New Neal Interview

[Enigma869]

I don't think there's any disagreement about songwriting royalties, as that is standard practice, but if Perry is/was getting paid based on the rest of the band performing live, I can see where Neal might be a bit roiled...

I don't know that Perry is getting paid for live performances or what the standard industry practice is for that. I suspect Perry is only getting paid for songs that he wrote that are sold for commercial profit (whether on CD or DVD). I suspect he's probably going to be making a whole lot of money with the upcoming release of the new Wal-Mart CD/DVD set, and as far as I'm concerned, he's entitled to every last nickel!

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them. As brilliant of a musician as I think Neal is...he's a classless fuck! Perry went out of his way in that article to say that Neal was an amazing musician and even that he misses his guitar playing. I've NEVER seen Perry not take the high road, during an interview. Unfortunately, Schon simply doesn't get it, and never will! I'm also tired of hearing about "Neal's band". Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that "Neal's band" was on their way to the unemployment line before Perry was brought into the fold! The band that was "Neal's band" and the band that became what Journey became had absolutely NOTHING in common with each other. They may have still been calling themselves Journey, but the music was completely different, and nobody was listening to it, prior to the vocals being added!


John from Boston

[Moose]

I don't think there's any disagreement about songwriting royalties, as that is standard practice, but if Perry is/was getting paid based on the rest of the band performing live, I can see where Neal might be a bit roiled...

I don't know that Perry is getting paid for live performances or what the standard industry practice is for that. I suspect Perry is only getting paid for songs that he wrote that are sold for commercial profit (whether on CD or DVD). I suspect he's probably going to be making a whole lot of money with the upcoming release of the new Wal-Mart CD/DVD set, and as far as I'm concerned, he's entitled to every last nickel!

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them. As brilliant of a musician as I think Neal is...he's a classless fuck! Perry went out of his way in that article to say that Neal was an amazing musician and the guy ALWAYS takes the high road. Unfortunately, Schon simply doesn't get it, and never will! I'm also tired of hearing about "Neal's band". Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that "Neal's band" was on their way to the unemployment line before Perry was brought into the fold! The band that was "Neal's band" and the band that became what Journey became had absolutely NOTHING in common with each other. They may have still been calling themselves Journey, but the music was completely different, and nobody was listening to it, prior to the vocals being added!


John from Boston

Bravo! Great post.

[Jeremey]

I don't think there's any disagreement about songwriting royalties, as that is standard practice, but if Perry is/was getting paid based on the rest of the band performing live, I can see where Neal might be a bit roiled...

I don't know that Perry is getting paid for live performances or what the standard industry practice is for that. I suspect Perry is only getting paid for songs that he wrote that are sold for commercial profit (whether on CD or DVD). I suspect he's probably going to be making a whole lot of money with the upcoming release of the new Wal-Mart CD/DVD set, and as far as I'm concerned, he's entitled to every last nickel!

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them. As brilliant of a musician as I think Neal is...he's a classless fuck! Perry went out of his way in that article to say that Neal was an amazing musician and the guy ALWAYS takes the high road. Unfortunately, Schon simply doesn't get it, and never will! I'm also tired of hearing about "Neal's band". Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that "Neal's band" was on their way to the unemployment line before Perry was brought into the fold! The band that was "Neal's band" and the band that became what Journey became had absolutely NOTHING in common with each other. They may have still been calling themselves Journey, but the music was completely different, and nobody was listening to it, prior to the vocals being added!


John from Boston

Bravo! Great post.

Steve gets his publishing royalties, just like everyone else who writes for the group. Neal has a problem with Perry continuing to get publishing royalties on songs he helped create, apparently, because there's no other reason anyone should begrudge Perry for getting paid for his contributions to the songs....I don't understand Neal's take on that one.

[Rick]

I don't think there's any disagreement about songwriting royalties, as that is standard practice, but if Perry is/was getting paid based on the rest of the band performing live, I can see where Neal might be a bit roiled...

I don't know that Perry is getting paid for live performances or what the standard industry practice is for that. I suspect Perry is only getting paid for songs that he wrote that are sold for commercial profit (whether on CD or DVD). I suspect he's probably going to be making a whole lot of money with the upcoming release of the new Wal-Mart CD/DVD set, and as far as I'm concerned, he's entitled to every last nickel!

