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Dennis DeYoung<\/a> has never been one to hold back and he shared more than a few words when reflecting on the 2025\u00a0Rock & Roll Hall of Fame<\/a> inductions.<\/p>\n This year’s class<\/a> featured a number of inductees who were either inducted posthumously (Joe Cocker<\/a>, Warren Zevon<\/a>) or unable to attend due to health issues<\/a>, in the case of Bad Company<\/a> vocalist Paul Rodgers<\/a>.<\/p>\n The former Styx<\/a> vocalist and songwriter, a cofounder of the Midwest group, expressed his regret that Rodgers couldn’t take the stage to celebrate his legacy of work. “I would have liked to have seen him perform years ago to demonstrate how one of rock\u2019s premiere singers actually rocks<\/em>, he wrote<\/a> on his Facebook page. “You know, like the name on their institution\u2019s logo. I have said this repeatedly for decades, just change the damn name.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> The Best Moments From the 2025 Rock Hall Induction Ceremony<\/a><\/p>\n The 2025 induction ceremony, he said, “clearly pointed out the tragic manner in which this joint operates. Making so many musicians wait until they either incapacitated or dead is shameful,” he added. “Joe Cocker, Warren Zevon et al are suddenly eligible decades after their success? Explain that, what\u2019s changed except the Hall\u2019s inability to let go of their clear prejudices and induct them?”<\/p>\n “They now admit, when it\u2019s far too late that they have erred. Have Joe, Warren and others recently become more popular? \u2026no,” he continued. “The Hall\u2019s initial mission statement about who qualifies was always a ruse and a joke concocted to protect their own personal choices.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Fans Petition for Styx’s ‘Long Overdue’ Rock Hall Induction<\/a><\/p>\n The initial intent of DeYoung’s social media post was to talk about why he decided to sell the rights to his publishing and royalties to Primary Wave in 2023<\/a> — and his happiness at being able to meet with the principal staff from the organization a couple years later. “They were Styx fans for real,” he wrote, detailing how he ultimately came to an agreement with them.<\/p>\n Founder Larry Mestel, he shared, asked DeYoung what he’d like to see happen in the future and he admitted that though he’d never been nominated (Styx has been eligible since 1998), he hoped that he could be inducted into both the Rock Hall as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame<\/a>. “One last Styx tour<\/a> would also be great for our fans,” he added. “They are acutely aware of that and naturally in favor of one. Raise your hand if you\u2019re in agreement. Ooh that\u2019s a lotta hands.”<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Dennis DeYoung: ‘I Was Begging for my Life and Job’ With Styx<\/a><\/p>\n The songwriter has been busy in recent years, taking care of his wife, Suzanne, while she battled cancer. When she celebrated her birthday earlier this month, he shared<\/a> an extremely positive update. “She\u2019s doing well after two bouts with cancer and would like to thank everyone who offered their words of encouragement and their prayers,” he said. “It helped a great deal.”<\/p>\n He spoke about her struggles earlier this year during a conversation with UCR<\/a> and also confirmed that he’s continued to work on his memoir, though he doesn’t have a plan yet as to when it might be released.<\/p>\n “I’ve got all kinds of stories — and shameless plug — they’re all in the book,” he laughed. “There’s a Kiss<\/a> story, an\u00a0Aerosmith<\/a>\u00a0story that’s historic, not because of us, but because of them. There’s a\u00a0ZZ Top<\/a>\u00a0story and I’ll probably getting around to telling the\u00a0Frank Zappa<\/a>\u00a0story.”<\/p>\n Listen to Dennis DeYoung on the ‘UCR Podcast’<\/strong><\/p>\n Only two bands – U2 and Poison – are currently using their most famous lineups. These 23 acts could join them, but don’t hold your breath.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Matthew Wilkening<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDennis DeYoung Laments the ‘Tragic Manner’ in Which the Rock Hall Operates<\/h3>\n
Why Dennis DeYoung Sold His Publishing Rights in 2023<\/h3>\n
What’s Dennis DeYoung Doing Now?<\/h3>\n
The Only 23 Classic Rock Bands Whose Most Famous Lineups Can Still Reunite<\/h2>\n