I never watched YouTube on a regular basis. I usually logged on, saw a quick funny video or two then logged out. Once in a while, I’d upload my own videos. But then I heard a song from Styx on the radio and I decided to look them up on YouTube.

But as I was watching the videos, I noticed something else occurring with me. I began to read the comments and through reading what others posted, I learned about the problems within Styx and the drama in the late 90s that led the band to split. Although I act and create, I don’t follow entertainment gossip – nor do I have any reason to. However, I’m also interested in organizations, how they function, endure or split apart.

Now, by watching videos uploaded to YouTube, I learned far more about Styx than I ever did while listening to their music in the 70s or 80s. One video, I don’t remember the year, was where Dennis De Yong introduces the band members to the audience and says “did you ever think you’d see these bums together again?” Hmm. I knew that was a message pointing to some conflict. And then he introduced the song "Lady" with a quick sentence about sitting in his garage in 1972 and the song got the whole "train a rollin'."

I discovered that Dennis DeYoung wanted to take the band in a different direction than did the other members. Tommy Shaw and James Young were more rockers.

An interview clip on YouTube which gave more understanding to the rift in the band was promoting a tour Dennis De Yong was performing with classical orchestration. He said he was performing the songs he wrote while with Styx. And he mentioned that’s what they do – perform the songs he wrote while with Styx.

The other fascinating use of YouTube is it allows you to almost track a performer’s career spanning decades. You actually see the age differences. There are many clips of Styx from the ‘80s, 1996, and up to 2008. They go from dark hair to white hair.

One comment I won’t forget was from a woman who remarked how she admired Dennis De Yong for aging gracefully and utilizing orchestral talent.

I’ve also re-discovered and grew to appreciate the music of Glen Campbell and the longevity of his career and his partnership with composer Jimmy Webb.

YouTube is far more than silly videos strung together. It’s an archival of memories from talented artists who have had their works endure for decades and from one generation to another. You can also discover that, yes, even a rock band is an organization with its ups and downs.