MR

Lots of background info.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnel_Pineda

On June 28, 2007,[11] Neal Schon of Journey contacted Noel Gomez, a longtime fan and friend of Pineda who uploaded many of these videos, to ask for Pineda's contact information. Schon sent an e-mail to Pineda inviting the latter to audition for Journey. Pineda initially dismissed the e-mail as a hoax, but after being persuaded by Gomez, he finally replied to Schon's e-mail. Ten minutes later, Pineda received a phone call from Schon.[12] On August 12,[13] Pineda, along with his manager Bert de Leon, flew to Marin County, just north of San Francisco, for a two-day audition.[14][15] The star-struck Pineda was welcomed warmly but he described the audition as "nerve-wracking, tense". [16]

The wiki-article completely omits Jonathan Cain's rather vocal opposition to hiring Arnel Pineda, during
the latter's audition for the band... and by "vocal opposition", I mean bluntly, with Arnel standing right there,
hearing every word of it. I'm rather glad Cain changed his mind, after Neal made an argument of it.

wech

wednesday's child wrote:The wiki-article completely omits Jonathan Cain's rather vocal opposition to hiring Arnel Pineda, during
the latter's audition for the band... and by "vocal opposition", I mean bluntly, with Arnel standing right there,
hearing every word of it. I'm rather glad Cain changed his mind, after Neal made an argument of it.

wech

And now he's saying AP makes him a better person.

Major turnaround or major snowjob.

wednesday's child wrote:The wiki-article completely omits Jonathan Cain's rather vocal opposition to hiring Arnel Pineda, during
the latter's audition for the band... and by "vocal opposition", I mean bluntly, with Arnel standing right there,
hearing every word of it. I'm rather glad Cain changed his mind, after Neal made an argument of it.

wech

It might have been Cains alcohol problem,thank god Arnel didnt understand his stammering

wednesday's child wrote:The wiki-article completely omits Jonathan Cain's rather vocal opposition to hiring Arnel Pineda, during
the latter's audition for the band... and by "vocal opposition", I mean bluntly, with Arnel standing right there,
hearing every word of it. I'm rather glad Cain changed his mind, after Neal made an argument of it.

wech

This sounds like some insider info to me. Did someone tell you that's what took place? Please elaborate.

STORY_TELLER wrote:

wednesday's child wrote:The wiki-article completely omits Jonathan Cain's rather vocal opposition to hiring Arnel Pineda, during
the latter's audition for the band... and by "vocal opposition", I mean bluntly, with Arnel standing right there,
hearing every word of it. I'm rather glad Cain changed his mind, after Neal made an argument of it.

wech

This sounds like some insider info to me. Did someone tell you that's what took place? Please elaborate.

I've never heard it before, either -- what's up with that?

Not inside info, unless you count the words out of Arnel's own mouth.
He was very good natured in retelling his audition experience, and wouldn't have
brought up Jon's dissatisfaction, but the interviewer kept digging until he coughed it up,
and this interview (mostly in Tagalog) was televised here sometime before Christmas '07, IIRC.

Anyways:

After a second round of singing, during Arnel's audition at the warehouse,
Jon kept saying he wasn't satisfied with "this guy"... in Arnel's presence.
I mean, Arnel could retell it, right?
I get the impression Jon didn't think (or care) that Arnel could understand.
Neal got fed up and said aloud that if they weren't getting Arnel,
he'd rather just start a different, new band instead.

Anyway, IIRC Arnel then sang some of the dirty dozen for Jon,
(prior to that, they'd had him sing a lot of non-Journey material)...
and after that, Jonathan gave in.


Again, Arnel had to be harrassed into coughing up this story.
He sort of "went pale" right after he did, his smile fading fast,
but the interview mercifully changed tack. Bert de Leon later
told the same story, IIRC, but I dunno if he was an actual witness,
or if he just heard it from Arnel privately.


However, please keep in mind: that was then.

Arnel's been pretty straight up about how Jon's been VERY good to him,
how the whole band's been very good to him, helping him adjust, and learn,
and protect his voice.

Just me, but...
The way and order in which Arnel's mentioned his bandmates in interviews
can suggest he's comfortable with Deen, and still hasn't totally graduated
from awestruck fan-mode with regard to Neal, Ross and Jon.

Don't laugh, but some of his relatives/buddies were hoping to parlay Arnel's gig
into autographs from Steve Perry. I'd suspect Arnel would want one for himself, first.


