JSS and Journey

[EightyRock]

Exactly the reason I'd want to hear Soto...because HOPEFULLY, he won't sound like Perry. I don't want another guy trying to sound like him. They will never move on from greatest hits if they don't get some new blood in this band. Augeri just wasn't the guy. He didn't sound anything like Perry, but they wanted to shove that notion down everybody's throats. Why not just change up the hits to suit Soto's style and range? Then next year write new stuff, tour with it and leave only a couple g.h. in the set list. If nobody goes, then they need to retire. What is the point other than money, if you're not creating and getting your art out to your fans?

[Monker]

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

Good.

Now, go back to the Styx board and stay there....I'm done with your constant whinning over the last 2 weeks.

Well, that's nice. There has been a hell of a lot more then just 'whining' going on in this forum for the past two week...by a lot of other people besides just me.

So, does this mean the attitude of understanding this is a difficult time for Journey fans has now ceased? It seems to me that this isn't close to being over.

[knox]

I am interested to see how JSS sounds with Journey. I am not into Metal "screamers", but if he can tone it down and smooth it out it could be a good fit.

I hope there are boots out there to hear soon.

[whocares]

fuck Monker, you just really enjoy hearing yourself type, don't you? wah wah fucking wah.

I thought you wanted to make this a better board? What happend to that idea?

[Monker]

fuck Monker, you just really enjoy hearing yourself type, don't you? wah wah fucking wah.

I thought you wanted to make this a better board? What happend to that idea?

It's out the window as long as people continue to break Andrew's 'rules' without any consequences from Andrew.

Example: Andrew recently requested to stop the BT bashing. I just read posts in another thread bashing BT for their "Praise XXX" threads. So, what will Andrew do?

As long as Andrew says one thing and people do the opposite, then this will never be a 'better board'...it will be as it is right now, as it has been for weeks.

[Marabelle]

so right Jeremey...let him have some fun showing off his style and talent...i hope he doesn't allow them to take it easy. and let Sam Cooke go. Gosh,
we're way beyond Sam. Make his own identity.

[JrnySuxBalls]

I am interested to see how JSS sounds with Journey. I am not into Metal "screamers", but if he can tone it down and smooth it out it could be a good fit.

I hope there are boots out there to hear soon.

I don't see JSS as a "metal screamer", he has a big world. He should cover it just fine.

[Andrew]

So, does this mean the attitude of understanding this is a difficult time for Journey fans has now ceased? It seems to me that this isn't close to being over.

It's over...now is the time to move on. This forum ain't going to be the folly of any one person or cause. It will be for all fans once again.

[Rockindeano]

Let me handle this Boss.

Monker. get the fuck outta here or contribute some Goddamned thing. Dude, time to change your tampon. You have definetely gone chick on us. Dude, what the fuck happened to you? Nevermind, just get the fuck outta here and go jack off froy in the twigs board.

Goddammit, I hate pussies! That scarecrow in your avatar? is that you? Do you wear panties, Monker? Damn, I will take HOTS in a fight over you.

[Andrew]

I can handle it thanks Deano.

Please - new chapter ok - no more abuse. For ANYONE.

[Monker]

Let me handle this Boss.

Monker. get the fuck outta here or contribute some Goddamned thing. Dude, time to change your tampon. You have definetely gone chick on us. Dude, what the fuck happened to you? Nevermind, just get the fuck outta here and go jack off froy in the twigs board.

Goddammit, I hate pussies! That scarecrow in your avatar? is that you? Do you wear panties, Monker? Damn, I will take HOTS in a fight over you.

Dean, Dean, Dean...that doesn't work with me. You should know that.

The bottom line is that I think this is a very bad move. That's my opinion. Doesn't matter what you think about it...I'm gonna say it, as long as Andrew lets me say it.

If you're right and this is permanent, be happy. Eventualy, I won't be here any more. But, don't expect me to shut up or 'stop' or 'get the fuck outta here' just cuz you, or anybody else, wants me to.

