OT: Band in their prime, or more down to earth?

[Jeremey]

Susie's time machine question got me thinking...It's one thing to go back in time and see a band at either the start of their career or at their career heights, but something else I thought of was how lucky fans of AOR & melodic rock are these days that a lot of bands from the 80's have regrouped in some form or another, and playing much smaller and intimate gigs. Thought it'd make for an interesting poll and discussion...

[Saint John]

I'd give a kidney and what's left of my liver to see Journey circa 1983.

[*Laura]

I'd give a kidney and what's left of my liver to see Journey circa 1983.

I'd travel a bit closer just to get more of the catalogue. Set for ROR 1986,pack my kidneys and go.

[Jeremey]

I'd give a kidney and what's left of my liver to see Journey circa 1983.

Yeah, but I think about those stadiums, and how it would be to see the band the size of ants onstage, and I think I've been luckier having seen the band at some of the smaller venues they've played in recent years. Though I'd love to have seen Perry in 1983, again, I would have much rather seen him at the smaller theater shows he did during the FTLOSM tour.

I always thought I'd LOVED to have gone back to 1977 or so and seen Judas Priest in their earliest incarnation, around Sin after Sin or Sad Wings of Destiny. Then I saw Rob in a vintage TV clip singing "Dreamer/Deciever," and realized he hadn't really grown into his stage shoes yet...

Conversely, I'd love to see The Outfield, another of my favorite bands, at a small club or music hall nowadays. In their heyday they were still an opening act, but nowadays would love to see them in a small crowd of 200-300 Outfield fans.

[Greg]

I'd love to see my favorite band with all original members at a local club or bar. It would be as if they were there to perform for me, rather than me being a small number in a sea of people.

[ScarabGator]

Since I saw Journey in 83 at the Orange Bowl in Miami and was mesmerized I'd do this show again anyday!!!!

[journeyrock]

That was a tough call there, I would LOVE to see Perry again in 83, but like others have said, I don't relish the idea of watching ants onstage and seeing the show through a video screen, so I'd opt to see them now in a smaller venue. Much more enjoyable and intimate.

[JrnyScarab]

I saw Cheap Trick with a bunch of friends when I was 18 or 19 at a local College in Massachusetts just before the Budokan album came out and made them huge. They sounded great in the little auditorium. Managed to scrounge up a guitar pick that Rick Nielsen had tossed to the crowd. After that show, it wasn't long before they were playing to packed arenas. Kind of felt like they were our best kept little secret and then all of a sudden in the blink of an eye they weren't anymore!

Ed

[ArnelRox]

Damn Jeremey, that's a tough choice. In my little time machine fantasy I always assume I'd be able to get really good seats. U know this is like a movie in my head so of course I'm in the front row & Perry's hand touches mine at least once So now I have to decide what I want assuming I cant get those good seats. I'm stumped.

To want the original (or actually in the case of Journey, we mean the most popular) lineup now, we have to assume Perry can still bring it. I've been thinking about this lately. Am I really enough of a loon to appreciate Perry if he really really sounds bad? I mean I'd love watching his antics on stage I'm sure, but will that be enough? He is 58 yrs old now. I was just watching some videos of Michael Bolton struggle on Frank Sinatra songs & it was painful to watch. Now I was never a Bolton fan, so maybe that makes the difference. Bolton had the same vocal problems Augeri did so I guess it's good he can sing at all. The hard part about this is we havent heard from Perry in a live setting since 94/95. He certainly brought it then but it was a long time ago. If we'd heard from him a couple of times in between, even if his voice is deteriorating a bit from age like so many other singers, whatever he sounds like now wouldnt be so different. Am I making sense here?

Given all that, I think I have to choose option one, as long as that option includes Perry. I'm sick of all the "big" songs anyway. I'd love to go back & see him come out in those white bellbottoms & groove it up w/Rolie. I'd love to hear that voice soar like an angel. Oh I'll probably change my mind 3 more times before this poll is done, but that's my choice now

[bluejeangirl76]

I guess that depends on what's defining "original lineup" but I'm saying original lineup in small intimate venue. Original to me would probably mean Perry, Schon, Rolie, Valory and Smith. That's the lineup they "got big" with, so I call that the original. (yeah I know, everyon'e got their opinion on this, but let's not fight when it's almost holiday time! )

[Ratgirl]

Damn.. where is "All of the Above"? I think for me it would be when the band was at it's height in their career.