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them. As brilliant of a musician as I think Neal is...he's a classless fuck! Perry went out of his way in that article to say that Neal was an amazing musician and the guy ALWAYS takes the high road. Unfortunately, Schon simply doesn't get it, and never will! I'm also tired of hearing about "Neal's band". Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that "Neal's band" was on their way to the unemployment line before Perry was brought into the fold! The band that was "Neal's band" and the band that became what Journey became had absolutely NOTHING in common with each other. They may have still been calling themselves Journey, but the music was completely different, and nobody was listening to it, prior to the vocals being added!


John from Boston

Bravo! Great post.

Steve gets his publishing royalties, just like everyone else who writes for the group. Neal has a problem with Perry continuing to get publishing royalties on songs he helped create, apparently, because there's no other reason anyone should begrudge Perry for getting paid for his contributions to the songs....I don't understand Neal's take on that one.

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

[Jeremey]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

[Marabelle]

Keeping with that same line of reasoning..let's say that although the money is GREAT but consider Perry would like to be able to go out and sing and make that same dollar as well. Maybe not the touring...Yikes! It just ain't happening at least for now and maybe never. But you know Jeremey once you have been on the stage and before all those people; you never really want to step away from it...FOREVER...there's still the pull to get back every now and again.

[Vladan]

I don't think there's any disagreement about songwriting royalties, as that is standard practice, but if Perry is/was getting paid based on the rest of the band performing live, I can see where Neal might be a bit roiled...

I don't know that Perry is getting paid for live performances or what the standard industry practice is for that. I suspect Perry is only getting paid for songs that he wrote that are sold for commercial profit (whether on CD or DVD). I suspect he's probably going to be making a whole lot of money with the upcoming release of the new Wal-Mart CD/DVD set, and as far as I'm concerned, he's entitled to every last nickel!

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them. As brilliant of a musician as I think Neal is...he's a classless fuck! Perry went out of his way in that article to say that Neal was an amazing musician and even that he misses his guitar playing. I've NEVER seen Perry not take the high road, during an interview. Unfortunately, Schon simply doesn't get it, and never will! I'm also tired of hearing about "Neal's band". Anyone who is honest with themselves knows that "Neal's band" was on their way to the unemployment line before Perry was brought into the fold! The band that was "Neal's band" and the band that became what Journey became had absolutely NOTHING in common with each other. They may have still been calling themselves Journey, but the music was completely different, and nobody was listening to it, prior to the vocals being added!


John from Boston

Yep! well said mate. You know, I always read your posts, and tend to agree with you most of the time. Well, because for one! I'm also realistic and honest.

[NealIsGod]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

It's an amazing thing when you put it that way. Here's Perry who probably envies Schon because he can still perform like he did in 1982, and Schon probably envies Perry because he doesn't have to perform the same songs over and over and over anymore.

[Jeremey]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

It's an amazing thing when you put it that way. Here's Perry who probably envies Schon because he can still perform like he did in 1982, and Schon probably envies Perry because he doesn't have to perform the same songs over and over and over anymore.

Ding ding ding ding!!!!

NIG gets the prize today...

[bluejeangirl76]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

I agree. I think that's a lot of it. Perry gets paid because the laws re: royalties says he has to.
So that remark about getting "paid like a motherfucker" when he "shouldn't" was just plain weird (to me at least).
Yes he damn well should get paid. So should Neal. They all had their choices to make with regard to how to proceed in their careers and how to spend all that fat cash they raked in. So whether Neal is doing this because he wants to or has to, the fact is he's doing it, and he would have known going in that if he was up there playing DSB and Lights every night, that Steve Perry was gonna damn well get paid from it. So to bitch about it 10 years later is just -->

And if the shoe were on the other foot, and Steve took off into the sunset with Journey while Neal sat at home drinking tea, you wouldn't hear Neal complaining about getting paid like a motherfucker and you certainly wouldn't hear him saying he shouldn't be paid.

[Saint John]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

It's an amazing thing when you put it that way. Here's Perry who probably envies Schon because he can still perform like he did in 1982, and Schon probably envies Perry because he doesn't have to perform the same songs over and over and over anymore.

I agree...for the most part. I'd only add that I think Neal still loves what he does very much...especially lately. I did see some signs of burnout during the waning Augeri years, though.

