How long...

[The_Noble_Cause]

Whatever happens happens.
I'm sure whatever writing they are doing together on the road (if any) will be interesting to hear some day - even *if* the JSS era proves to be short lived.

[AR]

I'll just throw this in: Jeff Scott Soto is the lead singer of Journey and that is not going to change anytime soon. He is a great talent and I can't wait to see how things go with him.

Steve Augeri did a great job with Journey and he kept my interest in the group when it certainly would have died long ago. Without him being in the band I would never be posting anything on a Journey board in 2006. Poor decisions were made in 05 & 06, but that doesn't mean he wasn't a good fit for Journey at a time when he was needed. Arrival remains one of my favorite Journey albums.

Steve Perry is a legend and a once in a lifetime talent. He hasn't been on stage since 1994. The fact that it took 2 singers to completely cover what he used to sing says it all. That's a compliment to him and not a shot at Journey, Steve A or Deen. If it took 2 guys to do it, then the band did the right thing.

I like the BAND Journey and will be a fan of whoever is willing to sing those songs.

[A Fire Inside]

I don't think Augeri is either. My guess is someone younger and well known.

Well, I think they may keep JSS on but retire soon. I really do.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I don't think Augeri is either. My guess is someone younger and well known.

Who exactly did u have in mind?
If its anyone like this fag I am apt to lunge my own feces towards the stage.



Now who's with me?

[Magwheels]

This is SO deja vu!

Are you referring to the songs played on the radio to promote Journey concerts...that were of Steve Perry as lead singer? Or the failure for the longest time to mention Steve Perry was no longer with them?

[nolippin]

JSS IS younger and well known.

They won't ever do it. imo, JSS Is not going to front this band in the future.

We'll just have to see

I don't think Augeri is either. My guess is someone younger and well known.

[siobhan222]

I'll just throw this in: Jeff Scott Soto is the lead singer of Journey and that is not going to change anytime soon. He is a great talent and I can't wait to see how things go with him.

I'm going to wait for that "official" announcement.

But if what you say *is* true, I just don't know why this couldn't have been done at the beginning of the tour on the "up and up".

[pinkfloyd1973]

This is SO deja vu!

Are you referring to the songs played on the radio to promote Journey concerts...that were of Steve Perry as lead singer? Or the failure for the longest time to mention Steve Perry was no longer with them?

Both sounds like what Styx did even after they booted Dennis DeYoung


Robin

[fred_journeyman]

Frankly, I cannot imagine Augeri coming back. Soto is younger, his voice is stronger and he has worked with Neal.

Soto's got a harder edge to his voice and he can hit the highs seemingly without difficulty. Personally, I think they needed someone like Soto from the beginning, but in one sense Augeri has taken the brunt of the criticism for "replacing" Perry. Now, Soto would simply be replacing Augeri.

It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out.

[nolippin]

I agree. I think the is the direction they need to stay with.

Oddly enough Soto is even bringing many Perry fans back to Journey in addition to Soto having his own following, particularly in Europe.

I think that the "Augeri-onlies" even see that and, I believe, that is their main fear. The band has really handled this very poorly. They should have just come out and made it clear that Augeri won't be back instead of dragging things out this way. A clean break would have been better and then the healing could begin.

Frankly, I cannot imagine Augeri coming back. Soto is younger, his voice is stronger and he has worked with Neal.

Soto's got a harder edge to his voice and he can hit the highs seemingly without difficulty. Personally, I think they needed someone like Soto from the beginning, but in one sense Augeri has taken the brunt of the criticism for "replacing" Perry. Now, Soto would simply be replacing Augeri.

It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out.

[StoneCold]

They wanted the commited ticket sales Augeri would bring.

Same reason they won't make anything official now. They'll lose sales from old time fans that stuck with them and accepted Augeri.

They can change their name now too.

Soul Sirkus sounds about right.

Or ... Crapney.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I think JSS's inauguration into this band as a full fledged member pivots on how well his voice holds up this tour.
If he shows signs of struggling, then he himself might make the decision to walk away.

[siobhan222]

Soto is younger, his voice is stronger and he has worked with Neal.

I beg your pardon on that last point? I think Augeri has been working with Neal for oh, about 8 years now? I don't think I imagined that.

Soto's got a harder edge to his voice and he can hit the highs seemingly without difficulty.

I'm not sure what "highs" you're referring to. Perhaps in his solo career. However, I can tell you without a doubt that at the concert on Monday night, he was *not* able to hit the Steve Perry "highs". In fact, he turned over the latter part of Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' to Deen, who, interestingly enough, hit them without issue.

