Why I Think Augieri Should Stay in Journey

[Cheri]

I agree SA sounded nasally and didn't have that power behind him. He sounded like he was struggling to hits the notes.

[ArnelRox]

I occasionly switch From Perry's studio version to Augeri's LIVE DVD. She likes S.A better because she thinks Steve Perry has a "Squeeky" voice. I tried explaining to her who Steve Perry is but she won't bother to listen to me as she says, "I like the guy in the red leather pants, love his voice, lower and easier on the ears."

I can see where she is comming from, but that's just a person listening for a sound. People who know music know that S.P's voice is really legendary and both singers certainly have their own taste.

Well unfortunately Augeri's live DVD isn't LIVE. It's pro-tooled. That means all the off-notes are corrected. Nice, huh? Tell ur mom that.

No offense to ur mom but is she a wiggler?

[JeremyP]

Just had to say this before I lay down:

Wanna know what song I think Perry NAILED all 100 (or some other huge figure lol) time he sang it?


Still

They

Ride


Am I right?

Talk to everybody tomorrow, you all rock.

[ArnelRox]

Whoever started this thread needs to learn how to spell Steve Augeri's last name!

[ArnelRox]

Just for comparison:

Perry - Open Arms 1983 Japan: http://download.yousendit.com/FE9EA46500FBDB6C

Perry - Wheel In The Sky 1978 Chicago, IL: http://download.yousendit.com/F83DB63A47E58417

Jeremy, really Augeri on a protooled Vegas DVD doing WITS better than Perry? Come now. Perry invented the way that song should be sung. There is NO comparison. Augeri wasn't even a zit on Perry's butt singing that song. He never even attempted the angelic bit during Neal's solo. He knew better than that. Jeff not only attempted it, he nailed it. I have to admit.

And just in case u really haven't heard Perry live & had chills go down ur spine, listen to this, please. I think most women would & have (well never mind) to this song, maybe men too. It may well be the most exciting vocal of all time even by Perry, the master, himself. I turned my friend's 17 yr old son onto this & he said he & his friends were blown away:

Perry - Patiently 1979 Chicago IL: http://download.yousendit.com/820474F2767B88DF

If u still don't get this, Jeremy, well, all I can say is generation gap or warped taste in music. But really that shouldn't matter. U are a musician. U should be able to hear the difference. U should be able to detect what a fucking freak of nature Perry was as a man able to sing this way & how totally incredible he was. Outta this world.

[ArnelRox]

Wanna know what song I think Perry NAILED all 100 (or some other huge figure lol) time he sang it?

That's another thing. Perry did 100+ shows in like 120 days. He did 31 shows in a row one yr w/out a day off. Can u even imagine? & u know what, he sounded fucking amazing at EVERY single show.

Yes my inner loon is coming out tonite. Bite me.

[Monker]

I'll download & listen but remember, GH Live is LIVE.

Not %100...there are some 'altered' bits in there...and they played with how much crowd noise is on there.

[Monker]

I didn't think it was really fair to either guy to use non-soundboard stuff because of sometimes dodgy bootleg quality, but I can if you want. It's just that nobody can go, "Oh, that was just a bad recording" if it's soundboard.

I agree...

But, unfortunately, there is very little Augeri live that is true 'soundboard'. I think the closest you'll find are the VH1 performances with Styx/REO, and maybe the "Today" show.

For Perry, there are: GHLive, the Houston DVD, Captured (supposedly...although some have said the same about it as is said about Vegas 2001), several radio shows for ROR and Frontiers, and some other things....So, there is a lot more there to sample.

I would also agree with you that Perry isn't perfect. If you compare, for example, the KBFH Superjam to the ROR radio show, you can REALLY hear how much range, and especialy clarity, that Perry lost. IMO, he could no longer do those songs justice by the ROR tour...and I prefer Augeri a LOT more then Perry's ROR/FTLOSM years. WitS was AMAZING back in 1978...but Perry's voice had changed so much that it seemed like a completely different song.

I can't stand LTS from ANY of the ROR concerts. The entire rendition of that songs sucks. Perry's rusty vocals, the song is obviously tuned down...and sped WAY up. I would take ANY Journey version of LTS over the ROR tour. The same goes for Lights and WitS...They are just VERY sub-par compared to previous Perry tours, or even Augeri, IMO.

[ArnelRox]

Am I right?

Fuckin A. Listen to this people: http://download.yousendit.com/3D4CAD7D4E08ED1F

& some will tell u Perry didn't have it by 1986. Yeah really? He had it. He still has it. Lots of it. More than anyone else ever had or could ever even hope to have.

