Where I'm at right now...

[belar]

Nicely done, Andrew. Please remember that we all truly appreciate everything you do here. It's definitely worth it!

Can't wait to see you in October!

[FormerJrnyFan]

Here's my problem. I was with the band in October 06. Not much more than 6 months ago. The electricity was in the air....the fans were excited....ALL the band spoke of Jeff as a crusader, a champion.

and now they lost their biggest fan and supporter,, when jeff plays his
next gig i doubt he will say ,"hey fellas.. lets knock out a journey
tune!".. he championed for this band for years before he joined
and saved them... playing and singing those songs that he loved
like us..

It's a Goddamn shame...

[piecesofeight]

Is it all worth it? Absolutely. Knowing the truth about these guys has been a breath of fresh air. Helps me understand why Perry will not return to Journey. Gives me closure. Answers a lot of previously unanswered questions. Also, and most importantly, it led me to Jeff. One of "the good guys" like Andrew said. Good to know there are a few left. When the dust settles, Jeff will better off, and Journey will continue with a bit more of a tarnished image. In the end, all parties will move forward. Jeff needs to continue to stay as silent as possible and let us do the dirty work. Believe me, it'll our pleasure.

Great post. Agree with everything.

[jrnysc]

Is it all worth it? Absolutely. Knowing the truth about these guys has been a breath of fresh air. Helps me understand why Perry will not return to Journey. Gives me closure. Answers a lot of previously unanswered questions. Also, and most importantly, it led me to Jeff. One of "the good guys" like Andrew said. Good to know there are a few left. When the dust settles, Jeff will better off, and Journey will continue with a bit more of a tarnished image. In the end, all parties will move forward. Jeff needs to continue to stay as silent as possible and let us do the dirty work. Believe me, it'll our pleasure.

Amen friend.

[Andrew]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

[Ms_M]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

Thanks Andrew! I look forward to seeing you in October!!

[FormerJrnyFan]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

A wombat's work is never done...

We truly appreciate all you do, Drew!

[Greg]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

Back stage VIP passes for people like me who don't travel much?

[The_Noble_Cause]

It is not a stretch by any means to say Andrew treats these guys with a kind of reverence not extended since their 80's heyday.
This might be appreciated more by Jon & Neal if they didn't actually still believe this were the 1980s.
When you look back, Andrew has done so much for the band.
Not just little stuff, either (announced Perry's exit, introduced Neal to JSS, served as a defacto middle-man for Tapegate etc).

Whenever the band is ready to address its lowly fans again (and when they do, no doubt they will use Andrew's website to do it) I just hope Andrew holds Neal accountable for this brash and ugly "sonic" direction.

[Liam]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

Damn you're a tease, bro.

You AND this site ROCK.

[aggieangelcrys]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

Damn you're a tease, bro.

You AND this site ROCK.

I'm with you sweetheart! This place kicks major butt!!!

Much Love!!!

[Liam]

A blanket thank you to everyone that posted in this thread. Good to read all your comments.

Working on something special to add to the October MelodiRockFest show
Back to work I go...

Damn you're a tease, bro.

You AND this site ROCK.

I'm with you sweetheart! This place kicks major butt!!!

Much Love!!!

Good thing I brought you in, huh?

[Red13JoePa]

It is not a stretch by any means to say Andrew treats these guys with a kind of reverence not extended since their 80's heyday.

Yep, here is where the most comprehensive, immediately available info on them has always been.

The pub MR.com did for both Arrival and Generations was exhaustive and spectacular.

Someone in the power structure MIGHT want to give the 'bat a statement about JSS' departure and keep the bridge intact here. Neal and 'drew at least USED to have a pretty open line of communication.

[SusieP]

Everyone's said it all, really, so there's nothing for me to add except, to say, Andrew - you do a great job. You NEVER let us down, you have integrity and you have the respect of everyone on this board. You give us somewhere to come and play and all the news.
All your efforts are much appreciated.
Neal, Jonathan and their Management have behaved appalingly but this in no way reflects on you.
They have lost respect from everyone.
Your high regard remains.
Don't ever forget that.
You and Jeff have been used by these people, but nobody saw that coming. And if it were possible for me to attend the South Bend concert, I would buy you both a drink, bring you a huge parcel of English chocolate and give you both a big hug.[Not sure if thats a good thing, though. ]

Unfortunately, I am unable to join the South Bend party.
[Instead I am going round to JS's and NS's to bang their heads together.]


Keep your head held high, Andrew.

The only tools around here are Those two and their management.

[Behshad]

This is still a great thread and deserves a bump Andrew(since you mentioned this to a newbie)

[Crazie Scarab]

It is not a stretch by any means to say Andrew treats these guys with a kind of reverence not extended since their 80's heyday.
This might be appreciated more by Jon & Neal if they didn't actually still believe this were the 1980s.
When you look back, Andrew has done so much for the band.
Not just little stuff, either (announced Perry's exit, introduced Neal to JSS, served as a defacto middle-man for Tapegate etc).