The way JSS was brought in isn't going to just blow over and everybody start 'healing' in a matter of HOURS. That just isn't going to happen. Get used to it...now you got Perry fans with new amminition, Augeri fans with a gripe against Journey, JSS fans who want him accepted into the band, and fans of all of the above just wanting to get along. So, all of that is to now suddenly scab over? There's no way that's going to happen...Journey fandom is going to be in its worst shape ever...and attitudes like yours don't help at all.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Journey fandom is going to be in its worst shape ever.

I think you're wrong.
Come Friday, all doubts about JSS will be laid to rest.
Also, the Perryheads aren't re-galvanized or motivated to do anything.
They disliked Augeri because he was viewed as a "clone".
Soto is a creative entity unto himself.
Most Perry fans see this and respect that and know he will take Journey someplace else.

[Fernando Ramirez]

JSS is definitely more than a metal singer. The guy is extremely versatile, and should bring great stuff to Journey's repertoire. He will shine on the ballads... my favorite songs of his are his ballads on his second solo album. They are fantastic, and in the tradition of great melodic rock. His last album was pretty hard (in the same way that GENERATIONS was), so the harder numbers should be great as well.

I would have loved to see him join QUEEN instead of Paul Rodgers, but seeing him join JOURNEY is phenomenal. I wouldn't want to see Augeri leave the band altogether, but the thought of JSS recording with JOURNEY is pretty exciting to me.


To me, this is the best melodic rock news I've heard this year! I will definitely be there when he plays my hometown of San Antonio.

I'm also excited to have recently found a copy of TALL STORIES a few days ago. Going to listen to this in memory of Steve, and hopes he's able to get well.

[NealIsGod]

I remember seeing Augeri on his first tour with Journey, and my jaw dropped when I heard him. I never thought anyone could sing Journey songs close to the way Perry did. Augeri didn't blow me away then, or ever, with vocal gymnastics like Perry could pull off, but he sang the songs well, and his voice suited them very well. The casual fans I was with didn't even know it wasn't Perry singing.

I don't think this will happen with Soto. He will bring a very different style to Journey's vocals. It will be interesting to see what the fan reaction will be.

[JrnySuxBalls]

the thought of JSS recording with JOURNEY is pretty exciting to me.

+1

[conversationpc]

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

Good.

Now, go back to the Styx board and stay there....I'm done with your constant whinning over the last 2 weeks.

You're done with Monker's constant whining with all the other stuff that's been going on here? Monker's posts have been rather mundane compared to all the other personal attacks that have gone on here. Case in point this next quote from Rockn'deano in this very thread...

Let me handle this Boss.

Monker. get the fuck outta here or contribute some Goddamned thing. Dude, time to change your tampon. You have definetely gone chick on us. Dude, what the fuck happened to you? Nevermind, just get the fuck outta here and go jack off froy in the twigs board.

Goddammit, I hate pussies! That scarecrow in your avatar? is that you? Do you wear panties, Monker? Damn, I will take HOTS in a fight over you.

Deano, you must have a real fetish for cross-dressing guys. Get some help, dude.

[Abitaman]

I remember seeing Augeri on his first tour with Journey, and my jaw dropped when I heard him. I never thought anyone could sing Journey songs close to the way Perry did. Augeri didn't blow me away then, or ever, with vocal gymnastics like Perry could pull off, but he sang the songs well, and his voice suited them very well. The casual fans I was with didn't even know it wasn't Perry singing.

I don't think this will happen with Soto. He will bring a very different style to Journey's vocals. It will be interesting to see what the fan reaction will be.

That is one the things I have a problem with. As long as it sounds like Journey or a Journey cd fine, but a Neal Schon cd or show, I will not be happy. Journey has a sound and feel to them, that Augeri was able to keep going, while still sounding different and bring new life to the group. One of the reasons Generations is one of my favorite cds-ERIC

[Red13JoePa]

I remember seeing Augeri on his first tour with Journey, and my jaw dropped when I heard him. I never thought anyone could sing Journey songs close to the way Perry did. Augeri didn't blow me away then, or ever, with vocal gymnastics like Perry could pull off, but he sang the songs well, and his voice suited them very well. The casual fans I was with didn't even know it wasn't Perry singing.

