These (Truly) Are the Worst of Times

Are the Thompson Twins HOF worthy?

 

Puppet show

 

REO cover played a concert in the park last Sunday. Their songs are stuck in my head.

 

That was a pretty typical venue for both bands at the time. Clubs, county fairs, small colleges.

As for Styx wrecking REO, I don't see it. I don't think one band influenced the other all that much. Styx was into drama while REO had more of a corn-fed sound. Both bands may have taken some cues from Cheap Trick, which became an overnight smash in the late '70s.

Speaking of corn-fed, I'm reminded of another central-Illinois band that was regionally popular: Pork and the Havana Ducks.

 

That is fantastic! how did I miss them back then??

Did you ever run across Hartsfield, another Illinois band?

As far as Styx ruining REO, I am quite sure on that.

In their Behind the Music ep DeYoung laughed maniacally about what they had done to REO.

 

My condolences on the post '76 songs in the mix.

 

I'll just keep on rolling ....

 

again, my condolences.

 

I read years ago Mick Jones was totally bummed they couldn't get booked on Unplugged.

I think he's the only original member left touring.

 

Crap has how many letters, Dennis?

 

Sure, I remember Hartsfield, along with Starcastle, a low-rent version of Yes from Champaign. Sadly, they were doing the Yes thing about five years too late.

On the topic of low-rent, I've always regarded REO as a poor man's version of The Eagles. WADR I don't know what DeYoung did to "ruin" them, since their greatest commercial success apparently came after that ruination. But their success came in the Eagles' wake fairly closely.

When I was at Mizzou around 1980, there was a Missouri band that was a cult favorite called The Skeletons, AKA The Morells. A ladyfriend from La Plata was a fan.

 

Dude, Dennis DeYoung came up with the Kilroy Was Here concept and wrote Mr. Roboto.

Steering REO down the path to ruin was child's play for him.

I need @Captain_Kirk to back me up on this