Bad night in Raliegh NC

[Marzdog]

Prairie Prince is with The New Cars, not Dunbar.

This is far fetched, but give it a listen. I doubt Smitty would come back and Dunsbar is with the New Cars. I think they'll find another drummer and give Dean lead. It might be their only option. Augeri's voice isn't gonna get better. He had several months off and that didn't help. How the hell is 2 or 3 nights gonna help. Also, I don't mean Perry would tour now, rather next year. Augeri is done at the end of this tour, maybe sooner. 8 years...nothing accomplished. Bye.

[jestor92]

I don't think this is a one night thing, I think Steve needs some much deserved time off. Let him take the rest of the tour off, ask Steve Smith or someone to come in and drum and let Deen handle the lead vocal parts for the rest of the tour. Take a year or so off and let Steve get some much needed rest and see how it goes, if he can't sing either disband or ask him if he would mind if they looked for a new lead vocalist, it sucks because he seems like such a good guy, but sometimes bad stuff happens to good people. Hopefully he can get it back together but after reading this review and seeing him on June 30 I don't think it's happening.

[Marabelle]

i sure hope espee doesn't come back; the man has some pride. it would not be worth it.

[Abitaman]

Man, why is it hard for you to understand that they can't take a freaking year off...they are in the middle of a tour, and Augeri's voice is damaged!!!???

They have a contract. They have no choice but to get another singer. Simple as that. This wasn't a bad night. It's been going on for the whole tour.

I don't want Perry to come pull their asses out. Neal got himself into this...he has to get himself out.

Wow, and to think just a couple of weeks ago Steve sounded PERFECT for all the European gigs, except for the Faithfully debacle. How can anyone with half a fuckin' brain not realize that THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN. His mic wasn't on in Europe...til it HAD to be. C'mon non-believers, the jig is up. Hell, Terry Schiavo could've figured this out. Cancel the tour and start puckering up to Perry. This is truly sad.

DO NOT cancel unless it for Augeri to rest, why get Perry back and have no improvemnt-ERIC

No improvement? Are you serious? Take a look at what Uncle Joe recently said about Perry's voice. Something like, "I was sitting no more than six feet away in a recording studio, and it's pretty much ALL still there." And they're HIS songs. This karaoke bullshit has got to end. Ship Augeri back to The Gap to clean toilets. He's a fraud. He KNOWINGLY started this tour with no voice. They got caught and they're fucked. I DO NOT feel sorry for him. Never will, as he was NEVER good.

That is you opinion. Anyone can sound good in the studio, get your butt out on tour every night and see what happens. have several ROR shows and FTLOSM shows were his voice was not very good. DO NOT GET ME WRONG
1) if Augeri can not do this tour, get him the rest he needs, if then after a year off he can not go on then the next step would be a different singer. 2) I want Perry to sing again, BUT NOT IN JOURNEY. Bring Perry back would not be an improvement, Perry is a shadow of what he was, which would still be good, but with Perry back, it would be no Journey touring.
Why is it hard for people think Augeri shouldn't take a year off. Perry did. Frontiers 83 and ROR in 86. that is 3 years, yes there was a year for a tour, and Perry made a cd (WITH NO TOUR), so it was over a year off.-ERIC

They have Deen. If they can't cancel the tour. If this is not going to go away soon, Deen needs to take over or go back using tapes to get thru this. But Augeri needs a year off to rest. But they don't need to go get another singer, Deen can get them thru,or back up Augeri on any night. At the end of tour a year rest. Is that so hard to understand?-ERIC

[Rockindeano]

ERIC, you need to wake up, and get off the happy pills.

Fuck dude, you are lost, and I mean really lost.

If you were a train, I don't think you could find the track.

[Marabelle]

i swore i could hear deen say...you're not going to stick me with singing, are you? who'd want that job knowing what it does to the voice after awhile.

[nolippin]

You really don't have a clue, do you?

Augeri needs far more than backing up!! He probably needs surgery. If he keeps going, the damage is going to be irreversible!!