I don't think this will happen with Soto. He will bring a very different style to Journey's vocals. It will be interesting to see what the fan reaction will be.

That is one the things I have a problem with. As long as it sounds like Journey or a Journey cd fine, but a Neal Schon cd or show, I will not be happy. Journey has a sound and feel to them, that Augeri was able to keep going, while still sounding different and bring new life to the group. One of the reasons Generations is one of my favorite cds-ERIC

The Schon/Cain partnership's acutely aware of the Journey formula and fan expectation to adhere to it as much as possible. I think Red13's the furthest they've strayed from it but it's still there. They both said it in some interviews for Generations that they write in a "Journey mode" and then other modes but they keep that Jrny formula pretty tight. Not worried about this for the future. Especially if Augeri comes back which is admittedly not a given.

[McNeil]

Eightyrock... you ass...of course Augeri sounded like Perry...as much as you wld like to think SP he is unique... he aint...theres dozens of people...pro and amateur out there who naturally sound like Perry!! AND MANY MORE WHO CAN MAKE THEMSELVES SOUND LIKE HIM!

Jeez... there are still some dumb asses out there who pay to watch Journey..and think they are hearing Perry still!!

Wake up people... Augeri has been fronting the band for best part of 10 years now.... haha

[NealIsGod]

Eightyrock... you ass...of course Augeri sounded like Perry...as much as you wld like to think SP he is unique... he aint...theres dozens of people...pro and amateur out there who naturally sound like Perry!! AND MANY MORE WHO CAN MAKE THEMSELVES SOUND LIKE HIM!

At the risk of sounding like a Loon, Perry is a once in a lifetime voice and stage presence. I like Augie, too, and am grateful that he helped Journey continue, but no one can sound "just like" Perry. Similar, maybe.

[Monker]

The Schon/Cain partnership's acutely aware of the Journey formula and fan expectation to adhere to it as much as possible. I think Red13's the furthest they've strayed from it but it's still there. They both said it in some interviews for Generations that they write in a "Journey mode" and then other modes but they keep that Jrny formula pretty tight. Not worried about this for the future. Especially if Augeri comes back which is admittedly not a given.

As a fan, I am also very much aware that Neal has wanted Journey to focus more on the "rock" side of Journey's sound. He has consistantly said this in various interviews. However, the Journey sound is not just about the 'rock' side of things. It's a blend of things, and a ballance. Whenver Journey goes too far to one 'sound' or another, that ballance is thrown off and, IMO anyway, it's no where near as good. ROR and TBF are both examples of that...ROR going too pop, TBF going too mellow.

Therefore, bringing JSS in and knowing Neal's desires for more 'rock', and the history with Soul SirkuS, and the fact that most of Journey was in Soul SirkUS...OF COURSE people are going to be worried about Journey changing their sound too far in that direction.

[Red13JoePa]

Agreed, indeed Monks. Good post.

I can hear the Soul Sirkus influence bleeding through Generations, but in that case I think it was a very positive result. I think we have a drummer right now is stye is suited to the heavier Generations type rock, too...

[ohsherrie]

Eightyrock... you ass...of course Augeri sounded like Perry...as much as you wld like to think SP he is unique... he aint...theres dozens of people...pro and amateur out there who naturally sound like Perry!! AND MANY MORE WHO CAN MAKE THEMSELVES SOUND LIKE HIM!

At the risk of sounding like a Loon, Perry is a once in a lifetime voice and stage presence. I like Augie, too, and am grateful that he helped Journey continue, but no one can sound "just like" Perry. Similar, maybe.

Thanks NIG. I've said before that I think people just hear things differently. I've almost come to the conclusion that people who think Augeri sounds just like Perry just don't hear the depth of resonant soul in Perry's voice.

the Perryheads aren't re-galvanized or motivated to do anything.
They disliked Augeri because he was viewed as a "clone".