[Monker]

Just for comparison:

Perry - Open Arms 1983 Japan: http://download.yousendit.com/FE9EA46500FBDB6C

Perry - Wheel In The Sky 1978 Chicago, IL: http://download.yousendit.com/F83DB63A47E58417

Jeremy, really Augeri on a protooled Vegas DVD doing WITS better than Perry? Come now. Perry invented the way that song should be sung. There is NO comparison. Augeri wasn't even a zit on Perry's butt singing that song. He never even attempted the angelic bit during Neal's solo. He knew better than that. Jeff not only attempted it, he nailed it. I have to admit.

And just in case u really haven't heard Perry live & had chills go down ur spine, listen to this, please. I think most women would & have (well never mind) to this song, maybe men too. It may well be the most exciting vocal of all time even by Perry, the master, himself. I turned my friend's 17 yr old son onto this & he said he & his friends were blown away:

Perry - Patiently 1979 Chicago IL: http://download.yousendit.com/820474F2767B88DF

If u still don't get this, Jeremy, well, all I can say is generation gap or warped taste in music. But really that shouldn't matter. U are a musician. U should be able to hear the difference. U should be able to detect what a fucking freak of nature Perry was as a man able to sing this way & how totally incredible he was. Outta this world.

Please...you are comparing Perry in his prime to Augeri at middle age. That's not even a fair comparison.

Perry didn't sound 'amazing' at every show. Many ROR shows were FAR from 'amazing' , the Bill Graham tribute wasn't 'amazing', and many FTLOSM were not 'amazing'...unless, of course, your definition of 'amazing' change from those 1978-1983 standards to the ROR tour version.

[pdsidd]

Steve 2.0's voice,

2.0 Funny.

Anyone who knows anything about singing knows that if you don't sing within your own range and vocal capabilities, you will kill your vocal chords. The same thing will happen to JSS if Journey doesn't alter the songs to fit him.

Ya know, I thought a lot like this myself until I heard recent boots of Jeff & then saw him live. He hits those high notes pretty easily & without anything looking like effort. I think when he first started out, he was tired. He'd been working his ass off straight through since February. Then, he went out on tour w/Journey w/very little rehearsal time. He essentially had to rehearse live onstage. Not only did he have to remember the lyrics of a whole bunch of songs, but he also had to get used to playing w/the band, being onstage w/the band, & hitting high notes all the time which I think he said before he hadn't done for a few yrs. He did sing those notes before tho. Listen to his songs w/Eyes if u don't believe me. But he had to get used to singing those songs live for an entire set, high notes, low notes, & all, & w/a band he hadn't performed w/before. Sure he'd been onstage w/Neal before (I don't think he did live shows w/Deen, did he?). But he'd never been onstage w/Jon & Ross. I think it takes some time just to get used to how the guys move onstage, where they stand, etc. Especially for a guy like Jeff who likes to use every single bit of that stage when he performs. I can't imagine what kind of stress Jeff must have been feeling those 1st few nites out there. Even the stages were bigger than he'd done in a while. But u know, he didn't ever let it show. I saw him his 3rd nite out w/Journey & he had a fabulous presence even then.

I think Jeff did a fantastic job from show 1 onwards especially considering he didn't have months & months of rehearsal. By the time I saw him in November, he made it look as if he'd been playing w/this band for years. Perhaps going out there & being thrown into it, essentially rehearsing LIVE made it all the more fun. Whatever the case, Jeff is an incredible talent & an amazing professional to even be capable of doing that. It was sink or swim & he swam, that's for sure.

If he can't sing anymore, then replace him. If he can, then let him stay.

He can't sing. From what I've heard, the damage to his voice is permanent. I do feel sorry for him for that reason. It must be a terrible blow for a singer to lose his voice. I know many sports pros are devastated when they have to transition from what they've always done. But Augeri has done this before. He gave up singing in the 90s. Maybe that makes it a bit easier. I wish him well & hope he can move along from this quickly & let Journey continue. Many think he's an amazingly kind individual. I just hope he digs into his higher self & lets this go soon.

I've not heard JSS hitting a lot of the notes full stop let alone easily on boots I've got - listen to escape for example.

Still going to jrny next march in uk, regardless of who singing just have a preference 4 Steve A.

[Monker]

Am I right?

Fuckin A. Listen to this people: http://download.yousendit.com/3D4CAD7D4E08ED1F

& some will tell u Perry didn't have it by 1986. Yeah really? He had it. He still has it. Lots of it. More than anyone else ever had or could ever even hope to have.