Deen is a drummer. They need a frontman and a singer. I doubt Deen even WANTS the job.

Man, why is it hard for you to understand that they can't take a freaking year off...they are in the middle of a tour, and Augeri's voice is damaged!!!???

They have a contract. They have no choice but to get another singer. Simple as that. This wasn't a bad night. It's been going on for the whole tour.

I don't want Perry to come pull their asses out. Neal got himself into this...he has to get himself out.

Wow, and to think just a couple of weeks ago Steve sounded PERFECT for all the European gigs, except for the Faithfully debacle. How can anyone with half a fuckin' brain not realize that THIS DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN. His mic wasn't on in Europe...til it HAD to be. C'mon non-believers, the jig is up. Hell, Terry Schiavo could've figured this out. Cancel the tour and start puckering up to Perry. This is truly sad.

DO NOT cancel unless it for Augeri to rest, why get Perry back and have no improvemnt-ERIC

No improvement? Are you serious? Take a look at what Uncle Joe recently said about Perry's voice. Something like, "I was sitting no more than six feet away in a recording studio, and it's pretty much ALL still there." And they're HIS songs. This karaoke bullshit has got to end. Ship Augeri back to The Gap to clean toilets. He's a fraud. He KNOWINGLY started this tour with no voice. They got caught and they're fucked. I DO NOT feel sorry for him. Never will, as he was NEVER good.

That is you opinion. Anyone can sound good in the studio, get your butt out on tour every night and see what happens. have several ROR shows and FTLOSM shows were his voice was not very good. DO NOT GET ME WRONG
1) if Augeri can not do this tour, get him the rest he needs, if then after a year off he can not go on then the next step would be a different singer. 2) I want Perry to sing again, BUT NOT IN JOURNEY. Bring Perry back would not be an improvement, Perry is a shadow of what he was, which would still be good, but with Perry back, it would be no Journey touring.
Why is it hard for people think Augeri shouldn't take a year off. Perry did. Frontiers 83 and ROR in 86. that is 3 years, yes there was a year for a tour, and Perry made a cd (WITH NO TOUR), so it was over a year off.-ERIC

They have Deen. If they can't cancel the tour. If this is not going to go away soon, Deen needs to take over or go back using tapes to get thru this. But Augeri needs a year off to rest. But they don't need to go get another singer, Deen can get them thru,or back up Augeri on any night. At the end of tour a year rest. Is that so hard to understand?-ERIC

[Distant Voice]

ERICA, you need to wake up, and get off the happy pills.

Fuck dude, you are lost, and I mean really lost.

If you were a train, I don't think you could find the track.

LMFAO...GOSH OL' MIGHTY ERICA

[Liam]

Good point Marabelle.

[Abitaman]

ERIC, you need to wake up, and get off the happy pills.

Fuck dude, you are lost, and I mean really lost.

If you were a train, I don't think you could find the track.

I'm sorry Dean, I will mail you happy pills back to you. You been a pretty piss poor mood since I got them, no happiness from you in a while.
I heard how your train did on the track, a total wreck, so I'll pass.
I know I'm not LOST -ERIC

[whocares]

jestor92, I don't think that Augeri is in any position to give any input on whether a new singer can be hired.

PLEASE end it all very soon. It's not worth what is happening or what has already happened to the Journey name. Or the fans.

Integrity used to be a good thing, now it's been all shot to shit.

[Dano]

Guys,

We all can dream, but Perry is not coming back. Part of the reason for that is that he physically (read: vocally) cannot do it anymore. When I was speaking to their road manager a couple summers ago (on the Detour tour), I was mentioning how cool it was that Deen was singing a few tunes and that he probably was giving Steve a much needed rest at points during the show. He said that it was, as the Journey catalog is really tough vocally and that all the touring and constant singing was why Perry could not "sing anymore". His voice was just blown out by the constant touring, and I have read statements by other fans of the band who have been told similar things when they have gotten to speak to people in the band or close to the band. Now, I'm not saying that Perry's voice has not recovered, but from what I understand he would need one or two nights off in between shows and, economically and logistically, that's really tough for Journey to do. However, I think that's exactly what Steve Augeri needs right now. I don't think he needs to take a year off as many on these boards have suggested (didn't they have several months off from touring already? Journey pretty much only tours the summer and early fall), but I do think a less taxing schedule would help him a great deal.