Cheers.
wech.

wednesday's child wrote:Not inside info, unless you count the words out of Arnel's own mouth.
He was very good natured in retelling his audition experience, and wouldn't have
brought up Jon's comments, but the interviewer kept digging until he coughed it up,
and this interview (mostly in Tagalog) was televised here sometime before Christmas '07, IIRC.

Anyways:

After a second round of singing, during Arnel's audition at the warehouse,
Jon kept saying he wasn't satisfied with "this guy"... in Arnel's presence.
I mean, Arnel could retell it, right?
I get the impression Jon didn't think (or care) that Arnel could understand.
Neal got fed up and said loudly that if they weren't getting Arnel,
he'd rather start a whole new band instead.

Anyway, IIRC Arnel then sang some of the dirty dozen for Jon,
(Prior to that, they'd had him sing lots of non-Journey material to evaluate him)
and after that, Jon signed on.


Again, Arnel had to be harrassed into coughing up the story.
He sort of "went pale" right after he did, but the interview mercifully changed tack.
Bert de Leon later confirmed it all, with a bit more candor.

However, please keep in mind: that was then.
Arnel's been pretty straight up about how Jon's been VERY good to him,
how the whole band's been very good to him, helping him adjust, and learn,
and protect his voice.

The way and order in which he's mentioned his bandmates in interviews
can suggest he's particularly comfortable with Deen, and still hasn't
totally graduated from fan-mode with regard to Neal, Ross and Jon.

Don't laugh, but some of his relatives/buddies were hoping to parlay Arnel's gig
into autographs from Steve Perry. I'm suspect Arnel would want one for himself, first.


Cheers.
wech.

Wow, is Cain that much of a douche bag? Can you imagine, berating a guy who flew all the way from another country to his face? Classy. So much for the universal goose bumps Ross was touting on the rockline interview. Neal said they all agreed he was a natural. Yeah right. Still, kudos to Neal for standing his ground and going to bat for Arnel though.

Thanks for filling in the blanks.

"Douché bag"?


I wouldn't go that far...
If Jon wasn't satisfied, then he wasn't satisfied.
Maybe he was tired and forgot Arnel was there and could hear.

Arnel himself didn't take offense, so maybe we ourselves shouldn't, eh?
Arnel truly appreciates what Jon and the others have done for him.

I can't stress enough how innocently Arnel retold what happened,
and how mortified he looked for having been maneuvered into
divulging it.

wech

Yes I saw that interview too. I remember very well he said Jon was not sold on him in the beginning and Neal keeps on telling everyone around that Arnel is the real deal and if they won't hire him, he might as well form another band. These were Arnel's precise words. Its the audition at the warehouse, the 4th day, that clinched the deal. He nailed the classics. Just like what Neal said, he got better and better everyday during the audition.

wednesday's child wrote:
Maybe he was tired and forgot Arnel was there and could hear.

I'd like to believe that, but I don't think anyone here, or even you believe it.

wednesday's child wrote: Arnel himself didn't take offense, so maybe we ourselves shouldn't, eh?

Agreed.

wednesday's child wrote:Neal got fed up and said aloud that if they weren't getting Arnel,
he'd rather just start a different, new band instead.

Proving once again there is no Journey without Neal.

Jon probably wanted Jeremey in the band.

This story makes sense because I heard that Neal said something along the lines of "If this isn't the guy for Journey then fuck it, Journey's done!" That got Cain's attention, he listened more carefully and realized that the guy could be something pretty special with a bit of grooming.

That got Cain's attention, he listened more carefully and realized that
the guy could be something pretty special with a bit of grooming.

Yes, and much of that 'grooming', and the improvement that folks noticed
between Chile and Vegas, was from the patient, kind guidance of Jonathan Cain.
As Arnel continues to improve, you can continue to thank Jonathan for it,
...and the rest of the band, of course.

I had no idea the audition details weren't well known.
Arnel's for now, still too open, and hasn't yet learned to guard what he says.
Thus, understanding Tagalog can be a window into Journey's present workings.

The picture I've thus been getting of the present Journey is so much at odds with the
Byzantine characterizations so common (and with basis) on this board, that I have to
suspect that maybe... just maybe Arnel's bandmates HAVE changed.

Their talk about goosebumps, magic, etc... might not be so contrived, after all.

wech.

rick!

