Another News Report About The Change

[Dano]

This one just came over from LiveDaily here in the States. Adds commentary about the lip-synching allegations. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, and anyone who's read my previous posts knows that I fully support Augeri. Just thought I'd pass this along.

Dano

Journey switches singers mid-tour
July 06, 2006 04:30 PM
by Jon Zahlaway
liveDaily Senior Writer
Classic rockers Journey who are in the midst of a summer tour with fellow rock vets Def Leppard have replaced lead singer Steve Augieri with vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, citing a vocal ailment Augieri is battling.
"Steve's been suffering with an acute throat condition since before we kicked off the tour with Def Leppard," the members of Journey said in a prepared statement. "We were hoping he'd be in well condition to handle the rigors of the road but unfortunately it appears to be a chronic condition requiring total voice rest. We all wish Steve a speedy recovery."

The band is apparently leaving the door open for Augieri's return, as a press release from the group's publicist says that the singer's condition will be "closely monitored by his physician to determine when he may be able to rejoin the tour."

The move follows a controversy that recently erupted on various Journey websites and message boards after a Journey fan accused Augieri of using pre-recorded vocal tracks during the group's concerts, and launched a blog dedicated to exposing the singer's alleged lip-syncing. Dwyer & Michaels, a morning-radio duo in Davenport, IA, picked up on the story and posted at their website clips that they say prove the lip-syncing allegations.

Augieri replaced original Journey frontman Steve Perry back in the late '90s. Perry sang on the band's best-known songs, which include a string of late-'70s and early '80s hits such as "Don't Stop Believin'," "Wheel in the Sky," "Any Way You Want It" and "Open Arms." "Remember Me," a song that Journey contributed to the 1998 soundtrack for the film "Armageddon," was the band's first release to feature Augieri.

Soto, who got his start fronting guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen's band in the mid-'80s, previously worked with Journey guitarist Neal Schon in a side project dubbed Soul SirkUS. He has spent a number of years helming the group Talisman, and has also released several solo albums.

Journey fans in Bristow, VA, will see Soto make his Journey debut when the band hits the stage at Nissan Pavilion Friday night (7/7). The show is the next scheduled stop on the band's tour with Def Leppard, which is scheduled to run through late September. Details are shown below.

Journey's most recent studio set is last year's "Generations." Produced by Kevin Elson--who also produced Journey's multi-platinum "Escape," "Departure" and "Frontiers" albums, as well the double-platinum live set "Captured"--"Generations" is the band's first collection of all-new material since its 2002, four-song EP, "Red 13."

Original members Neal Schon (guitar) and Ross Valory (bass), along with longtime members Deen Castronovo (drums) and Jonathan Cain (keyboards), round out the lineup.

[*Laura]

I don't see this as "beating the dead horse".This is major news and the press is picking it up.

Here it goes:

Billboard

WRAL.com (Raleigh)

Pollstar

and last but not least...I had to giggle ...FemaleFirst

[Argus]

Tickets are going to be very hot items now.

[NealIsGod]

Tickets are going to be very hot items now.

They were already, but yes, even more so now.

[Moon Beam]

Thanks for the links Shania
I'm looking forward to hearing anything from tonights show
Good Luck Soto Get Well Augeri

[jrnyman28]

I like the WRAL notice (Steve's band Journey).

[Dano]

You know, there is a sad irony to all this, in my opinion. Def Lep seemed to be getting the lions share of press (including the Entertainment Weekly feature story a couple months back), and Universal is doing a nice job of promotion right now, including a nice full-page ad in the latest Rolling Stone. Plus they had the tie-in with Wal-Mart for the bonus companion CD to go with "Yeah!", and it seemed like Journey was off-the-radar. Cancelling "Rockline" didn't help.

Now with this disaster, they're all over the news media. I really wish the Azoff/Baruch/Consolo team did at least a fraction of the effort getting the band into the press as this bad news did all on its own. On the positive side, this is unbelievable exposure for JSS, who really doesn't have the recognition stateside that he does in other parts of the globe (outside of us melodic rock mavens, of course). He's definitely about to become a familiar name to many for the first time. He is an amazing talent and one of my favorites, so of course I'm wishing him the best. Wish I could be at tonights show!

[jrnyman28]

I really wish the Azoff/Baruch/Consolo team did at least a fraction of the effort getting the band into the press as this bad news did all on its own.

So true!

On the positive side, this is unbelievable exposure for JSS, who really doesn't have the recognition stateside that he does in other parts of the globe (outside of us melodic rock mavens, of course). He's definitely about to become a familiar name to many for the first time. He is an amazing talent and one of my favorites, so of course I'm wishing him the best. Wish I could be at tonights show!

Well, people will probably be asking "Who is that guy?" But unless this is billed as Journey w/Jeff Scott Soto then he may remain somewhat obscure. He will gain some new fans, but the full extenet remains to be seen...

[piecesofeight]

Tickets are going to be very hot items now.

They were already, but yes, even more so now.

Exactly, lots of new things to check out. There will be a lot of people going who maybe weren't going to go.
There will still be those going who do not frequent the net like some of us do.. , who will be like, what the...!!!

[wildone]

Tickets are going to be very hot items now.

hot items ...hmmm