Let's not forget that a vocalist like Steve Perry comes around once in a lifetime. Even the best vocalists in the biz would have a hard time hitting those soaring notes night after night, including Perry himself! I am really feeling for Steve Augeri in all this, because by any account I have read (and including my own experience meeting him), the man is a prince and one of the most humble guys around. To see him struggle like this is awful. I haven't seen a show yet on this tour (they're not coming to my neck of the woods until later in the summer), but from what I'm reading, this is just terrible for him and the band.

Having said all this, as much as I love Deen as a drummer and vocalist, I don't think the public would accept yet another lead singer for Journey. I mean, we're on number four as it is (including Fleischman's short tenure) and that's amazing in itself! Look at the bands who have tried to move on with a third or fourth vocalist: Van Halen, Genesis and Deep Purple immediately come to mind. It's just too much for the average fan to accept, especially if the vocalists prior were iconic, like DLR and Hagar in VH and Gabriel and Collins were in Genesis. Perry's shoes were particularly hard to fill because of his amazing vocal capabilities. In my mind, the two main factors in the success of Journey's music are the vocals and Neal's guitar. As I've said before, Steve Augeri walked into one of the toughest situations ever and has handled it with class. That's why it's so difficult to watch all this, because I would hate to see my favorite band of all time (and arguably the most beloved AOR band ever) fall apart on this tour. I'm not saying that's what's going to happen, but this is a huge tour which is surpassing most promoters' expectations, and there's still a lot of summer ahead. I am really and truly hoping that things get better for everyone involved. [/i]

[Marabelle]

i'm with you. i'm not seeing integrity with this band with the way they are handling the situation with steve and his voice. some times money is not
the "be" all.

[Rockindeano]

And you are all finally figuring this whole thing out, huh?

It took you long enough. They aren't that good when they sing live are they?

I guess I don't have to read another "Steve Perry Who?" phrase again.

[whocares]

hehehe, thanks for the laugh Deano.

I'm not one who wants Perry back in Journey, I want Perry back releasing music, but not with the guys.

The only thing that would come of Perry back with the guiys, is you get a situation like the Eagles. You get the people coming to the concerts to see if it's really true, while overpaying by enormous amounts, just to hear the music sung by Perry again.

[JrnySuxBalls]

When you commit to a guy, and you hope he gets better and instead gets worse....might be
time for a change. Doesn't seem like this can continue on much longer.

[nolippin]

I'd be willing to bet that Joe Elliot is going to have a lot to say about what happened tonight.

Journey is now starting to be the albatross around Def Leppard's Tour.

[whocares]

as I'd hope he would, but if it keeps the cashcow going, he won't say something until after it's over.

[Tree]

I don't think this is a one night thing, I think Steve needs some much deserved time off. Let him take the rest of the tour off, ask Steve Smith or someone to come in and drum and let Deen handle the lead vocal parts for the rest of the tour. Take a year or so off and let Steve get some much needed rest and see how it goes, if he can't sing either disband or ask him if he would mind if they looked for a new lead vocalist, it sucks because he seems like such a good guy, but sometimes bad stuff happens to good people. Hopefully he can get it back together but after reading this review and seeing him on June 30 I don't think it's happening.

First of all Steve Smith was already asked to rejoin Journey in the past but without Perry he declined so what makes you think he would ever consider rejoining them now that they are biting the dust???
Second of all they never asked Perry if he MINDED if they looked for a new lead vocalist so what the hell makes Augeri so special??? If he cant do the job remove him but come on lets get real here! Steve Smith WONT come back to Journey without Perry and the bridges have been too burned for Perry to ever come back. He also has no reason to want to jump on a sinking ship when his own boat is floating very strong in the harbor!!!

