Jeremey forum update The Dealbreaker

[nutz4Neal]

I'm sorry that you had that experience and can certainly see where it could go both ways.

On the other hand, I was raised in modest circumstances. My father came from a a dirt poor family but worked hard and in the long run he got a good education & was moderately successful. I am very thankful to him for that & wish I were more like him; but still I struggled.

Long story, but eventually I was lucky to marry a man who worked in corporate America with an average of 60 hrs. per week. Our family was seperated for long periods of time while he pursued his job and dreams of making a good life for his family.

More of the long story, but at the age of 59 he was able to retire and we are dept free. Our kids are all educated with good jobs and happy families. AND, we could all not be happier together today. We're looking forward to spending the holidays together.

This was all possible because my husband gave 100% to the job and the framily sacrificed at times to support him.

Your story must be one of the few out there that acutally has a happy ending to it. I applaud you and your family. But realistically, there are possibly more divorces, detriments in corporate America than ones that made it through. Most of us don't see the good ones that survive.

But I am looking at this from the Journey aspect, and I see that Neal can't hold onto a marriage. I don't know if he has good relationships with his children. Those things should be just as important as a band.

I can say that I am not cut out for the Corporate World, thank heaven. I have different views on what is more important to me.

I thought we were talking about Jeremey, his wife and their attempt at success in the music business.

I haven't seen any statistics supporting your theory about there being more divorces in corporate America. However, having been there, I would say there are just as many, if not more, divorces in other forms of occupations such as government, law enforcement, education, medical, legal etc.

I can tell you for certain that Neal has a good relationship with his children, as a matter of fact his oldest son is following in his footsteps and is an awesome guitar player. More to that story too but that's all I'll say about that.

If you feel you are not cut out for the corporate world, then that says it all for you, you certainly should pursue what works for you, makes you happy and provides for your family. As should everyone else.

[pedro]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

[Rick]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

[pedro]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

I think I only have common sense my friend.

[Rick]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

I think I only have common sense my friend.

Sure you do. But to associate that with Arnel is over reaching.

[finalfight]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

To me Jeremey's response reads as being very positive and supportive.

[ForceInfinity]

I can't help but wonder about this. First Jeremey gets invited to SFO to audition. People jump on his case for auditioning for Journey after JSS was shit-canned. Then people go crazy wondering did Jeremey make the cut with Journey, and if not, why not? So people gripe and moan about no information, and he posts a blog entry. Then people gripe and moan some more about the non-specific information. They get more specific information, now they gripe and moan some more that they should've been kept in the dark (net effect of not posting any information at all and take us back to square one).

For the love of christ people, make your fucking minds up what you want. Posting all that information potentially unprofessional. I'll grudingly agree perhaps. At the same time seeing this explains a great many things with the way this band behaves.

[conversationpc]

Here's the way I see it...

Jeremey is a long-time member of this board and, if someone else on here had auditioned with the band, he'd want to hear the story also. The fact that he did the same for everyone else here who knows him is just confirmation to me that he's a stand-up guy. He is not slamming the guys in the band in the least. Has some information he's shared put the band in a negative light? Well, possibly, but it's not like he's saying something like "I think Neal Schon is a worthless toad" or anything like that. What he shared was done in a professional, workmanlike manner.

I don't believe he's mentioned Arnel at all in any of his blog entries. That anyone would accuse him of sour grapes against Arnel is not only ridiculous but groundless, for that matter. If I remember correctly, he's said more than once that he thinks Arnel has a great voice and will probably do a good job on the Journey material. Of course, he would like to be the one delivering those awesome Journey-like vocals but who wouldn't in his situation. I don't see any sour grapes coming from him at all.

As far as his posting the information he did, I don't see a problem with it. As long as he was not under a gag order, he was not ethically obligated to keep the information private. Jeremey has now said numerous times that he was treated very well by the guys in the band in his time in San Francisco. Anyone seeing bitterness in what he's shared with us is looking for it and you know the saying about if you go looking for bad things in people...

