Hypothetical Situation....

[JRNYMAN]

Is there any footage of Deen singing as a front man?

I've heard audio but so far in a few exhausting searches I've never been able to find any video. However, I'm willing to bet that if anyone has video of that show, it would be Don. There is quite a bit of video of that fateful final show with Augeri which clearly illustrates just how bad it got for poor Stevie. And God bless Deen, whenever Stevie knew he wasn't going to be able to reach various notes, he'd literally throw it over to Deen with a finger point and without missing a note or a word, Stevie's voice would stop and Deen's voice would continue. An absolute pro! However, those videos from the Raleigh show are very difficult to watch. Those of us who got to know Steve and Lydia always came away feeling the same way about them and using the same word to describe them: Class. Pure, true class. And to witness his voice disintegrating....... it's tough to watch still.

[kgdjpubs]

Steve Augeri's last show with the band, Def Leppard/Journey tour. I believe SA came out and tried to work through the first two songs but couldn't not do it. Deen steps out front on vox for the rest of the concert with his drum tech taking over on the skins. Only happened the one show as they then rushed in Soto who took over on lead vox for the rest of the tour. This is how I heard it went down. I wasn't there, so I can definitely be corrected if this is wrong.

Here's a report from someone who was there. The show in question was the July 4, 2006 show in Raleigh, which ended up being Steve Augeri's last show in Journey. I am a big SA fan, and reading this is tough at times. This would have been a fascinating show to be at, though.



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. etc., etc., etc.

That whole review sounds awfully familiar.....which it should since it was MY review. Well, at least half the review as the rest of it got chopped and cut at some point. Either way, to clear up the Raleigh show, Deen only did vocals out front for Open Arms and Faithfully. Everything else was done behind the drum kit while drumming. As mentioned, Augeri was onstage/offstage and back and forth again for a while, then he was back full time with Deen helping out a lot.

It was an interesting show to say the least. Very cool and very sad to witness at the same time.
Kevin