GQ Story on Arnel and Journey

[annie89509]

Yet, throughout all these years, SP has not once criticized any one of them for their past actions

How could he? They never did anything but cow-tow to him, put up with his bullshit, watch him fire members, wrestle control away from the band and Herbie, had to apologize for him missing tons of meet and greets, and shelving the band. In the mean time, the other members were forced to look over their shoulders while Perry "cut" people like he was a fucking high school football coach, play Street Talk songs with an obese black guy and a fucking pink hat toting drummer, hold in their vomit when the nasal eclipse forced them to play Motown songs because he has a man crush on black singers from the 60's, and watch with horror as Perry and his "L" shaped silouhette walked back into the bat cave after he nixed an anticipated lineup (Rolie and Chalfant) for a falsely labeled "reunion tour" like a Wiggler would a can of Slim Fast. Can't imagine why Perry "takes the high road" all the time.

[Saint John]

Yet, throughout all these years, SP has not once criticized any one of them for their past actions

How could he? They never did anything but cow-tow to him, put up with his bullshit, watch him fire members, wrestle control away from the band and Herbie, had to apologize for him missing tons of meet and greets, and shelving the band. In the mean time, the other members were forced to look over their shoulders while Perry "cut" people like he was a fucking high school football coach, play Street Talk songs with an obese black guy and a fucking pink hat toting drummer, hold in their vomit when the nasal eclipse forced them to play Motown songs because he has a man crush on black singers from the 60's, and watch with horror as Perry and his "L" shaped silouhette walked back into the bat cave after he nixed an anticipated lineup (Rolie and Chalfant) for a falsely labeled "reunion tour" like a Wiggler would a can of Slim Fast. Can't imagine why Perry "takes the high road" all the time.

Nice response, ass lips. A white flag would have been more noble.

[Carlitto H@kk]

Hmmm...
Schon just recently played a big part in firing Augeri and Jeff.

And HIRING them in first place.

No shit, Numb Nutz.
My comment was in reference to Dan's claim
of how Perry is notorious for firing band members,
making it sound like Neal is a saint.

[annie89509]

But at the same time, I have seen many posts where people are so hypersensitive that ANY comment that was not glowing about Perry was considered "slash and burn", "bashing", degrading, demeaning, marginalizing, etc. Neal and Jon have never been able to say ANYTHING about Perry without it being ripped to shreds. I htink that is what Neal is referring to.

Well, that's what happens after every one of their interviews, isn't it?. Only us diehards would bother sifting through and analyzing their every word, arguing over their meaning. It is not just Perryfans. How about Augerifans, after TG? Neal suddenly became the devil reincarnate with every interview he gave after SA was ousted.

Now all this hoopla and hype over Arnel as "savior" of the Journey legacy. You have to take it with a grain of salt. We have heard all this propaganda before during SA's years with Journey (before TG). Look it up, Kevin Shirley was raving about SA's singing on Arrival, too.

Arnel is living out his dream, I hope he cames through this alright. I will like some of the new songs, just like I liked some songs on Arrival and and most of Generations. But I hate the fact that someone else is singing over the old classics - the hits made famous by SP.

[annie89509]

Yet, throughout all these years, SP has not once criticized any one of them for their past actions

How could he? They never did anything but cow-tow to him, put up with his bullshit, watch him fire members, wrestle control away from the band and Herbie, had to apologize for him missing tons of meet and greets, and shelving the band. In the mean time, the other members were forced to look over their shoulders while Perry "cut" people like he was a fucking high school football coach, play Street Talk songs with an obese black guy and a fucking pink hat toting drummer, hold in their vomit when the nasal eclipse forced them to play Motown songs because he has a man crush on black singers from the 60's, and watch with horror as Perry and his "L" shaped silouhette walked back into the bat cave after he nixed an anticipated lineup (Rolie and Chalfant) for a falsely labeled "reunion tour" like a Wiggler would a can of Slim Fast. Can't imagine why Perry "takes the high road" all the time.