[chf34jmac]

Pedro shouldn't you be rebuilding your mud hut with all that flooding down in your home country? Oh wait that's right you snuck here into the land of us racists where you now have access to health care and other government services on my dime.


See asshole Jeremey was being funny but you've pissed me off same as the shit you tried to stir over at TBJF.

[nikki]

Wow, this place is starting to look like a certain Google board . Thanks for that, Fyre and nolippin.

[jrnychick]

I don't post here very often but I just had to add my "two cents"

FIRST OFF, let me say that I want to commend Jeremy for putting his family first before what probably would have been a "dream job".

SECOND, let me just say I was outraged by what Jeremy posted on his blog about the band's view of his family situation. As a wife and a mother I cannot believe that the band would actually expect someone to put his life/family on hold for a band gig...let me rephrase that, put his life on hold for Journey. Don't get me wrong, I love Journey as much as the rest of the people on this thread. Well Journey, Smourney, who the fuck do they think they are???? Not that I would ever think it was right to ask anyone to give up the precious moments of their child's first steps and/or first words and give themsevles 100% but I think it would be a little more tolerable if they were the hottest band of today making millions of $$$$ But the fact is (and I know some of you will take offense to this) they are a bunch of "has been" old men. And to make those type of demands on someone just because their wife made a couple hand signals during an audition. On top of everything, I can't imagine what Sabrina must be thinking with the knowledge that her presence at the audition was a supposed deal-breaker. That's a lot of stress/pressure to place on a pregnant women who's going through a complicated pregnancy and then makes a trip clear across the country for that??????!!!!!! That's a crock of shit!!!!

On a personal note, I have only met Sabrina once but let me say, what a fantastic person. When I saw Frontiers with my husband, AR, and the rest of the crew in College Park, I suddenly was plagued with a intense migraine headache and all of the fixin's (nausea, etc.). A very kind Frontiers agreed to let me stay back stage where I could lay down in the dark. Well, a 5-month pregnant Sabrina with her maternal instincts already kicking in, repeatedly came backstage to check on me to make sure I was OK. That's pretty nice for someone you just met (Thank you, Sabrina). All I have to say is shame on Journey and Neal Schon, what an ass!!!

Sidenote: Like I said, I don't post here often, so I never got a chance to say congratulations to Jeremy and Sabrina on the arrival of your beautiful little boy!!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of sleep deprivation Actually, neither Ed or I can complain about that because Kristen started sleeping through the night at 4 weeks. However, we're getting our payback now because she's starting to have "night terrors". Nothing like being awaken by the ear-piercing shrill of a little one that is having a nightmare Thank God she goes right back to sleep.

Take care!!

Lori (Mrs. AR)

Way to go honey. Well said, and welcome back to MR. I forgot you had a login. The fact that my wife felt strongly enough about this to post ought to tell you what a bunch of creeps Frig and Fro really are.

I've got to add to what Lori and others have said here. Jeremey, I commend you for not taking that job! It's obvious that Jeremey and Sabrina are partners in their marriage, with huge decisions being made jointly. I have a 7-year-old daughter. My husband and I have been married for 13 years. We are equals who talk about everything. I can guarantee that if my husband were faced with such a huge decision that would affect the family dramatically, I would be in on that decision. I wouldn't give a rat's ass what the people making the hiring decision thought of it, either. Neal was probably freaked out by Sabrina because it appears that he doesn't view a wife as an equal partner in a marriage. With the amount of pressure Jeremey was under during auditions, it must have been a tremendous help to have Sabrina there to support him.

Some people have mentioned here that the money that would be brought into the family would make Jeremey's absence worthwhile. In addition to being a parent, I was an elementary school teacher for 8 years in a poor community and a wealthy one. I have never come across a child who would rather have a big house with no dad there than a little house and great dad. When you look back on your childhood, what was most important: the house you lived in, or the people inside it? Sometimes you have to choose the people in your life over money.

[Perrydise]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

I think I only have common sense my friend.