[DracIsBack]

I don't think there's any disagreement about songwriting royalties, as that is standard practice, but if Perry is/was getting paid based on the rest of the band performing live, I can see where Neal might be a bit roiled...

Yeah - I'm not sure exactly what Perry is entitled to. Usually when someone leaves a band, they're still entitled to songwriting royalties (as you note) as well as performance royalties on the albums they were on.

Not sure how Perry gets paid for live concerts (beyond songwriting royalties if his tunes are performed) unless it's some kind of settlement agreement tied with his leaving/termination (whatever the heck people call it) or he has part ownership of the name or something.

[NealIsGod]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

It's an amazing thing when you put it that way. Here's Perry who probably envies Schon because he can still perform like he did in 1982, and Schon probably envies Perry because he doesn't have to perform the same songs over and over and over anymore.

I agree...for the most part. I'd only add that I think Neal still loves what he does very much...especially lately. I did see some signs of burnout during the waning Augeri years, though.

Yeah, but I think Neal would love to dump 90% of the setlist and replace it with something he can't play in his sleep.

[bluejeangirl76]

Yeah, but I think Neal would love to dump 90% of the setlist and replace it with something he can't play in his sleep.

I would imagine you're totally right about that.
But what Neal wants and what the general audience wants aren't likely to be the same, sadly.
I'd love to see him doing other stuff up there, but... well, that ain't gonna pay the bills.

[Saint John]

I think Neal gets pissed because he's out on stage grinding it out to get paid, and Perry is sitting at home sipping tea and getting paid for the same performance. I agree with you, what's right is right, but I think that may be why Neal is sour.

Not exactly true...

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

It's an amazing thing when you put it that way. Here's Perry who probably envies Schon because he can still perform like he did in 1982, and Schon probably envies Perry because he doesn't have to perform the same songs over and over and over anymore.

I agree...for the most part. I'd only add that I think Neal still loves what he does very much...especially lately. I did see some signs of burnout during the waning Augeri years, though.

Yeah, but I think Neal would love to dump 90% of the setlist and replace it with something he can't play in his sleep.

True..to an extent. I still think the roar of the crowd on those songs that he probably doesn't want to play kinda makes up for playing songs you want to play but sends a huge portion of the crowd to piss or get another beer. I think they should play 20 songs per night...the 12 staples, 4 lesser hits and 4 really "deep" cuts.

[DracIsBack]

Take a song with Perry/Schon writing credits. When a record sells, say Perry gets a dollar and Neal gets a dollar. Now let's say that Perry has saved so many dollars he doesn't even cash those checks anymore. Say he's got...I don't know. Two hundred dollars in his bank. Now say that Neal gets the same dollar, but it's already spent before he even gets it. So he has to take another job just to get enough dollars in to pay the bills. Luckily Neal has the ability to go out and play every year and bring in lots more dollars, but I think it's the fact that he has to that fosters the resentment than anything else.

Hehe

Likely there's also the issue of:

- Perry/Schon write hit songs
- Big royalty checks come in
- Perry - who's never been married - as far as I can tell - shoves his royalty checks in the vault in the back like Scrooge McDuck to dive in later when he wants.
- Neil - who's been married and divorced multiple times - pays out his $$$ mostly to his ex-wives.

We had an interesting discussion on royalties and what divorces do to them on the Chicago forum one time. The members of that band have sold a lot of records and had a boatload of hits. However, some are richer than others due to the songs that they wrote; and, how often they've been divorced.

- Lee Loughnane, the trumpet player, needs to tour. He's also written very few of their hits and has been divorced a bunch of times.
- Peter Cetera, their former bass player, seldom tours and has hardly done so in over 20 years. He's also been divorced twice but wrote a pile of later hits (including some as a solo artist) and lives comfortably. Though, he once made a joke about "wanting to see royalties from one of his songs too" on the air ... a reference to a divorce.
- Robert Lamm (Keyboard Player) and James Pankow (Trombone player) all wrote a bunch of hits and have been divorced as well. Pankow has been divorced once and seems to be showing up less on the road the last few tours. Lamm has been divorced multiple times and doesn't seem to miss shows.
- Danny Serephine seems to kick around in his new band comfortably, largely due to good investments and a few hits (though no more than Loughnane really)
- Walt Parazaider, the sax player, has hardly written anything, but is totally loaded. Why? Never divorced and invested his money really wisely. You hardly see him in concert lately.