Nice response, ass lips. A white flag would have been more noble.

I swear, you are turning into the worst Journey goon, ever!! Who can debate against over-the-top statements like that? You have a nice time worshipping the present incarnation.

[Deb]

Yet, throughout all these years, SP has not once criticized any one of them for their past actions

How could he? They never did anything but cow-tow to him, put up with his bullshit, watch him fire members, wrestle control away from the band and Herbie, had to apologize for him missing tons of meet and greets, and shelving the band. In the mean time, the other members were forced to look over their shoulders while Perry "cut" people like he was a fucking high school football coach, play Street Talk songs with an obese black guy and a fucking pink hat toting drummer, hold in their vomit when the nasal eclipse forced them to play Motown songs because he has a man crush on black singers from the 60's, and watch with horror as Perry and his "L" shaped silouhette walked back into the bat cave after he nixed an anticipated lineup (Rolie and Chalfant) for a falsely labeled "reunion tour" like a Wiggler would a can of Slim Fast. Can't imagine why Perry "takes the high road" all the time.

Nice response, ass lips. A white flag would have been more noble.

I swear, you are turning into the worst Journey goon, ever!! Who can debate against over-the-top statements like that? You have a nice time worshipping the present incarnation.

She's got a point Dan. I DO find myself blurting out "whiney bitch" with a lot more frequency on your posts.

[Saint John]

Hmmm...
Schon just recently played a big part in firing Augeri and Jeff.

And HIRING them in first place.

No shit, Numb Nutz.
My comment was in reference to Dan's claim
of how Perry is notorious for firing band members,
making it sound like Neal is a saint.

Augeri and Soto were afforded tremendous opportunities. Augeri was hired to try and bring the band back to prominence. When that failed they hung onto him until he could no longer sing...after that actually. They had to finally part ways. Jeff was asked to finish a tour and did so. The band then sought a different direction. Neither man was wronged in any way. They both made a ton of loot that they otherwise wouldn't have. Both should be extremely appreciative of the opportunity they were afforded. Both did a fine job.

Smith and Valory on the other hand were part of the lineup that sold millions and millions of records, had Top 40 hits, and actually recorded the original music. I would think that the loyalty factor would supercede hiring Fat Albert to play bass and a guy that resembled a pedophile to play the skins. The ironic thing is that neither was better than the person they replaced as far as Journey music goes.

[Tito]

Well, let's see.... starting with NoMota, Inc., which is still used to this very day (I believe) ... seems just a tiny bit incongruous with the "open invitations to sing with us" statements.

Nomota is an Esperanto word, meaning yet to be named.

[Saint John]

She's got a point Dan. I DO find myself blurting out "whiney bitch" with a lot more frequency on your posts.

I'm merely presenting the evidence in a colorful way. I'm sorry if you guys can't seem to grasp that he intentionally shelved the band for over a decade because he couldn't go on. Then he nixed a ready-to-go lineup and fired their manager before leaving them in shambles.

[STORY_TELLER]

Nice response, ass lips. A white flag would have been more noble.

I think I'm gonna refer to you as Mini-Me from now on.

[Saint John]

Nice response, ass lips. A white flag would have been more noble.

I think I'm gonna refer to you as Mini-Me from now on.

I've been called worse!!!

[STORY_TELLER]

Nice response, ass lips. A white flag would have been more noble.

I think I'm gonna refer to you as Mini-Me from now on.

I've been called worse!!!

Can't imagine why.

[Tito]

he intentionally shelved the band for over a decade because he couldn't go on. Then he nixed a ready-to-go lineup and fired their manager before leaving them in shambles.

What is your problem? You insensitive @sshole. Can't you see we have an injured man here.

[Rick]

he intentionally shelved the band for over a decade because he couldn't go on. Then he nixed a ready-to-go lineup and fired their manager before leaving them in shambles.

What is your problem? You insensitive @sshole. Can't you see we have an injured man here.

[Sarah]

Neither man was wronged in any way. They both made a ton of loot that they otherwise wouldn't have. Both should be extremely appreciative of the opportunity they were afforded.

