Iconic ’70s Rock Band’s Founding Singer Was Fired While Sick — But Still Wants a Reunion

Dennis DeYoung says he still believes fans deserve one final reunion—even decades after being pushed out of the band he helped build.

The singer, songwriter and keyboardist, who co-founded Styx in 1972, opened up in a new interview with Classic Rock about the circumstances surrounding his 1999 departure from the band, which he says happened while he was dealing with serious health issues.

“I don’t believe that I have to forgive them; I’ve never said that,” DeYoung said. “They replaced me when I was sick and then had to convince the fanbase that they hadn’t fired a sick colleague. They even said I had ruined the band, though why is still beyond me.”

RELATED: Neal Schon Calls Out Steve Perry in Journey Tribute—and Fans Notice the Wording

DeYoung served as Styx’s primary lead vocalist and keyboardist from 1972 until 1984 and then rejoined the band in the 1990s and was the band’s most prolific songwriter. He wrote seven of the group’s eight Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, including “Babe,” “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” “The Best of Times” and “Lady.” “Babe” remains Styx’s only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

After Styx’s hugely successful Return to Paradise tour in 1996 and Grand Illusion tour in 1997, the band began work on a new album, Brave New World. But in early 1998, DeYoung’s health took a sudden turn.

He has said he was hit with a severe case of the flu and an extremely high fever that damaged his eyes, leaving him with intense light sensitivity and heavy fatigue. When bandmates James “J.Y.” Young and Tommy Shaw proposed touring in support of the new album, DeYoung asked for six months to recover.

RELATED: ‘Most Important Guitarist’ Announces First Solo Album in Over 20 Years

Instead, he was replaced by Canadian rocker Lawrence Gowan, and Styx went on tour without him in 1999.

In a 2021 interview with AXS TV, Young, Shaw and Gowan said that DeYoung “wasn’t a team player” because they suggested that he join them on that 1999 tour but have an understudy ready just like in a Broadway show, so that on nights when he didn’t feel well enough to perform, someone else could take the stage. But they said DeYoung refused to do that and they told him they were going out on tour with or without him.

Despite the bitterness surrounding that decision, DeYoung says he still hopes for one final reunion—not for himself, but for the fans.

RELATED: A Shockingly Recent Year Named in the Top 5 of Rock’s Most Legendary Years

“Nevertheless, I still believe that we should do one last tour for the fans,” he said. “They’ve said a thousand times that they’re not interested, so what can I do? That reference to forgiveness was a more general one. All human beings are flawed.”

Meanwhile, in the interview with AXS TV, Young said he’s not interested in a reunion, saying, “I’ve forgiven Dennis for everything he’s done for what I feel is not right…really talented guy…I have no desire to work with him again, to depend on him being where he’s gonna be when he says he’s gonna be there. I wish him the best.”

In the Classic Rock interview, DeYoung also reflected on his legacy and his farewell albums 26 East, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, which he has described as his final studio work.

RELATED: Fans Stunned by How Tom Petty’s Legacy Is Quietly Changing Lives

“Look, it’s very simple: I really don’t care whether or not people remember me,” he said. “The music is so much bigger. If in 50 years’ time people are still getting what they need from what I have created, then I’ll be very happy with that.”

Styx continues to tour with its current lineup, including an upcoming co-headline run with Chicago, while DeYoung remains firm in his belief that the band’s classic era—and its fans—deserve one last shared farewell.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