Just another reason JSS > Journey

[Yasuru]

I'm sure there's lots of stories out there, but here's mine...

I've been a JSS fan for years now, but until I happened upon MR.com, I figured him the same as I would any other "celebrity" - aloof and untouchable, for no reason other than that's how most "stars" are so you just expect it.

Imagine my suprise when I noticed on the MR noticeboard that there were some postings from JSS. Wow, an entertainer that chats with the common folk? WTF?!?! Hell, I even found that he would reply to me once in a while!

Skipping ahead to the SoulSirkUS tour...

I managed to score Meet 'n' Greet passes to SS in Chicago via the BT forums (which I had only joined after JSS & Schon got together in SS). So, I finally got to meet one of my favorite singers and the person who had gained my respect for being so approachable on-line. This meeting lasted approximately 5 minutes and saw me stuttering through "Man, I love your music!" and "Can I get a picture?" - pretty impressive for someone that had waited years to meet the guy huh? That was the last contact I had with him. Until...

Skipping ahead to the 2006 Journey tour ....

Shortly after hearing that JSS had been tapped by Journey as their new lead singer, I messaged Jeff via MySpace for the first time ever - to let him know that at least he'd have 1 of his fans in Bloomington, IL since I had just bought tickets to the show. Amazingly enough, I recieved a message back from him later that day that he would have 2 meet'n'greet passes waiting for me at the show! I'd met the guy once, and he'd replied to 3 or 4 posts before - and he's getting me passes?? SWEET!

Day of the show. We get there EARLY (pretty excited about the whole thing - meeting JSS again AND the legends that are Journey). No passes at the will call window - but hey, it's EARLY right? Well, it's getting to be real close to the time for the m'n'g to start, others already picked up passes at the window, but still nothing for me. I'm a little disappointed, but hey - it's not like we're old drinking buddies or anything, so I can't imagine I wold be high on the "pass" list for him. But, I notice a lady with a backstage pass, so I jot a quick note saying, "Hey Jeff, There were no m'n'g passes at the window for me, but it's ok. Have a great show! Good Luck, Greg (Yasuru)". I ask the lady if she could give it to Jeff Soto, and she says "Who?" - "The new lead singer for Journey." - "Oh, that replacement guy - yeah, if I see him I'll pass it to him." My gf and I are just hanging out, waiting for the doors to open for the show, when the lady at the will call booth calls me and tells me that there's passes there for me. I was floored! We go and join the queue for the m'n'g and when we get around the corner - Jeff seems to recognize me and then starts appologizing for all the trouble and just starts chatting with me like we're old friends. I felt little bad as I just kind of passed right by Neil (who was first in the line) and jawed with Jeff about 2 CD covers that I'd brought (it was his first physical view of the Talisman '7' cover) for him to sign.

As a side note, I don't feel so bad about snubbing Neil now.

So, this is a REALLY long winded way to affirm what other people keep repeating, Jeff is a class act all the way. The man goes out of his way for a fan that he barely met once - manages to recognize me (which absolutely amazed me) - and treated me like I was someone he'd known for years. THAT is the kind of guy he is. No other "star" that I've been lucky enough to meet has ever even been close to that, nor would go out of their way for someone that don't personally know. Not that they aren't out there I suppose, but I've just not come in contact with them.

I certainly can't see Schon or Cain being like that - though I wouldn't bet against Deen and have no opinion what-so-ever about Ross.

Thanks for listening.

Peace ~
Greg

[donnaplease]

I'm sure there's lots of stories out there, but here's mine...

I've been a JSS fan for years now, but until I happened upon MR.com, I figured him the same as I would any other "celebrity" - aloof and untouchable, for no reason other than that's how most "stars" are so you just expect it.

Imagine my suprise when I noticed on the MR noticeboard that there were some postings from JSS. Wow, an entertainer that chats with the common folk? WTF?!?! Hell, I even found that he would reply to me once in a while!

Skipping ahead to the SoulSirkUS tour...

I managed to score Meet 'n' Greet passes to SS in Chicago via the BT forums (which I had only joined after JSS & Schon got together in SS). So, I finally got to meet one of my favorite singers and the person who had gained my respect for being so approachable on-line. This meeting lasted approximately 5 minutes and saw me stuttering through "Man, I love your music!" and "Can I get a picture?" - pretty impressive for someone that had waited years to meet the guy huh? That was the last contact I had with him. Until...

Skipping ahead to the 2006 Journey tour ....

