JJ Interview From December 2007

[Slander]

Hey Guys,

Stumbled on this more current interview from Jimi. Pardon if a re-post. Here is the link:http://www.rockeyez.com/interviews/int-jimi-jamison.html

Jimi is much more restrained when it comes to talking about the split:

Dave Felix: You initially joined the band in the early 80’s, left the band in the early 90’s, returned to the band once again in the early 2000’s and then finally left the band once more shortly after the release of “Reach” in 2006. What made you decide to call it quits once again?

Jimi Jamison: Well the last time was because, see... we were suppose to have equal control, Frank and I, but as it turns out... whoever owns the name has the control! And he owned the name so, there ya go! (Laughs) “Reach” was a pretty good album, I guess, but it was never quite what I wanted or thought it could be. I didn’t have a lot of final say regarding what actually went on the record but it’s a good album... just a little bit of a let down to me.

Dave Felix: And why is that?

Jimi Jamison: Because I thought there could have been better songs on it to be honest with ya. I know we were pretty rushed as far as getting the record out but still, if it were up to me I would have ignored the rush and put the best songs possible on there.


Notice he doesn't rip REACH just wishes it were better. Notice he doesn't going into a diatribe on FS.

[Andrew]

What I find funny....and I must ask Frankie about this...is how the band had to RUSH to get the album finished, but previous to the rush, sat around doing bugger all for years!

[Slander]

What I find funny....and I must ask Frankie about this...is how the band had to RUSH to get the album finished, but previous to the rush, sat around doing bugger all for years!

Andrew but my understanding was that both FMS and Half My Heart were slated for the Ultimate album in 2004. That's almost 2 years before the release of REACH. If I'm not mistaken Jeremy (who put the thing together) told us that. So why would the album have to be rushed with already 2 songs in the can?

[Andrew]

I have no idea why Reach was what it was....complicated on all sides eh?

A lot of years wasted (by everyone) and that's just a shame.

[Slander]

I have no idea why Reach was what it was....complicated on all sides eh?

A lot of years wasted (by everyone) and that's just a shame.

I guess it's a testament to all parties involved that it is the quality record it is under the circumstances.

[Red13JoePa]

What I find funny....and I must ask Frankie about this...is how the band had to RUSH to get the album finished, but previous to the rush, sat around doing bugger all for years!

Andrew but my understanding was that both FMS and Half My Heart were slated for the Ultimate album in 2004. That's almost 2 years before the release of REACH. If I'm not mistaken Jeremy (who put the thing together) told us that. So why would the album have to be rushed with already 2 songs in the can?

Maybe that's all they had new in the can.
Otherwise why wait 2 more years to release it in only part of the world with so many FMS sessions leftovers on it when Frankie said the whole thing would be brand new songs?

[Slander]

What I find funny....and I must ask Frankie about this...is how the band had to RUSH to get the album finished, but previous to the rush, sat around doing bugger all for years!

Andrew but my understanding was that both FMS and Half My Heart were slated for the Ultimate album in 2004. That's almost 2 years before the release of REACH. If I'm not mistaken Jeremy (who put the thing together) told us that. So why would the album have to be rushed with already 2 songs in the can?

Maybe that's all they had new in the can.
Otherwise why wait 2 more years to release it in only part of the world with so many FMS sessions leftovers on it when Frankie said the whole thing would be brand new songs?

That could be the case. I would love to hear the story. I for one think FMS, Nevertheless, Seconds Away, and I don't were on REACH because FS truly believe they were great songs that needed to see the light of day. I think all are excellent tracks by the way.

[Red13JoePa]

What I find funny....and I must ask Frankie about this...is how the band had to RUSH to get the album finished, but previous to the rush, sat around doing bugger all for years!

Andrew but my understanding was that both FMS and Half My Heart were slated for the Ultimate album in 2004. That's almost 2 years before the release of REACH. If I'm not mistaken Jeremy (who put the thing together) told us that. So why would the album have to be rushed with already 2 songs in the can?

