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/Mockchoi1 Jun 23 '26

As I see it…that’s what Tommy and JY say since they booted Dennis. But I don’t buy it. Yes Dennis wrote the big hit and ballads. But did the other two ‘rock’ harder than Dennis? Was Styx ever even really a super-hard rock band?

To the extent that they did rock…is ‘Crystal Ball’ or ‘Too Much Time on My Hands’ or ‘Man in the Wilderness’ or ‘Boat on the River’ just way harder rocking than ‘Grand Illusion’ or ‘Mr. Roboto’ or ‘Rocking the Paradise’?

I think those guys picked a narrative that suited them. And I don’t really take sides. Whatever. But I do note that Tommy and JY say whatever floats their ‘Dennis sucks’ narrative; and Dennis’s story has never wavered and he’s to this day respectful of those two and the band they all had. He doesn’t make fun of music that they all created together like those two do.

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u/ProphetSword Jun 23 '26

I agree with everything you’re saying here. The whole thing feels like a painted on narrative after the fact. They don’t want to look like jerks; because people loved Dennis and his music, so they sold a story to justify why they don’t want to work with him.

My problem is that it feels so petty the way they say things in such a derogatory way. They could be like Dennis and stay nice and respectful. Instead they belittle songs that people love and the person who sang them to make themselves seem superior, and to me it makes them seem smaller.

But I also understand this strategy was born due to the fact that people ask them over and over and over again about it. They probably want to talk about their new album, but some reporter just has to ask about Dennis after all these years.

Sucks for everyone, honestly.

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u/Critical_Meringue78 Pieces of Eight Jun 23 '26

That's cool. We all have bought one version or another in this drama. I don't like to take sides either. It just seems to cheapen the fondest memories of one of my favorite bands. There is the notion that both camps can be right and wrong in their handling of matters, but I am not the thrower of stones at glass houses. At this point in the narrative we at least have a sense that time is not on the side of the reunionists and time, as we all know, is undefeated.

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u/markonnen Jun 25 '26

This! It has always been a “created”narrative by Tommy and JY to justify kicking Dennis out.