This was on the AP news wire this morning: (Chicago-AP)--The co-founder of the rock band Styx is suing his former bandmates over the use of the band's name and trademark. Dennis DeYoung calls his decision to sue former partners Tommy Shaw, James Young, and Chuck Panozzo(Puh-nah'-Zoh)"The most painful decision" of his career. DeYoung was one of the band's founders 35 years ago and wrote and sang most of the group's hits, including "Lady", "Babe", "Come Sail Away" and "The Best Of Times" He says a partnership deal that was renewed in 1990 by him, Shaw, Young, Panozzo and Panozzo's brother, John, required the agreement of all five on all matters concerning the band and it's trademark. John Panozzo died in 1996. DeYoung says his being excluded from decision-making is in violation of that agreement. http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7015#msg-7015Sun, 26 May 2013 11:46:53 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7092#msg-7092 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7092#msg-7092If Dennis did not want to be in the band like Steve Perry doesn't want to be in Journey, I wouldn't be defending him. But he does... He is doing the solo thing because he is forced to. He was the main building block of Styx and should get to reap the benefits of what he has built. He shouldn't have to sit on the sidelines and watch his business make money and tour the world without him. It's plain old fashion robbery, especially since they are doing the songs he wrote "live" still. They should not even be allowed to do Dennis's songs. I'd like to see how popular their tour would be with just "Too Much Time On My Hands" and "Renegade" as their main songs.

There are always certain members of any band who have the bulk of the talent which in most cases is the songwriting skills.

Dennis was about 65 to 70 percent of their songs as a whole and about 85 percent the writer of the hits. Tommy was the rest....It stands to reason...you will never see a Bon Jovi tour with Tico Torrez and David Bryan as the only original members.

I do see your point. I honestly do and I'm not trying to be a jerk here. But I've been watching these posts about what a bad guy Dennis is (not from you) and it bothers me that all of these so called Styx fans are so quick to set Dennis by the wayside. I realize that Gowen is a great musician and is doing Dennis's songs great. That's not the point though. Sometimes when you're the leader of a band you have to be the bad guy. You have to do some things that the others won't like. If they had shared Dennis's vision of theatrics in the first place, their probably wouldn't have been a problem. They should never have played in a band with Dennis if they didn't share his vision for the band. Not to mention Dennis has the best ear for producing. He was the obvious leader.

Dennis is getting ripped off big time and I don't see how everyone on this board just thinks he should kick back and eat crow...]]> Kilzer NoticeboardFri, 13 Oct 2000 10:52:16 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7090#msg-7090 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7090#msg-7090
Dennis may have been one of the voices and one of the songwriters of Styx, but, to me, the combination of all of the members (past and present) are what make them "Styx." I will be seeing Dennis next month for one of his solo shows with a 50-piece orchestra, and I certainly don't view it as seeing "Styx."

In a way, I see this whole situation as a bonus... Not only do I get to enjoy the Styx music that I have loved for more than half of my life, but I am also fortunate to get to see my first Dennis solo show.

I'd much rather have all of this, then nothing at all.

Rocker Chic
]]> Rocker Chic NoticeboardFri, 13 Oct 2000 10:03:31 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7078#msg-7078 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7078#msg-7078
Suppose you started a lemonade stand business. After your stand was doing well and became one of the most popular stands on the block making lots of money you hire another person to help sell the lemonade.

Even though he came into it knowing that you started the business and it was your vision he has decided that he'd like to start selling strawberries as well as lemonade. This was not part of your vision.....you don't want to sell strawberries....

The new guy is upset that you don't want to sell strawberries so he finds a way to take control of your business and kick you out....

He continues to make good money off of the lemonade stand that you built up from scratch while and you don't see a penny of it.
He doesn't even change the name of the lemonade stand....

I ask you....wouldn't you be the one with sour grapes and slinging mud? Why should he sling mud? He has what he wants...he has your lemonade stand.

DK
]]> Kilzer NoticeboardFri, 13 Oct 2000 07:49:13 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7056#msg-7056 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7056#msg-7056
I enjoy most of Dennis' music (and I say "most" because I can't hit that skip button fast enough on my CD player when one of Dennis' songs from BNW comes on :::shutter:::), but that doesn't mean that I have to like "the man." I still plan on going to see him next month as well and plan to reserve any judgement of his solo show until I have seen it for myself.

I have seen the new Styx lineup several times within the past year and a half, and I think that this show is one of the best that I have ever seen! The energy just can't be beaten. I would love to hear what these 5 guys can come up with in the studio. They just exude pure chemistry and spark together. THIS is what is important to me. THIS is what I expect from Styx. THIS is what I pay for.

Seems to me Dennis is the only one slinging mud in this whole fiasco to which I am deeply saddened. The touring lineup has never trashed or shown disrespect to Dennis or the legacy of Styx. To me, it looks and sound like they are *celebrating* it. If you ask me, it just sounds like sour grapes on Dennis' part. I, too, find the timing strange since I have also just heard how well this tour has done. Something going this well can't possibly be damaging "this beautiful thing that [he] created."

I intend on just enjoying the music since that is what is truly important to the fans.

How much do you want for DM, Geri? ;-)

Rocker Chic]]> Rocker Chic NoticeboardFri, 13 Oct 2000 00:28:47 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7044#msg-7044 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7044#msg-7044
From the newspaper article:

"DeYoung went to court Tuesday in hopes of preventing the band from 'damaging this beautiful thing that we created.'"

(Six paragraphs down)

"DeYoung is seeking unspecified monetary damages, INCLUDING A SHARE OF THE PROFITS FROM THE TOUR and recovery of his costs and attorney's fees." (Note: The capitalization is mine.)

Interesting that this should happen at a time when it was recently announced that the Styx/REO tour had brought in 4 1/2 million dollars.

This is just about the last straw for me. Anyone want to buy a "Desert Moon" CD?

Geri]]> Geri NoticeboardThu, 12 Oct 2000 10:00:48 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7032#msg-7032 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7032#msg-7032 Bladesian NoticeboardThu, 12 Oct 2000 08:21:58 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7015#msg-7015 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7015,7015#msg-7015


(Chicago-AP)--The co-founder of the rock band Styx is suing his former bandmates over the use of the band's name and trademark. Dennis DeYoung calls his decision to sue former partners Tommy Shaw, James Young, and Chuck Panozzo(Puh-nah'-Zoh)"The most painful decision" of his career.

DeYoung was one of the band's founders 35 years ago and wrote and sang most of the group's hits, including "Lady", "Babe", "Come Sail Away" and "The Best Of Times"

He says a partnership deal that was renewed in 1990 by him, Shaw, Young, Panozzo and Panozzo's brother, John, required the agreement of all five on all matters concerning the band and it's trademark. John Panozzo died in 1996.

DeYoung says his being excluded from decision-making is in violation of that agreement.
]]> DJMike NoticeboardThu, 12 Oct 2000 05:33:30 +1100