Hah oooookay... making a bunch of money isn't really a Band-Aid for getting unceremoniously let go and (in Augeri's case) shouldered with all the blame for TG.

That they weren't wronged is just your opinion, and mine is that they were.

[Saint John]

Neither man was wronged in any way. They both made a ton of loot that they otherwise wouldn't have. Both should be extremely appreciative of the opportunity they were afforded.

Hah oooookay... making a bunch of money isn't really a Band-Aid for getting unceremoniously let go and (in Augeri's case) shouldered with all the blame for TG.

That they weren't wronged is just your opinion, and mine is that they were.

This is the fucking rock&roll industry. Take off your little Brownie uniform, put down My Pretty Pony and get back to me when you check back into reality, Buttercup.

[Carlitto H@kk]

Neither man was wronged in any way. They both made a ton of loot that they otherwise wouldn't have. Both should be extremely appreciative of the opportunity they were afforded.

Hah oooookay... making a bunch of money isn't really a Band-Aid for getting unceremoniously let go and (in Augeri's case) shouldered with all the blame for TG.

That they weren't wronged is just your opinion, and mine is that they were.

This is the fucking rock&roll industry. Take off your little Brownie uniform, put down My Pretty Pony and get back to me when you check back into reality, Buttercup.

Bullshit, Dan.
Augeri and Soto being let go/replaced were business decisions; we get it.
But the way they were let go/replaced/fired was pretty fucking ridiculous.


But hey, it's all in the past, right?
Time to move forward...
Kinda feel the same way about Perry
and how he "kept the band in limbo" all those years...
Time to move forward, forgive and get excited again

[Saint John]

But hey, it's all in the past, right?
Time to move forward...
Kinda feel the same way about Perry
and how he "kept the band in limbo" all those years...
Time to move forward, forgive and get excited again

Well said, Carl. And I am also excited for the Perry solo fans out there. I hope his new album blows you away. Preferably right into The Grand Canyon. Just kidding, folks.

[Tito]

But hey, it's all in the past, right?
Time to move forward...
Kinda feel the same way about Perry
and how he "kept the band in limbo" all those years...
Time to move forward, forgive and get excited again

Lookin back with no regrets
To forgive is to forget
I want a little piece of mind to turn to

[Tito]

I'll be addressing the other parts of your post tomorrow. It's too late and I got to get home.

[Carlitto H@kk]

I'll be addressing the other parts of your post tomorrow. It's too late and I got to get home.

Gee, I'm on the edge of my seat with anticipation

[Carlitto H@kk]

Lookin back with no regrets
To forgive is to forget
I want a little piece of mind to turn to...

...Will she go or will she stay (will she stay)
Pull herself (through or for) one more day
Don't give up
Never Walk Away
Love's a promise that he made
In his heart it still remains
Don't give up
Never Walk away...

Oops!

Wrong Song!?!?! Same Song?!?!?

[annie89509]

Hmmm...
Schon just recently played a big part in firing Augeri and Jeff.

And HIRING them in first place.

No shit, Numb Nutz.
My comment was in reference to Dan's claim
of how Perry is notorious for firing band members,
making it sound like Neal is a saint.

Augeri and Soto were afforded tremendous opportunities. Augeri was hired to try and bring the band back to prominence. When that failed they hung onto him until he could no longer sing...after that actually. They had to finally part ways. Jeff was asked to finish a tour and did so. The band then sought a different direction. Neither man was wronged in any way. They both made a ton of loot that they otherwise wouldn't have. Both should be extremely appreciative of the opportunity they were afforded. Both did a fine job.

Smith and Valory on the other hand were part of the lineup that sold millions and millions of records, had Top 40 hits, and actually recorded the original music. I would think that the loyalty factor would supercede hiring Fat Albert to play bass and a guy that resembled a pedophile to play the skins. The ironic thing is that neither was better than the person they replaced as far as Journey music goes.

