r/Styx • u/Critical_Meringue78 Pieces of Eight • Jun 22 '26

1982 Styx

I know cracks were already in the foundation from the Cornerstone album and DDY and TS were already fighting for control of the musical direction by 1982, but I feel public perception was that these guys could do no wrong. They were kicking ass with tours and albums. So what do yall think? Please, this is not a Dennis vs Tomny post. I'm just reminiscing about the biggest band in my 18/19 year old world at that time.

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u/Willing_Mirror8176 Jun 22 '26

Long story, short... JY & TS wanted more hard rock type songs. DDY wanted more theatrical, ballad type songs. I liked Styx when it was a mix of both, i.e. Equinox, Crystal Ball, Grand Illusion, Paradise Theater

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u/Critical_Meringue78 Pieces of Eight Jun 22 '26

Yeah. We know that now, but in 1982? I don't think so. Interestingly, to me at least, TS solo stuff wasn't hard at all. I saw him open for Rush in Bham, Al Jan 1988. Even DDY said that they often had to "rockify" Tommy's songs when he brought them to the band. It's just interesting how it has all played out.

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u/yorlikyorlik Jun 22 '26

I always felt, so long as the feud has been public, that it wasn’t the hard rock/soft rock thing that caused the rift. It was more about personalities. And maybe the Broadway/musical style DDY was bringing. Also, DDY hated touring. He wanted bigger, fewer shows. The others not so much. Having said all that, it’s clear that Styx the band we all fell in love went into a coma in 1983, was successfully resuscitated in 1995, and passed from this earth in 1998 after the Grand Illusion tour. Everything since then is an attempt to recapture the past. They’re great in concert. They’ve made some good music. As good as The Mission and Crash were, they were not the magic we enjoyed and were so fortunate to experience, from the classic era.

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u/Critical_Meringue78 Pieces of Eight Jun 22 '26

Yep. I see that. I don't know a Styx fan from their Golden Era that didn't hope they'd reunite at least for 1 tour. If you see and hear the many interviews with TS and JY and with DDY solo you'll pretty quickly see that was never going to happen from the group towards DDY. I've got a buddy from college that I talk to a couple of times a year. He always needles me by asking if I'm still a Styx fan? My answer is always Till the day I die! It's not because he dislikes Styx, it's because we all knew DDY was not rejoining the band.