New Cain Interview

[mistiejourney]

Seriously! When I listen to Journey music, I don't sit there and think "Man Neal has commitment issues" or "Cain needs to come down to earth" or anything... I enjoy the tunes and let them make me feel how it makes me feel. No more, no less.

I think that's why we're all here. Some of us are moved by the Arnel fronted Journey and some of us aren't. Everybody gravitates to and defends what moves them.

Indeed.. also, I wish more people would actually listen to the whole songs next week before judging the Arnel lineup too much. Yes, yes, I admit I may have done so myself before but I've always clarified that it's not my final judgement. Heck, my final judgement probably won't be made until September, when I'll hopefully be seeing them live in Cincinnati and/or Cleveland.

Oh, I think Arnel sings great! I'm a Journey fan, still. I can listen to the older stuff and still get blown away. While other guitarists play notes, Neal makes music. Cain can be the biggest jerk in the world, but he still wrote "Still She Cries".

But for me, what has happened is that I am now a very casual fan. I'm talking maybe buying the new songs (if available without the classics or DVD on iTunes someday) - and they sound really good so far! - but not going to any concerts.

I've kept my appreciation for their talent, but I've lost my passion for the group.

You can't fake passion for something, it is either there or it isn't. For me, it isn't coming around this time. It may be my loss, but it's how I feel.

[SusieP]

I've kept my appreciation for their talent, but I've lost my passion for the group.

What a great way to express it!
That's how I feel, too.

[stevew2]

But, then, maybe they are just insensitive SOB's and don't give a damn.

Probably, because they know they're not really going to lose their fanbase no matter what they do. Everyone was all pissed about how JSS was let go and now they're all waving the flag for the band again, a year later. Sometimes I feel like they could commit murder and still have plenty of fans.

Right, Sarah, that's what I was alluding to. They were quick to throw SA under the bus when tapegate broke, upsetting a lot of SA fans. Plenty of people jumped on the JSS bandwagon. Poof, they unceremoniously dumps JSS. In comes AP and along with him ..... instant Filipino fanbase. Journey can do no wrong.

Well, even after pissing off fans over JSS/SA they still won over a bunch of people back with Arnel. It's like everyone's brainwashed, lol.

Not me

[texafana]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

I disagree, as good as that sounds (awesome!!!!) I doubt anyone would ever think "is that new Journey?", however I've played some of the new Journey tunes for my peeps and it's an immediate "whoah...new Journey?!?".

[annie89509]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

I disagree, as good as that sounds (awesome!!!!) I doubt anyone would ever think "is that new Journey?", however I've played some of the new Journey tunes for my peeps and it's an immediate "whoah...new Journey?!?".

But, to be fair, this was not a Journey song/record. They never gave JSS that chance to record -- or the fans to hear JSS in new Journey music (well, other than Winds of Freedom, which was more like a demo).

[mistiejourney]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

I disagree, as good as that sounds (awesome!!!!) I doubt anyone would ever think "is that new Journey?", however I've played some of the new Journey tunes for my peeps and it's an immediate "whoah...new Journey?!?".

But, to be fair, this was not a Journey song/record. They never gave JSS that chance to record -- or the fans to hear JSS in new Journey music (well, other than Winds of Freedom, which was more like a demo).

Bingo!

[WykkedSensation]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

I disagree, as good as that sounds (awesome!!!!) I doubt anyone would ever think "is that new Journey?", however I've played some of the new Journey tunes for my peeps and it's an immediate "whoah...new Journey?!?".

But, to be fair, this was not a Journey song/record. They never gave JSS that chance to record -- or the fans to hear JSS in new Journey music (well, other than Winds of Freedom, which was more like a demo).

Winds Of Freedom was all i needed to hear to convince me even more that Jeff wasn't right. It was also a very piss poor song imo.

[EightyRock]

[quote="mistiejourney"] Cain can be the biggest jerk in the world, but he still wrote "Still She Cries".

Correction: Cain wrote a great piano solo in Still She Cries. Perry and Schon also WROTE that song. Perry, the lyrics, Schon the guitar parts. I know Cain would LOVE to take credit for the entire song, as he tries to do with so many, but he's no more totally responsible for this one, than 99% of their Escape era HITS. Faithfully is the ONLY popular song he wrote music and lyrics for entirely. Sorry to blow his cover!

[Tito]

In this months Classic Rock magazine in England.

On the issue of JSS being replaced...

''Jeff saved the day by stepping in to take over from Steve Augerri, but in my mind he was a relief pitcher. But when we started this album we needed somebody to sound the way the band always had''

On tapegate......

''Certain people had it in for us, and they turned out to be less than reliable sources. I heard they were alcoholics. Maybe they weren't getting the backstage passes they wanted. Either way they made a whole lot of rubbish about us''.

SPOT ON! Maybe too much credit with the relief pitcher analogy. I prefer the 10 day NBA contract.

[Tito]

As I have said from day one, they needed a "Perry impersonator" and thats what they paid for.