The newer members of the band are mostly "hired" sidemen on a technical level, probably getting paid an annual salary just like new guys in Journey.

Songwriting can bring in a fortune, but divorces can quickly take it away.

[bluejeangirl76]

Perry - shoves his royalty checks in the vault in the back like Scrooge McDuck to dive in later when he wants.

*mops up coffee* Drac, you're a funny fucker.

Scrooge McPerry?
I just got this image from that cartoon where Scrooge gets in a bathing suit, dives into the vault, and swims in his gold coins.

(and somewhere lurks Rhiannon with a visual on it... I just know it)

[Rhiannon]

(and somewhere lurks Rhiannon with a visual on it... I just know it)

Judo chop!

[Red13JoePa]

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them.

BullSHIT.
He's got like me, SJ (as far as regulars) and that's IT.

The OTHER guy, "he who can't be mentioned" as that article puts it has TEN, TWENTY times the rim job droppers on here as Neal does.


As far as the getting paid for doing nothing remarks people are moaning about, I think he's talking about the past 10 years, perry's no-show gig that would make a mafia caporegime jealous of getting a full member share for concerts whilst not even being in the band.
We do have reason to believe it's over now but we know that sweetheart deal was in place for at least a decade.

[Enigma869]

- Peter Cetera, their former bass player

Okay...I'm admittedly not much of a Chicago fan but do know all their hits. This is the very first time in my life that I've ever heard Peter Cetera described as Chicago's "former bass player". Am I missing something here??? Wasn't Cetera the lead vocalist in Chicago for MANY years???? I'm pretty sure it's Cetera's voice I hear on almost every single one of their hits! Someone set me straight here.


John from Boston

[NealIsGod]

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them.

BullSHIT.
He's got like me, SJ (as far as regulars) and that's IT.

The OTHER guy, "he who can't be mentioned" as that article puts it has TEN, TWENTY times the rim job droppers on here as Neal does.

More like a hundred.

[Enigma869]

BullSHIT.
He's got like me, SJ (as far as regulars) and that's IT.

Then that's two too many, as far as I'm concerned


John from Boston

p.s. Fuck Neal!

[NealIsGod]

BullSHIT.
He's got like me, SJ (as far as regulars) and that's IT.

Then that's two too many, as far as I'm concerned


John from Boston

p.s. Fuck Neal!

Fuck Belichick!

[bluejeangirl76]

Neal has a lot of ass-kissers on this website, but I'm not one of them.

BullSHIT.
He's got like me, SJ (as far as regulars) and that's IT.

The OTHER guy, "he who can't be mentioned" as that article puts it has TEN, TWENTY times the rim job droppers on here as Neal does.

That paints one hell of a picture and honestly, that's the most horrible vision one could possibly imagine. I never ever want to see 'he that can't be named' and 'rim job' in the same sentence again. I feel the acid reflux starting already.

[DracIsBack]

- Peter Cetera, their former bass player

Okay...I'm admittedly not much of a Chicago fan but do know all their hits. This is the very first time in my life that I've ever heard Peter Cetera described as Chicago's "former bass player". Am I missing something here??? Wasn't Cetera the lead vocalist in Chicago for MANY years???? I'm pretty sure it's Cetera's voice I hear on almost every single one of their hits! Someone set me straight here.


John from Boston

this is a Journey forum so I don't want to delve away from that to much.

Chicago started as a rock band with horns (trombone, trumpet, sax) and had three vocalists in the rhythm section with different ranges to match the horns. (Robert Lamm on keys, Terry Kath on guitar, Peter Cetera on bass). Chicago always featured multiple singers singing multiple songs. In the early days, the hits had different vocalists singing lead, depending on who wrote what for whom. For example, Robert Lamm sang "Saturday In The Park" and "Beginnings", Terry Kath sang "Colour My World" and "Make Me Smile" and Peter Cetera sang "25 or 6 to 4" and "Feeling Stronger Everyday". As the band became more successful, the record label tended to release Cetera sung singles as his voice was more unique but on the album and in concert, everyone sang. When they had their comeback in the 1980s (Chicago 16 and 17), he was more at the forefront but others sang on the record and in concert. When he left, they continued the trend. Jason Scheff (his replacement) sang "Will You Still Love Me", Bill Champlin (Terry Kath's replacement) sang "Look Away" and Robert Lamm sang their recent single "Feel". As for Cetera as a bassist, people have generally forgotten that he did that due to his vocals, but he was a pretty awesome melodic bass player (kinda like McCartney or Andy Fraser from Free) on the 1970s Chicago albums.

