Survivor Tour 2012

[Journey/Survivor]

Actually Frankie does. The value is "Rest on your laurels"

MJ

What I don't understand is why does he constantly talk about new music in his press releases? Why even bring it up. My guess is to keep hard core fans interested.

I think maybe he got the hint that saying he was working on new material for many many years and releasing only 1 album in like 15 or so has jaded the fan base...

I GIVE HIM CREDIT for saying they are just playing now....

I WISH he would have been saying that all along.....

JV

JV

Why do you think that Frankie goes to the trouble of writing new songs with you, or writing and recording the FMS songs, only to never release the stuff?

I don't know....I really don't....but there is a 15 plus year history of this if you look through the archives on survivormusic.com.....or you used to be able to....

I do not hate the guy...I am just VERY frutrated with him....I used to be like him as it comes to saying here comes the goods, then nothing....but I worked hard to change all that....and Mecca II was the result of all that work.....some people have all the dreams, but none of the follow through....problem is there were alot of people who left the fan base and think of him as a joke.....and that is not good, I am not happy about that....considering I defended him more than anybody....

But..I am still on a high from spending two days with Lukather, Rundgren, Rollie, Page (Richard) and I met Ringo on Sunday night as well.....so I am off the Survivor kick for a few days hahahahah.....

Dreams do come true!

JV

Actually, I am one of the first people that will always defend Frankie's talent. IMO he's the most underrated guitarist in Rock history, and an excellent co-writer and very good producer.

But he has largely turned himself into a joke in the eyes of many fans because of all of the lying that he has done to the fans, and his utter lack of production and motivation over the last 20 years.

[mrsromek]

OK....JV...you can't say that you hung out with those LEGENDS for 2 days and that's it!!!! Give us the scoop....and, I don't mean just about Ringo. Actually, and don't everyone want to hit me for saying this, I would rather meet Page and Rollie, followed by the others.

I have learned in my 15+ years of going to town festivals seeing a big # of various bands that they all tend to say they are working on new music or a new album. I will give one guy credit....I'm a big fan of the alternative band Sponge, and never saw them live until 2001. When their original guitarist, Joey Mazzola, was signing my CD's, I asked him about new music. He said "nothing at the moment since we've been dropped by our label." Everyone else has always said "new tunes, new album next year, blah, blah, blah."

[Journey/Survivor]

Actually, and don't everyone want to hit me for saying this, I would rather meet Page and Rollie, followed by the others.

I've briefly met Rolie in the past, but I'd rather have a conversation with him than Ringo, too. Nothing against Ringo at all! I'd love to meet him too! But I'd rather speak with my absolute favorite musicians regardless of their level of fame than meet someone just because they're super famous. It would obviously be awesome to get to speak with one of the Beatles, a band that I do respect. But I'd rather speak with someone like Gregg Rolie, than to speak to someone that I don't respect, like Madonna. Even if she is more famous.

[Joe Vana]

OK....JV...you can't say that you hung out with those LEGENDS for 2 days and that's it!!!! Give us the scoop....and, I don't mean just about Ringo. Actually, and don't everyone want to hit me for saying this, I would rather meet Page and Rollie, followed by the others.

I have learned in my 15+ years of going to town festivals seeing a big # of various bands that they all tend to say they are working on new music or a new album. I will give one guy credit....I'm a big fan of the alternative band Sponge, and never saw them live until 2001. When their original guitarist, Joey Mazzola, was signing my CD's, I asked him about new music. He said "nothing at the moment since we've been dropped by our label." Everyone else has always said "new tunes, new album next year, blah, blah, blah."

Sunday - Went to the show in Hammond...Luke set me up with GREAT tix and 2 backstage....here is the snag....my son is 20 and they would NOT let him in....so I went for the preshow hang and a bit of the concert then had to go, my son was in the car waiting for me....actually he was hanging on the beach....so the main security detail guy brings me back.....I pass Rollie and Richard Page is on his phone in the hall way...I wait in the hospitality suite alone for a few....Todd Rungren walks in....we talk for a few and he scoots....then Luke comes out and we hang for a while..R Page comes in and my sphincter tightens hahahaha.....I have been compared to him, I have idolized this guy for 20 years....Luke introduces us and I am stunned.....we have talked by phone, and email for years,.....but finally meet....it is my Beatle moment I tell them both...we hang for a while and Rollie comes in, the other guys scoot for a bit and Gregg and I are able to chat for about 10 until The rest come back in.....We make lunch plans for The next day and I am about to leave...as I turn Luke goes "hey Boss" and I turn around and Ringo is standing right in front of me....Luke says meet a dear friend and great singer friend of mine.....I just about pass out hahahahah....we talk for a moment, shake hands and I bolt....WTF just happened...