I think you are trying to play the "R" card again. Do we have to like arnel because he is from elsewhere? I live in the U.S.A and that allows me to have the freedom to like and dislike whoever I want.

Bravo to Jeremy, he stood up for what he believes in, his wife and family and not the almighty 15 minutes of fame and fortune.

[Escape Artist]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

I think I only have common sense my friend.

I think you are trying to play the "R" card again. Do we have to like arnel because he is from elsewhere? I live in the U.S.A and that allows me to have the freedom to like and dislike whoever I want.

Bravo to Jeremy, he stood up for what he believes in, his wife and family and not the almighty 15 minutes of fame and fortune.

We absolutely do NOT have to like Arnel, and most of us here do not like him because we think he lacks voice control, strains to hit the high notes almost screaming them at times, shows no emotion and does not fit our definition of a frontman.

Being a foreigner is another issue that Journey will find out about soon enough, it's gonna be a train wreck.

[nikki]

[quote="pedro"]can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

Where do you sense bitterness?? The main thing I sensed was disappointment in the business practices of a once great band. They judged Jeremey's wife after knowing her for all of five minutes and wanted to make him feel like shit for choosing a life with his family over them. The 'men' of Journey are severely lacking in common sense and people skills. The only thing they have going for them is that they are all talented musicians with a great back catalogue. I must admit that I am impressed how such empty, shallow people could write such great songs about life and love....that has puzzled me for some time now. As for Arnel, I think he's a fantastic singer, but I just don't see him as a good fit for Journey. It's got nothing to do with race or ethnicity, it's just a personal preference, that's all.

[wildone]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

I think I only have common sense my friend.

I think you are trying to play the "R" card again. Do we have to like arnel because he is from elsewhere? I live in the U.S.A and that allows me to have the freedom to like and dislike whoever I want.

Bravo to Jeremy, he stood up for what he believes in, his wife and family and not the almighty 15 minutes of fame and fortune.

We absolutely do NOT have to like Arnel, and most of us here do not like him because we think he lacks voice control, strains to hit the high notes almost screaming them at times, shows no emotion and does not fit our definition of a frontman.

Being a foreigner is another issue that Journey will find out about soon enough, it's gonna be a train wreck.

alot of popcorn on the shelf and waiting for the next train wreck....08' will be here soon enough..

[LAKERSFAN]

I haven't posted before. I'm confused about something and I don't want to offend anyone. I just want clarification.

You're all congratulating Jeremey on walking away from the Journey job. Where in hiss blog does he say HE turned it down? Everything I've read on it is that THEY passed up on him, not the other way around. He said he called back and still wanted the job but didn't hear from them again. If I'm missing something, please tell me where to look. Because I just don't get it otherwise.

[Arkansas]

... making millions of $$$$ But the fact is (and I know some of you will take offense to this) they are a bunch of "has been" old men. ...

I have no real evidence to back this up, but I think they still do make millions. And the very fact that Journey was going to pay JH $500,000 and three months of vacation shows that they take their business very seriously. I think that they, just as ANY employer does, have the right to demand what brand of boxers he wears...if they want to.

I think a lot of people are trivializing this whole thing. You think that 'singing for a band' isn't a real job? You think it's just some party life like you see in the movies? Get real. Journey is an employer. Just like the military, they aren't in the family business. And if you think that being 55 or 60 is a 'has been', then go talk to your boss at work, and his/her boss too. Is the guy that runs your company a 'has been'?

No. These four musicians aren't 20-somethings running around on stage any more, but they do have a business to run. And they have the right to set their employment policies how they see fit. Next mtg at your place of employment, bring your spouse and see what happens.


later~

[donnaplease]

Perhaps I'm misreading something, but I don't see where Jeremey chose one over the other. The way I read it, he and Sabrina discussed it, and came to a compromise. Seems like the most mature thing to do, IMO. Maybe I'm the one not getting it, but what I see is Jeremey was discouraged by being dicked around. "welcome to the band.... here, fill out these forms..... uh, wait a minute, I'm not sure now.... " So he said, "Ok, when you decide what you want, give me a call and we'll talk". Again, he handled the situation appropriately. And, like the many before him, to my knowledge that phone call never came. Speaking of being professional, I was always under the impression that a 'professional' employer notifies candidates even when they are not offered a position. So, in addition to what Sallee keeps asking, this is another reason that the whole "Jeremey is unprofessional 'cause his wife asked a few questions" crap holds little water with me.

