Mandi wrote:After reading the comments made by JC, it does appear that Steve Augeri will not be returning to Journey. I know this is going to get me attacked and flamed, but I was holding out for the hope that he may get better and come back. I liked him. He made Journey fun for me. It does appear that RND was correct with his "inside" information, and I now believe what he says. Jeff is the new lead singer, that is a fact.
I read here alot, and so many of you have very strong opinions about Journey and the music. Most of your opinions are interesting and I can see many of you have a great knowledge of music and an insight to what this band is all about. I respect that.
I have a question, and I know I am setting myself up to be blasted, but I just can't remain silent on this any longer. Why the constant bashing of Steve Augeri? Its over for him. He didn't sing live at shows, probably because he simply couldn't do it any longer. Maybe he should have stepped down, but for reasons we really don't know of, he didn't. He and the rest of the band continued to put on concerts, and did what they could with a lead singer that was losing his ability to sing. I am not saying this was right, but maybe it was their only choice at that time. I believe Steve Augeri gave it his best shot, and maybe he hung in there, hoping his vocal problems would resolve with time. They didn't, and he is gone.
Why can't he be remembered for the eight years of contribution he made to Journey with a little more respect than what he is getting?? I understand how some of you feel cheated, but I don't feel that way. I attended many many concerts with Steve Augeri possibly singing live or maybe I was fooled. I paid to be entertained by Journey and I was entertained. Were all of you not entertained at the shows you attended?
I don't want to start trouble here, and I don't intend to stay and preach the virtues of SA. I just wonder why his years with the band are so maligned and so hated. Arrival is a great cd, Generations has some good songs on it. Surely those eight years he spent with Journey count for something good. I guess I don't like to see a person kicked when they are down, and I guess I feel he deserves more consideration than what he is presently getting.
That is just my opinion. Thanks for reading my post.
Mandi
I think there are two reasons for the Augeri hostilities:
1. Many people were very upset when Steve Perry was replaced, and as the replacing singer, he was constantly compared to Perry, and in many's eyes, fell short. Though he eventually either won over or was accepted by many fans, I think he carried that stigma with him throughout his time in Journey.
2. He lipsynced. Or he sang to track. Either way, for the price of a live concert tickets, fans felt cheated and betrayed. They came to show support and loyalty, and some feel they were lied to. In such a competitive industry, with so many talented singers just waiting for a chance to show their stuff, for the vets to cheat to stay in the game past their expiration date seems dishonorable to the industry and the fans.
I hold no hostility toward the guy; he's still making money off this tour, despite a poor decision and vocal problems. In the Annals of Rock History, he will be a footnote of how "not" to go out....
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