Classic rock singer ostracized by former bandmates for penning their most popular songs

the love songs was that people needed to believe in the singer. They were projecting our happy life on us. They needed the singer to stay married and live happily ever after.”DeYoung admitted he’s “as vain as any of us are. My ego is bigger than yours. And that’s the truth. When people say they’re not vain, that’s a lie.”But he quickly added: “I was never an egomaniac. I always listened to others. I valued their opinion. But that’s not my thing anymore. That’s the truth.”On losing his love songs after his divorce, he said: “Music literally called me into existence. I was nothing. But ever since I can remember, music was coming out of my mouth and in my head.“Maybe after this long break, I’ll remember all the love songs I wrote about my wife when we were kids. God, I miss that girl!”DeYoung may have made his peace with Styx, but he may never make peace with Shaw and Young.Outside of music, DeYoung is still the same personality he was as a teenager — “more optimistic, more excited about being alive” — but that’s where the similarities end.He may have happily neglected politics, “never felt homicidal, only suicidal. I never felt that way”.He did, however, confess to being “always my own worst enemy. That’s why I was never envious, never worried about anyone else’s success. More people like me have gotten over on this racket than me. That’s just the way things are”.Making his exit music, DeYoung revealed: “If you ever meet a musician who’s bitter, it’s because they haven’t gotten over the music biz.“I just never got my due until very late in my life. So I have this wonderful career in my head that nobody will ever take away from me”Unsurprisingly, then, DeYoung’s advice for upcoming musicians is simple: “Don’t be like me. Be yourself.”Want all the hottest music news, reviews, features and more great stuff? Sign up for the MusicRadar newsletter today.Paul Elliott