IDK, I think we're taking so much out of context, and using it to suit whatever side of the Journey mess we find ourselves on. And it's not fair to Jeremey or his wife. Hell, if anything, J seems to be the most rational of all of us...

[PROPERRY]

I agree with nolippin. My take is when a person applies for a position for a job, you don't take your spouse to the interview, and and let them ask questions to the employer, that's just not appropriate or proffessional. The person applying for the position is the one to ask all the questions.

As nolippin already stated before, there would be nothing wrong with a spouse PRIVATELY sharing her own concerns and questions to her partner, and then letting her partner ask those specific questions to the employer.

The person applying for the position can get all the questions and concerns for the job answered, and then IF he is offered the job, he can tell the employer, let me think this over, and I'll get back to you by this time , and then discuss it all with his spouse, but still not appropriate for the spouse to be directly involved in the interview process with the employer.

That's just my opinion.

[LAKERSFAN]

If your spouse is invited to a meeting at work, it should not be a problem that he/she goes. To make it a problem after he/she is invited is crazy.

That being said, in entertainment "the show must go on". The singer can't take a week off a tour to take care of family as someone in a regular job might be able to do without too much disruption to the workplace. (I'm not suggesting Jeremey would have done that, just suggesting what the 100% commitment might have meant.)

[LAKERSFAN]

Speaking of being professional, I was always under the impression that a 'professional' employer notifies candidates even when they are not offered a position.

I wish that were true. Many employers even big corps, don't let you know. They just don't call you back. Sometimes if you call them, they say the position was filled or they give you the run around. Some do send a letter months later, all depends on their policies. What Journey did is not unusual in terms of employment at all.

[Arkansas]

Ever go to a Cmas party at work, or a summer picnic, where food, alcohol, and spouses are expected? Let me relate a little story. While in the Marines, I once knew a Blue Angel demo pilot. He said that during their selection process there are couple of times where alcohol and spouses are encouraged to be present. However, he said, the party has nothing to do with the guys having a beer, and the wives getting to know each other. It has everything to do with personality trait identification, professional carriage, and disciplinary attitudes. He said basically that the party was a setup...just a character test.

Now then, I'm not suggesting that Journey even compares to the Navy Blue Angels in any way. I am saying though, that 'breaking bread together' probably had a deeper meaning than just having dinner and hanging out.


later~

[chf34jmac]

That may be the case ProPerry but if I read correctly in an earlier blog entry, Journey invited Them out for the audition. They wanted to take Them out to dinner and get to know Them. Not a whole lot of singulars in there is there?

Aside from that J didn't apply for the job, they asked him.

[Escape Artist]

I wonder if Neal and Jon insisted that Arnel bring that little dog that showed up in the now infamous "gayest publicity shot of a band ever"

Neal - "Hey Jon, did you see how the dog was looking at Arnel when he was auditioning?"

Jon - " Yeah, he looked a little nervous and was making motions at him with his tail"

Neal- "Yeah, could be a deal breaker..."

[larryfromnextdoor]

I wonder if Neal and Jon insisted that Arnel bring that little dog that showed up in the now infamous "gayest publicity shot of a band ever"

Neal - "Hey Jon, did you see how the dog was looking at Arnel when he was auditioning?"

Jon - " Yeah, he looked a little nervous and was making motions at him with his tail"

Neal- "Yeah, could be a deal breaker..."

INSTIGATOR!!!!

[pedro]

can't help but to believe there is bitterness in Jeremys blogs when he responds like this to a thread that is obviously an attempt to malign Arnel as a person....

