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 I've been waiting for this band's story for a long time May 13, 2009
This book was found totally by happenstance on a random surf one day. I was extremely excited to find it because I've been a HUGE Styx fan since 1980, when once I heard Dennis DeYoung singing "The best of times" I was freaking hooked. What a voice!
Now having read The Grand Delusion, I come away feeling really sad that my favorite band of all time will likely never get back with each other unless bad feelings can finally be laid to rest.
My detour through grad school left me out of the loop for the longest time. This book has finally put it all together. But I will say, the book has it all:
Inflated egos, Record Business exploitation, etc. Overall, I think it was well-done. I hope each band member actually reads it too, for no one person is truly singled out as the "bad guy." This part had me worried, because I did see VH1's Behind The Music episode on Styx, and its portrayal was really skewed on the the side of JY and TS. It's always hard to come to grips with a childhood hero of yours (DDY for me) being portrayed as anything less than "superhuman."
In the end, after completion of this book, I do believe the remaining members of Styx are using the name unjustifiably, lawsuits aside, this is just my opinion. I also believe that DDY was tossed out unjustifiably, and because he is gone, the band "Styx" will never be what it once was.
Dennis was the one who brought Tommy into the band, and gave Tommy the exposure through the medium of Styx's music. Without Dennis, Tommy would not have enjoyed the successes he's had. I am saddened to see how a person like Tommy could become so full of himself as to commit such unadulterated acts of self-servitude. My impression, also, from the various DDY interviews I've read, is that Dennis is still none-too-happy to be ousted from the band he clearly loved. That makes me saddest of all, for Styx's music has suffered in his absence.
It was a GREAT read though, to see the very "human" side of each band member. I cannot help but wonder how much better it would have been had every "classic" member of the band given input. It's too bad, for it seems they were all clearly afraid of journalistic dishonesty.
Sterling Whitaker showed himself to be an honest writer, and for that he has my respect. I hope the band members will do the same. Thanks again for the great book!!
0 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 A Good Book, but not a Great Book. Mar 31, 2009
I read Sterling Whitaker's book from cover to cover. I also talked to him online in a few emails prior to reading the book. I greatly value "The Grand Delusion: The Unauthorized True Story of Styx" and I enjoyed reading the book. However, the book is a bit amateuristic. I say this because the book lacks a table of contents. The chapters have titles but it would have been nice to be able to refer to a table of contents, and numbering the chapters would have been very helpful. Also, there is no real index. At the end of the book Witaker has citations of all of the sources used but it isn't very helpful to the reader. Also, the book is a collection of quotes from record managers, former or current members of Styx, family members, press, etc. It becomes very confusing trying to picture who is saying what about the band. The comments are often very interesting, but still I had no real idea of who the people were. I would think some pictures of those people speaking would be helpful.
All in all though I basically enjoyed the book. Someone mentioned that an editor was needed. I second that idea. In the end I came away thinking that Dennis De Young was pretty much an ego maniac with mental problems, a primadonna, perhaps a hypochondriac too and that Styx became his second or distant love. I believe Dennis needed to be fired for the band to continue on. I think Tommy Shaw, James Young and the band did what they had to do. Dennis needed to be ousted from the band. This however does not make Tommy or James saints. Tommy was clearly a drug addict who slept with as many women as he could. Dennis was and still is a family man who loves his wife and kids and a man who didn't use drugs, at least not like some folks. Some folks likened James Young to a "Third Wheel" in Styx. I disagree and I believe his guitar playing speaks for itself. He has many great songs and vocals in Styx from "Snowblind, to Heavy Metal Poisoning, to Miss America, to Heavy Water, to Half Penny Two Penny, etc." James Young is a pretty talented guy. However, he is no real singer whereas Tommy Shaw and Dennis De Young are singers.
To close, I wish Dennis De Young was back in the band, and singing far FEWER SAPPY LOVE SONGS. Dennis should have saved all of his sappy and theatrical moments, or many of them, for solo albums and side projects. Afterall, Styx was a rock band. Sure, Lady is awesome and Babe was what, a number one song? Still, for example, Don't Let it End and First Time are two nauseating songs that the band had to endure.
Anyway, thank you Mr. Whitaker for your book. It is much appreciated.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great for Styx fans Jan 10, 2009
This book is written in mostly an interview format. The author spends much of the time quoting the many people he interviewed for the book. I have always been a Styx fan. I eventually met many of the band one at a time (Tommy, JY, Todd and Dennis). The book seems to be a fair telling of all the stories from all the sides. I especially enjoyed hearing how some of the music industry dirt used wok work back in the days of station programmers and influence peddling that seemed to drive the industry in the 70's and 80's.
You will learn lots more about each of the band members, the ego's and the drive that made Styx such a great band.
Styx was ahead of their times in many ways and set precedents for much of what we take for granted in today's music (theatrical shows, dual stage setups, etc)
Worth the money for any Styx fan!
Great read! Sep 18, 2008
I'm a styx fan. I am a music fan overall. My taste goes from Yes to The Beatles to so Styx (surprise!) to Fleetwood Mac to John Denver to America to Asia to April Wine to Rush to XTC to Kate Bush etc...
I think this book is very well built. I say "built", because it's mostly a bunch of interviews sorted in chronogical order and in context. Which is totally great, since you got to know the band through all the people that worked with them.
I somehow think that not enough time is spent on the music and that too much time is spent on the people, but...
All in all, a great read...
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Fascinating Book! Aug 04, 2008
I've been a Styx fan back in the late seventies early eighties and then I've lost track on any of the band's activities. I was then able to see a show during their European tour in 2005 here where I live in Switzerland. I didn't know about the change in the lineup and I absolutely had no clue about the band's internal problems. I was just happy to see them again after so many years and I was more than impressed with their preformance.
Just now I've been able to read "The Grand Delusion" and I found this book absolutely brilliant! Even though English is not my mother tongue, it only took me two nights to read the whole book. As an "outside" fan from far away, I would say that the author of this book was able to present the two sides of the story without taking one's side. Well done!
And from my point of view as a fan, I am looking forward to any future Styx Show in Europe as well as looking forward to Dennis' upcoming concerts in Germany at the end of this year. I just simply love Styx' music!
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