New song from Styx

[Onestepper]

Journey also had a horrible performance on national TV with the CNN concert. They promised an album last July and basically every time Neal was interviewed since. They have no full tour scheduled for this year, only the run in Vegas late this year. The one song they have released went nowhere. They have people moving in and out of the band like it is filled with revolving doors.

Meanwhile Styx released live teasers of full songs that were actually ON THE ALBUM. They released multiple singles and videos. They released the full album. They released extra songs on their "Record store day" album. And, they scheduled a full tour this year and are out there touring. They have had the same lineup for 20yrs now, and added Will as a member due to his contributions to the last two albums. No lawsuites, no band drama, just music - the way it SHOULD be.

Well since Journey is evidently letting you down so much, maybe you can go over to the Styx board and hang out there. Doubtful anyone here would miss you.

I post in both. And, I have fans like you in both.

Don't flatter yourself. You're actually everything that is wrong with online boards.

[The_Noble_Cause]

This was an accusation made as part of a lawsuit. A lawsuit that Neal settled. At best, it is ignorant and irresponsible to state it as fact. At worst, it is a blatant public lie to the forum.

LOL.

Thanks for the morning laugh!

Are you going to call the Ross Valory defamation hotline, or turn us in into the Nightmare gestapo something?

Valory wasn't just the defendant, he was also the plaintiff, in his own counter suit. If the accusations against him aren't true, why didn't he keep fighting? In fact, why didn't he release a single statement defending himself? He fought as hard in the court of public opinion as he did in the band - no effort.

Oh, please. That was in the middle of the lawsuit. There is no way in hell they were going to be able to release any new album in the middle of a lawsuit.

Actually, the lawsuit was March of 2020. You've been wrong about new music much longer than that. Please stop lying.


2014 Monker quote - "I really feel that Eclipse was this bands last gasp for air….I doubt anybody sees any value in releasing another album with Arnel."
2016 Monker quote - "Like I said back then, Eclipse will be Journey's final album."
2017 Monker quote - "Eclipse is most likely Journey's final album."

[jrnyman28]

Again, Journey doesn't have their shit together. You are essentially admitting it.



This was an accusation made as part of a lawsuit. A lawsuit that Neal settled. At best, it is ignorant and irresponsible to state it as fact. At worst, it is a blatant public lie to the forum.

Still, could be true, might not be. Pure conjecture.

The way this band works today, as discussed in the lawsuit, is that Neal and Jon ARE Journey. Everybody else are replaceable sidemen who contribute very little to the band. There is every reason to believe that Neal can fire/replace any member he wants to, for any reason his mind dreams up.

Sure they CAN. Doesn't mean they will. Maybe Jason falls away, and we don't know where we really stand with the bass. (I sorta see Randy coming back for a while but maybe Marco slides back in down the road. But I think that will be all due to contracts and availability, not because Neal or Jon just decide to fire him.)

Journey doesn't 'evolve' any longer. That ended when Neal decided everybody are replaceable, irrelevant, sidemen. Journey is Schon/Cain. THAT does not 'evolve'.

Hired gun/sideman or not, they are still hired to add their talent to the band/tour/record. Therefore, the sound of Journey has evolved.

I did not 'doom' the band. I am saying that Styx has their shit together and wrote and released a new album, and more, as they said they would. Neal said an album would be release in July of 2020 and new singles would be released every month this year. Journey does NOT have their shit together. I doubt they really have since they fired Augeri, and then JSS.

Semantics. All the negativity can sound like doom...
It is entirely possible and likely that the machine behind Journey completely has their Journey shit together. The only reason you've actually given to show Journey doesn't is the fact that Neal has said a LOT that turned out to be incorrect. (Nothing new for Neal but somehow NOW it represents chaos.) This is why I keep saying compare with the situation is comparable.



Finally, when you said the band would never release new music again you did not qualify it with 'during the lawsuit. Even if it is 'one song to YouTube' or not you were wrong. Given the move in management, the big ticket live opportunities they've already received, a (albeit long) lead off single, and general energy/excitement I am confident more new material will follow.