AR wrote:
Ok, I realize that Kamala is hard to understand, but with some language training he will be just fine.

Jeremys Response :
Ed, have you considered that Kamala simply hasn't had a need to speak english just yet, since he is only performing for fellow Ugandans? I am sure that once he gets in front of American audiences he would do just fine.

You are over reaching pedro.

I think I only have common sense my friend.

I think you are trying to play the "R" card again. Do we have to like arnel because he is from elsewhere? I live in the U.S.A and that allows me to have the freedom to like and dislike whoever I want.

Bravo to Jeremy, he stood up for what he believes in, his wife and family and not the almighty 15 minutes of fame and fortune.

I'm just reacting to Jeremy's post to a worthless thread that even Andrew already put a stop to.
I'm playing the "R" card again? I think you are the one over reaching.

[PROPERRY]

That may be the case ProPerry but if I read correctly in an earlier blog entry, Journey invited Them out for the audition. They wanted to take Them out to dinner and get to know Them. Not a whole lot of singulars in there is there?

Aside from that J didn't apply for the job, they asked him.

They asked J to "audition" for the job, that is not a guaranteed postion for the job.

I understand that Jeremy's spouse was invited to come there, but I bet they didn't mean that she was to come to the interview process or the actual auditon when he was 'trying out" for the position.

Yea, I can understand her going to dinner with all of them, so they can meet his wife, and she meet all of them,nothing wrong with that... make it a fun time, but leave the "interview" and "audition" to Jeremy and to the people doing the hiring for the job.

[pedro]

Pedro shouldn't you be rebuilding your mud hut with all that flooding down in your home country? Oh wait that's right you snuck here into the land of us racists where you now have access to health care and other government services on my dime.

Thank you. May God have mercy on your soul.

[Matthew]

Matthew, what I (and many others) read in this latest blog entry is that he had a life-altering decision to make. He is talking from his perspective, not casting blame, not criticizing anyone. Musicians do this sort of thing all the time. I can understand where you'd think this might be harmful to Jeremey. But on the flip side of it, perhaps there are folks out there who are as disgusted with Journey's antics as we are, and thus respect him all the more for his principles. It could go either way, or it could remain exactly the same. IDK.

It's Jeremey's call, whether he wants to continue the blog or not. Either way, I will support him, because I don't think he's writing it out of malice.

Donna - I don't think he's writing it out of malice either. I agree that he thinks he's doing the right, positive thing.

But in hindsight I think Jeremey was right when he said a couple of months back that he had decided against the blog because he didn't want to drag other people into a story which would end up being argued over on every Journey messageboard. He didn't want to disclose too much inside information out of respect to Journey who treated him very well. Nor did he want his family to get dragged into any controversy. I was encouraging him to go ahead but this reasoning seemed pretty concvincing to me and it seemed like he was taking the high road in much the same way as JSS has.

So anyway a few weeks go by and I need a break from the relentless whining that dominates almost every thread now...and I come back and see Jeremey discussing his wife online to all kinds of people he has never even met ...revealing specific details about his time in California where he went at Journey's expense...portraying himself as Family Values Guy and simultaneously fanning the flames here by implying that Journey are Anti-Family....and completely losing his cool and becoming abusive toward Journey fans like Fyre...and so on.

And I'm thinking...what happened to that discreet, dignified guy I was taking to a couple of months ago?

[chf34jmac]

And exactly why should god have mercy on my soul? I protect wards of my tax dollars every single day. We have a low income area in my home town and I can tell you without question, we have more fires and ambulance calls there than anywhere else in a town of 78,000 people. Most of the ones in this low income area are "gasp" illegal mexican immigrants.

So forgive me if I'm a tad bit sour on the whole illegal aliens are people too speech. You wanna EARN my respect, enter the country legally and go through the process of becoming a legal resident. Stop sneaking in and crying poor.


And just for the record, I risk my life for the low income folks just the same as I do for everyone else.