He finally got some recognition when Bass Player magazine did a cover story on him as a bassist in December:

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/chicagos-peter-cetera/nov-07/32489

Now back to Journey ... as this is a Journey forum.

[bluejeangirl76]

(and somewhere lurks Rhiannon with a visual on it... I just know it)

Judo chop!

Three minutes... not bad!

I was going for this:

Counter-chop!

[Rhiannon]

Not bad, not bad. I'm not thorough enough this morning to search too extensively.
We got finished with the moving around 2am and after a fabulous shoulder rub from my wildly awesome roommate, I was in bed asleep by 4, just in time to hit the snooze button until about 7:30. My wit will wake up somewhere around 4pm.

[Enigma869]

this is a Journey forum so I don't want to delve away from that to much.

Chicago started as a rock band with horns (trombone, trumpet, sax) and had three vocalists in the rhythm section with different ranges to match the horns. (Robert Lamm on keys, Terry Kath on guitar, Peter Cetera on bass). Chicago always featured multiple singers singing multiple songs. In the early days, the hits had different vocalists singing lead, depending on who wrote what for whom. For example, Robert Lamm sang "Saturday In The Park" and "Beginnings", Terry Kath sang "Colour My World" and "Make Me Smile" and Peter Cetera sang "25 or 6 to 4" and "Feeling Stronger Everyday". As the band became more successful, the record label tended to release Cetera sung singles as his voice was more unique but on the album and in concert, everyone sang. When they had their comeback in the 1980s (Chicago 16 and 17), he was more at the forefront but others sang on the record and in concert. When he left, they continued the trend. Jason Scheff (his replacement) sang "Will You Still Love Me", Bill Champlin (Terry Kath's replacement) sang "Look Away" and Robert Lamm sang their recent single "Feel". As for Cetera as a bassist, people have generally forgotten that he did that due to his vocals, but he was a pretty awesome melodic bass player (kinda like McCartney or Andy Fraser from Free) on the 1970s Chicago albums.

He finally got some recognition when Bass Player magazine did a cover story on him as a bassist in December:

http://www.bassplayer.com/article/chicagos-peter-cetera/nov-07/32489

Now back to Journey ... as this is a Journey forum.

Thanks for setting me straight! You're obviously FAR more knowledgeable about Chicago than I've ever been. Looking at all the tracks from Chicago 16 and 17 tells me that is why I thought Cetera was their front man for most of their hits. Most of their hits came from those two albums!


John from Boston

[DracIsBack]

Thanks for setting me straight! You're obviously FAR more knowledgeable about Chicago than I've ever been. Looking at all the tracks from Chicago 16 and 17 tells me that is why I thought Cetera was their front man for most of their hits. Most of their hits came from those two albums!

17 was their biggest album but they had a good 12 platinum or multi-platinum albums before 16 ... and two full greatest hits albums (Chicago IX and Chicago XV) before those two albums. At one point, in 1975, they had their first eight albums on the Billboard top 200 at the same time. Never had an album as biggest as "ESCAPE" but definitely pretty consistent sales wise and airplay wise, with a few bumps.

[jrnyman28]

I think Neal was using the "paid like a motherfucker" comment as an example...not an actual complaint. He was likely accused of "complaining" about the pay arrangement that was in affect for several years after Perry left the band the paid Perry 1/6...the same as an active member of the band. I think Neal was simply saying something like "we get accused of saying things like 'Perry gets paid like a motherfucker when he shouldn't' everytime we mention his name.

As for Deen getting the job, yep...another example of how the replacement characters were chosen based more on their personality and working relationship than on talent. Not to say Deen and Steve A are not talented...they certainly are. But I think the personality issue may have overridden any deficits in their talent.

I miss Smitty.

And whoever said Smitty's chops were nothing amazing in Journey because of their style of music is simply deaf. Smitty brought a whole new level to the band/music/genre with his drumming. Until Smitty I never really paid attention to drumming. I thought it was simply time-keeping. Smitty made the bottm end of the songs interesting! You had to take notice!!