[Jeremey]

I have to say that seeing the "original" Journey lineup at one of those gigs where Herbie described taping tables together for a stage and building a power distro box on-site just to get electricity would have been pretty amazing. I think I'd rather see the "Escape" line up reassembled for a concert at an intimate venue, though we know that would never happen!

[Jeremey]

I saw Cheap Trick with a bunch of friends when I was 18 or 19 at a local College in Massachusetts just before the Budokan album came out and made them huge. They sounded great in the little auditorium. Managed to scrounge up a guitar pick that Rick Nielsen had tossed to the crowd. After that show, it wasn't long before they were playing to packed arenas. Kind of felt like they were our best kept little secret and then all of a sudden in the blink of an eye they weren't anymore!

Ed

I had that same experience, only with Carrot Top!

He played in a basement in my college back in 92 or so, and there were only about 6 of us there. Sabrina and I laughed our asses off, and the other 4 people just sat there slack-jawed. Ol' Trannybrows kept saying, "What's wrong with you people, that was funny as shit!" Now 15 years later the guy is a multimillionaire headlining in Vegas. Amazing where a little hard work and a steamer trunk can get you.

[Deb]

I'd love to see my favorite band with all original members at a local club or bar. It would be as if they were there to perform for me, rather than me being a small number in a sea of people.

Couldn't agree more! From strictly a fan's standpoint I much prefer the smaller more intimate setting of a club or theatre. Even being a major Bon Jovi fan, have to say I much preferred seeing JSSB and Eric Martin/Scrap Metal in the smaller setting this past year. The sound at the arena (Bon Jovi) was better, but if I want great sound I can listen to cds. I like the excitement of being up close at a live show much more.

[JrnyScarab]

I'd give a kidney and what's left of my liver to see Journey circa 1983.

Saw them! The Escape Tour and the Departure tour. Bryan Adams opened one show and I think it was Loverboy that opened the other. Hard to remember. It was SOOO Long ago! (My brain is dying!)

Abolutely unbelievable! Perry was just as good as the Houston DVD. 13th row center. Walked out of there on cloud 9

[mistiejourney]

I'd give a kidney and what's left of my liver to see Journey circa 1983.

Yeah, but I think about those stadiums, and how it would be to see the band the size of ants onstage, and I think I've been luckier having seen the band at some of the smaller venues they've played in recent years. Though I'd love to have seen Perry in 1983, again, I would have much rather seen him at the smaller theater shows he did during the FTLOSM tour.

I always thought I'd LOVED to have gone back to 1977 or so and seen Judas Priest in their earliest incarnation, around Sin after Sin or Sad Wings of Destiny. Then I saw Rob in a vintage TV clip singing "Dreamer/Deciever," and realized he hadn't really grown into his stage shoes yet...

Conversely, I'd love to see The Outfield, another of my favorite bands, at a small club or music hall nowadays. In their heyday they were still an opening act, but nowadays would love to see them in a small crowd of 200-300 Outfield fans.

Living near San Francisco, I could have seen Journey in all kinds of venues after they took Perry on and before they hit it "big". Man, I could kick myself. Then again, I was into the Bee Gees in a major way in 1977 and all Perry was to me soon after was "that guy with THE VOICE!". I was SO disappointed when I first saw what he looked like because I had, shall we say, a different idea of what that might be! My very first comment was, "Oh..my...god...THAT VOICE comes out of that guy?"

By 1984, I had purchased "Captured" to try out my new stereo and decided Perry was a doll. Now, I have NO idea what happened between "Lights" and "Oh Sherrie" to make me change my visual perception, but THE VOICE was always there! I missed sooooo much Journey opportunities.

[bluejeangirl76]

My very first comment was, "Oh..my...god...THAT VOICE comes out of that guy?"

ROFL!!