Monday was a day I will never forget, but I will leave that private between us....it was an Epic day....

Ringo is just as nice as you may think....

I will add this....Bill Syniar went with my son and I for lunch with the guys.....JJ was brought up some how.....and LUke AND Mark Rivera BOTH said nothing but amazing things about JJ, and what a talented and great cat he was.....

JV

[Starrider]

I will add this....Bill Syniar went with my son and I for lunch with the guys.....JJ was brought up some how.....and LUke AND Mark Rivera BOTH said nothing but amazing things about JJ, and what a talented and great cat he was.....

JV

Has Mark Rivera worked with JJ? I don't know too much about Mark except for his time with Foreigner and Billy Joel.

Saw Ringo & All-Starr Band in Atlantic City a few weeks ago. Drove two hours each way for it. They were great. Wish Gregg Rolie would have done Just The Same Way or Feeling That Way (instead of Everybody's Everything) with Richard Page singing the tenor vocals. I think the thing that amazed me most of the night was how great Richard Page still sounds. I was expecting him to strain a bit, but he never did.

[mrsromek]

Awesome, JV! Thank you for sharing. That's a lineup that would defintely have made me feel star struck if I had been waiting in that room with you.

I agree with the posting about wanting to meet someone you admire, regardless of level of fame. I mean really, would I care to meet Carly Rae Jepsen or Bieber? Hell no. Gimme someone like Richard Page or Pat Mastelotto any day of the week.

[RyanHippFTW]

Somewhere In America

[Eyeof]

That is brutal on many, many levels...wow....

[Ehwmatt]

Somewhere In America

How can a guy who plays so restrained, so clean, and so tasteful on countless records play so terribly live? Does Frankie not practice at all anymore? He sounds like a kid riffing in a fuckin guitar shop about 6 guitar lessons deep. And don't even get me started on those backing vocals. Credit where it's due for trying to go live with those, but man, some canned backing vocals wouldn't hurt at all if the live ones sound like that. I wouldn't go see these guys if they were playing across the street from me. What a shame.

[bomes]

The search is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYoWrTZ ... ature=plcp

Poor man's son...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8nFkRb ... ure=relmfu

Take you on a saturday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn7NLVY- ... ure=relmfu

Rockin' into the night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrPgdmkz ... ure=relmfu

[jaxmanjoe]

Somewhere In America

Ugh.

[Ehwmatt]

The search is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYoWrTZ ... ature=plcp

Poor man's son...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8nFkRb ... ure=relmfu

Take you on a saturday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn7NLVY- ... ure=relmfu

Rockin' into the night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrPgdmkz ... ure=relmfu

Only watched Search and Poor Man's son. Both were TERRIBLE. What in the world is that keyboard player doing playing a prog rock opus to lead into Search is Over? First of all, it doesn't fit as a lead-in to this song. Second of all, it's terrible for what it is: the timing's a mess and there are sour notes all over the place. And Frankie is doing random noodlings to "test" his sound throughout that terrible intro solo after his amp inexplicably starts crackling at the beginning. It sounds like a BAD bar band.

This keyboard player is one of the worst so-called pros I've ever heard, especially from a rhythm standpoint. WOW. My keyboard player from my old band is WAY better, and we were far from even being a competent bar band, let alone a pro band.

[Joe Vana]

The search is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYoWrTZ ... ature=plcp

Poor man's son...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8nFkRb ... ure=relmfu

Take you on a saturday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn7NLVY- ... ure=relmfu

Rockin' into the night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrPgdmkz ... ure=relmfu

Only watched Search and Poor Man's son. Both were TERRIBLE. What in the world is that keyboard player doing playing a prog rock opus to lead into Search is Over? First of all, it doesn't fit as a lead-in to this song. Second of all, it's terrible for what it is: the timing's a mess and there are sour notes all over the place. And Frankie is doing random noodlings to "test" his sound throughout that terrible intro solo after his amp inexplicably starts crackling at the beginning. It sounds like a BAD bar band.

