Pineda Farewell Tour

[Saint John]

Deen worked for Jon longer than Neal?

I didn't state that very well, but I meant that Jon has been by Neals' side for over 30 years.

[ebake02]

Deen worked for Jon longer than Neal?

I didn't state that very well, but I meant that Jon has been by Neals' side for over 30 years.

In some cases, loyalty is his biggest fault.

[steveo777]

Neal would have been loyal to Perry also, but unfortunately, Perry fucked that up. Now he can only speak to Neal though lawyers.

[Saint John]

Neal would have been loyal to Perry also, but unfortunately, Perry fucked that up. Now he can only speak to Neal though lawyers.

Um, he was loyal to him! Loyal enough to wait 11 years for a guy that played a sum total of zero shows. Hey, he still has that "open invitation" to re-join the band at a moment's notice. At least I think he still does. But he'd rather play rally monkey at Giants' games.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Let's analyze the facts, shall we? He waited from 1987 to 1998 for a singer that played a grand total of, drum roll please ... zero shows! In that time, he saw Perry tour with others, disbanded a lineup with no contractual guarantee that there would be a tour and even went so far as to agree that Perry be allowed to get paid when they signed Augeri. Yeah, 11 years of non-production and allowing a shameless cock sucker to sit at home and earn as much on the couch as these guys did busting their asses on the road sounds like a guy whose only loyalty is "to his wallet."

Then there's Augeri. The guy was on fumes as early as 2002, but Neal kept him on board. He slowly went downhill, culminating with the advent of less than live vocal shows. That fiasco is a forum of its own, so I'll stop there. But Neal stood by Augeri's side and maintained his services because he had a connection with the fans and was the guy that fronted the Journey machine for a number of very good years. Again, switching gears and getting a bigger "name" in about 2002 (or 1998, for that matter) would have probably yielded a few more dollars in his pocket.

Ross Valory- People here have been bitching and moaning that Ross has been sliding downhill for the better part of 20 years, yet he's still in the band. Getting a bassist from another band, either a younger band or a proven veteran like jack Blades, would probably put a decent amount of extra butts in seats. Yet Ross is still the guy.

Deen Castronovo- It's been leaked on here that Deen has had more than a few instances over the years where he's battled demons. There's a few stories out there, but they need not be repeated. At any rate, Deen has been by Neal's side for 20+ years and Jon for over 30.

In conclusion, I think it's pretty obvious that, if anything, Neal has been loyal to a fault. Personally, I think he's just a guy that wants to write, record and play, and if you're willing to do your job, keep in-house business close to the vest and perform, you've got a job for life. And you can't ask for much more than that.

Great history re-cap. Dude, you're becoming this forum's new Monker! Regarding replacing Augeri, it seems Neal was always looking at options, but mngt was very afraid to rock the boat. The SA lineup, while it did not exactly set the world on fire, made money.

[ebake02]

Let's analyze the facts, shall we? He waited from 1987 to 1998 for a singer that played a grand total of, drum roll please ... zero shows! In that time, he saw Perry tour with others, disbanded a lineup with no contractual guarantee that there would be a tour and even went so far as to agree that Perry be allowed to get paid when they signed Augeri. Yeah, 11 years of non-production and allowing a shameless cock sucker to sit at home and earn as much on the couch as these guys did busting their asses on the road sounds like a guy whose only loyalty is "to his wallet."

Then there's Augeri. The guy was on fumes as early as 2002, but Neal kept him on board. He slowly went downhill, culminating with the advent of less than live vocal shows. That fiasco is a forum of its own, so I'll stop there. But Neal stood by Augeri's side and maintained his services because he had a connection with the fans and was the guy that fronted the Journey machine for a number of very good years. Again, switching gears and getting a bigger "name" in about 2002 (or 1998, for that matter) would have probably yielded a few more dollars in his pocket.

Ross Valory- People here have been bitching and moaning that Ross has been sliding downhill for the better part of 20 years, yet he's still in the band. Getting a bassist from another band, either a younger band or a proven veteran like jack Blades, would probably put a decent amount of extra butts in seats. Yet Ross is still the guy.

Deen Castronovo- It's been leaked on here that Deen has had more than a few instances over the years where he's battled demons. There's a few stories out there, but they need not be repeated. At any rate, Deen has been by Neal's side for 20+ years and Jon for over 30.

In conclusion, I think it's pretty obvious that, if anything, Neal has been loyal to a fault. Personally, I think he's just a guy that wants to write, record and play, and if you're willing to do your job, keep in-house business close to the vest and perform, you've got a job for life. And you can't ask for much more than that.

Great history re-cap. Dude, you're becoming this forum's new Monker! Regarding replacing Augeri, it seems Neal was always looking at options, but mngt was very afraid to rock the boat. The SA lineup, while it did not exactly set the world on fire, made money.

I agree. Album sales were horrible but they raked in shit tons of money on tour.