Maybe that's all they had new in the can.
Otherwise why wait 2 more years to release it in only part of the world with so many FMS sessions leftovers on it when Frankie said the whole thing would be brand new songs?

That could be the case. I would love to hear the story. I for one think FMS, Nevertheless, Seconds Away, and I don't were on REACH because FS truly believe they were great songs that needed to see the light of day. I think all are excellent tracks by the way.

Hm.
Well, be that as it may, that's not what he SAID was going to happen. He said that pretty much other than Fire Makes Steel the whole album would be new like Reach and Gimme The World, Don't Give Up and Home.
Not the case in retrospect.
Anyway, what's this greater good sob story about the FMS sessions leftovers needing to see the light of day because Frankie just thought they were too great not to?
I'm certain that on these very pages we can locates posts where you threw those songs being out there available since the mid-90s in peoples' faces who complained about the gap between Survivor releases and pointed to 2 official commericially released Jamison solo albums.
I know it happened to me. So which is it, did they need to see the light of day, finally in 2006 or did Survivor match if not trump Peterik, Bickler and Jamison by having these songs released (in demo form) in the mid-90s on bootleg?
You've said both at different times now.

[Slander]

Well, be that as it may, that's not what he SAID was going to happen. He said that pretty much other than Fire Makes Steel the whole album would be new like Reach and Gimme The World, Don't Give Up and Home.
Not the case in retrospect.
Anyway, what's tis about the FMS sessions leftovers needing to see the light of day?
I'm certain that on these very pages we can locates posts where you threw those songs being out there available since the mid-90s in peoples' faces who complained about the gap between Survivor releases and pointed to 2 official commericially released Jamison solo albums.
I know it happened to me. So which is it, do they need to see the light of day, finally in 2006 or did Survivor trump Peterik, Bickler and Jamison by having these songs released (in demo form) in the mid-90s on bootleg?
You've said both at different times now.

OMG Red let it go. I was theorizing that FS might have wanted those songs to be on an officiall record. I''m not justifying his decision to put 4 FMS demos on REACH. Hell I wish REACH had all new material as well. I do recall FS battling hard to make sure NEVERTHELESS made it onto REACH. You will also see on these pages that I have complained that Survivor hasn't put out enough material. I need to get you to focus on what I'm actually saying Red. Not everything needs to be an argument.

[Red13JoePa]

Well, be that as it may, that's not what he SAID was going to happen. He said that pretty much other than Fire Makes Steel the whole album would be new like Reach and Gimme The World, Don't Give Up and Home.
Not the case in retrospect.
Anyway, what's tis about the FMS sessions leftovers needing to see the light of day?
I'm certain that on these very pages we can locates posts where you threw those songs being out there available since the mid-90s in peoples' faces who complained about the gap between Survivor releases and pointed to 2 official commericially released Jamison solo albums.
I know it happened to me. So which is it, do they need to see the light of day, finally in 2006 or did Survivor trump Peterik, Bickler and Jamison by having these songs released (in demo form) in the mid-90s on bootleg?
You've said both at different times now.

OMG Red let it go. I was theorizing that FS might have wanted those songs to be on an officiall record.

Oh, is that right?

Because back then, when I complained (still do) about the US STILL not having an "official record" since 1988, you were indignant and pointed to the FMS demos citing those as evidence that they've gotten as much as Jamison out.

[Slander]

Well, be that as it may, that's not what he SAID was going to happen. He said that pretty much other than Fire Makes Steel the whole album would be new like Reach and Gimme The World, Don't Give Up and Home.
Not the case in retrospect.
Anyway, what's tis about the FMS sessions leftovers needing to see the light of day?
I'm certain that on these very pages we can locates posts where you threw those songs being out there available since the mid-90s in peoples' faces who complained about the gap between Survivor releases and pointed to 2 official commericially released Jamison solo albums.
I know it happened to me. So which is it, do they need to see the light of day, finally in 2006 or did Survivor trump Peterik, Bickler and Jamison by having these songs released (in demo form) in the mid-90s on bootleg?
You've said both at different times now.

