own thing in the late '90s rather than wrestle the band away from Dennis.
Agreed, for the most part. I really did like BROTHER WHERE YOU BOUND. But FREE AS A BIRD was hit or miss, mostly miss. And after that I just gave up on Supertramp altogether.Same is true for post-Hodgson Supertramp, IMO...
--Mr Bill