I had a similar thing. As a little kid I saw that Oh Sherrie video and was all like "WHOA baby WHO is that?!?!" I remember my sister telling me it was the singer from Journey and I was like, "Really? The Separate Ways guy? Oh... um. Wow."

[JrnyScarab]

I saw Cheap Trick with a bunch of friends when I was 18 or 19 at a local College in Massachusetts just before the Budokan album came out and made them huge. They sounded great in the little auditorium. Managed to scrounge up a guitar pick that Rick Nielsen had tossed to the crowd. After that show, it wasn't long before they were playing to packed arenas. Kind of felt like they were our best kept little secret and then all of a sudden in the blink of an eye they weren't anymore!

Ed

I had that same experience, only with Carrot Top!

He played in a basement in my college back in 92 or so, and there were only about 6 of us there. Sabrina and I laughed our asses off, and the other 4 people just sat there slack-jawed. Ol' Trannybrows kept saying, "What's wrong with you people, that was funny as shit!" Now 15 years later the guy is a multimillionaire headlining in Vegas. Amazing where a little hard work and a steamer trunk can get you.

Cool! I also passed up a chance to see Aerosmith when I was 14 for $4.50. They played at the local High School! My friend came by and said "Wanna see Aerosmith?" I said "who?". He said, "You know, they do that song "Dream On". I said "Naaa".

Hindsight, you know what I mean?

[Deb]

I saw the Escape tour, May 82. If I could back in a time machine to see one show, I would soooooooooooo love to have seen the Calavaras ROR show live!

[zino]

Since I saw Journey in 83 at the Orange Bowl in Miami and was mesmerized I'd do this show again anyday!!!!

The OB is going down for the count !!

Saw Perry at the Sunrise Muscial Theater for the FTLOSM tour....great venue

Aslo Journey in 1998 awesome concert arena...now a church

[mistiejourney]

I saw the Escape tour, May 82. If I could back in a time machine to see one show, I would soooooooooooo love to have seen the Calavaras ROR show live!

I was there, about ten rows worth of space back, dead center. Got there after a four hour drive at 11:00 am. Sat without water in 103 degree heat all day watching bands I could not care less about. Journey took the stage after dark, between 9:00 and 9:30 that night. There were how many people there - 50,000? I'm not sure, but you could barely make your way through the sea of people!

It was my first time seeing them and I nearly fainted. Oh...my...god! The outfits were...interesting. I was so glad Steve wore tails and I spent most of (okay, ALL of) the time staring at him!

I actually made a lot of friends because we were sitting on the ground in icky grass/weeds and I was smart enough to have brought a blanket to sit on! Did not get out of the parking lot until 1:00 am and drove home four hours - a 24 hour adventure. Fell asleep three times while driving on the way home. What the hell was I thinking?

It was worth every hot, dry miserable minute when they walked on stage. I'm in "The Girl Can't Help It" video - it's a split second and I didn't even know it until one day I played the video frame by frame.

My 0.15 seconds of fame.....

[Aaron]

Ditto except the 1980 line up with Rolie.

I'd give a kidney and what's left of my liver to see Journey circa 1983.

[journeyrock]

I saw the Escape tour, May 82. If I could back in a time machine to see one show, I would soooooooooooo love to have seen the Calavaras ROR show live!

I was there, about ten rows worth of space back, dead center. Got there after a four hour drive at 11:00 am. Sat without water in 103 degree heat all day watching bands I could not care less about. Journey took the stage after dark, between 9:00 and 9:30 that night. There were how many people there - 50,000? I'm not sure, but you could barely make your way through the sea of people!

It was my first time seeing them and I nearly fainted. Oh...my...god! The outfits were...interesting. I was so glad Steve wore tails and I spent most of (okay, ALL of) the time staring at him!

I actually made a lot of friends because we were sitting on the ground in icky grass/weeds and I was smart enough to have brought a blanket to sit on! Did not get out of the parking lot until 1:00 am and drove home four hours - a 24 hour adventure. Fell asleep three times while driving on the way home. What the hell was I thinking?

It was worth every hot, dry miserable minute when they walked on stage. I'm in "The Girl Can't Help It" video - it's a split second and I didn't even know it until one day I played the video frame by frame.