Sure, he 'had it' at the START of the ROR tour. Along the way, he lost it...keys were lowered, songs sped up, his voice was VERY rough. Deal with it - it's the truth.

Put up LTS from that concert, just so I can have a laugh. Then put up LTS from '81, so we can hear how that song SHOULD be performed.

And, BTW, this is why the 'unite the fans' will never happen. Too many people get too defensive about their PERSONAL opinions...and take disagreements with those opinions far too personal. Saying someone has a "warped sense of music" just because they disagree with you doesn't give you MORE credibility, ya know...It really only shows you don't know how to discuss things with people who disagree with you without taking the conversation down to a lower level.

[Clasicrockldy]

Just for comparison:

Perry - Open Arms 1983 Japan: http://download.yousendit.com/FE9EA46500FBDB6C

Perry - Wheel In The Sky 1978 Chicago, IL: http://download.yousendit.com/F83DB63A47E58417

Jeremy, really Augeri on a protooled Vegas DVD doing WITS better than Perry? Come now. Perry invented the way that song should be sung. There is NO comparison. Augeri wasn't even a zit on Perry's butt singing that song. He never even attempted the angelic bit during Neal's solo. He knew better than that. Jeff not only attempted it, he nailed it. I have to admit.

And just in case u really haven't heard Perry live & had chills go down ur spine, listen to this, please. I think most women would & have (well never mind) to this song, maybe men too. It may well be the most exciting vocal of all time even by Perry, the master, himself. I turned my friend's 17 yr old son onto this & he said he & his friends were blown away:

Perry - Patiently 1979 Chicago IL: http://download.yousendit.com/820474F2767B88DF

If u still don't get this, Jeremy, well, all I can say is generation gap or warped taste in music. But really that shouldn't matter. U are a musician. U should be able to hear the difference. U should be able to detect what a fucking freak of nature Perry was as a man able to sing this way & how totally incredible he was. Outta this world.

Please...you are comparing Perry in his prime to Augeri at middle age. That's not even a fair comparison.

Perry didn't sound 'amazing' at every show. Many ROR shows were FAR from 'amazing' , the Bill Graham tribute wasn't 'amazing', and many FTLOSM were not 'amazing'...unless, of course, your definition of 'amazing' change from those 1978-1983 standards to the ROR tour version.

Perry was 38 at that time, Monker...... not too far off from Augeri ! And Augeri wasn't middle aged when he joined, and for me, he didn't have it then either !

[ArnelRox]

Please...you are comparing Perry in his prime to Augeri at middle age. That's not even a fair comparison.

Perry didn't sound 'amazing' at every show. Many ROR shows were FAR from 'amazing' , the Bill Graham tribute wasn't 'amazing', and many FTLOSM were not 'amazing'...unless, of course, your definition of 'amazing' change from those 1978-1983 standards to the ROR tour version.

I have a few ROR boots. Yes, the ones I have are AMAZING. If u have a boot of one that is NOT, PLEASE put it up. I have asked & asked & asked on this board for ONE example of Perry's voice sucking during the ROR tour. AR has said it over & over, but when I've asked for just ONE song, nothing has arrived either in a PM or on the board. I'm still waiting. Someone prove it to me. The boots I have ARE amazing. Until someone gives me one that isn't, I have nothing else to believe. The last one I have is from 12/31/86.

I agree. Perry sounded not so hot at the Bill Graham tribute. However, that was 1991. As far as we know, he didn't sing those songs from somewhere in 1987 to 1991. In fact, he really didn't sing during that period. Everyone who doesn't use their voice for years needs to warm up to using it again. Ask any singer that question. Jeff recently said he needs 12 hours a day to warm up. I wonder how good he would sound if he didn't sing for 4 years.

I have several boots of FTLOSM that are amazing. They blow me away. I was at 2 concerts that tour. Steve was amazing at both. The Journey songs were lowered for that tour, I agree. Perry was 45-46 during that tour. Not much younger than Augeri is now. & older than Augeri was in 2001 -- the audio being used for comparison.

Perry didn't tour for TBF so we don't know how he would have sounded. But his studio versions of those songs & of I Stand Alone amaze me.

Go ahead Monker. Give me a boot where he sounds bad. Please. I'll be waiting.

[ArnelRox]

I've not heard JSS hitting a lot of the notes full stop let alone easily on boots I've got - listen to escape for example.

U don't have the right boots then. He hit EVERY single note perfectly on that song on 11/7 when I saw him. EVERY note. Blew me away.

[ArnelRox]

Sure, he 'had it' at the START of the ROR tour. Along the way, he lost it...keys were lowered, songs sped up, his voice was VERY rough. Deal with it - it's the truth.

