Dennis DeYoung Gives Update On His Tour

Dennis DeYoung, the iconic vocalist and former frontman of Styx, has been far from idle during the pandemic-induced hiatus from live performances. As plans for his extensive 2020 tour were abruptly halted, DeYoung found himself reflecting deeply on his career, life experiences, and his next creative steps.

In a candid interview with Ultimate Classic Rock Nights, DeYoung revealed that one of his major projects during this period has been his memoir. Although progress has been ongoing since 2014, the enforced downtime of the pandemic allowed him to focus intently on completing this deeply personal work. DeYoung shared:

“I’m writing my autobiography.
“I’m maybe 10 or 11 chapters into it. But they’re not long chapters. I’ve been diving into pivotal moments in my life and career, starting with the good stuff first. It’s about understanding who I am and why I turned out this way as a human being.”

The memoir promises to delve into DeYoung’s upbringing, family influences, and the intertwined journey of music and personal identity. He explained:

“I spend time talking about why people do the things they do.
“It’s not just about music, but about the people and experiences that shaped me.”

Reflecting on the abrupt halt to his touring plans, DeYoung expressed a poignant regret:

“The greatest disappointment to me is that I didn’t know my last show was my last show. So in the back of my mind, I have to correct that at some point here.”

Despite this, DeYoung remains optimistic about returning to the stage, albeit with revised timelines. He mused:

“I had really thought about it being the fall of this year, but those plans have been put to the side for now.”

Discussing his creative process and future musical endeavors, DeYoung acknowledged a shift in focus.

“Do people need to keep hearing from me? I’m not the guy – and this is probably one of the things that makes me very different from a lot of musicians, and some from my band. They live to be on stage. That’s it. Not that they don’t have other interests, but really, that is the focus of their life. Their time on stage makes them feel the most alive and the most fulfilled.”

He also added:

“I understand that – because there was a time when I felt that way. I guess circumstances have kind of changed my point of view. I’ve always had a family. I had a wife and a daughter before I had a record deal. I had a family and a life that was separate and apart from standing on stage every night. That was important to me. So now, I don’t feel the need to write more music.”

Throughout the interview, DeYoung’s trademark humor and candid reflections painted a picture of an artist embracing both his past and future with equal parts introspection and wit. As he navigates the completion of his memoir and looks forward to future performances, Dennis DeYoung remains a figure whose journey resonates deeply with fans and admirers alike.

As for what lies ahead, DeYoung’s memoir promises to offer readers a deeper understanding of the man behind the music, with anecdotes that range from serendipitous encounters to the joys and challenges of a storied career. For now, fans eagerly await the next chapter in the life of this rock legend.