[McNeil]

Hey siobhan222 you are entitled to yr opinion..please dont be hounded out of this forum

For what its worth...after hearing both Steve A and JSS... I much prefer Steve A's vocal style.... and of course Im talking about "b4" his throat probs

His voice is much more in keeping with the Journey style

JSS is ok.... as a "fill in" but no more ...but I make one reservation.. and its this

If Journey intend to drop the "greatest hits" thing and write new stuff with JSS there is no problem... JSS can make the songs his own... but if they are gonna continue to pound out the hits... they gotta get a "Perryalike" back in.... its as black n white as that

bottom line for me is: I prefer a Perry-type voice to a Soto-voice ..no matter which band the voice is fronting

also... I hear that JSS is not hitting the highs with regularity... sometimes "changing" the melody...ok to do normally..but not on a Journey song..its a bit like changing Neals repeating guitar solo refrain on Whose Crying Now..its just not acceptable...not when all the audience is singing the "correct" melody for you.

Many reports of JSS ..not "holding the note".. which is exactly what you do when you are pushing yr voice to the limit, and afraid of it cracking... just cut it short.. I know..I do it sometimes when Im gigging myself to death.

No chance of a statement from the band about permanent replacement...until they see that JSS can cut it after a large number of shows ..they wld be foolish to commit to him to early

If keeping Soto.. my advice...change the name guys... maybe even "Journey featuring JSS" just so people know they wont be getting that "Journey" sound of old

Keeping an "even " head about all this..I will still be prepared to change my views on this if and when I hear some decent recordings of JSS with the band .. nothing like yr own ears to make up yr mind is there!!

[rdekker]

Not to mention Steve Smith is still drumming on those same concert promo's, shame on you Journey

As misleading as still using Perry's voice for concert promo's on the radio?

[siobhan222]

Hey siobhan222 you are entitled to yr opinion..please dont be hounded out of this forum

Thank you Neil. I really appreciate your comments. Very nice of you to post that.

they gotta get a "Perryalike" back in.... its as black n white as that

It's hard to imagine a switch after 30 years, isn't it? I mean, I know some other bands have done it successfully with a whole different style lead singer, but I don't know .. Journey, with a different style. I just doesn't feel right to me. I think you and I are in the minority on this forum on this point though.

also... I hear that JSS is not hitting the highs with regularity... sometimes "changing" the melody...ok to do normally..but not on a Journey song..its a bit like changing Neals repeating guitar solo refrain on Whose Crying Now..its just not acceptable...not when all the audience is singing the "correct" melody for you.

Many reports of JSS ..not "holding the note".. which is exactly what you do when you are pushing yr voice to the limit, and afraid of it cracking... just cut it short.. I know..I do it sometimes when Im gigging myself to death.

I noticed these things. And I've seen others write the same on the reviews. But it seems most people here disagree. I notice this even in the clip Kevin put on the front page of this site. When I sang in a band years and years ago and did a lot of theatre, I would do exactly the same thing. I changed the melody sometimes and ad libbed when I felt my voice was straining or if I had to perform with a bit of a cold (although actually, I sometimes liked the rasp a cold put into my voice).

I could get away with that and from what you're saying, you can too (by the way, what's the name of your band, where do you play and what kind of music?). But it's very weird to me when Journey's lead singer does that. In fairness, the first time I saw Journey, Augeri didn't hold a note long enough on one song and I remarked about it. But that was just one note. The rest were fine -- although he fubbed the lyrics on Don't Stop Believin' too -- but the audience helped him out and he laughed about it.

No chance of a statement from the band about permanent replacement...until they see that JSS can cut it after a large number of shows ..they wld be foolish to commit to him to early

I agree. And who knows, they may be waiting to hear if Augeri thinks he can ever make it back, too. Many people are assuming he's gone for good, but you never know. If Neal doesn't think JSS is working out and Augeri comes back with a booming voice in a month or two, I still think he might put him back in the lineup.

If keeping Soto.. my advice...change the name guys... maybe even "Journey featuring JSS" just so people know they wont be getting that "Journey" sound of old

Excellent idea. I thought they should have done that for the rest of this tour. Lots of bands have done this throughout the years. It's not a terrible thing. And it may draw in some of Soto's more casual fans who haven't realized he's with Journey.

I will still be prepared to change my views on this if and when I hear some decent recordings of JSS with the band .. nothing like yr own ears to make up yr mind is there!!

Absolutely. Listen with an open mind and judge for yourself. Don't take anyone's word for it. There are many differing opinions on here about JSS & Augeri. Everyone has different tastes and it would be a very boring world if we all followed the same tune. I hope you like JSS and it gives you a reason to go see them live.