If it's the truth, prove it. Let me hear a boot. I haven't heard one yet. I'm waiting. I've asked u & others who have made this claim to give me ONE song that proves this. I'm still waiting. If it's true, provide a boot. If it's not, stop saying it. That's all I ask. Is that fair?

Put up LTS from that concert, just so I can have a laugh.

http://download.yousendit.com/EDB37E716171B66A

What's funny? U think Augeri ever did it better? Prove it.

Here's another 86 version just for ur fun. I like to think Monker laughs once in a while:

http://download.yousendit.com/EE646839635407BD

Then put up LTS from '81, so we can hear how that song SHOULD be performed.

http://download.yousendit.com/D7EC18BF7CFA5909

Perry did LTS best in 79 IMHO. 1986 vs. 1981 Perry. Hmm. I might choose the 1986 version to be honest.

Saying someone has a "warped sense of music" just because they disagree with you doesn't give you MORE credibility, ya know...It really only shows you don't know how to discuss things with people who disagree with you without taking the conversation down to a lower level.

Nah Monker. Jeremy knows me pretty well. He knows what I meant. This is just u looking for a reason to rag on someone & I'm ur target for the nite.

[pdsidd]

I occasionly switch From Perry's studio version to Augeri's LIVE DVD. She likes S.A better because she thinks Steve Perry has a "Squeeky" voice. I tried explaining to her who Steve Perry is but she won't bother to listen to me as she says, "I like the guy in the red leather pants, love his voice, lower and easier on the ears."

I can see where she is comming from, but that's just a person listening for a sound. People who know music know that S.P's voice is really legendary and both singers certainly have their own taste.

Well unfortunately Augeri's live DVD isn't LIVE. It's pro-tooled. That means all the off-notes are corrected. Nice, huh? Tell ur mom that.

No offense to ur mom but is she a wiggler?

And like, there's never been any treatment on Perry's voice has there?

[ArnelRox]

Perry was 38 at that time, Monker...... not too far off from Augeri ! And Augeri wasn't middle aged when he joined, and for me, he didn't have it then either !

Ur exactly right CRL.

Augeri was born in 1959. He joined Journey in 1998 at 39. For the Vegas DVD (filmed in 2000), Augeri was 41.

Perry was born in 1949. In 1986/87 for the ROR tour, Perry was 37/38. In 1994/5 for the FTLOSM tour, Perry was 44/45.

Monker, what's ur point? Why are the comparisons unfair?

[ArnelRox]

And like, there's never been any treatment on Perry's voice has there?

Not on the live boots I have, no.

[bionic]

Steve was payed to do a job by us,after some time he was unable to do that job,and in fact was not doing that job for the last few years!! What was we paying him for????
So he was let go except he has not gone yet? He wants a proper send off $$$$$$. Then and only then will he say goodbye and maybe just maybe thanks all the well wishers he has ignored.
I liked his voice and stage presance but i disliked the fact he chose to decieve us,at no popint did the band announce Steve was on tape...why? Because they knew it was wrong as did Augeri more than anyone.
Goodbye Steve hello Jeff a singer not mime artist!!

[pdsidd]

And like, there's never been any treatment on Perry's voice has there?

Not on the live boots I have, no.

Was he singing through a microphone by any chance? if so he'll have gone through reverb, equalisation and god knows what else on the desk. Point am making is you're never hearing the raw product it is always enhanced and treated in a concert environment and to think otherwise is naive.

Sure, Augeri will have been tweaked after the concert for the dvd - probably every live dvd released is tweaked by small amounts and small errors corrected.

[ArnelRox]

If you compare, for example, the KBFH Superjam to the ROR radio show, you can REALLY hear how much range, and especialy clarity, that Perry lost. IMO, he could no longer do those songs justice by the ROR tour...and I prefer Augeri a LOT more then Perry's ROR/FTLOSM years. WitS was AMAZING back in 1978...but Perry's voice had changed so much that it seemed like a completely different song.

Let's go. Let's compare. I'm ready. What u got? Put it up. Let's hear it.

Let's look at OLD Perry/Journey, last Perry/Journey tour, OLD Augeri/Journey, one of the last Augeri/Journey shows, & some recent JSS/Journey.

KBFH WITS: http://download.yousendit.com/976C440744821999
Perry was 29 here.

ROR WITS: http://download.yousendit.com/64525E8C4125D11B
& : http://download.yousendit.com/2BBB598B69450EC4
Perry is 44 for both of these.