OMG Red let it go. I was theorizing that FS might have wanted those songs to be on an officiall record.

Oh, is that right?

Because back then, when I complained (still do) about the US STILL not having an "official record" since 1988, you were indignant and pointed to the FMS demos citing those as evidence that they've gotten as much as Jamison out.

Come On Red. FMS was not an "official" release but let's be honest here the depth and quality of those demos blew JJ's offical releases out of the water. So yes if we are tallying official releases JJ wins. I think it is a bit disingenious to call Survivor inactive during the same era when they cranked out many songs but they were not released because there was no record deal.

[Red13JoePa]

It's moot.
Comparing bootlegs that were bootlegs b/c they couldn't get released (or the "band" couldn't get off their ASS to finish them) to OFFICIALLY RELEASED albums is BULLshit.

And why in hell COULDN'T they get the shit finished and get a label, anyway when JP and JJ could?

[7 Wishes]

By becoming self-imposed musical exiles, they wound up playing the JockItch Fest and Casper County Clam Bake Festival with McAuley.

[Slander]

It's moot.
Comparing bootlegs that were bootlegs b/c they couldn't get released (or the "band" couldn't get off their ASS to finish them) to OFFICIALLY RELEASED albums is BULLshit.

And why in hell COULDN'T they get the shit finished and get a label, anyway when JP and JJ could?

OMG. Am I experiencing de ja vu? We've gone down this road. We disagree. I think there is no question JP has put out a ton of material. Let's not put JJ in the same category.

[7 Wishes]

I think it's Diagnosis: Laziness on Frankie's part.

[Slander]

I think it's Diagnosis: Laziness on Frankie's part.

7 it's great to see you back on the board.

[7 Wishes]

Thanks, bro. Feelin' a little better.

I would go see McSurvivor in a heartbeat...but WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

[Joe Vana]

Thanks, bro. Feelin' a little better.

I would go see McSurvivor in a heartbeat...but WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

Hey man....

They are doing really well with the casino's....

They get paid a ton of dough and they get treated like Kings.....the casino's do a bad job of promoting the shows however, but they always fill up...go figure

They do wayyyy more shows than people know....

JV

[Red13JoePa]

They do wayyyy more shows than people know....

That's terrific compensatory knowledge for insiders like you Joe Vana.

For the majority of the fans it's seems like a band that does "more shows than people know" is a bar band.

[Slander]

They do wayyyy more shows than people know....

That's terrific compensatory knowledge for insiders like you Joe Vana.

For the majority of the fans it's seems like a band that does more shows than people know is a bar band.

Gimme a break JoePa. The info is out there if you look for it. They are hardly a bar band.

[Joe Vana]

They do wayyyy more shows than people know....

That's terrific compensatory knowledge for insiders like you Joe Vana.

For the majority of the fans it's seems like a band that does "more shows than people know" is a bar band.

I wish they were promoted more....Hell, if I didn't hear about the shows from Frank I would not know about em either....I would say they do about 40 to 50 per year.....and we hear about 4 or 5 of them hahahahah......really though, they keep pretty busy....

JV

[Red13JoePa]

I'd love to give you a break, Slander.
If secret, unbilled casino gigs keep McSurvivor rolling in the dough per Joe Vana, that's great for them.
But us regular poor folk who are unfit financially to fasten the sandles on the feet of secret-casino gig rich Frankie and complain that they book about 6 shows a year in cornfields that we can't afford on our pauper's salaries to get to need a mainstream, advertised, booked show to see the band at.
Supposedly us blue-collar types who've been challenged on this site to compare W2s with the Joe Vanas and Frankie Sullivans of the world are REAL Survivor fans.
All we did was hand people like the above-mentioned bougiosie rockers our money, screw us, fucking saps

[Slander]

I'd love to give you a break.
If secret, unbilled casino gigs keep McSurvivor rolling in the dough per Joe Vana, that's great for them.
But us regular poor folk who are unfit financially to fasten the sandles on the feet of secret-casino gig rich Frankie and complain that they book about 6 shows a year in cornfields that we can't afford on our pauper's salaries to get to need a mainstream, advertised, booked show to see the band at.
Supposedly us blue-collar types who've been challenged on this site to compare W2s with the Joe Vanas and Frankie Sullivans of the world are REAL Survivor fans.