(As an aside, Journey/Neal has always talked about wanting to play new music live but usually chickened out pretty fast based on their audience. Journey plays to a much larger audience than Styx now. And with the size comes an increase of casual fans who don't give a shit about new music. Journey built up their venue/audience size by catering to that audience instead of staying true to themselves. Unfortunate but I'm sure financially shrewd. Styx cut out quite a few of their "hits" because they were DDY songs which gives them more room to play new music AND they are playing smaller shows to more diehard fans giving them the room to stretch more. I don't expect to hear a lot of new music from Journey and that bums me out. But it does not mean they don't have their shit together. Honestly, I don't think Journey and Styx are a fair comparison antmore...)

[Monker]

So, Jrnyman turns the crank on the music box and a monkey joins in. Funny how that works.

This was an accusation made as part of a lawsuit. A lawsuit that Neal settled. At best, it is ignorant and irresponsible to state it as fact. At worst, it is a blatant public lie to the forum.

LOL.

Thanks for the morning laugh!

Are you going to call the Ross Valory defamation hotline, or turn us in into the Nightmare gestapo something?

Valory wasn't just the defendant, he was also the plaintiff, in his own counter suit. If the accusations against him aren't true, why didn't he keep fighting? In fact, why didn't he release a single statement defending himself? He fought as hard in the court of public opinion as he did in the band - no effort.

Oh, please. That was in the middle of the lawsuit. There is no way in hell they were going to be able to release any new album in the middle of a lawsuit.

Actually, the lawsuit was March of 2020. You've been wrong about new music much longer than that. Please stop lying.


2014 Monker quote - "I really feel that Eclipse was this bands last gasp for air….I doubt anybody sees any value in releasing another album with Arnel."
2016 Monker quote - "Like I said back then, Eclipse will be Journey's final album."
2017 Monker quote - "Eclipse is most likely Journey's final album."

[The_Noble_Cause]

So, Jrnyman turns the crank on the music box and a monkey joins in. Funny how that works.

Actually I just replied to get a rise out of you. It worked perfectly! Thank you!

Still trolling for pussy on dating sites, low life?

[Monker]

Again, Journey doesn't have their shit together. You are essentially admitting it.

This was an accusation made as part of a lawsuit. A lawsuit that Neal settled. At best, it is ignorant and irresponsible to state it as fact. At worst, it is a blatant public lie to the forum.

Still, could be true, might not be. Pure conjecture.

EXACTLY. It is pure conjecture to say that Smith/Valory were planning a coup or a retirement fund. That is EXACTLY what I am saying. Going around and stating it as fact at this point is borderline LYING because it was NOT proven in court.

The way this band works today, as discussed in the lawsuit, is that Neal and Jon ARE Journey. Everybody else are replaceable sidemen who contribute very little to the band. There is every reason to believe that Neal can fire/replace any member he wants to, for any reason his mind dreams up.

Sure they CAN. Doesn't mean they will. Maybe Jason falls away, and we don't know where we really stand with the bass. (I sorta see Randy coming back for a while but maybe Marco slides back in down the road. But I think that will be all due to contracts and availability, not because Neal or Jon just decide to fire him.)

Again, you are proving my point. You can not count on Journey to have the same lineup next year as, well, any of the several that have occurred since the lawsuit.

Journey doesn't 'evolve' any longer. That ended when Neal decided everybody are replaceable, irrelevant, sidemen. Journey is Schon/Cain. THAT does not 'evolve'.

Hired gun/sideman or not, they are still hired to add their talent to the band/tour/record. Therefore, the sound of Journey has evolved.

They are hired to do what they are told. Journey is Schon/Cain....and actually mostly just Neal now.

I did not 'doom' the band. I am saying that Styx has their shit together and wrote and released a new album, and more, as they said they would. Neal said an album would be release in July of 2020 and new singles would be released every month this year. Journey does NOT have their shit together. I doubt they really have since they fired Augeri, and then JSS.

Semantics. All the negativity can sound like doom...
It is entirely possible and likely that the machine behind Journey completely has their Journey shit together.