Not a totally fair comparison since one was in the studio, the others are audience boots of a live show. Different song? No. Different drummer & bass player, yes, & I can hear that. Different arrangement of the song too. Why they sped it up for ROR, I don't know...something to do w/the bass player/drummer or just because they were sick of it the old way? I preferred the earlier arrangement. But that's not reflective of Perry's voice. He is still bringing it w/out problem.

Augeri WITS: http://download.yousendit.com/6D96AF990534475A
From 1999. Augeri was 38 yrs old...before u talk about age.

Augeri WITS: http://download.yousendit.com/C168739938360CFD
From 2006. On the subject of a voice changing! Augeri is 47 here.

There is NO comparison. Go ahead. Prove me wrong, please. Seriously. I want u too.

Fast forward to later in 2006:

JSS WITS: http://download.yousendit.com/81B5BE98535FF972
or : http://download.yousendit.com/1C3D994501CDF5B2
2006 - dig the angelic part during Neal's solo.
Jeff is 40 in both of these.

Apart from Perry being 29 in the KBFH version, there's not a LOT of difference in the gentlemen's ages. We're ranging from Augeri at 38-47, Jeff at 40, & Perry at 44. One could say all 3 men worked a lot in the years preceding these.

[ArnelRox]

Was he singing through a microphone by any chance? if so he'll have gone through reverb, equalisation and god knows what else on the desk. Point am making is you're never hearing the raw product it is always enhanced and treated in a concert environment and to think otherwise is naive.

Sure, Augeri will have been tweaked after the concert for the dvd - probably every live dvd released is tweaked by small amounts and small errors corrected.

Sure, there's some stuff the mixer does. But how much technology was available in the 70s/80s? I suspect Augeri had the benefit of technology a lot more than Perry who last toured in early 87. But listen to the boots above & compare. To be fair, there are 2 of each gentleman. That way u can't say one is just bad. You can say they're all bad. But just listen. There's one of Augeri from 1999, just one year after he joined.

[Matthew]

Here's another 86 version just for ur fun. I like to think Monker laughs once in a while:

http://download.yousendit.com/EE646839635407BD

JRox - so frustrating! I can't seem to download these ROR boots - problem with the file. Do you have MP3s of Perry live on the ROR tour? If it's a hassle don't worry....

[ArnelRox]

JRox - so frustrating! I can't seem to download these ROR boots - problem with the file. Do you have MP3s of Perry live on the ROR tour? If it's a hassle don't worry....

What are they coming up for u as?

I've got 7 ROR boots if u want any of them, let me know.

[frostbite]

Some great archive material going up here. Good job!

I find it laughable that anyone would find anybody's vocal performance of a Perry song better than the original. The guy has (or had, doesn't matter) the greatest voice in rock...bar none. I'm not a Queen fan but I'll give Freddie and honorable second place.

Leaving Perry aside for one moment, JSS is doing a superb job at the minute and if you have seen him and Augeri live you will hear and feel the difference in the capacity of their voices immediately. Jeff is up to the job, I have my doubts as to whether Steve A's voice was ever really up to it. Not his fault, just the way it was.

On a final note...I know I've mentioned it before, but if the boot of "Take Me Back To Ohio" intro to Faithfully Perry sang on the ROR tour could be uploaded again I think that would lay matters to rest about whether Perry could still cut it in 1986.

[Matthew]

JRox - so frustrating! I can't seem to download these ROR boots - problem with the file. Do you have MP3s of Perry live on the ROR tour? If it's a hassle don't worry....

What are they coming up for u as?

I've got 7 ROR boots if u want any of them, let me know.

JRox - they're coming up as wmas with a file error - but this might be due to my useless Mac which is so erratic when it comes to downloads...

Yes - I'd love to hear a ROR boot! Dying to hear the Randy jackson bass solo, I have to say.

[Red13JoePa]

when he was on, I still prefer the Augeri versions of many songs, not the least of which was Open Arms.

[frostbite]

when he was on, I still prefer the Augeri versions of many songs, not the least of which was Open Arms.

Each to their own. Perry's versions will always be the definitives as far as I'm concerned. I don't understand it, but yeah, each to their own.

[Dano]

The problem is that this incarnation of Journey didn't get many others other than yourself to buy their new music. While they were "relevant" to you, to most they were only relevant as karaoke with live music. Album sales prove that

The Augeri albums are as filled to the brim with talent as the Perry and Pre-Perry ones.



Not vocally they're not. Not even close. Augeri's vocals are muddled. He doesn't have the range, power or songwriting ability Perry had either. He is comparable to Perry on NO level.

Vocals are muddled? Not on any of the sound systems I've listened to those albums on. Augeri is loud and clear in the mixes on all of those. I think you're reaching there....