No one is an impresonator. And they wouldn't need anyone else, if your boy would get off his lazy ass.

[NealIsGod]

''Certain people had it in for us, and they turned out to be less than reliable sources. I heard they were alcoholics. Maybe they weren't getting the backstage passes they wanted. Either way they made a whole lot of rubbish about us''.

"Rubbish"? Is Cain pulling a Madonna and starting to pretend he is British?

[Tito]

''Certain people had it in for us, and they turned out to be less than reliable sources. I heard they were alcoholics. Maybe they weren't getting the backstage passes they wanted. Either way they made a whole lot of rubbish about us''.

"Rubbish"? Is Cain pulling a Madonna and starting to pretend he is British?

It is a British magazine.

[Tito]

Typical Jon Cain .... always speak from both sides of mouth.

So JSS was only a relief pitcher??!! Then why did the band "officially" announce that he was "the new lead singer of Journey" back in Dec 2006?

As for tapegate .... accusations by alcoholic fans??!!

The Journey guys have done nothing to appease the hardcore ... other than recording a new album which is as much for their continued survival as for the fans. Time and time again, their words and actions show that they are content to write off the old fans and just counting on getting Arnel supporters to come onboard.

WTF are you talking about. What have they've done to write off the old fans.

[Tito]

Same shit, different YEAR. More cover-your-ass talk from frock-boy. I finally get it, after all these years. Don't believe
ANYTHING these guys say about their singers, the state of the band, or anything they are or aren't planning to do, EVER.
There's always a twist to everything this band does. Friga is still trying to master the art of b.s.....and he flunks....again. Still gives it a try in every interview, though.

Like there the only band or business, for that matter, that spins. As far as the art of b.s., sorry he isn't as good as the master, Steve Perry.

One more thing, it's Cain!

[Tito]

Amen! And i find that so sad they should have moved on with JSS as the lead singer.Not the other.JMO! Do you really think Cain think for his self at all?

You and 20 people? And their attendance would've dropped.

[Tito]

It certainly does not seem like he can think for himself. I don't understand how talking shit about fans is a good thing. Maybe it's a rock star thing....

He's talking about one or maybe few people at the most. Person(s) who tried to take them down. Personally, I think he's giving them too much credit as I would just stay above it and not give these people any credit. Don't bring any attention to them. Then, again maybe this is just a big F.U., you didn't hurt us one bit.

[Tito]

Oh, I didn't take the alcoholic comment personally. It was just the whole attitude of it. It really seemed more like he was talking down to and about us, in general. It's just my impression from that one blurb. That's one reason I'd like to read the entire article.

My conscience is clear.

[Tito]

No, I think it is because the Journey guys think they can do or say anything they want and they still have fans. They brought on Augeri, that was accepted (and a good thing, IMO). They blasted SA and brought in JSS, and the fans stayed (because SA was sick and JSS was GREAT!). They drop JSS like a lead balloon and almost blew it that time, but no, the fans stayed. Now they have Arnel, and the fans are happy again.

I'm really making this simplistic, but essentially Journey has realized that while they may lose fans along the way, they could not care less.

Jon pretty much makes it clear.

Oh well.....business as usual in the Journey camp.

(/cynicism)

You people are overblowing this comment or just blowing yourselves.

When did they blast Augeri? I missed those articles.

The fans stayed because they already bought tickets and others were unaware of a change. Remember, there were still some people coming to the Augeri lead Journey concerts, not knowing Perry wasn't in the band anymore. Some, even after they left the concert still didn't know. But, they knew after they left a Soto fronted Journey show.

I think they do care about the fans. They continue to tour and provide the hits as close as possible to the original. They have tried to deviate on occasion (Red 13), but they realized what the FANS WANTED and came back to the "sound."

[Tito]

Yup. I think you are right. I have been one to hold on through all of those changes, and the long waits between albums - was '86 to '96 torture, or what?

but I'm not happy with the new line up, and really don't see myself being happy with it.

If you don't want to support the current version of the band, that is perfectly o.k. But, don't you dare hang that '86 to '96 dead period on Cain and Schon. Someone else was to blame for that...and the subsequent versions of the band as well.

[NealIsGod]

Oh, I didn't take the alcoholic comment personally. It was just the whole attitude of it. It really seemed more like he was talking down to and about us, in general. It's just my impression from that one blurb. That's one reason I'd like to read the entire article.

My conscious is clear.

Conscience

[Tito]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

Good try.

[Deb]

Oh, I didn't take the alcoholic comment personally. It was just the whole attitude of it. It really seemed more like he was talking down to and about us, in general. It's just my impression from that one blurb. That's one reason I'd like to read the entire article.

My conscious is clear.

Conscience

[Tito]

The comment about Jeff was simply idiotic! As someone else already pointed out...If these guys really thought of Jeff as a "relief pitcher", why the hell would they announce the guy as the "permanent lead singer"? The comments these guys make NEVER cease to amaze me. Someone pointed out in the Augeri thread that these guys were somehow "loyal", which is the most fucking absurd thing I've EVER heard! These guys are loyal to their wallets and bank accounts, and NOTHING else! Neal made some ridiculous comments about Perry in his latest interview, and now this. These guys REALLY need to hire a PR firm or simply shut their pieholes!


