newbie question #3

[evileyes]

That's so cool that some of you were able to get to the Killroy tour in '84. I'm jealous! So when and how did you all become fans? Who saw Styx in concert in the 70's? Were there any books or magazines out on them back in the day? What sort of collectibles do you have from back then? Any super cool posters? I don't see much on Ebay...I guess they didn't do the standard TV shows like Don Kirshner, etc. Too bad! They were kind of like Zep was then, they stayed away from the media, made them more mysterious I guess. I remember back in the early 80's seeing spray painted graffitti on the fence near the park I used to go to that said "Killroy Was Here". I always wondered what that was all about! I knew the song Mr. Roboto but the whole Killroy thing was a mystery to me. :-)

 

Oh, I got my ebay won Styx vinyl from Canada in the mail yesterday. I love the picture inside the Grand Illusion album! Great gold and silver KISS platform boots on JY and DDY!

[mendelstyx]

That's so cool that some of you were able to get to the Killroy tour in '84. I'm jealous! So when and how did you all become fans? Who saw Styx in concert in the 70's? Were there any books or magazines out on them back in the day? What sort of collectibles do you have from back then? Any super cool posters? I don't see much on Ebay...I guess they didn't do the standard TV shows like Don Kirshner, etc. Too bad! They were kind of like Zep was then, they stayed away from the media, made them more mysterious I guess. I remember back in the early 80's seeing spray painted graffitti on the fence near the park I used to go to that said "Killroy Was Here". I always wondered what that was all about! I knew the song Mr. Roboto but the whole Killroy thing was a mystery to me. :-)

 

Oh, I got my ebay won Styx vinyl from Canada in the mail yesterday. I love the picture inside the Grand Illusion album! Great gold and silver KISS platform boots on JY and DDY!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Okay...here goes...

 

Fan since I was 11 hearing Grand Illusion in my sister's bedroom. Did not get to see perform live once (sigh). They did do Don Kirschner and a few other shows of that kind. There are several posters/photos of the band.

 

There is a ton of Styx memorabilia out there. I have a lot of it myself.

 

As for Kilroy...I'll have to look for the site that details where Kilroy was here came from...or are you looking for an explanation of the album itself? Both are cool stories.

 

I do believe Dennis' shoes were painted specifically for that photo used in the Grand Illusion poster. Robin's egg blue. I like his vest....very 70's rock.

 

Liz

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I was about 7 years old, it was about 1972/73. I really liked this song "You Need Love" that was playing at this dance at my Dad's work conference. The dj gave me the 45rpm, which I still have. That was my first Styx song and I liked the group right away. Then I heard "Lady" playing a lot on my am radio, I think we were picking up a Chicago radio station. When I was a pom-pon girl in grade school, "Lady" was one of our routines so we had to hear the song over and over, which is a GREAT thing. I always cry at EVERY concert when he sings "Lady" (LOL ), it brings back a ton of childhood memories. I LOVE every Styx album (pre-2000). My locker in high school was filled with all Styx pictures (& Loverboy and Night Ranger-LOL). I still have all my old record albums and a few old magazines that featured Styx from when I was a little tike. So I've been a fan over 30 years and still going strong!! I'm looking forward to Dennis' new album/cd

 

My kids love the music of Dennis and Styx, they're all looking forward to seeing him in Milwaukee in July. They're looking forward to hearing "Mr. Roboto" live!!

[ladybugking]

For me it was Lady. Heard on the radio. I had NEVER heard harmonies like that. Or a voice like Dennis'. It just astonished me. Still does.

 

I never saw them live and could kick myself over and over because I had the opportunities. Just did not do it. It was a busy time in my life, but that is NO excuse!

 

I have finally gotten to see Dennis live 3 times now and want MORE!!! Each show has been just over-the-top great in every way.

 

Lastly, there are some wonderful people on this board and many have helped me acquire some cool stuff. I have also done so on my own and through other sources, but there is stuff out there if you look.

[evileyes]

these are all great stories! thanks for sharing everyone! Liz, thanks for the trivia about the blue painted boots! And SuiteMadameBlue, I would've loved to have seen your locker back in the day with all the Night Ranger, Styx and Loverboy pics! Lady is surely the first Styx song I ever heard, it's just so striking, I think I've always loved that song even before I can remember. Believe me, I've been scanning ebay for goodies, I just haven't seen too many posters and clippings yet and those are my favorites, along with video of old tv shows. I'd love to find their Don Kirshner performance if it still exists. Does anyone know of a comprehensive list of Styx video/bootleg/tv appearances?

[Gravity]

Hi!

It was "Lady" for me, too. I bought the single and wore it out! I listened to their things in high school and liked Styx a great deal, but it wasn't until much later that I started buying c.d's and got absolutely hooked on Dennis! He has inspired me over many a rough spot.

