Vote your least favorite band member off the Journey island.

[Michigan Girl]

LYRICALLY, Journey has always had a problem with being a little too mundane or schmaltzy..

MUSICALLY, however... the Rolie era seems a little more "down to earth" than the Cain era.

There's a sincerity and earnestness there that simply doesn't exist once Cain climbs aboard.
Whether it's real or imagined, I am not certain.

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

[conversationpc]

Neal provides the band's soul, Friga the songwriting, Deen the harmonies and Arnel the voice. Ross, while a huge part of the rythym section, is probably the least valuable. Though a great bassist and an important part of the band's history, I'd have to respectfully ask Mr. Valory to leave the island...with one year of full pay, though!!!

I'm with Saint John on this one. I like Ross but he's the most expendable at this point...plus that squirt gun crap would piss me off after a while.

[Fire99]

Well since we're just playing i've voted for Neal Schon..

Yes i know he 'is' Journey and so it's impossible but hey we'd never get the choice normally so thats my vote.

My reason is based purely on the Press / Interviews over the past 2 years and i'm getting the feeling he may need to come down a peg or 20.. and to be honest i think he deserves to be on the end of the 'you're fired!' stick!

[strangegrey]

but Friga and Fro lead the vote tally,

Cain and Schon, please.

Dude, I'll call em whatever the fuck I want....

[MCC620]

i picked cain.......i know i can't believe it either but strictly in terms of the music, i would like to hear them get back to that "bluesy" rolie era as someone referred to it earlier.

[finalfight]

Well, PR...you can say the same thing about Neal. Neal's brushed off his fair share of fans...

Indeed, yet who is more valuable to the Journey direction and sound?

Cain has only been around since 1981 and has only been a part of one of the three "main eras" of the Journey legacy sound.

Yeah he's only been in the band for almost 30 years and penned some of their biggest hits.

Bye bye Castronofro. Like your hair it's time for the chop!

[Matthew]

Twinkle toes Friga must be the one. I think a harder edged Journey still survives with out him. Now if Rolie were to show up on the scene..........

The trusty old falsehood about the Rolie era being the heaviest one. Aren't you confusing 'hard-edged' with 'bluesy'?

Some of the sappiest stuff Journey has done was with GR. Not that it was bad, but I'd hardly call it 'harder edged'.

Exactly...

It's funny...you know that feeling when you read a review a Journey concert or album and the journalist clearly hasn't got a clue? Well, I get that feeling about ten times a week on this forum whenever Jonathan Cain is discussed. At least the journo has the excuse of not giving a shit about the band or maybe it was a tight deadline or whatever. But for regular posters on this forum to consistently base their entire critique of Cain's career on "Open Arms" and "Faithfully"...well, it would shame a junior cub reporter covering his very first gig.

[separate_wayz]

I'll tell you who can get the fuck out. Two words: Michael Bolton.

That shit hasn't contributed a damn thing to Journey since the mid-'90s, maybe ever.

[Saint John]

With his keys work and lyrics on Revelation, Friga has proven to be a keeper. He seems to be creative once again.

[Greg]

Dump Cain and go back to Rolie. We can always shop around on you tube for Neal's replacement!

[Matthew]

LYRICALLY, Journey has always had a problem with being a little too mundane or schmaltzy..

MUSICALLY, however... the Rolie era seems a little more "down to earth" than the Cain era.

There's a sincerity and earnestness there that simply doesn't exist once Cain climbs aboard.
Whether it's real or imagined, I am not certain.

Amazing how we can hear the same things so differently. For me Journey's music developed a real depth and range it had previously lacked when the Perry/Schon/Cain songwriting team took shape. But even allowing for subjectivity the claim that there's no sincerity or earnestness from Escape onwards is pretty bizarre coming from a Journey fan don't you think?

Totally agree that Journey became a grander and more epic band when Cain joined but that's nothing but a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Half the reason I love Journey is the big fuck-off stadium vibe they had...and the last thing I want from them is some jamming session on the hammond organ down at a local blues bar.

[Saint John]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

[Matthew]

With his keys work and lyrics on Revelation, Friga has proven to be a keeper. He seems to be creative once again.

That...and the fact that he co-wrote 90% of the setlist too.

[bluejeangirl76]

Would you believe I didn't vote off Cain?

[Saint John]

With his keys work and lyrics on Revelation, Friga has proven to be a keeper. He seems to be creative once again.

That...and the fact that he co-wrote 90% of the setlist too.

True...and After All These Years is proof that with the right voice the guy can sit down at will and write lyrics and a melody that are a hit.

[Deb]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

[Michigan Girl]

I thought this game was the HERE AND NOW!!!
Are we dismissing past achievements with our vote?

[Matthew]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

Despite everything that's wrong with Cain...the dorky stage moves...the bogus tears...the time he didn't smile at some fan waiting patiently outside for an autograph...the fact that he fired Perry...and all the rest....that opening piano riff is one of the classic moments in the history of rock music and it put Journey amongst the all-time greats.