A band does not have their shit together when:
you promise an album is coming every time you are interviewed, even though you KNOW you don't even have a label willing to sign your band.
You promise releasing a single every month this year but only release one.
Your video single is so bad that you don't even play it in concert.
You allow a disaster to happen like the CNN show.
your band has two drummers, two keyboardist, two bassists and three people capable of singing lead.
you announce you are signed to a label without any kind of announcement from the label to back it up.

Finally, when you said the band would never release new music again you did not qualify it with 'during the lawsuit.

So what. Find the quote so I can see it in context of what was being said at the time. I searched and I can't even find it. All you are doing is setting shit up for your monkey and it's a bit boring to be honest with you.

Even if it is 'one song to YouTube' or not you were wrong. Given the move in management, the big ticket live opportunities they've already received, a (albeit long) lead off single, and general energy/excitement I am confident more new material will follow.

Maybe, but it won't be on a major label: Sony, Universal, Warner. Those days of big contracts for Journey are gone.

(As an aside, Journey/Neal has always talked about wanting to play new music live but usually chickened out pretty fast based on their audience. Journey plays to a much larger audience than Styx now. And with the size comes an increase of casual fans who don't give a shit about new music. Journey built up their venue/audience size by catering to that audience instead of staying true to themselves. Unfortunate but I'm sure financially shrewd. Styx cut out quite a few of their "hits" because they were DDY songs which gives them more room to play new music AND they are playing smaller shows to more diehard fans giving them the room to stretch more. I don't expect to hear a lot of new music from Journey and that bums me out. But it does not mean they don't have their shit together. Honestly, I don't think Journey and Styx are a fair comparison antmore...)

Even on the "Main Event" tour with Journey/Styx/REO, both Journey and Styx had new albums out...Arrival/Cyclorama, and a shorter time to play...and Styx STILL played at least three new songs. All Journey did was "Higher Place". Styx is not the same band they were even three years ago. With the way things go with Journey, they may even have a THIRD album out before Journey releases their Covid album.

But, even removing Styx from things, Journey has a new YouTube single. They can play that ONE new song at their concerts and they mostly choose not to. There is simply not enough interest in it to play it.

Also, Journey was doing a lot of things right when Augeri was in the band. "Higher Place" was played at every Augeri concert I saw. They put in some obscure songs like "La Raza del Sol" and they did the acoustic set with Liberty. They could have build on this, just as Styx did, by releasing more albums after Arrival. Instead, we got an EP and a half-hearted album with Generations. "Higher Place", "State of Grace", and "Faith in the Heartland" could have all been concert staples if the band put forth the effort, instead of Neal focusing on Soul Sirkus.

[The_Noble_Cause]

EXACTLY. It is pure conjecture to say that Smith/Valory were planning a coup or a retirement fund. That is EXACTLY what I am saying. Going around and stating it as fact at this point is borderline LYING because it was NOT proven in court.

It wasn't disproven either....

You've spent years casting doubt on Perry's hip injury. The idea that fans now can't choose sides in band drama like this is pretty hypocritical coming from you.

Again, you are proving my point. You can not count on Journey to have the same lineup next year as, well, any of the several that have occurred since the lawsuit.

Prior to the lawsuit, the band went through two singers (Augeri and JSS) and two drummers (Deeno and Omar). How is that indicative of a band with a rock-solid lineup? It's not. Journey's never been that way.

They are hired to do what they are told.

What proof do you have of this? How is this OK for you to state as fact, but not for others to mention Ross's attempted coup?

Your video single is so bad that you don't even play it in concert.

This is a lie. Out of four full concerts, the single was played at 3 shows.

You allow a disaster to happen like the CNN show.

Did you complain when Augeri humiliated the band on the CBS morning show or on the reality show, Blind Date?

The CNN appearance was good exposure and far far less damaging.

your band has two drummers, two keyboardist, two bassists and three people capable of singing lead.

How is any of this a bad thing?

Without two keyboardists, Jon would be using more pre-recorded synth/keys when he is on rhythm guitar.

Idiotic comments like this are basically coming out in favor of the band faking it.

Maybe they should have less vocalists so we can go back to lip-syncing too.

you announce you are signed to a label without any kind of announcement from the label to back it up.

Neal casually mentioned BMG while doing an interview. It wasn't formally announced yet.