[*Laura]

Deen, thankfully, took the lead for numerous songs - including Faithfully and Open Arms. He let his roadie (I think?) take drums for those two. Augeri struggled hard through what he could, but really only sang half a song here and half a song there. There was also PLENTY of "let the audience sing". No encore, of course, and as they walked off stage Augeri put his head on Deen's shoulder. Don't get me wrong, I love Journey and I know this is just a bad night, but man, it was just awful to sit through. There was zero energy on stage, I'm sure the guys all knew how the evening was shaping up.

While reading this...I don't know...It is so painful,I can't even put it into words.
The image of Augeri putting his head on Deen's shoulder was too much for me.
I can't even imagine what Augeri is going through,but I am sure there is a lot of despair and sorrow in his heart.

Right now I don't even think about what they will do...Announce they get off the tour,or whatever...All I can think of is this sad sad situation in which a singer is up there on stage and knows he cannot sing anymore.

What is going on with this band??Why do I get the feeling that it's like that Egyptian Scarab is devouring this band's singers? Is this a curse or something?

Sorry....maybe I sound wacky.
I am depressed after reading this.

[*Laura]

This is posted on MR's Noticeboard by a guy named Kevin.He was there,in Railegh.
Sad....so very sad.

"JOURNEY

Journey hit the stage first with Faith in the Heartland and it was immediately clear that something was wrong. Augeri showed up in Raleigh---his voice did not. To say he was having a difficult time would be putting it mildly. He was struggling. The extent would not be totally realized for a few songs though. Explanations would come later, but there was a problem.
Be Good To Yourself started and the after the first line of the song, Augeri signaled to Deen Castronovo to take over and Augeri went backstage. I have heard Deen sing a few times, and he was on tonight. Augeri returned after a little while and he and Deen went back and forth on lead vocals for the remainder of the song while Augeri tried to coax his voice into action.
Ask the Lonely came next and was somewhat of a breather with it’s lower-pitched vocal. Augeri did better on this song, but he was still having major problems. Throughout the song, Deen supplied backup and occasionally doubled Augeri’s voice. Only the Young came next with Deen singing lead. It didn’t look as if it was planned for Deen to sing on this, but after the problems Augeri was having, it wasn’t a surprise. Journey has been changing the songs Deen would sing in a show, so anything is possible. Augeri needed a breather anyway.
As the song ended, Neal Schon started up his guitar solo. With his choice of playing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts over the past few years, it wasn’t hard to guess what was coming. Tonight’s version was inspired with Ross Vallory and Deen giving the “we’re not worthy” bows towards the end. Stone in Love was next and Steve Augeri was back, but Deen took over shortly in to the song singing the majority of the lead vocals from there on. Wheel in the Sky followed, and Augeri took the lead in this, but Deen was still doing a lot of doubling parts and singing the high parts leaving Augeri for the lower notes.
By now, everyone was fully aware there was something serious going on, but the show continued. Lights was next, and Augeri signaled for Deen. They went back and forth on lead vocals throughout the song. Near the end of the song, Augeri went back to the drums, signaled to Deen and the two of them went offstage. It was plainly obvious there was a problem. Augeri’s voice was not getting any better and he was really struggling. You could feel the tension in the air. Augeri said something and Deen’s reaction had to be seen to believed. Basically, it was “you have got to be kidding me!”. What was said would be revealed very soon. Augeri disappeared into the wings of the stage and the stage was set.
For anyone who is not aware, Deen Castronovo has been doing lead vocals for several years now, but had always been behind the drum seat, playing the drums and singing. Tonight, that changed. A drum tech came out and got in the drummers seat and Deen made his way out to the front of the stage as Open Arms had started. Open Arms isn’t a very drum-intensive song, and there are no drums until the end of the song. Ross Vallory was near the drum kit trying to help the new guy on drums as Deen was out front with just a microphone singing the song. Anyone could tell that Deen was extremely nervous being alone out front, but the crowd loved it. The applause at the end was geniune.
Every Generation started up next, and Augeri was back, this time with guitar in tow. Jonathan Cain took lead vocals, and Augeri did some backup on the chorus. Chain Reaction followed with Augeri singing lead, but he was still having problems. He was giving his all, but the voice just wasn’t there. His voice was improved from the start of the show, but he was still struggling.
As the song ended, Augeri addressed the crowd and informed them of the situation that was occurring on stage. What follows isn’t exactly verbatim, but was written down immediately after he said it, so it is VERY close. “You might have noticed I haven’t been myself. I’ve been a little under the weather lately, so here comes Deen Castronovo to save the day. Give him a lot of love”. That was the intro to Faithfully, and once again, Deen was center stage, and the tech was on the drums. Deen was less nervous this time, trying to get the audience to sing, but still far from comfortable. Ross was at the drums once again helping the tech through the song.
Don’t Stop Believin’ was next and Augeri was back once again. His voice had improved, but he was still signaling for Deen to take the high parts. Separate Ways followed and Augeri’s voice was on the rebound. He was far from perfect, but was still giving 110%. He would nail one note, then his voice would die on the next, but he didn’t give up. Any Way You Want It was next, and the voice continued to improve. Deen continued helping, but Augeri’s voice was finally starting to come around. By this point, he was hitting about 70-80% of the high notes. Early in the show would have been maybe 15-20%. Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin closed the show out with Augeri finally in command.
As the band left the stage, Augeri and Deen embraced for probably the 5th time that night. It was obvious how much Augeri appreciated it. Without Deen being able to sing lead vocals, everyone knew the concert probably would have been cancelled. Augeri knew that better than anyone else.
They say that heroes arise in the time of need. Journey encountered that tonight, and Deen Castronovo stepped up. If there was ever a case for Journey to need a backing tape for Augeri, tonight was the case. There was no backing tape used, and everyone was better for the result.
I don’t know what will happen for the rest of the tour. Journey has a major problem if Augeri has another night like this one, but for those in the right time and place, they saw history being made. Tonight’s show wasn’t what anyone was expecting, but I’ll take this over a pre-recorded experience any day. After seeing the reaction of the crowd when Deen finished Open Arms at center stage, I don’t think I’m alone in that thought.