John from Boston

I will grant you guys this one point, and I said this at the time, I did not understand why they announced Soto as the new singer and then let him go a short time later. Now, that may have been done for legal reasons or a condition from the promoters, who knows? I personally don't know or care.

As far as them being loyal to their wallets and bank accounts...um, yeah. This isn't charity work. Also, regardless of what one may think of Neal's comment, it was accurate.

[Saint John]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

Good try.

Not even that. The "signature sound" was a HIGH TENOR, not mono/baritone. That songs sounds nothing like Journey from a vocal standpoint.

[The_Noble_Cause]

On tapegate......

''Certain people had it in for us, and they turned out to be less than reliable sources. I heard they were alcoholics. Maybe they weren't getting the backstage passes they wanted. Either way they made a whole lot of rubbish about us''.

Ross Valory when pressed for comment, also made derogatory statements about the principal players involved in exposing this band's criminality
As soon as Jeff was fired I had hoped Dean would put the blog and soundbytes back up.
It was the only bargaining chip the fans ever had.
It's still not too late....

[Tito]

I could not agree more to what you said.I don't give a rats ass at all.They could have gone on and been so great with JSS in the lead.But no they don't have Mr P so let's get a sound alike & keep the assholes happy.And maybe we can keep the money coming in.
I loved them wirh Mr P when he left i did not care anymore.And the JSS came into the picture he (ROCKED) But i bet they kicked him in the ass too.So screw you journey

If you didn't care anymore, how did know Soto was in the band?

Not saying it was impossible, but how could they have gone on with great things with Soto? Is there a track record I'm missing.

[The_Noble_Cause]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

Good try.

Not even that. The "signature sound" was a HIGH TENOR, not mono/baritone. That songs sounds nothing like Journey from a vocal standpoint.

Disagree.
Jeff has Perry's emotive soul and then some...sure, Arnel can crack glass with his voice, but so what?
Such a gimmick will tide over the Perry-reared masses, but Jeff was their chance to rise above all that and blaze new trails.
The songs on 'World Play' come from an earnest place of creative expression, not paint-by-numbers crap like "Never Walk Away".

[Deb]

If it were 'signature sound' they were looking for....

http://soulsirkus.com/SS%20Samplers/Coming%20Home.mp3

Good try.

Not even that. The "signature sound" was a HIGH TENOR, not mono/baritone. That songs sounds nothing like Journey from a vocal standpoint.

Disagree, JSS was the closest one they had to deliver with the same soul Perry did. I think Coming Home sounds very very much like later Journey material. Remember, Perry was mainly "high tenor" on the early Journey material. Journey is much more than just those few early years.

[Tito]

It's a business folks. Neil runs the business and he can do as he pleases. I've said from the beginning JSS is an incredible vocalist and front man but he wasn't a fit for Journey. Some wanted Journey to "take another direction" well guess what folks, then it wouldn't be Journey.

Arnel is an amazing singer and he is a high tenor, JSS is a baritone, the similarities in Perry and Arnel are more apparent because of the vocal range. When I listen to Journey I want the singer to be able to hit the notes and have the same "feeling" as Perry.

Steve Perry was offered the position to be lead singer again. He refused and wants to live his life, well, that's fine and dandy but I don't think the other guys should be forced to give up what they love (and face it, if they didn't love it they wouldn't be doing it) simply because Perry either can't sing, doesn't want to sing, or simply is over the whole Journey thing.

Want to blame someone, blame Perry. I give Neil props for carrying on the music and the legacy and I'm excited about this new CD more than I've been over and Journey CD since the 80's, just from listening to the clips.

Why do we have to keep rehasing and trashing? Let's enjoy the talents of these men and maybe recapture some of that love we felt all those years ago.

Peace all!

OUTSTANDING! This is the best and most accurate post of the year. Thank you!

This is the most accurate statement ever written on this board, because this is where all the infighting and trouble starts: "Want to blame someone, blame Perry."

[Saint John]

If these guys really thought of Jeff as a "relief pitcher", why the hell would they announce the guy as the "permanent lead singer"?

C'mon, dude, use your fucking head a bit. Jeff and the main faction that had exposed "Tapegate" were close at the time. Journey knew this. They named him the "permanent" lead singer to sweep Tapegate under the rug, get the fans off their backs, and move forward amicably with all parties. That "permanent" press release alleviated all of their headaches. Did you expect them to say, "Hey guys, we're gonna bring in Jeff, salvage the tour, and then look for a new singer." Is that what you expected? Journey, for as dumb as everyone says they are, played that hand beautifully. The people that may have thought they had found their way into the "inner circle" were presented with a fake press release and fell for it hook, line and sinker. No one else in the world even knew about this "official" announcement. Advantage, Journey.