So what. Find the quote so I can see it in context of what was being said at the time. I searched and I can't even find it. All you are doing is setting shit up for your monkey and it's a bit boring to be honest with you.

Exposing your lies = "setting shit up"

Even on the "Main Event" tour with Journey/Styx/REO, both Journey and Styx had new albums out...Arrival/Cyclorama, and a shorter time to play...and Styx STILL played at least three new songs. All Journey did was "Higher Place".

This is a lie. By the time of Main Event, Arrival was old news and Journey had the Red 13 EP out. They opened many shows with State of Grace. The Main Event tour was in support of Cyclorama because it came out that year (2003).

But, even removing Styx from things, Journey has a new YouTube single. They can play that ONE new song at their concerts and they mostly choose not to. There is simply not enough interest in it to play it.

As mentioned, the band played the new single at 3 of their recent concerts. Stop lying.

They could have build on this, just as Styx did, by releasing more albums after Arrival. Instead, we got an EP and a half-hearted album with Generations.

Uh, Styx didn't do any of this.

2003's Cyclorama didn't get a proper follow-up until The Mission in 2017. In that time frame, Journey released alot more original material (Generations, Revelation, Eclipse).

Do you think nobody will notice the revisionist history you are peddling?

Styx currently seems to embrace new music in a way Journey hasn't lately. Blame your heroes, Ross and Smith, for that.

[ChicagoSTYX]

Wow, I haven't visited this thread in a while......... sure took a left turn. I'm hearing Styx is writing for the next album now. Here is another song from Crash Of The Crown (A Monster) while you wait for the new Journey album.https://youtu.be/FBYfjKh2NA0

[Eric]

Wow, I haven't visited this thread in a while......... sure took a left turn. I'm hearing Styx is writing for the next album now. Here is another song from Crash Of The Crown (A Monster) while you wait for the new Journey album.https://youtu.be/FBYfjKh2NA0

I don't love the song but I love they are making new music. Nothing will probably ever beat Cyclorama for me. I REALLY love that album. And Burtnik was amazing live for "Kiss your ass goodbye". Its the only time in the 23 years since Journey returned that I felt a band out-performed them.

[Eric]

This was an accusation made as part of a lawsuit. A lawsuit that Neal settled. At best, it is ignorant and irresponsible to state it as fact. At worst, it is a blatant public lie to the forum.

Still, could be true, might not be. Pure conjecture.

I still contend that if someone said I tried a power takeover and was in it for only the paycheck I'd respond if it weren't true. You?

Even on the "Main Event" tour with Journey/Styx/REO, both Journey and Styx had new albums out...Arrival/Cyclorama, and a shorter time to play...and Styx STILL played at least three new songs. All Journey did was "Higher Place". Styx is not the same band they were even three years ago. With the way things go with Journey, they may even have a THIRD album out before Journey releases their Covid album.

But, even removing Styx from things, Journey has a new YouTube single. They can play that ONE new song at their concerts and they mostly choose not to. There is simply not enough interest in it to play it.

Also, Journey was doing a lot of things right when Augeri was in the band. "Higher Place" was played at every Augeri concert I saw. They put in some obscure songs like "La Raza del Sol" and they did the acoustic set with Liberty. They could have build on this, just as Styx did, by releasing more albums after Arrival. Instead, we got an EP and a half-hearted album with Generations. "Higher Place", "State of Grace", and "Faith in the Heartland" could have all been concert staples if the band put forth the effort, instead of Neal focusing on Soul Sirkus.

I'm not following exactly. You argue Journey did things right with Augeri but then say how they only played Higher Place on the Main Event Tour and that they didn't build after Arrival?

You ARE correct that Styx was better and more creative on the Main Event Tour than Journey. BUT...
1) All 3 bands played a very similar time set
2) Journey had Red13 out and in addition to Higher Place off Arrival they played other new tunes, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQOaqoRkuE

You ARE also correct that Journey should have played "The way we used to be" at Lollapoolza. BUT...
1) They DID play it at their other shows.
2) The CNN thing was only TWO songs so while it would have been ballsy, and my preference, I think we can agree playing that would have been tough?

In the Post DDY and Perry eras of the bands, Journey has released as much (if not more) new music as Styx has: Arrival, Red13, Generations, Revelation and Eclipse... plus the new single.