Whenever the band is ready to address its lowly fans again (and when they do, no doubt they will use Andrew's website to do it) I just hope Andrew holds Neal accountable for this brash and ugly "sonic" direction.

Are you saying we're the shit? Damned right you are we're the shit! Fuckin' Journey survived after '98 because of us.. the shit!

Now, after us, (the shit), helping to keep Journey going, Journey dumps us in the shitter.

Fuck Journey!

[Saint John]

While your post was a good one Andrew, it also must be met with a dose of reality. Journey will move on from this fiasco unscathed. Since Jeremey is the only singer I know that is in the running, I'll use him for my example. Surely Journey has lost some fans because of what has happened. Some were probably longtime fans, some newer and some probably JSS fans that had just recently hopped on board. At any rate, with the popularity of DSB and its subsequent re-emergence, Journey probably gained as many, if not more fans that will be willing to give the band a look next tour. Even without Steve Perry, what people fail to realize is that Journey is a wanted act with many, many fans. They'll tour again and it will be just as successful as any in the last 10 years, plus or minus a few. If Jeremey is the new guy, they'll have someone that the casual fan, the ONLY fan that matters when it comes to being successful, will love. They'll come back and they'll draw in new fans. They'll tour til they don't want to anymore and there's nothing ANY of us can do about it. The Soto-led Journey was a plane on the runway that never took off. While many speak of "electricity" and other colorful words, the fact remains that he merely finished a tour singing cover songs. ANY ideas about the success of a Soto-led Journey are pure speculation. We'll simply never know. It's over, move on. This topic is getting old fast. Hop back on, stay off or wait and see, but please quit rehashing "what could have been."

[Matthew]

While your post was a good one Andrew, it also must be met with a dose of reality. Journey will move on from this fiasco unscathed.

I agree about the touring, Saint John. But JSS' departure does signal the end of Journey's recording career, doesn't it?

[NealIsGod]

While your post was a good one Andrew, it also must be met with a dose of reality. Journey will move on from this fiasco unscathed.

I agree about the touring, Saint John. But JSS' departure does signal the end of Journey's recording career, doesn't it?

I hope not, since I am more interested in new studio recordings than boots and shows.

[Matthew]

While your post was a good one Andrew, it also must be met with a dose of reality. Journey will move on from this fiasco unscathed.

I agree about the touring, Saint John. But JSS' departure does signal the end of Journey's recording career, doesn't it?

I hope not, since I am more interested in new studio recordings than boots and shows.

I guess it's too early to tell but the signs aren't good are they?

[NoMoreTails]

The firing of JSS and hiring of a tribute singer (not meant as a personal insult) can only mean that NS and JC are more concerned about and content to tour on the greatest hits rather than create new material, to an even greater extent than they were during the Augeri era.

[Matthew]

The firing of JSS and hiring of a tribute singer (not meant as a personal insult) can only mean that NS and JC are more concerned about and content to tour on the greatest hits rather than create new material, to an even greater extent than they were during the Augeri era.

...and that's saying something.

[Saint John]

While your post was a good one Andrew, it also must be met with a dose of reality. Journey will move on from this fiasco unscathed.

I agree about the touring, Saint John. But JSS' departure does signal the end of Journey's recording career, doesn't it?

No way. If in fact they move on with a new singer, Jeremey being my guess, they ARE going to record something new. HOWEVER, chemistry is never known until members start working and collaborating together. "Chemistry" is ultimately a mix of whether something is marketed right and whether the fans that hear it like it. THAT is always an unknown. I've said this before (long before Jeff) and I'll say it again; I think Jeremey is the best person on this planet,other than Perry, to the front this band.

[Marabelle]

I try to look at this decision by Neal and Jon a bit differently yet keeping my alliance with JSS. Initially I was disappointed with their decision and felt JSS a raw deal by the sudden firing. I am still saddened by what the band did and how it appeared they brought JSS to fill in the gaping hole SA left and then when the tour was over; they kicked him out. I don't know what was in their heads when they hired JSS or when they fired him. I do agree with most people do that JSS breathed fresh air into the band and gave them energy and excitment. I really believe bands make music they enjoy and although JSS was GREAT; his greatness was not quite what they envisioned. I think the band really wants to be remembered as the House that Perry Built. They don't want a new identity. They don't want to do it again. They just want to sail off into the sunset playing the music people have loved for the last 20 plus years. Otherwise they would have kept JSS. Stick a guy out there with Perrys face, with his clothes, familiar sounding name or shoes or voice and perhaps they can make you believe they're that same band that soothed your souls all these years. They don't want to reinvent the sound; I think they want the same sound giving that same feeling to their fans they always did. I just think they have not figured out how to do that yet or how not to alienate the rest of their fan base as they do it.