My 0.15 seconds of fame.....

One question, Why did it take you 4 hours to get to Angels Camp from San Francisco? What an awesome day that was. I was just back there at those fairgrounds a couple months ago. I could recognize all the spots on the documentary. A stroll down memory lane for sure.

[mistiejourney]

I saw the Escape tour, May 82. If I could back in a time machine to see one show, I would soooooooooooo love to have seen the Calavaras ROR show live!

I was there, about ten rows worth of space back, dead center. Got there after a four hour drive at 11:00 am. Sat without water in 103 degree heat all day watching bands I could not care less about. Journey took the stage after dark, between 9:00 and 9:30 that night. There were how many people there - 50,000? I'm not sure, but you could barely make your way through the sea of people!

It was my first time seeing them and I nearly fainted. Oh...my...god! The outfits were...interesting. I was so glad Steve wore tails and I spent most of (okay, ALL of) the time staring at him!

I actually made a lot of friends because we were sitting on the ground in icky grass/weeds and I was smart enough to have brought a blanket to sit on! Did not get out of the parking lot until 1:00 am and drove home four hours - a 24 hour adventure. Fell asleep three times while driving on the way home. What the hell was I thinking?

It was worth every hot, dry miserable minute when they walked on stage. I'm in "The Girl Can't Help It" video - it's a split second and I didn't even know it until one day I played the video frame by frame.

My 0.15 seconds of fame.....

One question, Why did it take you 4 hours to get to Angels Camp from San Francisco? What an awesome day that was. I was just back there at those fairgrounds a couple months ago. I could recognize all the spots on the documentary. A stroll down memory lane for sure.

Ahem...I am not good at directions. Actually, I can't tell you why - all I remember is leaving my house at 7 am and actually getting out of my car at 11:00 - I don't remember that the traffic was bad, it took forever to park.

[journeyrock]

I saw the Escape tour, May 82. If I could back in a time machine to see one show, I would soooooooooooo love to have seen the Calavaras ROR show live!

I was there, about ten rows worth of space back, dead center. Got there after a four hour drive at 11:00 am. Sat without water in 103 degree heat all day watching bands I could not care less about. Journey took the stage after dark, between 9:00 and 9:30 that night. There were how many people there - 50,000? I'm not sure, but you could barely make your way through the sea of people!

It was my first time seeing them and I nearly fainted. Oh...my...god! The outfits were...interesting. I was so glad Steve wore tails and I spent most of (okay, ALL of) the time staring at him!

I actually made a lot of friends because we were sitting on the ground in icky grass/weeds and I was smart enough to have brought a blanket to sit on! Did not get out of the parking lot until 1:00 am and drove home four hours - a 24 hour adventure. Fell asleep three times while driving on the way home. What the hell was I thinking?

It was worth every hot, dry miserable minute when they walked on stage. I'm in "The Girl Can't Help It" video - it's a split second and I didn't even know it until one day I played the video frame by frame.

My 0.15 seconds of fame.....

One question, Why did it take you 4 hours to get to Angels Camp from San Francisco? What an awesome day that was. I was just back there at those fairgrounds a couple months ago. I could recognize all the spots on the documentary. A stroll down memory lane for sure.

Ahem...I am not good at directions. Actually, I can't tell you why - all I remember is leaving my house at 7 am and actually getting out of my car at 11:00 - I don't remember that the traffic was bad, it took forever to park.

uhhuh! The ole traffic was bad excuse.... Where in San Fran do you live? We should do some loon talk. LOL

[7 Wishes]

I'm old enough to have seen Journey with BA in '81. Ouch.

[Rick]

I'd like to see Journey now with SP. Regardless of ability.

[mikemarrs]

i'd love to have seen them in '81 on the escape tour......

[Rick]

i'd love to have seen them in '81 on the escape tour......

Oh dude, I was at the concert in Dallas the day after they did the '81 Escape DVD. I watch that DVD quite often and it brings that concert back just like when I was there.

[tammy]

I voted for the first one...seeing them before they peaked...when we were all younger! I guess I should be happy I did see them in '79...