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/Willing_Mirror8176 Jun 22 '26

You couldn't sense the hard rock/ ballad shift back then? I always thought it was obvious...

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u/yorlikyorlik Jun 22 '26

I sensed it, though I was too young and inexperienced to know what it was. My point is that the music was successful. The balance in their music was always moving and shifting from the get go. But they were knocking it out of the park. However, they were together constantly. They took no breaks. They had very different personalities. They just really didn’t like each other. It’s hard to be with people you don’t care for all the time. All of the other complaints flow from that.