Anyone can accomplish things under the best circumstances it's the vast majority of life we must somehow manage to get through. Sounding larger than life and brandishing a supersonic fanfaronade of enthusiasm, he is keen to set some records straight "You see, the thing about Styx was that we were a very good-humoured band," he reveals, much to our amazement. The musical he would write--music, lyrics and book--was originally called "Q Modo," but its name was changed to "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" to reflect its debt to Victor Hugo's classic. On May 8, 2008, DeYoung's musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiered at the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre in Chicago. Some were specific (Epstein-Barre, chronic fatigue syndrome). Featured on the cover of the January 1981 issue of Contemporary Keyboard magazine (a story that was reprinted in Contemporary Keyboard's book on the greatest rock keyboardists), DeYoung described many of his steps along the way through his keyboard-playing career: He had never played an acoustic piano until the recording session for 1973's "Lady"; he recorded the track for 1979's "Babe" on a Fender Rhodes electric piano, an instrument he had never touched before, at Pumpkin Studios because the studio's grand piano was out of tune; when playing accordion for the song "Boat on the River" from the Cornerstone album, DeYoung discovered how small the keys felt to his fingers after years of playing pianos and Hammond organs.[2]. Such was the lifestyle of a 1970s and '80s rock star, which is what DeYoung was, as the lead singer, keyboardist and principal lyricist for Styx, the Chicago-based band that sold something in the ritzy neighborhood of 27 million albums. DeYoung rarely sits in that yard. "She, and a lot of others, wanted me to move to L.A. then to become a part of that scene," he says. AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME This just showed up on YouTube. Whenever Suzanne talks of those years, her stories are about scrimping and saving: planting and canning her own vegetables; fixing spaghetti dinners for the band members after they rehearsed in the garage; the tiny apartment she and Dennis had in Roseland and the slightly larger house they moved to in Park Forest; having only $25 dollars in their bank account. They were nominated for a Grammy, and they won a People's Choice award for "Babe." hit the road with Canadian Lawrence Gowan taking DeYoung's spot, Todd Sucherman on drums and Glen Burtnick filling in on bass for Chuck Panozzo. It is scheduled to continue into next year, but DeYoung's done as of early September. "Those shows [another took place in May] told me that people didn't forget the songs I wrote and had a desire to see them sung and performed in new ways," says DeYoung. Member Of. This album featured a rock version of "Fanfare for the Common Man", more than five years before ELP came up with a similar idea of recording this classical composition as a rock band featuring the synthesizer, that would later become one of ELP's best known recordings. It was nothing like estrangement, but just a vacation of undetermined length. On one level you have to admire his desire to stretch things a bit, but sometimes doing that makes a person, or a band, look silly.". On September 14 and 15, 2006, DeYoung appeared with Hal Sparks on Celebrity Duets, an American reality television show produced by Simon Cowell. There are posters from recent movies, such as "Big Daddy," and current TV shows, such as "South Park," that feature his music and introduced the sounds of Styx to a new generation. Though he makes a very nice living from the royalties from the many songs he's written, he wants to continue to perform, balancing corporate and private shows with concerts. His earnings include all of his concerts and songs, which he released worldwide. "Most of the furniture is old, too. I think it's his combination of songwriting and performance. And, anyway, I held out some hope for reconciliation," he says. 1, his seventh solo studio album and first in over a decade. Things began to change in 1974, when a 2-year-old song called "Lady" from the band's second album, "Styx II," was placed by station manager Jim Smith in the oldies rotation at WLS. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): You and your son appeared in the film, The Perfect Man. And if you wait too long, who will care?" 1 U.S. single for the band DeYoung and some pals founded in a basement on the South Side of Chicago. [1] The Desert Moon album was certified gold in Canada in 1984. While touring with Jesus Christ Superstar, DeYoung began writing the book and score of a musical of his own based on Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The case was settled out of court, and that was that, really. Dennis DeYoung, born February 18, 1947, is a solo pop musician but is better known as one of the lead vocalists of the band Styx. Well, if youre ready, lets start. Mar 9, 2020, 6:00am PDT. "But he still has his real family," says Suzanne. It was our decision to tour because there was a confluence of events that created a unique opportunity for us to gain a whole new audience. "And groupies," says Suzanne, who was on that tour with 6-year-old CarrieAnn and pregnant with Matt. Those performances sparked interest in