Red I live in Washington State. Not exactly the largest state in the union. They played two shows here last year alone! Go to pollstar.com and look the dates up. Or go to paradiseartists.com for the tour schedule. They had more dates last year than I can recall in a long long time. Are they doing 100 shows a year? No. I'm sure JoePa if you really wanted to see them you could find a way. Where do you live? Altoona? Happy Valley? I will contact band management and tell them they must play Penn State's homecoming next year. Maybe they could play Paterno's 175 year old b-day.

[Andrew]

They do wayyyy more shows than people know....

That's terrific compensatory knowledge for insiders like you Joe Vana.

For the majority of the fans it's seems like a band that does "more shows than people know" is a bar band.

I wish they were promoted more....Hell, if I didn't hear about the shows from Frank I would not know about em either....I would say they do about 40 to 50 per year.....and we hear about 4 or 5 of them hahahahah......really though, they keep pretty busy....

JV

Gee...I know a website that would promote this band's shows for free...if only they were sent the info!!!!!!!

[Slander]

They do wayyyy more shows than people know....

That's terrific compensatory knowledge for insiders like you Joe Vana.

For the majority of the fans it's seems like a band that does "more shows than people know" is a bar band.

I wish they were promoted more....Hell, if I didn't hear about the shows from Frank I would not know about em either....I would say they do about 40 to 50 per year.....and we hear about 4 or 5 of them hahahahah......really though, they keep pretty busy....

JV

Gee...I know a website that would promote this band's shows for free...if only they were sent the info!!!!!!!

Andrew,

Honest question. Who's job is it to do band promotion in your opinion?

[Red13JoePa]

I'm sure JoePa if you really wanted to see them you could find a way. Where do you live? Altoona? Happy Valley? I will contact band management and tell them they must play Penn State's homecoming next year. Maybe they could play Paterno's 175 year old b-day.

I'm in Philly, but Altoona's about their speed these days.

Got to augment those secret casino gigs Joe Vana spoke of that keep them in a different tax bracket than all of us lowlife, poor fans with some real shows every now and then.

[Slander]

I'm sure JoePa if you really wanted to see them you could find a way. Where do you live? Altoona? Happy Valley? I will contact band management and tell them they must play Penn State's homecoming next year. Maybe they could play Paterno's 175 year old b-day.

I'm in Philly, but Altoona's about their speed these days.

Got to augment those secret casino gigs Joe Vana spoke of that keep them in a different tax bracket than all of us lowlife, poor fans with some real shows every now and then.

Their next gig is February 29th in Hidalgo, TX. It's the borderfest. Vince Neil will be there as well! Sounds like a hell of a show.

[Red13JoePa]

Phew.

Must be money to be made there, hand over fist, right?

Why ELSE whould they subject themself to being in the same area as less well off finacial people as those who presumably live in ....
where is it?
Hico?

You and Joe Vana concur that McSurvivor's checkbooks should remain in the black enough from that trip to make that advertised trip to worth it?

[Slander]

Phew.

Must be money to be made there, hand over fist, right?

Why ELSE whould they subject themself to being in the same area as less well off finacial people as those who presumably live in ....
where is it?
Hico?

You and Joe Vana concur that McSurvivor's checkbooks should remain in the black enough from that trip to make that advertised trip to worth it?

keep in mind Robin has his own gigs as well.

[Red13JoePa]

keep in mind Robin has his own gigs as well.

Keep in mind that sounds like a band in dissaray again, a singer who has to supplemement his income, possibly keeping him in the disdained lower tax bracket than mcFrankie and Joe Vana.

God Almighty, a ham and egger like Dubrow, Junior might not even be able to afford a Hummer.

Who knows about his Hygene.

Best he not make eye contact with any of the richer, more privelaged bandmembers off stage.