Okay, let's see if we can get through this without name calling .

First: I'll let SA and JSS fans mull over whether they think their guy was wronged or not.

Second: What is being the original members making those original albums have anything to do with not getting fired and with the making of the ROR album? SP, being the Producer, had a vision for how he wanted the songs to sound like. Right or wrong, it was with Randy's funky bass playing. May not be what many consider the Journey sound, but it did have 5 (maybe 6) Top 40 hits: Suzanne, BGTY,GCHI,IBAWY,WCTNGOF. As for Smitty (in his own account of why he was fired), he didn't know how to play click tracks, which was called for by the way Jon/Neal/Steve wrote the songs for the album. SP did leave 3 tracks in with Smitty (one of which was WCTNGOF, my fav J song of all time). IMO, the relentless drum beating was kind of distracting in some of those other songs, and I do wonder what those songs would have sounded like with just Smitty's "organic" playing.

None of us was there, it's all fan speculation based on tidbits of info revealed here and there. I would say, based on Steve's apology song and the BTM regret, that he wished that he had handled things differently with Ross & Smitty, but that situations "were dictated by the music." Again, as the Producer, he had every right to steer the record to any sound he wished. Had nothing to do who he thought was the better musician. I think all the guys involved understood this, and this issue was long ago resolved among them. But, leave it to the Perry Detractors to bring this up time and time again to hammer SP over the head with it.

[Saint John]

[Okay, let's see if we can get through this without name calling .

First: I'll let SA and JSS fans mull over whether they think their guy was wronged or not.

Second: What is being the original members making those original albums have anything to do with not getting fired and with the making of the ROR album? SP, being the Producer, had a vision for how he wanted the songs to sound like. Right or wrong, it was with Randy's funky bass playing. May not be what many consider the Journey sound, but it did have 5 (maybe 6) Top 40 hits: Suzanne, BGTY,GCHI,IBAWY,WCTNGOF. As for Smitty (in his own account of why he was fired), he didn't know how to play click tracks, which was called for by the way Jon/Neal/Steve wrote the songs for the album. SP did leave 3 tracks in with Smitty (one of which was WCTNGOF, my fav J song of all time). IMO, the relentless drum beating was kind of distracting in some of those other songs, and I do wonder what those songs would have sounded like with just Smitty's "organic" playing.

None of us was there, it's all fan speculation based on tidbits of info revealed here and there. I would say, based on Steve's apology song and the BTM regret, that he wished that he had handled things differently with Ross & Smitty, but that situations "were dictated by the music." Again, as the Producer, he had every right to steer the record to any sound he wished. Had nothing to do who he thought was the better musician. I think all the guys involved understood this, and this issue was long ago resolved among them. But, leave it to the Perry Detractors to bring this up time and time again to hammer SP over the head with it.

So what you're telling me is this...Perry couldn't wait a few months for Smitty to learn how to play a click track after Journey waited over 3 years for him to tour? Interesting. Furthermore, Perry forced his way into the producer's role. I guess the 16 million or so units moved with their prior 2 albums wasn't good enough for him. ROR moved like 2 million units...he sure showed them!!! Perry stripped the band of background vocals, took away the freedom of of impromtu live parts with the implementation of the "click track" and most importantly introduced CANNED VOCALS. That's what the click track was for...to trigger pre-recorded harmonies. It's all right there...the guy went from a singer, to a producer, to the manager...all leading the band in a downward spiral. Things were best when he kept his mind to singing and not everything fucking else. Friga was right...he got LSD (lead singer's disease).

[annie89509]

And, another thing, has there been any member of this band who ever left in "good" graces? Only George Tickner & Gregg Rolie. Oh, Prairie Prince, their very 1st drummer, although he never recorded with them.

RF = called a poodle by HH, told to "get out before I throw you out."
AD = 2 versions: 1) his drumming did not jive with SP's singing; 2)but, according to HH, the real reason he fired him was Aynsley's penchant for having underaged girls in his room. At any rate, Anysley didn't go quietly. According to old fan articles, there was legal wrangling involved.
RV&SS = discussed above
SP = any Journey fan worth his salt knows the story
SA = well, this too.
JSS = and this.
AP = next chapter of the Journey saga

[Deb]

[Okay, let's see if we can get through this without name calling .

