Dennis DeYoung, who was forced out of the band Styx, is now making solo albums.
G FORCE | DENNIS DEYOUNG
Styx it to the man
Dennis DeYoung, who was forced out of the band Styx, is now making solo albums.
A few years back Dennis DeYoung had it all: a band, Styx, capable of selling out arenas; a voice made famous by such AOR classics as "Babe"; and, of course, that hair. It's been a decade since DeYoung was replaced by the band. But he continues to record. Rounder Records is now releasing "One Hundred Years From Now," a solo album that came out in Canada in 2007.
Q. This is an old album, right?
A. I started recording this after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It was quite a blow tous.
Q. Why are you so big in Canada?
A. Platform shoes. I still wear them up there.If I could answer that question, I'd be that big everywhere.
Q. This record sounds like Dennis DeYoung.You had strayed from that in recent years.
A. It's done purposely that way. When I wentout and started making solo records, I wasdetermined not to, I guess, put my name on an album that sounded like Styx. I wanted to carve my own niche, so quite frankly I went in adifferent direction. I can't not sound like myself when I'm singing, but at least the kinds of songs I went to were purposely not to sound like Iwas just doing the band with my name. Jumpto now. I get a memo I'm no longer in theband.
Q. Look, tell me you and Styx are never going to play together again?
A. I don't have any idea about that. It's been their decision that I'm not in the band so that really is something that's out of my control.
Q. Isn't it like Journey without Steve Perry? Come on.
A. I think it's more like the Partridge Family without Danny Bonaduce.
Q. "Kilroy Was Here." Can you do it legally?
A. I can do anything onstage. Here's the misconception: You could record an album called "The Best of Styx." And all you would have to do is pay the individual songwriters a mechanical royalty.
Q. So here's my idea. Do "Kilroy." Just cut out Styx. Bring in Steve Perry. Robert Plant doesn't want to tour with Zeppelin. Cast him.
A. I'm going to cut you in for 10 percent on the back end. You put it together. I'm not charging you for coffee, doughnuts, nothing. I could see right now, Plant as Roboto. Who saw that coming? Alison Krauss can be Dr. Righteous. What do I care? Here's what I'll do for Alison. I'll come up with a female role. Kilroy had a girlfriend. And she's Alison Krauss.
Q. It could work. They're also on Rounder.
A. You've got 10 percent of the back end on my share.
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