bringing the show to Broadway until Disney announced that it would be producing an animated version of the same story. In 1980, Styx was voted the most popular band in the country, according to a Gallup poll. "But no pictures of Styx?" "They would push me, walk right through me, anything to get near the guys. Tommy Shaw - Wikipedia beginning Hey dude get a life. He did not once but twice leading to our partnership for the last 15 years. Styx was never a favorite of the rock press, often lumped with other popular bands such as Journey, Foreigner and Rush into a category one critic at the time called "faceless successes. Later that year, he released the "10 on Broadway" CD, which featured a "JCS" song, "Pilate's Dream," as well as such standards as "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "On the Street Where You Live. ". Speaking to Classic Rock from his home in Chicago, the city where he was born on February 18, 1947, DeYoung talks like a wiseguy from a mob movie, a . His height is 1.77 m tall, and his weight is 78 kg. I have just been informed I have one more show in Ft. Lauderdale in December. He told her he played the accordion. Manny's deli was the TV station's idea not mine and when Suzanne, Carrie and I who was my publicist at the time arrived at 6 am my first thought was, I wonder if it's to late to become an aluminum siding salesman. Dennis, Hey everybody, Cheers, Between stints with Styx, DeYoung was asked to appear in the 20th Anniversary revival tour of the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 1993, including Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson and Irene Cara,[4] appearing in 268 performances as Pontius Pilate. Styx's 1996 tour, dubbed the "Return to Paradise" tour by the band, proved remarkably successful, and a 2-disc live recording of the show (with three new studio tracks) proved even more so; 1997's Return to Paradise live album, produced by DeYoung, went gold and spawned a top-30 hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, the DeYoung-penned "Paradise". "That hit us all very hard," says DeYoung. I cut and styled his hair.". But there have been some positive steps forward, with a solo career that finds DeYoung performing at private and corporate events, such as the one at the Joint in Vegas, and in concert, like the one coming up Feb. 21 at the Chicago Theater. He had crazy hair and would inevitably offer to play the piano, entertaining all for hours. All 4,200 seats were filled for that show and Tribune critic Howard Reich started his review of the show with "What a comeback! WITH PEOPLE KILLING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. But that fell through. The album features fellow Chicago natives guitarist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave on a track co-written with Jim Peterik of The Ides of March, formerly of Survivor and 38 Special fame. Suzanne DeYoung frequently joined her husband on the road, and eventually their children came along as well, as a way to provide stability for . "I thought to myself, 'He's nuts,' " says Dennis. [15] The concert took place at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California on March 18, 2014.[16]. ", Though he would say at the time that this stage interlude "was just a way for me to try something different," his motives ran deeper: "I had always wanted to write a musical and figured this would be an excellent opportunity to view one from the ground floor up.". DeYoung is an ardent Chicago White Sox supporter. She is 54. "That simple.". DeYoung was asked to perform by Tony-winning producer Forbes Candlish. The Magnolia - El Cajon. We got slammed more than any band I know. . My deepest sympathies to all those whose lives have tragically been touched by this madness. [1] The trio added guitarist Tom Nardini in 1964 and renamed the band TW4. Shortly after their first A&M album, "Equinox," Curulewski left the band and was replaced by young guitarist Tommy Shaw, who auditioned by singing "Lady" in the basement of the DeYoungs' house. Anyway Matthew bought me a green bleacher seat and a brick from the old ballpark that I will always cherish along with the myriad of memories of time spent with my dad my friends and my family. [14] Also on October 21, 2014, a condensed version of this live concert package was broadcast on AXS TV Headliner Club Concert Series. Music written by DeYoung has been featured in the following films: Music either written by DeYoung or performed by him has been featured in the following stage productions: The debut of musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame in May 2008 in Chicago, Illinois brought finally DeYoung's music and songs to the theatrical stage. Dennis DeYoung. They were sad, these women, but they caused a lot of trouble. Every chorus ends with the words "Our love". "Maybe for the best. . Healthy once again, DeYoung returned to touring with a 50-piece orchestra augmented by a five-piece rock band, which included Tommy Dziallo on guitar, Hank Horton on bass, and Kyle Woodring (formerly with John Mellencamp and Deana Carter) on drums, all of whom also played shows with DeYoung with or without the orchestra. Following the "Kilroy Was Here" tour, the band split up. I wish I possessed more of that. Karen and Cory Cunningham are just fans. "On the road a child gets to see the real world, gets to interact with adults.". A&M Records had released the compilation album Styx - Classics, Volume 15, but since A&M did not own the rights to the original recording of "Lady" (which had been released by Wooden Nickel Records through a distribution deal with RCA Records), the track could not be included on the disc. He, Suzanne and Orchard think that it could lead to a deal with PBS to produce "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" as a televised musical. "Oh, yeah, those fabulous early '70s when we were on the middle rung to nowhere. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with other groups including Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades as well as releasing several solo albums. Styx reunited, but without a terminally ill John Panozzo. I thought it was a horrible time to be discussing the history of the band. DeYoung met his sweetheart Suzanne when he was 17 and she was 15 at a high school dance. He is writing songs and plans another solo CD. . The crowd shouts and applauds. Google has begun to send me messages She was a sophomore at Mercy, an all-girls Catholic high school. Ex-STYX Singer DENNIS DEYOUNG Says He Would Be 'Perplexed' If Somebody Now if one of these videos turns out to be "Sexy Sabrina and her frisky Python" trouble could be right around the corner. Dennis. Dennis was born July 11, 1956, to Stanley Calvin and Betty Jean (Osborn) DeYoung in Plainville, Kansas. After a five-year hiatus; DeYoung and several other members of Styx began discussing a possible reunion in 1989. 2" Due June 11", Interview with Chuck Panozzo on Styx reunion, Dennis DeYoung interview with Stuck in the '80s podcast, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dennis_DeYoung&oldid=1151730927, Dennis DeYoung lead and backing vocals, keyboards, Suzanne DeYoung backing vocals, percussion, August Zadra guitar, lead and backing vocals, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 22:10. Unfortunately, the idea proved unpopular with DeYoung. Though Andy Greene of Rolling Stone notes that fans have been clamoring for DeYoung and Styx to reunite, this seems unlikely. The interview was on The Drive WDRV in Chicago with Pete Mc Murray and Danny Mac. openly bridled at what they considered a disastrous and embarrassing move away from the band's rock roots. The play was first seen by the public at the Tennessee Repertory Theater in 1997, with Chicago producer Michael Leavitt involved. Dennis Eugene DeYoung The show, performed at the Rosemont Theatre near DeYoung's hometown of Chicago, was a family affair for DeYoung. What do I think about it? I will be joining a bevy (that's 2 more then a bunch) of Adam's favorite musicians to spread some musical cheer to all those in attendance. DeYoung made his major motion picture debut in 2005's The Perfect Man, in which he played the lead vocalist in a Styx tribute band. What followed were some heated legal hassles, a broken contract with Wooden Nickel and a fresh start with the A&M label in 1975. "He said, 'I don't want you to do that,'" Young says. He started his band from a very early age with two of his friends from the neighborhood. "It's an album of Broadway tunes," DeYoung said. Suzanne DeYoung frequently joined her husband on the road, and eventually their children came along as well as a way to provide stability for their [] whew. As I expressed in the lyrics to the Grand Illusion (as well as other songs), far too much adulation and credit has been assigned to politicians, athletes and show biz people like me who really don't know much more about the the way things work than the next guy. [3] To date, "Desert Moon" is the only solo single by any Styx member to hit the Billboard Top 10. Now that's very important, because my parents wouldn't let me date until I was 16. It's taken from his upcoming album 26 East Vol. She has always been so selfless. She works in health care. It's been a great experience. It became the band's fourth consecutive multi-platinum album. He pauses before saying, "And try not to screw it up.". Shaw and J.Y. PS. As he made efforts to artistically reinvent himself over the last two decades, he was always able to return to the creative and commercial comfort of his rock 'n' roll family. Since TW4 no longer applied, they changed the name of their band to Styx, the mythical river encircling Hades. But in this show, even though I'd only get a couple of lines, maybe a small paragraph, every word was kind or even gushing. With the positive response and a new record label (CMC International), Styx returned to the studio in 1998 and began work on their first studio album in eight years. 