First, Neal and Jon should be on the same page. In all these decisions. No debating it public. No, "It's my band". No crazy accusation and public drama.
Neal should grow a pair and tell his wife to stay out of band business. She has done nothing but cause problems.
Management:
They should have held a meeting between Neal, Jon and whoever represents Azoff. They should have told them that they are making a new album. Give them a time limit, say the start of the Pretenders tour...if no deal by then, they are fired. Yeah, that tour did not happen...but at the time, it would have mattered and maybe Azoff would have got a better deal then they ended up with. If they fired Azoff, they should have either managed themselves, or stuck with ONE and let them do their job.
Smith and Valory:
First, they should have approached Narada about producing the new album. Then told him that there were potential issues with Steve Smith and if Smith left the band, would he step in as drummer for recording and touring. The same for Randy Jackson...and promised Randy that if Ross recorded that he would guest on at least one song. I assume they both would agree since that is what ended up happening.
Then have a "band meeting" and tell Smith/Valory that Neal and Jon had decided to record a new album. They understand they have issues with recording. Ok, fine, but if they did not learn ALL of the new songs to a point where they could play ALL of them in concert, then they would have to be let go. At that point, I would call Narada up and introduce him as producer, and that he will step in for Steve Smith...then, after that call, tell Ross that Randy has made a similar commitment. Then the decision to commit to the band, album, and tour is up to them. I would tell them that the 50th anniversary is coming up and the tour for this album would coincide with that anniversary...and they would like them to be part of it, but the decision is up to them. No pressure
But, don't FIRE them, make them commit or quit.Ignore the bullshit that happened with Nightmare. At this point, JTT should be irrelevant anyway. Journey is the mothership and needed the attention.
Gregg:
When the Pretenders tour fell through due to Covid, I would have asked Gregg if he wanted to record a "Reimanged" album where they took older songs and updated them to a modern sound. "Next", "Look Into the Future", "She Makes Me (Feel Alright)" could rock if updated. They had the time, so why not? Release it alone and as a double album option with "Freedom". Tell Gregg that if he tours with them, some of these songs would be performed.
Freedom:
The recording of Freedom seems like a mess. Get them all in Jonathan's studio to record the album. Even with Covid, I think the could have ententually worked it out. It seems to me that everybody recording in various studios and working with Narada to get them their bits (if that is how it went) IMO could be at least part of the reason why the sound is crap on the album. Do it RIGHT, not half-assed just to get the release done. And, both Gregg and Steve Perry should have been asked to contribute.
The anniversary tour:
This should have been planned YEARS in advance. Even as far back as 2019, they should have been seriously thinking about it. At THAT time, I would be talking to Gregg about touring with them. I would be talking to Santana about touring together, with Gregg. I would even ask Steve Perry to join the tour...and if he refused, to maybe do a short video to be played during the concert to celebrate the 50th...for the FANS. Play some of the "Reimagined" old songs with Gregg. There is so much more they could have done to make this a celebration of Journey music than what they did.
Then release a DVD of the tour and maybe work with Perry and Sony to get an anniversary box set released. Even if it didn't work out, they could have TRIED.
