How would we be feeling if...

[NealIsGod]

But don't mistake that for me not being disappointed as hell that JSS did not get the chance to record that crucial first album I was so looking forward to and going from there. I mean, what the hell happened?

I doubt we'll ever really know. Won't stop many from stating their beliefs as fact, tho.

[Yasuru]

Here's the $.02 of a newbie to this forum (but longtime fan of both JSS and Journey).

If Jeff had left on his own, my feelings would have depended on how he went about it. In my own mind, and having followed the guy for a number of years, I'm pretty sure I know how it would have been handled - up front and honestly. He is the kind of person that would have come to the band and said, "Guys, I'm sorry, but this is just not going to work out for me..." and proceed to give them the reasons. Then he would have put out a statement (if he was allowed to anyway) that would have pretty much given the same reasons to the fans. I would have been both disappointed and happy at the same time. I had been looking forward to a new direction for Journey, a band I loved as a kid growing up, but one that hasn't done much for me over the last few years (no offense to Steve A, who I think is a damn fine vocalist). I still think the collaboration of Jeff's abilities and talent with the writing ability and overall musical talent in Journey would have been fantastic. But when Jeff joined Journey, I had figured that was the end of his solo career and I've enjoyed all his previous work - so getting back to that would have pleased me.

However, if Jeff would have left Journey the same way that Journey has left Jeff - I would be pretty angered by that, just as I am now. It is absolutely impossible for me to think of Jeff ever handling that situation in the same way that Journey (members or management) has handled this one - but were it to happen, I would probably continue to follow Journey and stick with them through the next iteration they came up with. One of the main reasons (outside of the insane talent) that I have become such a huge JSS fan is BECAUSE of his sincerity and the way that he deals with people. Not everyone is perfect, and I'm sure there's people out there somewhere that he's probably pissed off at one time or another, but good luck finding very many. Were he to turn into what, apparently, Journey has become - I'm sure I would do exactly what I'm doing with Journey - swearing them off in the future.

Thankfully, Jeff ISN'T like that - it's just too bad that Journey is.

Good luck Jeremey - sounds like you deserve a shot at the big time, I just hope that the "big time" doesn't shoot you in the back.