Byz·an·tine --of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation .

larryfromnextdoor wrote:rick!

Byz·an·tine --of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation .

Good job. You make me proud.

wednesday's child wrote:The wiki-article completely omits Jonathan Cain's rather vocal opposition to hiring Arnel Pineda, during
the latter's audition for the band... and by "vocal opposition", I mean bluntly, with Arnel standing right there,
hearing every word of it. I'm rather glad Cain changed his mind, after Neal made an argument of it.

wech

I never heard about this. Could you please elaborate as to what was said ?

Edit:
Never mind... I read above... Duh !!

NealIsGod wrote:

wednesday's child wrote:Neal got fed up and said aloud that if they weren't getting Arnel,
he'd rather just start a different, new band instead.

Proving once again there is no Journey without Neal.

Jon probably wanted Jeremey in the band.

Or was still gun shy from JSS being forced on him... (kidding)

Neal IS the MAN on Revelation...Loving it...

Friga makes me seethe.

Prog,

I'm guessing Friga=Cain.
Is it too late/stupid of me to ask why that's so?
If it's a joke, I'm afraid I really don't get it.


wech

wednesday's child wrote:Prog,

I'm guessing Friga=Cain.
Is it too late/stupid of me to ask why that's so?
If it's a joke, I'm afraid I really don't get it.


wech

His birth name is Jonathan Friga.

Thanks, SJ.

Saint John wrote:

wednesday's child wrote:Prog,

I'm guessing Friga=Cain.
Is it too late/stupid of me to ask why that's so?
If it's a joke, I'm afraid I really don't get it.


wech

His birth name is Jonathan Friga.

Maybe I will start my Journey / MR Glossary:

Entry Number 1:
Friga

Saint John wrote:This story makes sense because I heard that Neal said something along the lines of "If this isn't the guy for Journey then fuck it, Journey's done!" That got Cain's attention, he listened more carefully and realized that the guy could be something pretty special with a bit of grooming.

Neal's a hothead prone to bad decisions.
Cain should've taken him up on his empty threat.
The truth is, neither of them are qualified to choose a lead singer.
Anyone remember what Herbie said about the ROR auditions?

AlteredDNA wrote:

Saint John wrote:

wednesday's child wrote:Prog,

I'm guessing Friga=Cain.
Is it too late/stupid of me to ask why that's so?
If it's a joke, I'm afraid I really don't get it.


wech

His birth name is Jonathan Friga.

Maybe I will start my Journey / MR Glossary:

Entry Number 1:
Friga

When I first joined it took me forever to figure out why people called him "Friga". It was pretty easy to figure out why they called Neal "Fro", though.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Saint John wrote:This story makes sense because I heard that Neal said something along the lines of "If this isn't the guy for Journey then fuck it, Journey's done!" That got Cain's attention, he listened more carefully and realized that the guy could be something pretty special with a bit of grooming.

Neal's a hothead prone to bad decisions.
Cain should've taken him up on his empty threat.
The truth is, neither of them are qualified to choose a lead singer.
Anyone remember what Herbie said about the ROR auditions?

The only thing I remember about the ROR auditions is that they got the worst drummer out of 50+ including some authentic drumming masters, unfortunately the names of whom I forget.

AlteredDNA wrote:

Saint John wrote:

wednesday's child wrote:Prog,

I'm guessing Friga=Cain.
Is it too late/stupid of me to ask why that's so?
If it's a joke, I'm afraid I really don't get it.


wech

His birth name is Jonathan Friga.

Maybe I will start my Journey / MR Glossary:

Entry Number 1:
Friga

Not that anyone reads my site to know this, but I beat you there:
http://journeyloaded.com/words/faq6.html#8

Sarah wrote:

AlteredDNA wrote:

Saint John wrote:

wednesday's child wrote:Prog,

I'm guessing Friga=Cain.
Is it too late/stupid of me to ask why that's so?
If it's a joke, I'm afraid I really don't get it.


wech

His birth name is Jonathan Friga.

Maybe I will start my Journey / MR Glossary:

Entry Number 1:
Friga

Not that anyone reads my site to know this, but I beat you there:
http://journeyloaded.com/words/faq6.html#8

I read your site.

I guess I was mainly referring to the esoteric language of some of the MR posters.

AlteredDNA wrote:I guess I was mainly referring to the esoteric language of some of the MR posters.

Meh, I was just kidding, I know what you meant.