I don't know of any re-galvanizing that's going on and you're partially right about the clone thing. That "Perry with a perm" comment in the BTM was a real slap in the face. The implication being that Perry was no more to Journey than some generic replaceable part.

I don't really know how I feel about this other singer. Right now I don't feel much of anything about it. I'm still not comfortable with there being any Journey without Perry. At least if they'll change the style of the band instead of ignoring the uniqueness of Perry by trying to own for themselves the singing style that he brought to them, it probably won't be quite as unacceptable to me. If they would just make some minor change in the name that would help a lot too.

[A Fire Inside]

That "Perry with a perm" comment in the BTM was a real slap in the face. The implication being that Perry was no more to Journey than some generic replaceable part.

Kind of like the "crack the stone" comment was also a slap in the face to everyone in the band other than SP? The implication being that Journey starts and ends with him?

[ohsherrie]

That "Perry with a perm" comment in the BTM was a real slap in the face. The implication being that Perry was no more to Journey than some generic replaceable part.

Kind of like the "crack the stone" comment was also a slap in the face to everyone in the band other than SP? The implication being that Journey starts and ends with him?

It's not exactly the same thing, but I guess I can see where you would take it that way. That's one way of defining the different points of view on the subject.

I took Perry's comment about cracking the stone to be asking them not to risk the legacy of what they'd already accomplished together. Which they obviously have done, thus proving that he wasn't just a replaceable part. If they go in a different musical direction with this other guy then it will be a matter of deciding which musical and vocal style we prefer, not which version of the same style as represented by the different frontman.

Have you considered that maybe Perry's decisions not to tour in '87 and '97 might have been to avoid a situation such as the one that just occurred? He may have had the common sense to realize in both instances that there was the possibility, whether from his being burned out("87) or because of his health('97 either physical or vocal), of a potential fiasco like they just had in Raleigh. Maybe he didn't want the stone cracked by himself or someone else.

[ohsherrie]

However, the Journey sound is not just about the 'rock' side of things. It's a blend of things, and a ballance. Whenver Journey goes too far to one 'sound' or another, that ballance is thrown off and, IMO anyway, it's no where near as good. ROR and TBF are both examples of that...ROR going too pop, TBF going too mellow.

Therefore, bringing JSS in and knowing Neal's desires for more 'rock', and the history with Soul SirkuS, and the fact that most of Journey was in Soul SirkUS...OF COURSE people are going to be worried about Journey changing their sound too far in that direction.

I agree with what you're saying about the "rock" side of the music, but there are a couple different way to look at it Monker.

There was a drastic change in their music when Steve Perry joined the band, and it became much more successful. There was another big change between Departure and Escape, and that again was more successful. I don't agree with you about the changes in ROR and TBF being bad, but that's just a matter of personal taste.

I don't see myself ever liking any Journey as much as I did the Perry years, but at least if they change their musical direction it won't be like listening to what to me was a pale imitation of the music that I love. It'll just be something different.

[conversationpc]

...but at least if they change their musical direction it won't be like listening to what to me was a pale imitation of the music that I love

I sort of agree with this statement, at least with the ballads. I've never liked Augeri's version of "Open Arms", for instance. His voice just doesn't work for me on those tunes, though he does okay on "Faithfully". However, there are a few of the harder numbers that I enjoy his version of better, like "Stone in Love". I also much prefer his version of "La Raza del Sol" from the 2001 DVD.

[jrnyman28]

I remember seeing Augeri on his first tour with Journey, and my jaw dropped when I heard him. I never thought anyone could sing Journey songs close to the way Perry did. Augeri didn't blow me away then, or ever, with vocal gymnastics like Perry could pull off, but he sang the songs well, and his voice suited them very well. The casual fans I was with didn't even know it wasn't Perry singing.

I don't think this will happen with Soto. He will bring a very different style to Journey's vocals. It will be interesting to see what the fan reaction will be.

