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Basement Tapes
Dennis De Young of Styx
HTZ FM Radio Interview 1993
This interview was done when Dennis was in Toronto where he was performing in a theatre production [!?]. I've edited out the theatre talk, for Styx content only.
I thought it'd be an interesting side-bar in light of the current status of Styx, with a great new album, and now - no Dennis. Remember this was done prior to the "Edge Of The Century" disc in '91 which saw Tommy Shaw replaced by Glenn Burtnick. [Both are in the band touring now].
*DJ - Kristy Knight.
Enjoy...............
Q: What about Styx?
DD: Styx has a Greatest Hits album coming next year in the States. It's an entire retrospective, and we recorded 2 new songs for it last year that'll be on there. And as a matter of fact I just received a fax yesterday that there have been 40 offers for us for summer tours next year already. So that decision will be made in the next 3 months.
Q: We get a lot of calls about you guys.
DD: Do you? We were up here 2 years ago, played at the Kingswood Music Theatre.
Q: So is Glenn Burtnick still there?
DD: Yep - he's still in the fold, and he and I did some writing for this record, and we've actually gotten 9 or 10 things written and recorded right now, so we're working our way through it.
Q: I got to ask about Tommy Shaw. What about Tommy? Do you guys get along?
DD: Yeah - sure!
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Q: So this Damn Yankees thing is no big deal with you!?
DD: Well the truth is he called me and asked me about it, and what was going on. He called me in 1988 and said he wanted to get back in the band, and put the band back together again. I said "fine", but I was in the midst of a releasing my last solo album. I said "give me about 8 months, I'm just gonna record this, release it, then work it, and I'll get back to you." And in the ensuing time I think he was kind of anxious to work, and his manager put him together with Nugent and Blades. He called me and said "should I do this? What about the Styx thing?", and I said "I want to do this, but it's gonna be another 3 or 4 months". He they made the demo and got the deal, and he called me and I said "do good - don't embarass Styx!"
Q: What happened when Styx broke up? Did you have a real feeling of loss or was it just time, and you were enjoying your free time?
DD: Tommy quit the band. He announced to us during the "Kilroy" tour that he wanted to go out and do solo records, which caught us all very much by surprise. And when that happened A&M offered me a 3 record solo deal, so rather than trying to replace Tommy at that moment I thought it was more important that I do something different.
Q: So you didn't miss it much when Styx broke up and you had to do your solo thing?
DD: I didn't miss it an ounce! Listen, I love Styx - it was my whole life, but i had other things to do, and I did them. And for the first time in about 11 years I got to stay home for a couple of years, and not be constantly touring. So that was good, I have 2 children and it was good for me.
Q: They often say it's like a relationship thing, and you just move on to the next one.....
DD: Well, it's music and Styx is still my number one first love of all time, but you know......
KJJ.
October 1999
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