This keyboard player is one of the worst so-called pros I've ever heard, especially from a rhythm standpoint. WOW. My keyboard player from my old band is WAY better, and we were far from even being a competent bar band, let alone a pro band.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EGADS!!!!! X 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Vana]

The search is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYoWrTZ ... ature=plcp

Poor man's son...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8nFkRb ... ure=relmfu

Take you on a saturday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn7NLVY- ... ure=relmfu

Rockin' into the night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrPgdmkz ... ure=relmfu

Only watched Search and Poor Man's son. Both were TERRIBLE. What in the world is that keyboard player doing playing a prog rock opus to lead into Search is Over? First of all, it doesn't fit as a lead-in to this song. Second of all, it's terrible for what it is: the timing's a mess and there are sour notes all over the place. And Frankie is doing random noodlings to "test" his sound throughout that terrible intro solo after his amp inexplicably starts crackling at the beginning. It sounds like a BAD bar band.

This keyboard player is one of the worst so-called pros I've ever heard, especially from a rhythm standpoint. WOW. My keyboard player from my old band is WAY better, and we were far from even being a competent bar band, let alone a pro band.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EGADS!!!!! X 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just watched again....WTF is going on!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

This used to be my favorite band....

[Joe Vana]

The search is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYoWrTZ ... ature=plcp

Poor man's son...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8nFkRb ... ure=relmfu

Take you on a saturday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn7NLVY- ... ure=relmfu

Rockin' into the night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrPgdmkz ... ure=relmfu

Only watched Search and Poor Man's son. Both were TERRIBLE. What in the world is that keyboard player doing playing a prog rock opus to lead into Search is Over? First of all, it doesn't fit as a lead-in to this song. Second of all, it's terrible for what it is: the timing's a mess and there are sour notes all over the place. And Frankie is doing random noodlings to "test" his sound throughout that terrible intro solo after his amp inexplicably starts crackling at the beginning. It sounds like a BAD bar band.

This keyboard player is one of the worst so-called pros I've ever heard, especially from a rhythm standpoint. WOW. My keyboard player from my old band is WAY better, and we were far from even being a competent bar band, let alone a pro band.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EGADS!!!!! X 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just watched again....WTF is going on!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

This used to be my favorite band....

Something has got to be wrong.....no way this is a normal show....

[Andrew]

They need an A&R guy that they will listen to.

I'm available.

[Ehwmatt]

The search is over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYYoWrTZ ... ature=plcp

Poor man's son...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N8nFkRb ... ure=relmfu

Take you on a saturday...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn7NLVY- ... ure=relmfu

Rockin' into the night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrPgdmkz ... ure=relmfu

Only watched Search and Poor Man's son. Both were TERRIBLE. What in the world is that keyboard player doing playing a prog rock opus to lead into Search is Over? First of all, it doesn't fit as a lead-in to this song. Second of all, it's terrible for what it is: the timing's a mess and there are sour notes all over the place. And Frankie is doing random noodlings to "test" his sound throughout that terrible intro solo after his amp inexplicably starts crackling at the beginning. It sounds like a BAD bar band.

This keyboard player is one of the worst so-called pros I've ever heard, especially from a rhythm standpoint. WOW. My keyboard player from my old band is WAY better, and we were far from even being a competent bar band, let alone a pro band.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EGADS!!!!! X 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just watched again....WTF is going on!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

This used to be my favorite band....

I mean Joe, I'm sure in your time you've played with musicians of ALL kinds and had some terrible audition/rehearsal/jam sessions with some crappy players. I've gotta say though, I've been going to concerts for over 20 years and I've never heard any semi-reputable bar band sound this bad. What do you think? This has to be the worst you've heard from a band with a credible name. If it's not, I'd be shocked. And the things I'm hearing on that video aren't things I can give them the ol' "YouTube benefit of the doubt." Video quality doesn't make you go off time, hit millions of sour notes, play things that straight up don't fit, and all that. It's really embarrassing. It's one thing for some of these bands to lose a step or two in the vocal department or even just have to slow the tempo of their songs down, but this is beyond the pale. Age can't excuse it. Nothing can.

