TOMMY SHAW ON A DAMN YANKEES REUNION, “I THINK WE RAN THAT THING UNTIL THE WHEELS FELL OFF”
On March 13th, Styx’s guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw was a guest on Eddie’s SiriusXM show, Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, where he was asked about the possibility of a reunion of the Damn Yankees, the supergroup he formed more than three decades ago with Jack Blades, Ted Nugent and Michael Cartellone.
He responded (per blabbermouth.net), “I think we kind of ran that thing until the wheels fell off of it. And I’d like to just keep it like that. It was a fantastic run. It was just wild and wooly. We made those two records. The first [self titled] record, that was the s–t. The second record [Don’t Tread], it just started to lose the thing that it had on the first album. And I think everybody else knew that it was probably time to go back to your regular job.”
Inquiring about whether Shaw would be open to revisiting the band, for a one-off tour or concert, he said, “Michael is a permanent fixture in Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Damn Yankees without Michael Cartellone just wouldn’t be right. And we [in Styx] do 90 to 120 shows a year, and you have to go home some time. It’s like having two wives, your two families.
As far as I’m concerned, we had our day. We had big records, we sold a lot of records, we got a lot of airplay, and I just don’t know how we would be able to fit all that in. I wouldn’t wanna tell the guys in my band [Styx], ‘Sorry, guys. We can’t play any shows for a few months.’ ‘Cause that’s what everybody wants to do.”
That’s too bad because I thought the two records they did were great. They have to have some live material they could release for a full album because I have their concert DVD. I’m sure this has more to do with Tommy being woke and not wanting to tie himself to Uncle Ted in today’s world.
I agree,
I have both albums, and I saw them twice on their tour with the Brian Howe fronted Bad Company.
Perhaps politics and “woke” have nothing to do with it. Maybe it’s just a case of weighing the financial options of (a) touring with a band that has a massive catalog and continues to sell out amphitheaters every year; or (b) returning to a band that hasn’t put out material or toured for 30 years, and probably playing clubs and the odd festival.
Politics and “woke-ness” doesn’t have to spoil everything and every decision….
RTunes,
Sadly, politics and “wokeness” seem to mandate, and dictate, a majority of decisions, in the current climate. However, I use Mr. Big as a shining beacon, both Eric Martin and Paul Gilbert are liberal, while Billy Sheehan and the late, great, handsome Pat Torrey (RIP), were both conservative, and they managed to make it work.
Martin has said that they try to avoid political discussions as much as possible, but when it did arise, they tried to be respectful of each other’s opinions and differences.
I tend to think money is the biggest reason why things do, or don’t, happen, and that very well could be reason here. Although, I tend to think a Damn Yankees reunion could be pretty lucrative, but who knows, it is 2023, not 2003.
I think Tommy Shaw is being a little diplomatic. I think the real reason a reunion will not happen is cuz none of the members like Ted Nugent.
No reunion till we pull Ted out from Trump’s Buttocks
Tommy, if you think for one second that we don’t know the real reason why you don’t want a Damn Yankees reunion you’re not fooling us, you’re only Fooling Yourself
Blades is tied up with Night Ranger and it seems like they have been touring non-stop. I don’t see how Shaw and Blades would ever be able to coordinate it. I agree it is about the money. There are plenty of bands out there playing that are made up of members who can’t stand each other. Big money heals old wounds.