I did not see Styx in the 70's. My first concert was Edge of the Century. They put on a good show. Then I got to see the re-uinited group in '96 and '97, Dennis in Jesus Christ Superstar (blew me away!)and his live solo show in 2000. I got to see it again in 2003 (right, Laurie? I'm losing track of time!) and I got to see him this past March at House of Blues! The man puts on a show and a half!

BTW, Kilroy was Here has a long history. It first appeared WWII, I believe. Little bald guy with a big nose. Hank did a funny imitation of it with a towel in one show. I don't remember the connection between that and what Dennis did. Hate those memory lapses!

[Ron]

  BTW, Kilroy was Here has a long history.  It first appeared  WWII, I believe. Little bald guy with a big nose. Hank did a funny imitation of it with a towel in one show.  I don't remember the connection between that and what Dennis did.  Hate those memory lapses!

<_>

 

I think we discussed Kilroy before at the "old" site. I think if you do a search for kilroy was here war cartoon or something to that nature you can find sites that talk about the original cartoon. If I remember correctly, Kilroy was a rivit inspector for ships being built, and would leave his mark to show where he inspected. It later was used by early scouts for territory. The Japaneese actually thought Kilroy was a spy.

 

If anyone does some research please post it so I can add the information (or a link) on the site.

 

Ron

[teesa_66]

Actually, I started listening to Styx around 1980. Prior to that I'd been a country music fan (don't blame me, it was my parents' fault!). There was this song, I guess it must've been "Babe", I always thought it was Journey's "Faithfully" but I am sure of the year and "Faithfully" didn't come out 'til '83, AND I own the "Babe" 45 single and single were a rarity for me. Anyway, this song was playing on the radio and all my new high school friends (well, the girls, anyway) were talking about it, so I started listening to the rock stations in town. I fell in love with Styx right away. I'm easy to please, so there's not much of their music I don't like (funny most of my least-liked songs are JY's--go figure). It wasn't until DDY released "Desert Moon" that I realized that I wasn't so much a "Styx" fan as I was a DDY fan--99% of my "favorite" Styx songs are his.

 

Anyway, I've been a fan since, but I've only recently started "collecting" old live appearance recordings (with the help of some SUPER-WONDERFUL friends ). I wasn't able to see the Paradise Theater or Kilroy tours, my parents wouldn't let me--something I'll never let them forget, particularly since they let my younger brother go to the PT show! I was lucky enough to catch both the Edge of the Century and Return to Paradise tours. I missed DDY's Jesus Christ Superstar performance, actually HE missed it having left the tour just the week before, but I was blessed to catch a performance of DDY's Hunchback of Notre Dame in Nashville.

 

Since 2000, I've been to 11 (I think) DDY solo shows, most with symphony, and, as I mentioned in another post, I've travelled over 6,000 miles to do so. Guess that makes me obsessive . But I've met so many new people and made several great friends, it's most definitely been worth it!

 

Does anyone know of a comprehensive list of Styx video/bootleg/tv appearances?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't know of any. Maybe we could start one here?

 

Terri

[Ron]

I don't know of any. Maybe we could start one here?

 

Terri

 

See new topic for this (bootlegs, etc.)

bootleg topic

[Jasedontlie]

I realize I am coming into most of these discussions late....but "hey - I have a reply!"

 

I grew up in Northern Indiana (Born near South Bend, lived a while in Crown Point - then the "Michiana" area - and yes I saw the TS PSA on local TV about not Drinking and Driving) - truly a child of the 70s (and early 80s). My guess is similar in age to many of you. I can't say I actual remember an "aha" moment where I said THAT is where I became a Styx / DDY fan.

 

I can remember buying music from the local Ben Franklin (small 5 and dime in my local town) - including an 8-track of Grand Illusion (Sorry I wore that one out MANY years ago). I even bought the cassette and remember having to take it back because the entire tape was backwards (if I only had that tape now).

 

Most of you point to Lady - and while I do remember that song fondly - for me it was probably that 7/7/77 album and Come Sail Away. I am probably in the minority here with saying that my ALL TIME FAVORITE song (not just Styx or DDY - but across all music) is "Best of Times" from PT.

 

So if you've looked at my profile - you see my fav Dennis song is Goodbye Roseland. Well - I consider that a Dennis song (and not really a Styx song - since on that album the only person who really knew the original Roseland song was JY - and I don't HEAR him on the latter song....well you get where I am going).

 

Anyway....for me it was Come Sail Away that I remember the most - but really back then I liked the sound of Styx (again no real aha moment).

 

However, if you ask anyone I grew up with who my favorite band was - there would be not even a second pause when they answered Styx.

 

Digressing a little:

I still remember the day - and this was in my adult life - that a co-worker went out of his way to see if I had heard the news about John P's death. (People ask that question all the time - where were you when xxxx happened?) I was sitting in my place of work, just getting ready to dive into the day at hand. Pretty much that day was focused on the reflection of a musician that I knew I would miss.

 

Anyway....sorry for the random rambling - kind of just jogging memories loose as I tried to reply!

 

Cheers!

 

Jay