[RedWingFan]

Let's analyze the facts, shall we? He waited from 1987 to 1998 for a singer that played a grand total of, drum roll please ... zero shows! In that time, he saw Perry tour with others, disbanded a lineup with no contractual guarantee that there would be a tour and even went so far as to agree that Perry be allowed to get paid when they signed Augeri. Yeah, 11 years of non-production and allowing a shameless cock sucker to sit at home and earn as much on the couch as these guys did busting their asses on the road sounds like a guy whose only loyalty is "to his wallet."

Then there's Augeri. The guy was on fumes as early as 2002, but Neal kept him on board. He slowly went downhill, culminating with the advent of less than live vocal shows. That fiasco is a forum of its own, so I'll stop there. But Neal stood by Augeri's side and maintained his services because he had a connection with the fans and was the guy that fronted the Journey machine for a number of very good years. Again, switching gears and getting a bigger "name" in about 2002 (or 1998, for that matter) would have probably yielded a few more dollars in his pocket.

Ross Valory- People here have been bitching and moaning that Ross has been sliding downhill for the better part of 20 years, yet he's still in the band. Getting a bassist from another band, either a younger band or a proven veteran like jack Blades, would probably put a decent amount of extra butts in seats. Yet Ross is still the guy.

Deen Castronovo- It's been leaked on here that Deen has had more than a few instances over the years where he's battled demons. There's a few stories out there, but they need not be repeated. At any rate, Deen has been by Neal's side for 20+ years and Jon for over 30.

In conclusion, I think it's pretty obvious that, if anything, Neal has been loyal to a fault. Personally, I think he's just a guy that wants to write, record and play, and if you're willing to do your job, keep in-house business close to the vest and perform, you've got a job for life. And you can't ask for much more than that.

Great history re-cap. Dude, you're becoming this forum's new Monker!

Damn dude, that's harsh. Gotta be the cruelest thing you've ever posted about anybody.

[RedWingFan]

Then there's Augeri. The guy was on fumes as early as 2002, but Neal kept him on board. He slowly went downhill, culminating with the advent of less than live vocal shows.

This could go down with Clinton's "it depends on what the definition of is, is".

That fiasco is a forum of its own, so I'll stop there.

Why stop there? Why not go into the case of the fans who were the victims of fraud. No offer for refunds, not so much as an apology. Not to mention being forced to buy Generations to attend the "less than live vocal shows."

Again, switching gears and getting a bigger "name" in about 2002 (or 1998, for that matter) would have probably yielded a few more dollars in his pocket.

They may have drawn a bit more publicity this way. But what he liked having was a literal puppet up there miming the words. What a bigger "name" would have gotten Neil was someone who demanded a bigger cut of money as well as control.

Like it or not, that's why he plucked Arnel from a 3rd world country. He has the pipes, but has virtually no artistic pull or influence. He makes whatever Niel wants to pay him and Neil tells him what and when and where to sing. You think Niel wanted another lead singer with a spine and artistic direction to butt heads with in the studio? Neil never would have gotten his crapfest Eclipse that way.

[AR]

It's Arnel or bust. They have played musical chair lead singers for far too long at this point.

The end game without him WOULD be Perry but they will never be able to cash in on that like other bands have been able to do with reunions.

[The_Noble_Cause]

It's Arnel or bust. They have played musical chair lead singers for far too long at this point.

If Arnel goes down, I think they will recruit another singer. The Journey machine won't stop until Neal retires. The money is too good.

[Andrew]

My guess is this is Arnel's farewell tour with Journey! Thoughts?

No.

[Gideon]

My guess is this is Arnel's farewell tour with Journey! Thoughts?

No.

[Greg]

If this is Arnel's farewell tour, then it would be Journey's farewell tour.

[stevew2]

Deen worked for Jon longer than Neal?

I didn't state that very well, but I meant that Jon has been inside Neals' backside for over 30 years.

fixed it

[Behshad]

Deen worked for Jon longer than Neal?

I didn't state that very well, but I meant that Jon has been inside Neals' backside for over 30 years.

fixed it

[YoungJRNY]

Absolutely no way this is Arnel's farewell tour. There's no reason to believe in this logic to back up any kind of ridiculous statement. Journey went as far as to try something as FRESH as Eclipse and even though the sales bombed, that still shows the entire band is up for moving in different directions if need be. They finally got the singer they need to move forward & Journey has always been a touring machine to where they make all of their money on the road.

What's Arnel going to do? Miss out on a humongous SUM of money to go back to singing in bars? He caught his once in a lifetime break. Arnel went from sleeping on park bench's in the Philippines to rock and roll singer of an 80's mega-band and he's going to abandon that?

I'm sure Arnel needs all the money he can handle, especially with his new found fame and Journey is the only gig that can provide that. This Journey lineup at the moment benefits off one another and it shows. Every band member is way too valuable at this point, especially the lead singer. Arnel isn't going anywhere, the Journey machine is too hot of a ticket on tour to pack anything in at this point. These guys are musicians, they live to do this, Arnel included. For Arnel, it doesn't get better than Journey and for Journey, it doesn't get better than Arnel (the only thing is Perry of course, but that isn't happening.) They might as well enjoy who they are and rock out when they can, while they can.