Setlist…
Faith in the Heartland
Be Good To Yourself (Steve & Deen)
Ask the Lonely (Deen on backup)
Guitar Solo (Star Spangled Banner)
Stone in Love (Steve and Deen)
Wheel in the Sky (Deen on a lot of backing vocals)
Lights (Steve and Deen)
Open Arms (Deen)
Every Generation
Chain Reaction
Faithfully (Deen)
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Deen on high notes)
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It
Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ "

[Lilla_Forever]

as much as I love Deen as a drummer and vocalist, I don't think the public would accept yet another lead singer for Journey. I mean, we're on number four as it is (including Fleischman's short tenure) and that's amazing in itself! Look at the bands who have tried to move on with a third or fourth vocalist: Van Halen, Genesis and Deep Purple immediately come to mind. It's just too much for the average fan to accept, especially if the vocalists prior were iconic, like DLR and Hagar in VH and Gabriel and Collins were in Genesis. Perry's shoes were particularly hard to fill because of his amazing vocal capabilities. In my mind, the two main factors in the success of Journey's music are the vocals and Neal's guitar. As I've said before, Steve Augeri walked into one of the toughest situations ever and has handled it with class. That's why it's so difficult to watch all this, because I would hate to see my favorite band of all time (and arguably the most beloved AOR band ever) fall apart on this tour. I'm not saying that's what's going to happen, but this is a huge tour which is surpassing most promoters' expectations, and there's still a lot of summer ahead. I am really and truly hoping that things get better for everyone involved.

I agree with much of what you're saying OptiMystic, especially perhaps because the uniqueness of Journey is so much defined by Steve Perry's voice. Perhaps it is different to most other bands because, lets face it, Perry is (or was) a true vocalistic prodigy. So the legacy remains extra hard to live up to, also for Augeri. I think he has done an ok job (an opinion which is mostly based on listening to Arrival), although his talent certainly has never matched Perry's when he was in his prime. Based on the current reviews, he should retire, I think, and maybe the rest of the band with him.