Shortly after hearing that JSS had been tapped by Journey as their new lead singer, I messaged Jeff via MySpace for the first time ever - to let him know that at least he'd have 1 of his fans in Bloomington, IL since I had just bought tickets to the show. Amazingly enough, I recieved a message back from him later that day that he would have 2 meet'n'greet passes waiting for me at the show! I'd met the guy once, and he'd replied to 3 or 4 posts before - and he's getting me passes?? SWEET!

Day of the show. We get there EARLY (pretty excited about the whole thing - meeting JSS again AND the legends that are Journey). No passes at the will call window - but hey, it's EARLY right? Well, it's getting to be real close to the time for the m'n'g to start, others already picked up passes at the window, but still nothing for me. I'm a little disappointed, but hey - it's not like we're old drinking buddies or anything, so I can't imagine I wold be high on the "pass" list for him. But, I notice a lady with a backstage pass, so I jot a quick note saying, "Hey Jeff, There were no m'n'g passes at the window for me, but it's ok. Have a great show! Good Luck, Greg (Yasuru)". I ask the lady if she could give it to Jeff Soto, and she says "Who?" - "The new lead singer for Journey." - "Oh, that replacement guy - yeah, if I see him I'll pass it to him." My gf and I are just hanging out, waiting for the doors to open for the show, when the lady at the will call booth calls me and tells me that there's passes there for me. I was floored! We go and join the queue for the m'n'g and when we get around the corner - Jeff seems to recognize me and then starts appologizing for all the trouble and just starts chatting with me like we're old friends. I felt little bad as I just kind of passed right by Neil (who was first in the line) and jawed with Jeff about 2 CD covers that I'd brought (it was his first physical view of the Talisman '7' cover) for him to sign.

As a side note, I don't feel so bad about snubbing Neil now.

So, this is a REALLY long winded way to affirm what other people keep repeating, Jeff is a class act all the way. The man goes out of his way for a fan that he barely met once - manages to recognize me (which absolutely amazed me) - and treated me like I was someone he'd known for years. THAT is the kind of guy he is. No other "star" that I've been lucky enough to meet has ever even been close to that, nor would go out of their way for someone that don't personally know. Not that they aren't out there I suppose, but I've just not come in contact with them.

I certainly can't see Schon or Cain being like that - though I wouldn't bet against Deen and have no opinion what-so-ever about Ross.

Thanks for listening.

Peace ~
Greg

Great post and welcome to the jungle!!!

[NealIsGod]

Yeah, stories of Jeff's incredible treatment of fans are like snowflakes. There's millions of 'em and they are all a little different. He's one in a million.

[donnaplease]

Oops!!!

[Carlitto H@kk]

Great story!!!

Jeff treated me the same...
Started with emails while I was is Iraq.
Continued on to a SS gig in Colorado where my sig. pic was taken
by the late Craig Pittman (RIP); Jeff had the crowd 'welcome me home!'

And then he did the same for me and my family when he did his
second journey show in Va Beach... after I emailed him the moring of
the show... My 6 yo Daughter was floored when she got a hug
from her hero, Neal Schon (I'm gonna have to talk to her about this now!)

The guy is one of the most down-to-earth, easy-going
class-acts around and, like most here, I wish nothing but the best
and will support EVERYTHING he chooses to do in the future

[Pelata]

When I saw Journey in 1998, Deen & Steve A. were awesome, gracious, humble, and amazed that people were asking them for their autographs...2 of the sweetest people ever...Ross, Cain & Schon were obviously "been there, done that" about the whole thing and barely muttered a "thank you" to people.

[tammy]

Thanks for sharing that, Greg...your side note made me laugh, too.

[Yasuru]

When I saw Journey in 1998, Deen & Steve A. were awesome, gracious, humble, and amazed that people were asking them for their autographs...2 of the sweetest people ever...Ross, Cain & Schon were obviously "been there, done that" about the whole thing and barely muttered a "thank you" to people.

Unfortunately (for me anyway), Deen was busy elsewhere during the M'n'G, so I never got the pleasure of actually meeting him - but I've heard great things purusing all these forums. I do have to say though, Jon showed some interest in the CD covers that I asked Jeff to sign for me. I don't know if anyone has here has seen the Talisman - Humanimal cover - but it's a somewhat interesting morph of a man's face on an ape.

Jeff had to explain that to Jon....

And the been there, done that thing... that's just another thing that makes JSS stand out. He's been doing this stuff 20+ years too, and has mingled with fans throughout his career, and he's still not become jaded by the whole thing - as it seems most do. If anything, he feeds off of it.

And thanks for the welcome folks ~ I'm sure you'll be hearing from me from time to time. Consider that fair warning!