I saw Dennis DeYoung on Saturday

[thesilentdrummer]

Yah, so in case you don't know names (I really didn't either, so don't feel bad), he was the lead singer and keyboardist for Styx. Since the only other remaining person from the band is the lead guitarist, it was advertised as Dennis DeYoung singing songs of Styx. Since Styx hits home with me (they are from Chicago, my area, and my neighbor was married to the drummer for Styx before he died), and since they were playing at a 4th of July festival 5 minutes from my house at 10 dollar entrance fee, I decided to go with some friends.

We liked some Styx songs before we went and were expecting a good time, but we got much more. What i found incredible is that this guy, who is like 55 or 60, sounds just as amazing as he did when he recorded the great hits in the 70's. It was incredible. It reminded me of Jimmy Buffett; Buffett, 30 years out of his hayday, is still pumping out new records.

This got me thinking: today, I go out and listen to people thta got their start when my parents were my age. I buy their CD's still, and I go to their concerts. But are there bands today that we will be listening to 20 or 30 years from now? Pop music is changing so often, and I can't think of anything. What do you guys think?

[brandondrury]

Oh, I'm sure Nickelback and Gwen Stefani will still be doing their thing making billions (seriously, can you imagine what inflation will be in 30 years?) when I need dope to make my manhood function.

It's worth noting that most of the artsy stuff is forgotten with a few notable exceptions. It's the big pop hits that are generally remembered. Pour Some Sugar On Me is always going to be more popular than any John Prine song.

Personally, I've always hated Styx. The point is that for every old dude who really appreciates a band, there is some younger prick who "doesn't get it" and gets excited about other things. It's all part of the cycle.

However, there does tend to be less "huge" bands. I think Nickelback is probably an exception. Creed (gag) would have been another one if they would have stuck together. 3 Doors Down is "huge" even if they continue to crank out one mediocre chart topper after another.

I guess I'm saying that the bands that really stand out in 30 years are the band I'm trying to forget now! ha ha


Brandon

[lumpy]

I used to despise Styx (Stynks)! But now that I've been privey to the likes of Fall Out Boy and those Gym Class Heroes or whatever they are called, I have come to appreciate and even enjoy the occasional Styx power anthem. No doubt they were great musicians! I heard them on the Bob and Tom show a couple of years back playing "Come Sail Away" on accoustics and they rawked! Their new drummer is a phenom! He was playing a cardboard box on that radio program and made it sound most excellent indeed. I know they are not the original band members, but who is besides Cheap Trick from the arena rock heyday?

I compare Styx to those disgusting Dolly Madison chocolate pies. They are so bad they're good!

Lump

[TAlderson]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

It's worth noting that most of the artsy stuff is forgotten with a few notable exceptions. It's the big pop hits that are generally remembered. Pour Some Sugar On Me is always going to be more popular than any John Prine song.

I disagree. Who are the more popular bands/artists now, the Monkees and KC and the Sunshine Band or Bob Dylan and Led Zepplin? The latter two are undoubtedly more "artsy" or experimental than the first two, and look at record sales now.

-Tyler

[D2dadub]

Styx

Great band until "Mr Roboto"

I hated them in the day but I can appreciate the vibe now that I'm older.

I just remember every jerk-off in high school blarring "Renegade" at full blast from their Trans-Am's...

Me and my crew were baking it up and listening to Priest and Maiden - So I just didn't get it then...

[thesilentdrummer]

Originally Posted by D2dadub

Styx

Great band until "Mr Roboto"

I hated them in the day but I can appreciate the vibe now that I'm older.

I just remember every jerk-off in high school blarring "Renegade" at full blast from their Trans-Am's...

Me and my crew were baking it up and listening to Priest and Maiden - So I just didn't get it then...

The irony: He played Mr. Roboto but not Renegade. I agree, Mr. Roboto is at the weird end of the Styx songs, but its more one of those songs that you like because you can laugh at it. Only a band with existing success can make a song like Mr. Roboto popular.

Of course, I wasn't even alive in the Styx hay day, so I have the advantage of heinzsight while looking at Styx music, and I am not subject to the trends of the past

[brandondrury]

I disagree. Who are the more popular bands/artists now, the Monkees and KC and the Sunshine Band or Bob Dylan and Led Zepplin? The latter two are undoubtedly more "artsy" or experimental than the first two, and look at record sales now.

-Tyler

Fair enough. But I didn't hear Bob Dylan or Led Zepplin in Shrek. (Of course, that's a pretty shitty argument because I'm not sure if The Monkeys were in Shrek either).

Brandon

[jack the toad]

Mr. Roboto is one of the most embarrassing moments of rock and roll. It's right up there with the sargeant peppers movie, and Billy Squire prancing around in that career ending video.
These are all good reasons to stay away from cocaine when making decisions.
I'm sure it went something like this;
"Mr. Frampton, I'd like to pitch this movie idea to you."
Sniiiiiiiiiffffff... "That the bleedin' greatest idea I've ever heard mate, when do we start? Do you think you could get the BeeGees to come in?"

[Spunky Munkey]

I was not, am not, a Styx fan. had something to do with keyboards, the songs themselves and being a guitar player. For some reason that keyboard sound in a band really grates me. I think growing up I was duped into listening to only certain artists because of the hype, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and Deep Purple, which the guitar playing I tried to emulate. The odd thing is that I completely wrote off Grand Funk as crap in my mind and I have only recently got into them. Until recently I did not even know what their different songs were. Hindsight now, looking at some of the old Grand Funk stuff I have to say what an awesome 3 piece.

Now I know you will say Deep Purple had keyboards, but for me it seemed to be like another guitar.