[Saint John]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

Ya know what, Deb?! I have a rolling pin, too!!!

[Matthew]

With his keys work and lyrics on Revelation, Friga has proven to be a keeper. He seems to be creative once again.

That...and the fact that he co-wrote 90% of the setlist too.

True...and After All These Years is proof that with the right voice the guy can sit down at will and write lyrics and a melody that are a hit.

...and with Change For The Better he showed that he can still write the bands 's heaviest tunes as well.

[Don]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

When that video came on MTV for the first time and the intro shot showed Cain hitting the beginning keys of that song, Journey had freakin arrived. That was their introduction to the world of Super Stardom, courtesy of Jonathan Cain.

[Michigan Girl]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

When that video came on MTV for the first time and the intro shot showed Cain hitting the beginning keys of that song, Journey had freakin arrived. That was their introduction to the world of Super Stardom, courtesy of Jonathan Cain.

No argument there but, that was then....he's outgrown is usefulness...grab your spear and exit!!!!

[Deb]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

When that video came on MTV for the first time and the intro shot showed Cain hitting the beginning keys of that song, Journey had freakin arrived. That was their introduction to the world of Super Stardom, courtesy of Jonathan Cain.

I agree, was just giving him a hard time about his "stats".

[The_Noble_Cause]

...and with Change For The Better he showed that he can still write the bands 's heaviest tunes as well.

Shirley said before he tackled it, the song made little sense.
Under Cain, it was probably a very straightforward rock track.
Any experimentation with tempo or sound is prolly the Caveman's doing.

[Matthew]

...and with Change For The Better he showed that he can still write the bands 's heaviest tunes as well.

Shirley said before he tackled it, the song made little sense.
Under Cain, it was probably a very straightforward rock track.
Any experimentation with tempo or sound is prolly the Caveman's doing.

Sure...but it was never schmaltz was it?

[bluejeangirl76]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

When that video came on MTV for the first time and the intro shot showed Cain hitting the beginning keys of that song, Journey had freakin arrived. That was their introduction to the world of Super Stardom, courtesy of Jonathan Cain.

No argument there but, that was then....he's outgrown is usefulness...grab your spear and exit!!!!

[Don]

When the fucking opening keys start in Don't Start Believin' virtually the whole world instantly recognizes the song. Man, everyone was a star on that particular song. But Friga was the leadoff hitter.

That's opinion, too subjective, it's not definitive! I need stats damnit!

When that video came on MTV for the first time and the intro shot showed Cain hitting the beginning keys of that song, Journey had freakin arrived. That was their introduction to the world of Super Stardom, courtesy of Jonathan Cain.

No argument there but, that was then....he's outgrown is usefulness...grab your spear and exit!!!!

You're gonna let him take his spear? Be careful there MG ( Oh that's right, I had forgotten about who you work for, never mind Cheerio!! )

[Tomulator]

well, the original rules established by the original poster is "without notice or paycheck"

So Valory would, in your case, Dan, step off the tourbus at a rest stop, the door would close behind him and they would drive off down the road, likely stopping a few miles down the road to a pre-arranged place to pick up Jack Blades or someone like him...


...with ross running after the bus going WTF!

Jack Blades would be an excellent choice. He can sing, write kick-ass melodic rock songs, and holds his own on the four-string.

Also, ProgRocker53 would be a decent pick to replace Valory. While he lacks vocal ability, ProgRocker53 writes lyrics like it was his business, has cut his teeth playing Journey and related band (Van Halen, Toto, Styx) songs.... and would humbly accept minimum wage pay to live out his dream.

Could you imagine Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles fame) as the bassist back in the Perry days???

How awesome would that have been! And what a LOOK with both him and Perry!

[ProgRocker53]

well, the original rules established by the original poster is "without notice or paycheck"

So Valory would, in your case, Dan, step off the tourbus at a rest stop, the door would close behind him and they would drive off down the road, likely stopping a few miles down the road to a pre-arranged place to pick up Jack Blades or someone like him...


...with ross running after the bus going WTF!

Jack Blades would be an excellent choice. He can sing, write kick-ass melodic rock songs, and holds his own on the four-string.

Also, ProgRocker53 would be a decent pick to replace Valory. While he lacks vocal ability, ProgRocker53 writes lyrics like it was his business, has cut his teeth playing Journey and related band (Van Halen, Toto, Styx) songs.... and would humbly accept minimum wage pay to live out his dream.

Could you imagine Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles fame) as the bassist back in the Perry days???

How awesome would that have been! And what a LOOK with both him and Perry!

Don't excite me like that dude, seriously.

[Rocker Chic]

Oh, crap! I have to justify it now???

RATS! Since you gave me "God-like" power, I immediately blasted 'Kneel'.

Jurnee is dead to me anyway, so I didn't think it mattered.

Debbie