First: I'll let SA and JSS fans mull over whether they think their guy was wronged or not.

Second: What is being the original members making those original albums have anything to do with not getting fired and with the making of the ROR album? SP, being the Producer, had a vision for how he wanted the songs to sound like. Right or wrong, it was with Randy's funky bass playing. May not be what many consider the Journey sound, but it did have 5 (maybe 6) Top 40 hits: Suzanne, BGTY,GCHI,IBAWY,WCTNGOF. As for Smitty (in his own account of why he was fired), he didn't know how to play click tracks, which was called for by the way Jon/Neal/Steve wrote the songs for the album. SP did leave 3 tracks in with Smitty (one of which was WCTNGOF, my fav J song of all time). IMO, the relentless drum beating was kind of distracting in some of those other songs, and I do wonder what those songs would have sounded like with just Smitty's "organic" playing.

None of us was there, it's all fan speculation based on tidbits of info revealed here and there. I would say, based on Steve's apology song and the BTM regret, that he wished that he had handled things differently with Ross & Smitty, but that situations "were dictated by the music." Again, as the Producer, he had every right to steer the record to any sound he wished. Had nothing to do who he thought was the better musician. I think all the guys involved understood this, and this issue was long ago resolved among them. But, leave it to the Perry Detractors to bring this up time and time again to hammer SP over the head with it.

So what you're telling me is this...Perry couldn't wait a few months for Smitty to learn how to play a click track after Journey waited over 3 years for him to tour? Interesting. Furthermore, Perry forced his way into the producer's role. I guess the 16 million or so units moved with their prior 2 albums wasn't good enough for him. ROR moved like 2 million units...he sure showed them!!! Perry stripped the band of background vocals, took away the freedom of of impromtu live parts with the implementation of the "click track" and most importantly introduced CANNED VOCALS. That's what the click track was for...to trigger pre-recorded harmonies. It's all right there...the guy went from a singer, to a producer, to the manager...all leading the band in a downward spiral. Things were best when he kept his mind to singing and not everything fucking else. Friga was right...he got LSD (lead singer's disease).

Yep, Perry must be the devil incarnate. The way you've been posting lately, you'd think he "personally" f*cked you over or something. Besides, it took all 3 of them to decide to fire RV and SS. They could have veto'd it..........what, did their balls scurry up their ass every time Perry entered the room or what?

Anyway, SP has full on admitted that was a mistake.

[Saint John]

The way you've been posting lately, you'd think he "personally" f*cked you over or something. Besides, it took all 3 of them to decide to fire RV and SS. They could have veto'd it..........what, did their balls scurry up their ass every time Perry entered the room or what?

1) He did.
2) They had to agree with his ultimatum or they risked him huffing off for another 3 years.

[conversationpc]

2) They had to agree with his ultimatum or they risked him huffing off for another 3 years.

Perry's into huffing, huh? I knew there was something wrong with that guy.

[Deb]

The way you've been posting lately, you'd think he "personally" f*cked you over or something. Besides, it took all 3 of them to decide to fire RV and SS. They could have veto'd it..........what, did their balls scurry up their ass every time Perry entered the room or what?

1) He did.
2) They had to agree with his ultimatum or they risked him huffing off for another 3 years.

Man, I bet you make a scary ex boyfriend. Your ex's pay FOREVER, don't they?

[Lula]

Smith and Valory on the other hand were part of the lineup that sold millions and millions of records, had Top 40 hits, and actually recorded the original music. I would think that the loyalty factor would supercede hiring Fat Albert to play bass and a guy that resembled a pedophile to play the skins. The ironic thing is that neither was better than the person they replaced as far as Journey music goes.

let us not forget that schon and cain were also band members and chose to go along with perry on this.