The Grand Delusion: The Unauthorized True Story of Styx
by Sterling Whitaker
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Book Summary Information
Author: Sterling WhitakerEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-03-08
ISBN: 1419653539
Number of pages: 382
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Book Reviews of The Grand Delusion: The Unauthorized True Story of Styx
Book Review: I've been waiting for this band's story for a long time
Summary: 5 Stars
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!!
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