1" by the former Styx frontman, is due April 10. Dennis DeYoung was born to Maurice and Loraine DeYoung and was brought up from Roseland, Chicago. were eager to go on tour in the fall of '99 after the album was released, especially since Styx songs were being introduced to younger listeners by being featured in "Big Daddy," "South Park," the TV show "Freaks and Geeks" and in a Volkswagen TV commercial. The talk turned to small halls or intimate rooms that DeYoung might tour after the album's completion. I had never seen this before but coincidentally I was just asked about this very day last week by author Dave Hoekstra who interviewed me about a book he was writing. They sang Styx songs "Come Sail Away" and "Mr. Roboto". The legendary 1970s-1980s band Styx has been around a block or six, and their music has been surprisingly multifaceted. There is a palpable wistfulness in his voice when he says "we," perhaps because he no longer talks to the people who got together with him in the basement of his parents' house in the early 1960s to make music--the Panozzo twins Chuck (bass guitar) and John (drums). (1962-99) FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR The Perfect Man . I've seen Dennis once before but this time he was spot on. Both were children of the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side. In 2007, DEP Records of Canada released DeYoung's stateside 2004 live CD Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx Live with Symphony Orchestra, which went on to achieve platinum status. Donna and I, and our daughter Brianna, in March of 1993 when we were living in Chicago, saw you at The Chicago Theater on State Street in Jesus Christ Superstar. I first met Styx shortly after that, in 1980. "The whole idea then for me, and I'd like to think for them, is just to move on," he says. Dennis and Suzanne married in 1970, and two years later the band recorded its first album, "Styx," for the Wooden Nickel label. Ozzy Osbourne and his raucous family have a hit series on MTV. The band decided to go on without him. Tonight he introduces her by first talking about how they met long ago at a high school dance, "when I was 17 and she was just 15 1/2." I witnessed first hand the agony and feeling of helplessness he endured as his beloved wife Susie was stricken with Porphyria a disease for which there is no cure. If you do not know, we have prepared this article about details of Dennis DeYoungs short biography-wiki, career, professional life, personal life, todays net worth, age, height, weight, and more facts. "We all needed some time away from one another. From the start of Styx's commercial success with the 1973 DeYoung-penned single "Lady", DeYoung became the creative force behind most of the band's hit songs. And you wonder where they went. He has earned this fortune through hard work and dedication towards his career. But recently, she's been doing something she never did in the past, joining Dennis on stage for a song or two. To this day he has been by her side through everything. While on stage, the duo opened with the Beatles classic "We Can Work It Out", and also performed "Watching the World Go By" and "All for Love", songs that were originally written for the unreleased Edge of the Century 2 Styx album. He is also a self-grown keyboardist. Founding member of the rock band Styx who sang lead vocals, played keyboard, and wrote the majority of the songs for the band. This story contains corrected material, published Dec. 8, 2002. And though both album and tour were hits--spawning Top 10 singles "Don't Let It End" and "Mr. Roboto"--the complaints were no longer quiet, as Shaw and J.Y. Are you kidding. Dennis DeYoung . 1". I suggest you reread his lyrics with that in mind. It's an observed reality. Standing in the Joint, a concert room at the Hard Rock Casino-Hotel in Las Vegas one Friday night in October, it is possible for a few hundred people to believe, with their eyes closed, that they have been transported back at least a couple of decades. Genre. 3 position on the Billboard charts for an impressive nine weeks, proving more durable than albums by such heavyweight groups as Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and the Eagles. Gender: Male Religion: Roman Catholic Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Singer/Songwrite. "It was never my intention to stay in the role forever. ", Suzanne, who is normally a great talker, hears this and says simply, "His dreams became my dreams. More on this later. "That was probably for the best because it was getting tough to juggle two careers." Dennis DeYoung Obituary (1956 - 2023) | Victoria, Kansas - Echovita The Official Dennis DeYoung Web Site Dennis Eugene DeYoung | Stockton Sentinel Deyoung has written a track Show Me The Way for his son Matthew, which got numerous radio play and stood at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Dennis DeYoung - Age, Bio, Personal Life, Family & Stats - CelebsAges Dennis DeYoung : biography February 18, 1947 - On January 18, 1970, DeYoung married his longtime sweetheart, Suzanne Feusi. Dennis DeYoung - IMDb In August 2006, DeYoung appeared along with Supertramp's Roger Hodgson on Canadian Idol, where he performed with and mentored the contestants.[8]. ", Styx utterly refused to play "Mr. Roboto"live. There was always a white limo waiting at the curb downstairs, at DeYoung's disposal. What if they'd brought one of their tigers?" HIV-positive since 1991, Panozzo did not physically feel up to touring, though he would make periodic appearances on stage for a song or two. He. Dennis DeYoung is a popular musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, who was the founding member for the rock band Styx. He is best known in front of the world as a lead vocalist. DeYoung and his bandmates celebrated the success of 1996's "Return to Paradise" tour, and 1997's "Grand Illusion" tour. ", At this point, no one seemed to begrudge DeYoung his paternal role, for which he seemed ideally suited. "Before we were married, when he wanted to change from accordion to keyboard, I used the money I was saving for a car to buy that first keyboard. For orchestral shows, they are joined by singer Mike Eldred, who originated the role of Quasimodo in "Hunchback." "We had been together for so long that I couldn't imagine what would happen if he wasn't here. "Being a rock star is the best job in the world," DeYoung said, picking apart a chicken and pepper sandwich at a Near North Side Italian restaurant several days ago. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. Given where we had come from and how long we'd been friends, I was devastated.". "We'll cut some tracks, make a demo and maybe they can get a record deal.". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address! "And the reasons are simple: It takes the least talent, makes the most money and has the most enthusiastic fans.". Adult Contemporary Arena Rock Hard Rock Prog-Rock Contemporary Pop/Rock Album Rock. On April 20, 2006, at the Community Theatre in Morristown, New Jersey, DeYoung took to the stage once again with former Styx guitarist and bassist Glen Burtnik as part of his Lost Treasures concert series. There is no novelty, of course, in seeing middle-aged rockers on the tube or on the road. I think Dennis is Styx.". "But I fought that and Liza came here to work with me. Dennis Eugene DeYoung, age 66, passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023, at his home. Cheers, "He's the daddy," J.Y. And she is so much better at defending me than I am. His father died in December 1997, and the next month Suzanne's sister Christine died after a 20-year battle with Hodgkin's disease. "This is something you can do," said Suzanne. "We didn't have money for more than one room at the hotels, so when Dennis needed to rest, Carrie and I would play in the bathroom.". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thanks to my good friends in Florida for the big heads. Dennis DeYoung was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] to parents Maurice DeYoung (1918-1997) and Loraine Rolla DeYoung (1923-2001). DeYoung was invited back to perform on Celebrity Duets on September 28, 2006, with finalist Hal Sparks. On January 18, 1970, DeYoung married his longtime sweetheart Suzanne Feusi. Dennis DeYoung: Yeah, you know I hadn't made a rock solo album since 1988 so I didn't have a forum by which I could be . His first solo album, Desert Moon (1984), generated a top 10 hit, "Desert Moon", and the follow-up single, "Don't Wait for Heroes", cracked the Billboard Top 100 as well. There are also posters from his forays into musical theater, both as an actor--he starred as Pontius Pilate in "Jesus Christ Superstar"--and as a writer--he penned a musical of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." That was given at the opening of The 101 dalmatians Musical its World Premiere, in Minneapolis. First Dennis' best friend, a salesman named Tom Short, died of colon cancer. The first single, the title track, was a duet with Qubcois singer ric Lapointe. Dennis DeYoung - Net Worth 2022, Age, Height, Bio, Family, Career, Wiki Dennis DeYoung came roaring back to action over the weekend. Dennis was born July 11, 1956, to Stanley Calvin and Betty Jean (Osborn) DeYoung in Plainville, Kansas. Dennis DeYoung. Three of the band's previous albums were among the top 100, and were climbing higher each week. In 2010, DeYoung formed a new band dedicated to the music of Styx, adding guitarist and lead vocalist August Zadra and bassist-vocalist Craig Carter to join John Blasucci, guitarist Jimmy Leahey, Tom Sharpe (later replaced by Mike Morales), and wife Suzanne DeYoung in performing Styx hits "Renegade", "Blue Collar Man" and others as well as DeYoung's solo works. "The discipline that it takes to perform the same part, day in and day out, eight shows a week . I was just so fatigued all the time, and my face was always hot.". Anyway my dad passed his love of baseball and the Sox on to me and I did the same for my son Matthew. He . 9) being the sole exception. Matt runs a lighting company, Above the Stage, and is rehearsing with his own rock band, Mama Green. I want them with me. My music from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" [which won the Joseph Jefferson Award for best musical in Chicago in 2008] is the greatest music I ever wrote. "Show Me the Way", a track written by DeYoung for his son Matthew, received extensive radio play, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (Styx's 8th top 10 single, and 7th written and sung by DeYoung) particularly after a number of radio stations mixed it with voice tracks of members of Congress debating whether or not to send troops to the first Persian Gulf War. You must behave as if there isn't an audience. Dennis DeYoung - originally scheduled for April 17th, 2020 & postponed to July 23rd, 2021 & February 5, 2022 - is now rescheduled to September 10th, 2022 Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. (Monday, December 6, 2021 @ 4pm) - Due to circumstances outside of our control, we regret to inform you that Dennis DeYoung at The Paramount - originally scheduled for April 17th, 2020 and postponed to July . Mostly to relieve some of the stress, Suzanne wrote a romance novel titled "A Love Foretold," which has gotten some nibbles from publishers.
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