The videos actually remind me of those joke "<insert guitar player X> shreds" videos. For those who haven't seen them, they are videos that some guy overdubbed intentionally horrible guitar playing to fit to guitar heroes playing in concert. It's pretty funny if you're a musician or just a music nerd. See, e.g., Eric Clapton shreds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_M9zWORBuA

[RyanHippFTW]

Jesus Christers why did Jimi do this to himself why.

BTW, with all this talk of band quality and shit, am I the only who thinks Jimi's old "Survivor" band sounds awesome? Also, why can't he just play with this band all the time?

[Joe Vana]

Jesus Christers why did Jimi do this to himself why.

BTW, with all this talk of band quality and shit, am I the only who thinks Jimi's old "Survivor" band sounds awesome? Also, why can't he just play with this band all the time?

Yes Emwatt....I have seen bad bands play, but NO I have never worked with guys that were bad...Dude...my FIRST band was JP and World Stage and I went right to Mecca, so I have been very LUCKY that I have only been surrounded by badasses...

As far as what I saw in the videos, well...Survivor is designed to be a band...not a one man show...and that is where the train leaves the rails...and JJ trying to sing Somewhere in America should never have to happen...highlight your singer, don't cut his balls off....

Maybe IT IS TIME JP COMES BACK!!!!!!!! JP must have been the quality control guy in addition to a driving force as a main writer...and maybe he was more involved production wise than I may have been led to
believe....

It is hard to explain all of the components that go into a great album...or albums....JP is a fucking work horse!!! He just keeps going, a total blue collar work ethic...I wish JP would go back, it would solve everything IMHO...I did Survivor tunes with JP for years...and he held to the format, vibe, texture and tone of the original tunes...they sounded like the record except the singers over the years....JP, Toby, me a bit, Kevin ect....but musicially they were fucking killer....

I am not going to say anymore as I am VERY conflicted by all of this...nobody thought and thinks more of FS than I do/did...

[axecrew]

Oh...............MY..................LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that a boy frankie....way to keep that legacy alive.......WOW.....as tommy lee would say "Dude that is sauteed(sp) in wrong sauce" that was fucking awful. Although I really dont understand how and why.....when you're only playing 15 days out of 365 you'd think they could work a little practice time in there. Someone wanna tell Ludvig to just play the fucking song next time, and heres a big hint as well.....play it in the key your singer is singing in.

[Eyeof]

Guys let's be honest...this is the OFFICIAL Nail in the Coffin!

That sh*t is GAWD AWFUL...There is not anyone - and I mean anyone - that can defend that...WOW...

Awful timing...awful tempo...bad notes...murdering the songs....Don't get me starting on the overplaying of the lead guitar and the truly AWFUL backing vocals...

Oh my....

I've seen better performances at a skating rink in the 80's!!!

[Ehwmatt]

Guys let's be honest...this is the OFFICIAL Nail in the Coffin!

That sh*t is GAWD AWFUL...There is not anyone - and I mean anyone - that can defend that...WOW...

Awful timing...awful tempo...bad notes...murdering the songs....Don't get me starting on the overplaying of the lead guitar and the truly AWFUL backing vocals...

Oh my....

I've seen better performances at a skating rink in the 80's!!!

It truly is terrible from top to bottom. What the hell is up with Frankie's guitar tone, too (actual playing aside)? Gone is his nice snappy, but aggressive classic tone of the 80s. One of the things that made Frankie's sound unique among the 80s players was how CLASSIC it was. He didn't' overdo the delay, chorus etc for the most part; he just relied on his fingers and bluesy licks. It really added to Survivor's "street tough" sound. In a lot of ways, they sounded like a great late 60s or early 70s rock band with a heavier emphasis on synths largely because he had such a nice "crunchy" sound. Now it's a gain-laden, mushy mess that is neither heavy nor punchy. It's not fattened up by delay or other effects. It just sounds terrible. The intro chord stabs in Poor Man's Son sound AWFUL!