One thing which the Journey fan community has in common with other fans of bands who are missing an iconic figure, is that the yearning for that figure will never, ever go away. Purple fans drew a sigh of relief when Gillan came back to oust Joe Lynn Turner and many of them continue to nurse the hope that Blackmore will return as guitarist in some way, even though it has been publicly known for years that Gillan and Blackmore are humanly incompatible. So, many fans will keep hoping for Steve Perry's return to Journey, including myself (even though I am more or less convinced it will never happen).

All this having been said, if the band is able to find the right new singer, then maybe the fans will accept him. The love of a band dies hard, I think. Personally, I would be willing to give a fifth guy a chance. I think that only Perry and Augeri really stands out in the Journey history, so its really only a third singer right?

Also, it would be really sad to see Journey go out like this without improving their name. And maybe finding a new singer and recording strong new material will help correct the damage. One shouldn't underestimate the value of new creative blood. Pulling out the Purple example again: After Don Airey and Steve Morse have replaced Lord and Blackmore, the band has produced their best work in 20 years.

[swepett]

Man, why is it hard for you to understand that they can't take a freaking year off...they are in the middle of a tour, and Augeri's voice is damaged!!!???

They have a contract. They have no choice but to get another singer. Simple as that. This wasn't a bad night. It's been going on for the whole tour.

Any normal contract will let them bow out with a doctor's order. Which Augeri easily would get if he only went to a doctor.

[swepett]

All this having been said, if the band is able to find the right new singer, then maybe the fans will accept him. The love of a band dies hard, I think. Personally, I would be willing to give a fifth guy a chance. I think that only Perry and Augeri really stands out in the Journey history, so its really only a third singer right?

Also, it would be really sad to see Journey go out like this without improving their name. And maybe finding a new singer and recording strong new material will help correct the damage. One shouldn't underestimate the value of new creative blood. Pulling out the Purple example again: After Don Airey and Steve Morse have replaced Lord and Blackmore, the band has produced their best work in 20 years.

You and I have two things in common: we're both from Scandinavia and we are both Deep Purple fans. I agree with what you say but something I've realised over the year being a DP fan (I've been involved the DP website [url]thehighwaystar.com[/url] for ten years now) is that American fans and media in particular seem very to be very concerned with member changes in bands. Deep Purple are known as a band that has changed members a million times. Which is weird because Black Sabbath has changed much more members but still they are huge. Almost everytime American media write something about DP they have to make a snide comment about DP having a bunch of lead singers.

When I experienced Journey's vocal problems first hand, I was reminded of this. I also of course wondered, "why don't they just bring in a new singer?" But then I realised that since USA is their main market, they might be afraid of the "DP syndrome". They managed to come back pretty good with Augeri but still there are lots of people who'd rather see Perry front the band. Bringing in another singer after Augeri could be what takes the band's reputation of the line in the eyes of the media and they become another band with "a million lead singers".

Another funny thing is of course that people tend to talk about geniune bands and original members, and neither Perry nor Gillan was the original singers in their bands.

[JrnySuxBalls]

Yes, great points. But in Journey's case, alot of their draw comes from casual fans who
may or may not be aware of member changes. So many people still think it's Steve Perry
up there it's surprising.

They might be able to get away with another singer now, probably better than say DP would.

[Lilla_Forever]

You and I have two things in common: we're both from Scandinavia and we are both Deep Purple fans. I agree with what you say but something I've realised over the year being a DP fan (I've been involved the DP website [url]thehighwaystar.com[/url] for ten years now) is that American fans and media in particular seem very to be very concerned with member changes in bands. Deep Purple are known as a band that has changed members a million times. Which is weird because Black Sabbath has changed much more members but still they are huge. Almost everytime American media write something about DP they have to make a snide comment about DP having a bunch of lead singers.

