EJD1984
Member
I ran across this old Dennis DeYoung interview from 2000.
Dennis De Young - Melodic Rock.com Interview
It gives a good insight as to the story behind the recording of Brave New World, and him being let go from the band. I know the interview/recollections by DeYoung can be more than a little biased, but I had heard bits and pieces over the years from other media sources, but not from the inside. Though I'd love to hear Chuck Panozzo's insight into these events. I have a feeling he's the most unbiased in the band.
A few things that seem apparent to me (and a few personal opinions/theory's).
1. Tommy & JY did keep their music separate from Dennis by recording their songs in California. Could be why the album sounds so unbalanced. Seems as if they may have been laying the ground work to take over the band from DeYoung.
2. DeYoung did produce all of the albums from Equinox on (until BNW). Which may have lead to some of the eventual friction between him and Shaw, but over all, you can't deny the great results (Kilroy - everyone makes mistakes).
3. JY wanted to replace Tommy after he left in '84, and keep Styx going, but Dennis felt it was best to wait.
4. Dennis still owns/owned the name Styx at the point. I wonder if that is still the case, or did he eventually relinquish the naming rights.
I think that when you add a lot of this up. The reasoning behind JY & Tommy not wanting to reunite with Dennis is they don't want him to "take over" the band again. Which could be seen as petty from the outside.
Dennis De Young - Melodic Rock.com Interview
It gives a good insight as to the story behind the recording of Brave New World, and him being let go from the band. I know the interview/recollections by DeYoung can be more than a little biased, but I had heard bits and pieces over the years from other media sources, but not from the inside. Though I'd love to hear Chuck Panozzo's insight into these events. I have a feeling he's the most unbiased in the band.
A few things that seem apparent to me (and a few personal opinions/theory's).
1. Tommy & JY did keep their music separate from Dennis by recording their songs in California. Could be why the album sounds so unbalanced. Seems as if they may have been laying the ground work to take over the band from DeYoung.
2. DeYoung did produce all of the albums from Equinox on (until BNW). Which may have lead to some of the eventual friction between him and Shaw, but over all, you can't deny the great results (Kilroy - everyone makes mistakes).
3. JY wanted to replace Tommy after he left in '84, and keep Styx going, but Dennis felt it was best to wait.
4. Dennis still owns/owned the name Styx at the point. I wonder if that is still the case, or did he eventually relinquish the naming rights.
I think that when you add a lot of this up. The reasoning behind JY & Tommy not wanting to reunite with Dennis is they don't want him to "take over" the band again. Which could be seen as petty from the outside.
