Badcotune wrote:I've seen a lot of JSS cheerleaders here and elsewhere, but not a lot of people pointing out the glaring injustice being done to Augeri, so I'll lend my thoughts to what's happened.
I've been admittedly out of the loop with Journey for a while. Taking entirely too long to release a new album (Generations) and then having everyone but the drum tech sing on it was a sledgehammer to my interest level. Every year on tour with the exact same show I've already dutifully showed up for repeatedly, was another. But I was at one point their biggest fan. I had the signed Arcade game in my office, and a platinum Escape album on my wall. My obsessive compulsive knowledge of the band, and every nugget of information around the Perry split, is on par with Monker, whose been on these forums since their inception. I've disagreed with him in the past, but the man knows his facts about Journey history.
From what I gather, Augeri faces some vocal difficulties the last two years due to being the workhorse for the last 8 years. Perry would not have been able to fulfill half the dates of the first Journey reunion tour in 1998. FTLOSM proved that. Argue that all you want. Journey made an informed decision to select Augeri, and they sold us on him. He was never a phenomenal vocalist, but he was a very good singer for the gruel and burn that was required of him -- and night after night, year after year, his passion, commitment, humility, grace and charm gave an otherwise defunct Journey a vocal outlet to plug into, which then allowed them to become a viable touring entity again for almost another decade.
And when this man runs into problems -- do they stand behind their singer -- their informed choice -- the workhorse who until only recently, very much withstood the intensity and burn of such an intensive touring schedule? No. They replace him. Mid-tour.
On a Youtube.com JSS Journey Medley clip, Jonathan says
"Due to unknown health reasons, Steve Augeri will not be performing tonight". They know exactly why, so it isn't unknown, is it? They lie to their fans, and replace their lead singer mid-tour instead of choosing to stand behind the man who made touring minus Perry possible for the last 8 years. Who does that? Journey does. Neal Schon and Journey have become the new Van Halen, adrift and without vocal indentity. Instead of cancelling shows if their singer is ill, they make him sing to pre-recorded tracks, and then put him out to pasture when they get busted for it. Neal and Jon have shown thier true colors, and that's why I'm done with them. I just can't pump my fist to a third generation singer on "Don't Stop Believin'". Sorry.
Mr. Augeri, if you read this, not all of us wear the rose colored glasses and can read between the pasturized PR nonsense. You were wronged, and I'll look forward to buying your new release, not so much with an "everything but the kitchen sink" vocals on a new Journey album.
Journey has become now what I always championed that they were not -- lame. Thanks Neal and Jon! True Class! Augeri, you now have the opportunity to fullfill what post-Perry-Journey could have become, and be confident, and emboldened by that -- speak the truth, don't sign anything that says you can't, and soldier on!
I personally agree with the majority of your post. Nobody knows what contracts or agreements Augeri had with the band. I don't think anyone would be naive enough to think he was an "equal" partner in the band. He may have had to pay a lot of money to these guys if he backed out. It has already been stated that Journey would have had to pay mega bucks if they backed out of this tour. I truly don't believe Steve Augeri would con anybody unless he felt he had no choice. I have posted on this subject before. If what appears to be true is the truth, it truly sickens me. You have a horse you ride for 8 years, he sprains his ankle, and you shoot him. That is pretty much how it appears to me. I hope that one day Steve can pick up his pride, and come out and tell his side of the story. I also believe at this point that the reason he has said nothing is because he has a gag order against him.