When I experienced Journey's vocal problems first hand, I was reminded of this. I also of course wondered, "why don't they just bring in a new singer?" But then I realised that since USA is their main market, they might be afraid of the "DP syndrome". They managed to come back pretty good with Augeri but still there are lots of people who'd rather see Perry front the band. Bringing in another singer after Augeri could be what takes the band's reputation of the line in the eyes of the media and they become another band with "a million lead singers".

Another funny thing is of course that people tend to talk about geniune bands and original members, and neither Perry nor Gillan was the original singers in their bands.

Nice to be talking to a fellow Scandinavian and a Purple fan as well I think you're right concerning the American media's focus on band member changes, no matter the band. Personally, I think that the hunt for sensationalism in the press is simply stronger, they like to focus strongly on the human factor in everything, even when it comes to musicians.

When it comes to the differences between the view on Purple and the view on Sabbath, I think it also comes down to pure knowledge, with the human factor being there to grab hold on because the musical knowledge is small. Sabbath has been able to hold a much more constant level of popularity in the States, where Purple has always had a huge Asian and European fanbase. I think that Ozzy has contributed a great deal to this US Sabbath legacy as he was major over there in the 80' and in a weird way still is because of his show.

I have read interviews with members of Purple complaining of the inane focus on their 70-72 material in the US. As you know, they caved and did the Machine Head tour of the US a while back to give the public what they wanted.

Applying this to the Journey situation, I think you may be right! Not because of the lack of Journey stardust in the US media but because I believe that US media also focuses extra strongly on the human factor when it is concerning a national treasure of sorts, which I believe Journey is or was regarded as by many Americans (they were HUGE in the States all through the 80's as you know).

Concerning what you say of Gillan and Perry, its simply a matter of talent dwarfing the past, I guess

LOVE TheHighwayStar by the way I visit it all the time.

[cetera]

The BT ers are all freaking out. They think the author of this original review is nolippin here.

That place is headed for thermo-nuclear meltdown.

How would you know Deano? You said in another thread that you never visit it....

[cetera]

Right.... 2 things:

1) Steve Perry ain't coming back.... get used to it. He can't sing like he used to - he hasn't the range (you can only detune guitar strings so far), he doesn't want the media focus, he has too many hang ups and he wouldn't commit to a tour. I love SP as much as the next guy but it's time to be realistic here...

2) Steve Augeri needs a rest/surgery.

[KittyKat]

Ok, I just found out what happened so let me say first off that I am so sad about what happened mostly for Steve Augeri and certainly never wanted it to happen this way. It didn't have to come down to such a publicly humiliating display with that said my sympathy only goes so far. They scheduled a very big tour thinking they were gonna get by doing exactly what Deano said they were doing. This came about because of the pressure from Deano not because Journey has been upright and honest about the situation. Journey has much to be ashamed of imo because they have some of the best fans I have ever seen as far as being supportive and understanding so why scam those people? The casual listeners wouldn't have noticed a singer change had they used Deen from the beginning instead of the way they did it. We know they were gonna use the tapes for the US shows because that's what they did in Europe but just as Deano has proved they did it last year. Had it not been for Deano it's clear to me they would've kept up the cherade.

They have locked themselves into a very tight situation with this tour which shouldn't have come about in the first place so what are their choices? Deen doesn't want the job of singing but what choice is he gonna have? Save the band and their contractual obligations is a must. I don't see them getting out of this with a doctors note either simply because the problem already existed from last years tour but they didn't count on Deano happening for this tour. Michael Jackson was sued for millions by the concert promoter and won. What the hell where they thinking? There goes the legacy, integrity and conviction out the window with it very possibly ruining their future. If they manage to fullfill their obligations for this tour with Deen as the singer I'm afraid after this that's it for them. They made some really bad choices and thereby have screwed their credibilty with the public.

[NealIsGod]

Wow, what a rough night. If this doesn't convince them to give Augeri a long rest after this tour, I don't know what will.

I hope Augeri recovers from this and remains in the band, but if that does not happen, then I would like Deen to be the singer. IMO, his voice is the closest thing I have ever heard to '81-82 Perry. I think the fans would have zero problem with that, although Steve would be missed.