That is one the things I have a problem with. As long as it sounds like Journey or a Journey cd fine, but a Neal Schon cd or show, I will not be happy. Journey has a sound and feel to them, that Augeri was able to keep going, while still sounding different and bring new life to the group. One of the reasons Generations is one of my favorite cds-ERIC

Hey Eric, if you can listen to Every Generation and In Self Defense and Gone Crazy and you can still hear Journey than I think it is safe to say you can listen to JSS fronting the band and still hear Journey too.

[Monker]

However, the Journey sound is not just about the 'rock' side of things. It's a blend of things, and a ballance. Whenver Journey goes too far to one 'sound' or another, that ballance is thrown off and, IMO anyway, it's no where near as good. ROR and TBF are both examples of that...ROR going too pop, TBF going too mellow.

Therefore, bringing JSS in and knowing Neal's desires for more 'rock', and the history with Soul SirkuS, and the fact that most of Journey was in Soul SirkUS...OF COURSE people are going to be worried about Journey changing their sound too far in that direction.

I agree with what you're saying about the "rock" side of the music, but there are a couple different way to look at it Monker.

There was a drastic change in their music when Steve Perry joined the band, and it became much more successful. There was another big change between Departure and Escape, and that again was more successful. I don't agree with you about the changes in ROR and TBF being bad, but that's just a matter of personal taste.

I don't see myself ever liking any Journey as much as I did the Perry years, but at least if they change their musical direction it won't be like listening to what to me was a pale imitation of the music that I love. It'll just be something different.

There is a big difference between now and then. Today there is a 30yr history, most of which has been in basicaly the same melodic pop/rock style.

This isn't the same as it was after the first three albums and switching styles specificaly to sell more albums. They had very little to lose when they hired Fleischman and then Perry...and a lot ot gain, in both instances.

It's also not the same as when they hired Jonathan. Prior to Jonathan, they were moderately successful, especialy touring.. Sure, the songwriting changed, for the better. But, when they performed a song from Infinity/Evolution/Departure, there wasn't THAT much of a difference.

Today, we have a 30yr history of songs being performed in a certain way...BOTH by Perry and Augeri. The touring is the main Journey experience nowadays. I think the average concert goer is going to EXPECT those songs...and expect them to be performed in the same style as always....with or without Perry, or Augeri. If they alienate that audience by moving to hard rock and away from the past thirty years - then, IMO, their touring days are limited because that is not what most people go to Journey concerts to see and hear.

I don't think Journey is going to be able to head to the studio WITH ANYBODY and record and have the same level of success as Escape or even Infinity. That is simply impossible, IMO, no matter who is singing. They can do whatever they want and release it to the dedicated fans, as they did with Red 13 and Generations...but, it will never be like the old days.

We'll see...I'm feeling sort of resigned from this entire thing. IMO, Journey has been moving in the wrong direction for well over a year now...and this is just a continuence of that.

[EightyRock]

I can't believe they were finally forced into the situation that may change this band into something besides an Elvis act. I, personally am stoked about JSS. JSS is the person they should have chosen to front this band 8 years ago! Instead they went for an impersonator. Soto brings his own talent & style to the classics with his brand of road-warrior attitude. Let Cain go write wedding songs and sell them to Bolton if he isn't into this. Soto can play keyboards, too, if Cain is sulking about this. JSS could bring Journey back to something respectable as powerful frontman with attitude and his own talent. They might not make a hit on today's charts, but I bet it brings in more fans than trying to clone Perry, which can't be done. Soto has his own following, too, that would be checking out Journey. I say let the past and trying to duplicate it go and get out there and rock. JSS is no Perry. He doesn't have the same near perfect pitch and melodics, but he brings alot of soul, style, charisma, and talent of his own. He is a MUCH better fit for Journey than Augeri ever was. And the big plus is....you'll be able to hear him over Neal's guitar! I don't think you'll be hearing about any tapes rolling in the near future, either.