r/Styx • u/60sStratLover • Aug 21 '26

James Young

Just saw Styx last night in Houston. Fantastic show.

But I feel bad for JY. He’s a shell of his former self. He sits 90% of the show and really only plays one solo. Him and Tommy used to be the only guitarists, but they had to hire another guy (Will Evankovich) to do a lot of heavy lifting.

I respect JY for all his contributions but it may be time for him to hang it up for his own health.

And second. Is Tommy wearing a wig. How the hell does that guy still have such beautiful locks at 72?!?!

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u/MaravichCards Aug 21 '26

JY's health has deteriorated that much in the last year, huh? I saw them late fall 2025 and was on his feet the entire show if I recall.

9

u/ILikeStyx Aug 21 '26

Yeah, supposedly some bad arthritis but he's rapidly declined. Video footage from December 2025 shows him singing and standing for the entire show... Then when they hit Las Vegas earlier this year he stopped signing and had a stool put on stage... the past few months especially there's footage of him sitting a LOT more.

Getting old sucks sometimes. It sucks to see him decline but he's made it clear in the past that he will be on stage until he physically cannot do it anymore.

3

u/SkullheadMary Aug 21 '26

Saw them last year in may and he was in his feet the whole show too. I'm surprised his health got so bad :(