[Matthew]

I try to look at this decision by Neal and Jon a bit differently yet keeping my alliance with JSS. Initially I was disappointed with their decision and felt JSS a raw deal by the sudden firing. I am still saddened by what the band did and how it appeared they brought JSS to fill in the gaping hole SA left and then when the tour was over; they kicked him out. I don't know what was in their heads when they hired JSS or when they fired him. I do agree with most people do that JSS breathed fresh air into the band and gave them energy and excitment. I really believe bands make music they enjoy and although JSS was GREAT; his greatness was not quite what they envisioned. I think the band really wants to be remembered as the House that Perry Built. They don't want a new identity. They don't want to do it again. They just want to sail off into the sunset playing the music people have loved for the last 20 plus years. Otherwise they would have kept JSS. Stick a guy out there with Perrys face, with his clothes, familiar sounding name or shoes or voice and perhaps they can make you believe they're that same band that soothed your souls all these years. They don't want to reinvent the sound; I think they want the same sound giving that same feeling to their fans they always did. I just think they have not figured out how to do that yet or how not to alienate the rest of their fan base as they do it.

In other words...back to the strategy of the Augeri years.

[Marabelle]

True. I say that because I think they realize it is the House that Perry Built. Neal may live in the house but Perry holds the deed. When fans listen to the band they think Perry. So give them Jeremey or a Steve A; JSS was great but he was not the legacy I think Neal and Jon wanted or the way they wanted to be remembered. He was an entirely different vocalist. He was good and had his own particular identity.

[Saint John]

I try to look at this decision by Neal and Jon a bit differently yet keeping my alliance with JSS. Initially I was disappointed with their decision and felt JSS a raw deal by the sudden firing. I am still saddened by what the band did and how it appeared they brought JSS to fill in the gaping hole SA left and then when the tour was over; they kicked him out. I don't know what was in their heads when they hired JSS or when they fired him. I do agree with most people do that JSS breathed fresh air into the band and gave them energy and excitment. I really believe bands make music they enjoy and although JSS was GREAT; his greatness was not quite what they envisioned. I think the band really wants to be remembered as the House that Perry Built. They don't want a new identity. They don't want to do it again. They just want to sail off into the sunset playing the music people have loved for the last 20 plus years. Otherwise they would have kept JSS. Stick a guy out there with Perrys face, with his clothes, familiar sounding name or shoes or voice and perhaps they can make you believe they're that same band that soothed your souls all these years. They don't want to reinvent the sound; I think they want the same sound giving that same feeling to their fans they always did. I just think they have not figured out how to do that yet or how not to alienate the rest of their fan base as they do it.

In other words...back to the strategy of the Augeri years.

In all fairness, they DO want Perry back. Would Perry tour without singing the songs he sang in Journey? Of course not, so why should guys that WERE ALSO a part of those songs being successful "move in another direction" if the one you're in is successful? They have every right to put any guy they see fit out there to sing those songs. We simply "vote" with ticket stubs, and thus far there are enough people that are willing to spend an evening or two per year listening to those songs as long as they're sung fairly well. That's not going to change anytime soon.

[Matthew]

In all fairness, they DO want Perry back. Would Perry tour without singing the songs he sang in Journey? Of course not, so why should guys that WERE ALSO a part of those songs being successful "move in another direction" if the one you're in is successful? They have every right to put any guy they see fit out there to sing those songs.

Sure - but I'd admire them more if they did what Van Halen/Genesis/Deep Purple all did - and change the vocal indentity whilst retaining the identity of the actual band - but I guess it's too late in the day for all that.

[Saint John]

In all fairness, they DO want Perry back. Would Perry tour without singing the songs he sang in Journey? Of course not, so why should guys that WERE ALSO a part of those songs being successful "move in another direction" if the one you're in is successful? They have every right to put any guy they see fit out there to sing those songs.

Sure - but I'd admire them more if they did what Van Halen/Genesis/Deep Purple all did - and change the vocal indentity whilst retaining the identity of the actual band - but I guess it's too late in the day for all that.

The bands you mentioned did it mid/early in their careers, not the waning years.

[Marabelle]

I think we as fans look at the situation too emotionally and think we have a part in the decison making beyond buying tickets. The band bases their decision on what is best for the band which is how they want to play their music and how they want to be remembered. Look at Perry. He is a genius when it comes to his legacy and it's totally handscripted. It's their band and they want to give the fans what they want them to hear. It's not the other way around. The fans don't dictate what they play or how they play the music. They buy the tickets or do not buy the tickets. If you like what they give you fine otherwise you don't buy the tickets or sit there and remember what was.