Listen to Frankie's tone here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hzDSzQ0rzA

It's not even CLOSE!

[Eyeof]

The only other thing...before the awful solo before 'Search' (at the very first of the video), is that a little "I'm not that Man Anymore" that I hear?

[Eyeof]

The glory days!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r6s4Wzk2Ic&feature=fvwrel

And yes, I know, I know...it's a playback....

[axecrew]

The only other thing...before the awful solo before 'Search' (at the very first of the video), is that a little "I'm not that Man Anymore" that I hear?

Yes it is.....i noticed it as well

[axecrew]

Jesus Christers why did Jimi do this to himself why.

BTW, with all this talk of band quality and shit, am I the only who thinks Jimi's old "Survivor" band sounds awesome? Also, why can't he just play with this band all the time?

Yes Emwatt....I have seen bad bands play, but NO I have never worked with guys that were bad...Dude...my FIRST band was JP and World Stage and I went right to Mecca, so I have been very LUCKY that I have only been surrounded by badasses...

As far as what I saw in the videos, well...Survivor is designed to be a band...not a one man show...and that is where the train leaves the rails...and JJ trying to sing Somewhere in America should never have to happen...highlight your singer, don't cut his balls off....

Maybe IT IS TIME JP COMES BACK!!!!!!!! JP must have been the quality control guy in addition to a driving force as a main writer...and maybe he was more involved production wise than I may have been led to
believe....

It is hard to explain all of the components that go into a great album...or albums....JP is a fucking work horse!!! He just keeps going, a total blue collar work ethic...I wish JP would go back, it would solve everything IMHO...I did Survivor tunes with JP for years...and he held to the format, vibe, texture and tone of the original tunes...they sounded like the record except the singers over the years....JP, Toby, me a bit, Kevin ect....but musicially they were fucking killer....

I am not going to say anymore as I am VERY conflicted by all of this...nobody thought and thinks more of FS than I do/did...

Joe.....While it may be time for Jim to reclaim the reins, why the hell would he want to? Jumping on board this thing would be like boarding the titanic after it hit that iceberg, sure it's a nice fancy boat except for that little water problem.

[RyanHippFTW]

Isn't it right that Jim didn't get the name Survivor like 15 years ago, whenever it was, 'cause he was through with the band? If he felt like doing something out of respect for the name or the legacy or whatever could he try and get the name from Frankie and be successful?

[Slander]

Isn't it right that Jim didn't get the name Survivor like 15 years ago, whenever it was, 'cause he was through with the band? If he felt like doing something out of respect for the name or the legacy or whatever could he try and get the name from Frankie and be successful?

Here we go again. Let me be clear. The recent clips of the band sucked! However, I thought the recent clips of the Las Vegas show that were professionally done sounded pretty good. Having said that, JP alone would not be Survivor. Frankie Sullivan has and always will be a critical part of the Survivor sound.

[bulldog]

I think the whole band thing is conflicting . Jimi Jamison has a great new Firefest cd coming out via nehrecords.com in a couple weeks. His band and his performance kicks the shit out of anything he is doing with Frankie Sullivan . I don't care what anyone says . The way they make them old songs sound so new is f'n awesome. That is the Survivor we should hear period ! Play the damn songs like we remember them and add in awesome new arrangements .

Then yet once again Jim has a new cd coming out again on Frontiers records this fall.

His vocals are slipping again with Sullivan. He is not singing the songs the way he would doing a solo show . The vocals regardless what anyone says it what sold this band in the first place and kept them running over 25 yrs ago. Yeah signature sounds blah blah. Jimi doesn't act like a frontman when he is playing with Frankie !

I wish Jimi would either stay solo or go back and record and play with Peterik again !

I wonder if Jimi will be able to sell his material at Survivor shows ?

[Slander]

I think the whole band thing is conflicting . Jimi Jamison has a great new Firefest cd coming out via nehrecords.com in a couple weeks. His band and his performance kicks the shit out of anything he is doing with Frankie Sullivan . I don't care what anyone says .

His vocals are slipping again with Sullivan. He is not singing the songs the way he would doing a solo show . The vocals regardless what anyone says it what sold this band in the first place and kept them running over 25 yrs ago.

Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JJ is a great vocalist, but he made the band? Really?