And while I think there are 5-6 absolute killers off Generations, I DO agree with you that more focus from Schon (instead of Soul Sirkus) COULD and probably would have resulted in better overall album.

[Monker]

This was an accusation made as part of a lawsuit. A lawsuit that Neal settled. At best, it is ignorant and irresponsible to state it as fact. At worst, it is a blatant public lie to the forum.

Still, could be true, might not be. Pure conjecture.

I still contend that if someone said I tried a power takeover and was in it for only the paycheck I'd respond if it weren't true. You?

I would do whatever my attorney advised me to do.

Even on the "Main Event" tour with Journey/Styx/REO, both Journey and Styx had new albums out...Arrival/Cyclorama, and a shorter time to play...and Styx STILL played at least three new songs. All Journey did was "Higher Place". Styx is not the same band they were even three years ago. With the way things go with Journey, they may even have a THIRD album out before Journey releases their Covid album.

But, even removing Styx from things, Journey has a new YouTube single. They can play that ONE new song at their concerts and they mostly choose not to. There is simply not enough interest in it to play it.

Also, Journey was doing a lot of things right when Augeri was in the band. "Higher Place" was played at every Augeri concert I saw. They put in some obscure songs like "La Raza del Sol" and they did the acoustic set with Liberty. They could have build on this, just as Styx did, by releasing more albums after Arrival. Instead, we got an EP and a half-hearted album with Generations. "Higher Place", "State of Grace", and "Faith in the Heartland" could have all been concert staples if the band put forth the effort, instead of Neal focusing on Soul Sirkus.

I'm not following exactly. You argue Journey did things right with Augeri but then say how they only played Higher Place on the Main Event Tour and that they didn't build after Arrival?

Correct. I think Arrival was a good release. They toured and promoted it as much as they could. But, they never had a true follow up. They did not have two or three releases where they did the same thing. So, it started out good, but ended very mediocre.

You ARE correct that Styx was better and more creative on the Main Event Tour than Journey. BUT...
1) All 3 bands played a very similar time set
2) Journey had Red13 out and in addition to Higher Place off Arrival they played other new tunes, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQOaqoRkuE

1. Correct...Styx did more with the time they were given. They all had the same amount of time.
2. Yep, and you be lucky if you got "State of Grace". I don't recall if they played it at the Main Event concert I saw. I think they did at a "Night With Journey" concert in the summer.

The point is, Journey could have done something with those early years with Augeri to make Arrival and REd13 songs routinely in the set....but, they didn't Even with Arnel, there is not a single Arnel song that I can think of that is a permanent addition to the set. At least Augeri had Higher Place.

You ARE also correct that Journey should have played "The way we used to be" at Lollapoolza. BUT...
1) They DID play it at their other shows.
2) The CNN thing was only TWO songs so while it would have been ballsy, and my preference, I think we can agree playing that would have been tough?

1. Ok, fine, they played it at their other shows. Will they play it in Vegas? What are the odds, 50/50?
2. It depends on who decided the songs and if CNN made any requests. If they allowed Journey to pick 1, they should have picked the new song.[

In the Post DDY and Perry eras of the bands, Journey has released as much (if not more) new music as Styx has: Arrival, Red13, Generations, Revelation and Eclipse... plus the new single.

I don't think that is quite as true as you think it is;
Cyclorama
Big Bang Theory
The Mission
Crash of the Crown

In addition, new songs on "One With Everything". A couple Christmas songs (Styx songs, not covers), "Just Be", "Everything, All the Time".
New song on Regeneration (rerecords of the hits), covers of Damn Yankees songs.
New songs on most of the live releases.
2 New songs (leftovers from "The Mission") on the Record Store Day album "Same Stardust"
Cover of "Going to California'.

They have enough extra songs on these albums to add up to another album...and maybe have some left over.

And while I think there are 5-6 absolute killers off Generations, I DO agree with you that more focus from Schon (instead of Soul Sirkus) COULD and probably would have resulted in better overall album.

I agree...and it's not just focus. it seems to me that Neal's priority was not Journey at that time. The same thing was happening with JTT last year.